Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Emma
T he storm is long over when I wake up to the sun streaming through the windows. I go to roll over and immediately realize I’m not in my bed when I almost roll off the couch. I catch myself just in time, sitting straight up, my tired brain trying to work out how I ended up here.
It comes back to me in a rush. The storm. Calling Jeremy from the restaurant bathroom. Him coming to pick me up. The drive home, oh my god.
I lay back against the pillows, letting out an embarrassed groan when I remember him giving me his phone and telling me to pick the music. My impulsive, fuck around and find out streak that no one knows about, and I rarely let free—the same one that had me rolling around in my bed with Jeremy eight years ago—decided last night was a good time to surface, and I chose that song of all songs to play. It’s my little secret that I think of him every time I hear it. That even though I’m still a little angry and more than a little embarrassed about our one night all those years ago, there’s a reason I’m twenty-nine and still single. There’s a reason I’ve never been able to feel forever about anyone I’ve ever dated.
And the reason is Jeremy.
It’s weird and completely fucked up, but it’s like during that one single night, my heart and mind took one look at him in my bed and yelled mine , and that was that. So, like, even though I can’t talk to him half the time, and sometimes I want to go back in time and punch him for running out of my house with a face full of fear and regret, I think he does belong with me. It’s not like I’ve been pining away for him or anything. It’s mostly just a quiet acceptance of the fact that there’s something there I’ve never been able to find with anyone else. Maybe we’ll figure it all out or maybe we won’t, but there it is anyway. My most closely guarded secret.
Only now I guess it’s his secret, too, since the storm scrambled my brain and fuck around and find out Emma played the damn song. For him. In his car.
And as the song played, Jeremy’s feelings filled the car. Confusion. Guilt. The attraction that always buzzes between us. He may as well have been speaking his thoughts directly to me for how loud they were.
But despite it all, he still came in and stayed until who even knows when. He took my childish fear of driving in storms in stride and listened when I talked about my parents and laughed with me over my disaster of a date.
And it was…comfortable. I was comfortable with him in a way I never really have been before. Comfortable enough to not even remember falling asleep or Jeremy leaving. He was comfortable too. I could tell. There was an easy energy between us that’s never been there before, and I wonder if it will stay awhile, or if it was a one-day thing brought on by an impromptu trail run and a mid-storm rescue mission. I guess only time will tell.
I check the clock on the living room wall and see it’s time for me to get my ass up if I want to get to the gym. Running is my main exercise of choice, but a few years ago I joined a boxing gym just for fun. Something about punching the shit out of a heavy bag a couple times a week really does it for me.
As I peel myself off the couch, I remember my car is still at Pour. I’m cycling through the logistics of getting to the gym and then downtown to pick up my car when I see the note on the coffee table, with my keys next to it.
Ems,
I hope you don’t mind but I took your keys last night and picked up your car after you fell asleep. I didn’t know what you had planned today, but I didn’t want you to have to worry about making the trip back downtown. It’s parked outside.
You asked me to tell you something true, so here is one more thing: That’s my favorite Taylor song too.
I liked talking to you last night.
Hope you have a good day.
Jeremy
I immediately fall heavily back onto the couch, note in hand, my eyes scanning the words that’s my favorite Taylor song too over and over again while my brain replays the image of gold-rimmed brown eyes on mine and a heavy arm around my shoulders and a soft smile that held all my fears at bay.