Embracing Emma (Companion to Brisé) (24 page)

BOOK: Embracing Emma (Companion to Brisé)
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I reach for her hand and begin leading her to change. I open the door to the locker room and freeze. “Emma, I don’t think you should do this again. I don’t like you in with strange people allowing them to touch you.” I whip my head so I can see her face. Emma. She just called me by my name. Her eyes are clear, pulled tight in worry, clearing her throat drawing my attention to her mouth. It’s moving.

“What?”

“I said don’t make me talk to your father. He wouldn’t like you naked with these people. Promise me you won’t come back.” I open my mouth and can’t form words. I blink my eyes, clearing the moisture pooling there. “Emma, calm down. I was here today, but I just don’t think this is appropriate. I’m hungry, let’s go.” I allow Adelaide to lead her and help her dress; I stand rooted to the spot where my heart mended. The crack that’s taken residence has fused together whole again.

By the time I’m getting dressed, that has changed. She’s agitated, refusing to speak, and close to a full tantrum. We rush her to the waiting car, and she doesn’t say goodbye. It doesn’t hurt. It doesn’t bother me because for a few minutes today I was Emma. Her Emma. I was still someone to her. I’m not lost.

Chapter Twenty-Four

William

 

 

Camp flew by this year, and it’s probably because I knew I’d have three uninterrupted weeks with Emma. The first week we didn’t leave her apartment. The second week we spent at mine so she could help spruce it up. I care that it has a bed and television, all the other frou frou shit is out of my league, but my girl insisted, and I can’t deny her. She’s been relaxed since her spa day; her tears of joy damn near brought me to my knees that day. It’s what she needed, what she craved, and what she had been waiting on. The week here has zoomed by, and living off campus has allowed us to avoid run-ins with the riff-raff she hates. It’s the biggest positive to me living in my own place. Blake is coming by to eat pizza with us, Emma insisted since he helped us with heavy lifting today.

“I could still tell him not to come?” I’m hopeful she’ll agree.

“Stop. He saved our ass today. Carrying furniture up three flights of stairs, helping you set it up—”

I cut her off. “You mean putting it in five different places while you directed us. I would have been fine with a mattress on the floor and T.V. mounted to the wall.”

She rolls her beautiful eyes at me. “Okay. Okay. Still he helped and a few hours won’t kill us.”

“If you say so.”

“You’re such a baby.” She chucks a damn throw pillow at me. It set off the colors in the couch perfectly, per her vision.

“No, I’m just taking advantage of having you to myself. It was so limited the last few years I’m like a midget at a mini-skirt convention and taking advantage of it.”

“You have issues, Will. Midget at a mini-skirt convention?”

“Better than saying pig in shit. I wouldn’t dare refer to my girl as shit.” She shakes her head at me, swatting me on the back of mine as she passes. I grab her and make her tumble into my lap. I attack her neck, blowing raspberries across her chest and jawline.

“Stop!” Her giggles get louder as I continue. The doorbell saves her delectable ass. Blake walks in like he owns the place, carrying a six-pack and some wine coolers for Ems. She isn’t much of a drinker, and I’m thankful for that, I’d hate to worry about that being hours from her. I understand why she chose University, but I was hoping she would have come here with me.

Two more years, I remind myself. Those two years will be different from the first two. It won’t be months without seeing each other; it won’t be juggling her high school courses, my college classes, and rules. We’ll get to live like adults and be able to manage our lives.

“Make yourself at home,” I tease Blake.

“Thanks,” he replies while putting his feet up on the coffee table Emma insisted I buy from IKEA.

“Feet off.” She shoves his legs down and places his beer on a coaster . . . that match the carpet. I’m very domesticated.

“Sheesh, it’s like living with my mom.” Said coaster is chucked at his head and hits its target. “Ouch, woman.”

She wags her finger at him and heads to order pizza. “Don’t piss her off. And you’re leaving in three hours. Not a minute longer.”

“Relax. I won’t cockblock you.”

“I appreciate that.” He fires up the Xbox, and we duel on
GTA
waiting for the pizza to arrive. Teasing lasts throughout the entire night, Emma and Blake one-upping each other. They try to drag me into it, but I know a losing battle, and I enjoy watching them. This is what I wish I had the whole time. Friendship my girl approved of, and a friend I could depend on. Better late than pregnant . . .

 

 

 

 

I hate leaving her, but school starts in two days, and I still have to get my books. She has to finish getting hers, as well. I linger, bending down for another kiss, and one more after that. “I don’t want to leave, baby.”

“I don’t want you to go.” She grips my shirt tighter.

I rest my forehead against hers, inhaling her scent, feeling her skin . . . filling my heart with enough to last me until I see her again. Which should be three or four weeks. She wants to get her footing before she comes for the weekend. We are trying to work it on my bye week so I won’t have a game to play in, just practice. “Time will fly,” I try to convince myself along with her.

“I know.” She releases me and kisses me once more, backing up. “Go, before I change my mind.”

“Love you.” I steal another kiss.

“Love you, too.” She gives me her beautiful smile as I turn to leave. I think it may be harder spending more time together than it was never seeing each other. Saying goodbye sucks.

 

 

 

 

Time passed quickly with phone calls, FaceTime, and texts. We both agreed we would go home at Thanksgiving and two weeks at Christmas giving us the last ten days just to ourselves. Probably at her place because it’s an hour from our hometown versus four to five.

I’m rushing home from class to straighten up so she doesn’t see what I’ve done to the beautiful home she created for me. Blake is here more often than not, so I’m picking up take out boxes, laundry, beer and soda cans, water bottles . . . you name it and it’s strewn from one end to the other of this apartment. He is staying at the dorms this weekend but said he’ll stop by to see her.

I’m taking out the trash when I see her arrive. Rather, I hear the horns blaring from her failure to use turn signals, cutting off a car to make the turn, and then nearly side swiping the entrance sign.

She went home last weekend and visited Nana and has been down since. It’s hard to gauge her mood and when she is faking it, so I don’t worry. She said there was no change and that is normal, but I think she is expecting a miracle. She refuses to give up hope, and while I admire that, it scares me because her heart will keep getting broken.

I open her door and pull her to me. “You’re going to piss off the wrong people with your driving.” I kiss her lips, and she punches me in the gut.

“My driving? If those assholes weren’t so close to me it wouldn’t have been a problem.”

“Ems—” I stare at her in disbelief. I don’t know why she can’t admit she drives like shit with eleven accidents, all single and self-induced, under her belt. Her bumper has been painted more times than Kim Kardashian has posted naked selfies. It’s ridiculous.

“It’s not my fault, Will. This fucking boat I drive doesn’t help.”

“O—kay,” I relent. It’s a losing battle. At least it’s a short drive for her to go home. Next time I’ll make sure I drive to her place. That will be safer for everyone.

 

 

 

 

The weekend flew by. Emma and Blake drank until she was sick, which pissed me off. He can’t be that careless with her. I’ve noticed any weight she put on over the summer has disappeared, and she admitted to running every night.

“I don’t like you running at night,” I remind her as I’m walking her to her death trap.

“Andy is there, I promise it’s safe.” She and Andy have become chummy, and I don’t have any reason to be jealous, but I’m getting pissy about that situation. He and Holly are still together, but Emma said they are doing some kind of ‘open relationship’ shit; as long as he doesn’t get any ideas with my girl, we’ll be fine.

“Just slow it down. Cut back to a few days a week, no need to do it every night.”

“Stop. I’m fine, and you’re not my dad.”

“I just worry.” Her snippiness this weekend is weighing heavily on me.

“I’m sorry. I’m tired and getting ready for mid-terms is killing me.” I fill in the blanks of what she isn’t saying. She misses home, misses me, and hates not seeing Nana every day. My Ems hates change, and this entire year has been one big change after another.

“Drive safely, and take a nap when you get home.” I feel guilty for letting her get drunk and not sleep this weekend.

“I will. Love you.” She kisses me and climbs in her Tahoe.

“Love you. Call me when you get there.” She nods, and I stand there watching her leave me and head home. Something is going to have to give with the way she punishes herself, pushing herself to the brink. Thanksgiving break I’ll make sure to pamper her.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Emma

 

 

School has been exhilarating. I love the case studies I’m researching, learning the ropes of adoption, the emotions both sides battle. It’s a beautiful thing each side presents. A mom or couple doing what’s right by their unborn child, knowing they can’t provide the life the child deserves. On the flip side, a couple or person so willing to open their hearts, accept and love a child, nurture them . . . become a parent without sharing DNA.

I don’t have classes on Friday, so I’m heading home today, and I’ll get some time with Nana and my parents. Will gets in tomorrow, his last class today is late, and to leave tonight would put him home in the wee hour of the morning. It’s better for him to leave in the morning when he’s refreshed, and the day won’t be wasted. Plus I know my dad is chomping at the bit to have some time with me; he isn’t thrilled sharing time with my mom. They came up for a weekend in August, and I’ve been home once. I enjoy being by myself, growing up, but they’d keep me ten in their minds if they could.

“I’m home!” My voice echoes down the hall. It’s like a tomb in here; too damn quiet.

The back door opens, and footsteps sounding like a herd of elephants get closer. My dad picks me up in a bear hug, and I’m sure my lips are turning blue. “Luke, let her down.” My mom shoves at him. She gets her hug in, my lungs not in jeopardy of being crushed.

BOOK: Embracing Emma (Companion to Brisé)
9.56Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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