6. Emma
6
EMMA
The chirp of a robin is the only sound as I descend into the kitchen.
I have my earbuds plugged in, so I flit around the kitchen, checking ingredients and humming along to the soft tunes playing from my phone. I find nothing that’s useful for a worthwhile breakfast in either the fridge and pantry.
The whole house is still asleep. I’d heard Damon and June making love long into the night. I really need to tell them to move into the master bedroom because the wall between our rooms is too thin.
They’d all wake up hungry, and today I feel a sense of responsibility toward them. I grab the keys hanging by the door and toss on a jacket. I can head to the grocery store and get back before they wake up.
Minutes later, Damon’s truck rumbles to life, and I drive it into town, enjoying the fresh spring air of Harmony Creek. There’s something about the crispness of the mountain air that I’ve missed. It’s invigorating. I park in front of FreshOne Grocery and step out, taking a deep breath before grabbing a small cart and heading inside.
The store is small but charming, with a great selection of fresh produce. I start in the fruit section, picking up oranges and apples. As I make my way toward the meat section, my mind flashes back to the argument with Liam in the chocolate aisle the other day. I shake my head, trying to push the memory away. I won’t let him darken my mood this morning.
Just as I’m reaching for a pack of ground beef, I spot Maria McIntosh standing near the entrance with two other women, all of them staring at me. Maria was a classmate back in school and now works as the town librarian. We’ve never gotten along. She always seemed to have it in for me, maybe because our parents often used me as the golden example. Maria has always been consistent, from her days as the school’s library prefect to now.
There’s no escape route. I plaster on a fake smile and roll my cart toward them. “Hi, Maria,” I say, hoping to keep this interaction short.
The two women flanking Maria are Avery and Rachel. We’d been in the same class as well, and these three were nicknamed ‘the Musketeers’ or ‘the Minions’ depending on if you liked them or not. They’ve not seem to have changed a lot.
Rachel has a perpetually surprised expression while Avery is sporting a bored frown. Maria’s face is passive as I roll onto them.
“Avery, isn't that Emma?” the surprised one chirps, her voice dripping with forced recognition.
“Oh, my goodness, it is!” Avery exclaims, her bored facade momentarily cracking. “Emma Miller, you’ve aged so much I almost can’t recognize you!”
I didn’t bother dignifying that with a direct response. “How’re you girls?”
“We’re good as you can see.” Rachel chimes.
Maria lets out a condescending chuckle. “It's been, what, ten years since we last saw you, Emma?”
“Five, Maria. I left town five years ago.”
“Oh!” Maria’s eyes sweep over me, lingering on my empty ring finger. “But we still have a lot to catch up on, don’t we Emma?” She flashes a wide, insincere smile. Her friends, Avery and Rachel, join in, pulling me into a corner. I know what they’re planning to do. They’re going to pepper me with questions about my life, and I need to hold it together right here or rumors about me will be out and flying around before I get home.
I take a deep breath and ready myself.
“It’s been so long since we’ve seen you,” Avery mumbles, her tone sugary sweet.
Before I can answer, Maria laughs. “Long enough for those with the high and mighty attitude back in school to have calmed down. Life finds a way to humble us all, doesn’t it?”
“Uh, right.” I swallow hard. “It’s nice meeting you, but if you girls will excuse me.”
“Not so fast. It’s been so long.” Maria raises one eyebrow. “Or are you being snobbish and don’t want to be seen around us?”
I blow out a breath.
Rachel chimes in. “So, what brings you back to town?”
“I’m here for my brother’s wedding. I thought everyone knew that.” I manage to say, hoping that will end the interrogation.
They pretend to have forgotten about the wedding, and their chatter continues. The produce aisle now feels like a trap. I shift from one foot to the other, my patience wearing thin as Maria, Rachel, and Avery regale me with tales of their success in town all the years I was away.
Maria’s voice is particularly grating, like nails on a chalkboard. It’s getting late, and I need to get home to make breakfast. But I can’t just walk away. They’d relish spreading a rumor about me being rude.
Maria picks up a blackberry and pops it into her mouth, eyeing me with a smirk. “So, Emma, do you still think you’re the sweetheart of Harmony Creek?”
“I’ve never cared about being the sweetheart of Harmony Creek or anything, dear.”
Avery shakes her head and leans in. “Maybe you should care more. At least be a sweetheart of someone. Our parents used to bleed our ears with how you’re the perfect girl, and now it doesn’t look much like it.”
I open my mouth to respond, but Rachel cuts in. “Why are you still single, planning other people’s weddings while you haven’t even tied the knot yourself?”
“I don’t think I need to explain?—”
Avery jumps in, too. “Hey, Emma, can you plan a renewal of vows for me and my husband? It’s our tenth anniversary next month.”
I force a smile, trying to keep my tone even. “I’m just here for my brother and June’s wedding.”
Maria’s smirk widens. “Oh, right. So you can’t even spare some time for your friends?”
You’re so not my friends. I bite my tongue, refusing to speak the words.
I look around desperately for an escape, my mind racing. Then, my phone beeps. A message from an unsaved contact:
| Need help?
I look up and paste on a fake smile for the ladies. “Excuse me, please, I’ve got to…” I raise my phone, hoping they’ll take the hint and back off. Wishful thinking. Maria just smiles.
“Go ahead and answer. We’ll wait.”
I grit my teeth as I quickly type,
| Who is this?
The reply comes quickly.
| Someone who can save you.
I raise an eyebrow, intrigued and at the same time grateful that I can distract myself from the chirping voices around me.
| What do you mean?
| You’re stuck in the midst of vultures. I can come over and pull you out of their claws.
I stifle a smile and type back,
| I’d appreciate the help.
The next message makes me frown.
| On second thought, I don’t think you deserve my help.
| Who is this? I type, now annoyed. Only one man grates on my nerves this much.
| Is this who I think it is?
| Yes, this is Liam.
I grit my teeth.
| How did you get my number?
| Damon gave it to me.
|Why?
| I told him we have a history.
I gasp, looking around. Fucking stupid man. I’m going to kill him when I find him
| Are you mad? Why would you say that?
| Why can’t I? He’s my friend and you’re the one that grilled me for having secrets.
I hold my breath. I shouldn’t let him get into my head. He’s probably somewhere watching, looking for a chance to laugh at me.
His next message comes in.
| Did you change your mind about revealing secrets?
I manage to hold myself steady enough to type.
| Are you out to destroy my brother’s wedding?
A laughing emoji pops in, and then.
| Do you think I’ve succeeded?”
| I’m going to make your life a living hell, Liam.
| Wow, ??, then: Relax, just joking. Damon asked me to make up with you for the wedding’s sake. That’s when I got your number.
| You’re an asshole.
His reply comes in quickly.
| I told you I prefer dick. BTW, I noticed your shadows haven’t left you yet. Do you still need this dick’s help?
I look up to see Maria and her cronies still standing right in front of me, whispering at each other. My frustration bubbles over as I glance back at the phone.
| I don’t need your help. Shove it where the sun doesn’t shine.
I type furiously.
| And the next time I figure out you’re standing in a corner watching me, I’ll report you to the Sheriff for stalking.
I add for good measure before snapping my phone shut.
“I need to go now. It’s nice seeing you all,” I murmur, and before any of them can respond, I push my cart past them, hurrying toward the front door. The moment I step outside, the fresh air does little to calm my nerves. My chat with Liam has filled me with enough anger to finally excuse myself. Just as I think I’m free, the trio suddenly appears by my side.
“Let’s help you with your groceries.” Avery suddenly offers.
For Christ sake. “I can’t handle it.”
“We’re out here already,” Rachel adds with a smirk. “It’s been so long since we saw each other, and it would be unfair to refuse our help.”
Trapped again, I sigh and force a smile. “Sure, thanks,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady.
As the four of us walk toward the parking lot, Avery suddenly asks, “So, is the texter your boyfriend?”
Before I can respond, Maria cuts in, “I asked June, and she said Emma doesn’t have a boyfriend.”
Rachel gives me a mocking pity look. “I hope you find one soon, Emma. We wouldn’t want you to become an old, shriveled spinster.”
Avery jumps in again, “Maybe I can match you with one of my relatives. How about my cousin Tom? He’s single and just your age.”
Maria chimes in with a scathing remark, “Though she might be too old for him. Or too picky. Standards, you know?”
My hands clench into fists, and I’m about to let out a torrent of anger when a soft voice cuts through the air behind me.
“Honey.”
Maria looks puzzled and asks, “Is that man calling you?”
“Sweetheart.” The voice calls out again, louder this time.
I whirl around, my heart racing. There stands Liam, towering in the center of the walkway. His dark eyebrows are furrowed, and his chiseled jaw is set in a smile. His eyes are fixed on me like a predator locking onto its prey. I take a deep breath, ready to unleash my frustration, but before I can say anything, he hurries toward me, his eyes never leaving mine.
I stumble back a few steps, feeling helpless. All the thoughts in my head dissolve into nothing, replaced by confusing emotions triggered by the stormy gray dare in Liam’s eyes. He suddenly wraps his arms around me, pulling me against his solid frame. The scent of him—rugged, powerful, and intoxicating—overwhelms my senses. My heart flutters as he leans in and brushes his lips across mine.
All the thoughts in my head evaporate into emptiness. Oh God, how does he do this to me? He bends me back at the waist, pushing his right thigh between my legs, cradling my head in his hand, his fingers massaging my scalp as he swoops his tongue into my mouth.
I should resist, push him away, scream at him…but the only thing I can do is melt. A shudder runs through me, making my body jelly in his arms. His thigh rubs against my thighs as he kisses me.
I can feel the lightning sparkle between us, swallowing up all my anger into dark clouds and releasing them in torrents of pleasure. Our tongues tangle, and my legs grow weaker by the minute, so I wrap an arm around his waist to hold on. And just when everything else disappears around us, leaving him and only him, he breaks the kiss.
I’m still in shock when he raises his head and says, “I missed you, honey. Who knew shopping would take so long.”
I blink up at him in confusion for a second before he releases me. I stagger for a split second, grateful for the car behind me breaking my fall. Liam grins at me before turning to the other women, who are watching with their mouths open.
“Thank you for helping my girlfriend, ladies. I hope we meet again so Emma can properly introduce us.” He collects the grocery bags from their stunned hands.
He links his arm with mine, helping me force my unsteady legs toward the car. I can almost hear the collective gasp of disbelief from Maria, Rachel, and Avery as they turn around and hurry away, too.
As soon as we’re out of earshot, I pull away from Liam, my mind racing. “What did you just do?” I gasp, my voice trembling with a mix of anger and confusion.