Just Breathe Trilogy Box Set (91 page)

Joe heads back to New York two days after we land in California. During the time he’s in Pasadena, I sleep over his place. I dive back into work when I finally return home, wanting to distract myself from the fact that Joe is gone. Over the course of the next couple of weeks, I’m spotted out in public on occasion and there are minor postings of me as it begins to appear that I’m falling out of the public’s interest — which makes me very happy. They even speculate that their rumored relation between Joe and myself is faulting since we’re on different coasts.

There are a few days that I get together with Nathan to go over the plans for Nathaniel’s, which additional celebrities he’s capable of taking on and to discuss the January fashion show. The money Nathaniel’s has made since the premier and the demand for more pieces from retailers has jumped tenfold. His videos have increased in views on YouTube and there are a bunch more that are being posted on a weekly basis.

Maggie hosts Thanksgiving this year, letting Pop-Pop and me help with the cooking. When our family settles down, tired from stuffing our faces with turkey, potatoes, cranberry sauce and everything else in between, Henry and Maggie stand to make an announcement. My ears perk up instantly when I see the bubbly smile on her face.

“Henry and I are thankful to have you all in our lives. It means a lot to us for all of the love and support you’ve given,” she begins. “And, we’re even more thankful to announce, even though it’s early, that I’m pregnant.”

Chatter erupts from everyone ranging from tears of joy to congratulations as we hug and kiss them.

“Kim confirmed it a few days ago,” Maggie continues once we return to our seats.

“How far are you?” Jared inquires.

“Just about two weeks or so,” she says.

“Wow, really!” Nathan comments.

“How did you know?” I ask.

“I noticed the signs sooner since I knew what it felt like from before,” she explains, rubbing her belly.

With the buzz of the excitement, Maggie prods with a few questions about my trip to New York during my birthday and all eyes fall upon me. I object to speaking about it, not wanting to take away from her joy and good news. She argues that Thanksgiving is a day for everyone and not just one person. With some coaxing, I share everything that happened while I was there — everything but the details about Joe and me.

Maggie’s family seems genuinely happy for me. Tears fall a few times when I recount the events since the emotions are still fresh.

“What are you going to do with the house?” Nathan asks.

“I’m not sure,” I honestly answer.

“Did you go inside?” Amy inquires.

“No,” I say, hanging my head.

“It’s okay, sweetheart,” Pop-Pop reassures. “Give it time.”

“Yeah,
Kitten
,” Jared agrees. “I can only imagine that seeing everyone again was overwhelming.”

“Why don’t we go to New York for Christmas,” Maggie suggests.

“What?” I reply.

“That’s a great idea, honey,” Henry says.

“Yeah, why not?” Nathan chimes in. “We’ll be there for the middle of January for the show, so why don’t we go out a little earlier. We can spend some of the holiday with Joe and his family if they don’t mind taking on a large group like us and you can see Mr. and Mrs. Nelson, the girls and Martin and Celia.”

“That’s a great idea,” Nǎinai comments. “I’ve never been to New York and I’d love to meet your family.”

“It would be great for Nathan and the rest of the family who haven’t to see snow for the first time,” Maggie encourages.

“Snow!” Jade shouts. “I want to play in it.”

“I can talk to Joe’s parents about their recommendations on renting a few lofts instead of dealing with hotel rooms,” Henry offers. “It would be better and easier. Besides, most hotels will be booked up by now.”

I agree to the suggestion only because I really would like to go back and see the Nelson’s and the girls — the house I can deal with after the new year. It takes a little coaxing to get Mŭqīn to agree, but the restaurant has been self-winding since Henry has been able to assist Maggie with getting Mŭqīn and Fŭqīn to understand the benefits of owning and having someone else run the place. They actually promoted Kevin to restaurant manager and he’s been doing a wonderful job since he started a few weeks ago.

Later in the evening as most of the family sits quietly, comatose from overeating, Nǎinai joins me as Jade sleeps in my lap and Sadie rests at my feet. “I am so very proud of you, Emma,” she commends. “You have grown so much since your trip home.”

“This is my home,” I playfully tease.

With a smile, she contends, “You know what I mean.”

I nod with a grin.

“You should be proud of yourself,” she mentions. “You have allowed the healing process to begin, which will allow your life to flourish in ways you could never have imagined.”

A fluttery feeling in my stomach surfaces hearing her words.

She pats my shoulder and kisses my cheek. “There still might be obstacles in your way, but you have begun to shape your own path in life rather than let life control the path for you.”

It’s a week before Christmas and my friends, family and I are all gathered in the larger of two homes we’ve rented for most of our stay in New York. I personally don’t like to celebrate the holiday for a variety of reasons with part of it being that I’m not religious — but, I’m not an atheist. We put up a tree after taking Jade, Rey and Jet to a local shop that brings in trees from a farm in New Jersey — their first few days in New York are spent sight-seeing and shopping while trying to find the perfect tree. Jade didn’t find it until today, the fifth farm that she visited. Most of the Li and Wú families are scattered between the open kitchen and the living room as Jared, Nathan, Maggie, Amy and Kim help Rey and Jade decorate the tree. I sit on the couch watching and taking a few photos of everything happening.

Mŭqīn and Nǎinai are in the kitchen preparing dinner with the aid of Joanna and Pop-Pop. Along with my family, Henry’s parents are with us, and we’re waiting on Joe and his parents to arrive along with Brittany, Leslie, Martin, Celia and Mr. and Mrs. Nelson. I got to see my reacquainted friends in New Jersey several times since arriving on the East Coast and wanted to include them so they can meet my entire California family in a more controlled and comfortable setting for me.

By the time everyone arrives, the tree is finished and glowing full of love and beauty. I feed Sadie and take her out for a quick walk with my bodyguards. Jared joins me, happy to get some fresh air despite the chill. As we round the corner of the building to rejoin our family, it begins to snow.

After a long and delicious dinner, everyone gathers in the living room to chat and play games. The children stay up a little later than usual since Jade doesn’t have school, and our guests stay late into the evening. Jared, Nathan, Pop-Pop, Joanna, Maggie, Henry and I see the final guests out as we head downstairs to the floor below where we’re staying in a similar condo.

The next day, I go with Amy and Kim to take the children ice skating. Everyone’s skated before, but it’s been a long time since I have and I’m not sure how this will be. Pop-Pop and Joanna watch from the sidelines while Maggie, Henry and Joe join the rest of us on the ice. Jared and Nathan pull me around the ice as my legs wobble under me. When they decide to skate together, I’m left in the middle of the rink with children zooming past me.

“Come on,” Joe shouts, grabbing for my arm. He glides across the ice as if it’s nothing, not a single effort needed or required.

Our hands slip and I fall to the ice just as he pulls forward.

“Sorry,” he declares. “You okay?” Joe assists me to a standing position.

“I’m good,” I claim as my knees and hip sting from the fall.

“You sure?” he checks.

I nod brushing myself off.

“Let’s try something different,” he suggests, moving behind me and placing his hands on my hip.

“What are you doing?” I ask full of concern.

“Just keep your legs shoulder width apart and I’ll push,” he says, not giving me the chance to object.

“What?!” I shriek. We’re a quarter into the stretch of the right side of the rink a few seconds later.

“There you go, Emma,” Maggie comments skating up on my right, holding Henry’s hand.

As Joe and I round the first turn, he comments, “I’m surprised that for a Jersey girl you don’t know how to skate.”

“Ha ha,” I reply. “Very funny. I’m not a Jersey girl and haven’t been for a long while.”

“I know,” Joe agrees. “Didn’t you skate when you were little?”

“Yeah, but I don’t really remember it much,” I admit. “It was a long time ago.”

“You were only gone for nine years,” Joe counters.

“I haven’t skated since I was probably ten or eleven,” I object. “It’s been too long for muscle memory to kick in.”

“True,” Joe agrees. “Looks like we need to practice more since you’re here.”

“No,” I disagree. “I don’t doubt that someone has already spotted us and is posting about how ungraceful I am.”

“You’re graceful,” he comments.

My foot hits a knot in the ice, taking us to the ground. “No, I’m not,” I laugh.

“You okay, Emma?” Jared asks, skating over with Nathan.

“Yeah,” I confirm, trying to stand up with his and Joe’s help. My hands and knees sting.

“That looked like a nasty one,” Nathan comments.

“I cushioned his fall,” I reply, still laughing.

“We’re good,” Joe suggests, but I can see he’s not telling the truth.

When Jared and Nathan skate off, I say, “You got hurt.”

“No,” Joe lies with a pained smile.

“Liar,” I claim.

“I’ll be fine,” Joe tries to brush it off.

“How about a break?” I suggest.

Joe and I move to join Pop-Pop and Joanna on a bench once Joe successfully manages to toe me across the ice. Seeing that Joe’s in pain, I take my skates off and get the four of us some hot chocolate while we rest and watch the rest of our friends and family enjoy themselves for the next hour. When we get up to leave, I see that Joe’s limping a little and tries to hide it.

Later that day, we make our way over to Joe’s parents’ house since they invited everyone over for an early Christmas feast because we won’t all be together on Christmas Day. All of Joe’s brothers are in attendance as well, and Tony and Thomas don’t hesitate to make advances. Their deliberate attempts get chuckles from Jared and Nathan and sparks and idea for me. When the time comes for me to use the restroom, I grab my purse and text Joe a cheesy pickup line in honor of his brothers.

I check the internet for something funny and send, “There’s a party in my pants and you’re invited.”

When I round the corner back to the living room, I see a smirk on Joe’s face. Two seconds later, my phone buzzes and I eagerly look down to see his response. My eyes find
What’s your favorite silverware? . . . because I like to spoon!
.

Halfway through dinner, my phone buzzes in my pocket and I discreetly check it on my lap. I prepare myself for whatever it may be, but heat rises in my cheeks when I see that Joe has written
I can’t wait to make you cum all over my face
. Our eyes temporarily connect, only lasting a second or two because I can feel my face flushing more. After a few breaths, I respond
I can’t wait to suck on your candy cane
.

By the time my friends and I are hanging out in the second living room on the third floor, I get another text from Joe saying
So, I heard you have the hots for me
. I ponder the option to either send a pickup line or dirty text. Once I take another sip of wine, I write
I’m not drunk, just intoxicated by you
.

Through the rest of the night, Joe and I send each other different dirty and funny messages. Our crazy conversation continues when we’re in separate vehicles on our way to sleep for the night. Joe, Jimmy and Allen head to their New York penthouse while my family and I head back to the rentals.

“I wish you were here,” Joe admits.

I try to hide my reaction, but it’s not easy when we’re video chatting. “Me too,” I agree.

“I had fun,” Joe shares. “I liked writing dirty and corny pickup lines.”

“Yeah,” I say. “I’m glad you played along. I wasn’t sure if you would or if you would threaten to spank me again.”

“You can send me messages like that anytime,” Joe suggests. “I really like them.”

“Really?” I check a little surprised.

“Yeah,” he confirms. “I wasn’t as surprised this time, so I didn’t think to spank you.”

“Oh,” I say disappointed.

“That doesn’t mean I won’t on occasion,” he reveals.

A smile pops on my face.

“Seriously, though,” Joe begins. “Don’t hesitate to write anything like that to me.”

“Does it turn you on?” I peruse.

“Yes, especially since I know that it means you’re thinking of me,” he explains.

I don’t say anything.

“So, how often do you think of me,” he asks eagerly.

“Oh, I don’t know,” I say, pretending that I don’t really know.

I think about him everyday and surprisingly to me the thoughts aren’t always just about sex.

“Good to know,” Joe states confidently.

“I didn’t say anything,” I announce.

“You didn’t have to,” he reveals. “I could see it on your face.”

“I should go,” I redirect. “It’s getting late.”

Joe laughs. “Goodnight, beautiful.”

“Goodnight, Joe.”

At one in the morning, I’m wide awake and unable to sleep. I get dressed and text Taylor that I’m going out for a late night walk. Five minutes later, he has the car in the front of the building and I’m getting in alone, leaving Sadie behind. Fifteen minutes later, I arrive to my destination and Anna greets me at the door. I knew there was a good chance she’d get my text and she confirmed that the desk contacted her upon my arrival.

Tip-toeing across the marble floor and up the stairs after my boots have been removed, the door to Joe’s bedroom opens effortlessly and soundlessly. He doesn’t move when I slink over the bed until my lips touch his.

“Hi,” he greets after taking a moment to realize that he’s not dreaming. “What are you doing here?”

“I can go,” I tease, pulling away.

“No,” he says with his voice getting louder as he pulls me into him. “Stay.” His warm lips seek out mine, playing as our tongues swirl. “How did you get in?”

“Anna,” I share. “I couldn’t sleep. You got me so turned on with all your sex talk.”

“Where’s Sadie?” he asks, looking around.

“Back at the rental,” I confess. “I didn’t want to risk her being seen or heard here.”

“You don’t plan on staying,” he comments disappointedly.

“I’m here, at least for a little bit,” I present.

Joe smiles, wrapping himself around me. The warmth of his body quickly takes the chill off of mine from being outside in the cold. The car didn’t have enough time to fully warm up before we got to Joe’s place. Once he has me undressed halfway, Joe gets up and heads to the bathroom to get a condom.

For the next hour or two, our naked bodies conduct our symphony of ecstasy and pleasure.