Chapter 5
A knock on the door had Everly and Bam both jumping to their feet to answer it.
“I got it, relax,” Bam said, gesturing toward the place on the sofa she’d been sitting.
“No, I got it, you relax,” Everly said, clenching and unclenching her fists.
Bam watched her fists for a few seconds — a sure tell that she was on edge and in protective mode. “Anything wrong, Ever?” he asked.
“Nope. Not a thing. Just trying to answer the door.”
The knock sounded again.
“Is somebody gonna get that?” Emmalyn called out as she headed to the door from her bedroom.
“No!” they both shouted, “we got it.”
Emmalyn jumped in surprise at both of her parents shouting at her at the same time. “Alright, then. Don’t you think you should answer it, then?”
“I’m getting it,” Bam said, first to Everly, then to Emmalyn as he walked past her. He looked out of the peephole, saw that it was Barron, and visibly relaxed as he unlocked the door and opened it.
“Hey, Uncle Bam. Could I talk to Emmalyn, please?”
Bam nodded and stepped back so Barron could enter. The moment Barron was inside, Bam stuck his head out of the door and looked both left and right before closing it and locking it again. When he turned to Barron again, he was standing there watching him. “You good?” Bam asked.
“Yes, sir. You good?”
“Very good.”
“Good to hear.”
“She’s in here. Come on in,” Bam said, leading the way back into the living room.
Emmalyn glanced over when her father came back into the room followed by Barron. “Oh. It’s you. I’ll be going back to my room now.”
“No, you won’t. He’s here to see you and asked all respectful. You’ll talk to him,” Bam said.
“I don’t have anything to say.”
“Then you’ll listen,” Barron snapped.
Bam turned and looked at Barron with a smirk. Then he looked over at Everly. “She’s going to listen,” he said, stifling a laugh. “We’ll go in our room so you can talk in private. More or less,” Bam said, shooting a warning glance at Barron.
“Thank you, sir.”
Bam nodded, then reached out for Everly, who placed her hand in his and together they retreated to their bedroom.
Emmalyn stood in the middle of the living room, her arms crossed over her chest, one leg cocked sideways, her foot tapping impatiently on the carpet as she waited for Barron to say whatever it was he had to say.
“It’s time to stop playing games, Emmalyn.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, feigning a deep interest in the nails of one hand, as she refused to even look at him.
“Yes, you do. I’ve had enough.”
“Then stop playing games.”
“I have. I’m done. I’m as guilty as you are of playing your damn games. I got sucked into them thinking I could outdo you. That was wrong.”
“Nobody can outdo me,” she said, finally meeting his gaze.
“I wasn’t wrong about outdoing you. I was wrong to be sucked into your games. I’ve had enough. I’m beyond ready for you to come home. Get your things and let’s go.”
Emmalyn’s expression was almost comical. Her eyes just about bugged out, her mouth hung open awkwardly.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I’m trying to determine if you have totally lost your mind, or if you’re serious. Because if you’re serious, I’m about to have to kick your ass. Who the hell do you think you’re talking to? And I am home, just to be clear.”
“My mate! That’s who the hell I’m talking to, and I’m tired of being ignored and disrespected. And home is with me, not here.”
“You’re the one who pushed me to this point. And now that I’m here, I find I kind of like it.”
“How the hell did I push you to pretending I don’t exist?”
“You’re the one that claimed me, then turned your back on me.”
“I did no such thing.”
“You did!”
“I did not! I didn’t bite you. Not even a single scratch from my teeth.”
“Oh, so having sex with me — repeatedly, I might add — wasn’t claiming me?”
In the bedroom, Bam shoved his fingers in his ears and started softly humming lalalalalalala.
“It was close. It should have been the night I claimed you. But I stopped when I realized that the moment I did, you’d just run back to Atlanta and leave me behind. I didn’t want that kind of pain, so I stopped short of marking you.”
“Then you threw up a wall to keep me out emotionally and physically. What the hell was that all about?”
“I was tired of playing with you, Emmalyn. I’ve wanted you since that first dance we went to back in high school. And you knew it. You used it against me, led me on and played your typical control freak games. So I let go.”
“You didn’t let go when I went to your house that night at Christmas! And I’m not a control freak!”
Barron shook his head. “Yes, you are. And no, I didn’t let go then. I wasn’t strong enough to push you away. I’m just a male, Emmalyn. My mate shows up at my home and throws herself into my arms, I’m not going to turn her away. I let myself believe for a little while that I could have everything I wanted, until I realized it was no more than your typical power play. You’d be leaving me as soon as the sun came up.”
“I wouldn’t have, though.”
“Yes, you would. You did! As soon as your break from work was over, you went racing out of here.”
“Because you were treating me like nothing more than a one night stand!” she yelled at him.
Barron rubbed the scruff on his chin and cheeks with both hands tiredly. Finally he focused on her again. “Hurts, doesn’t it?”
Emmalyn stepped back like she’d been shoved. “What do you mean?”
“How do you think I felt each time you denied me? Each time you’d shove me aside. Give me just enough to keep me wanting, then turn your back on me the moment I was hopeful again. It hurt, Emmalyn. You don’t treat someone you love that way.”
Emmalyn hadn’t ever really considered that Barron wasn’t strong enough to withstand her games, her power play, her insecurity as she fought her Bear and resisted trusting anyone enough to give them her whole heart. “I didn’t mean to hurt you, not ever. I was just trying to find my way.”
“And have you?”
Emmalyn opened and closed her mouth several times. “I don’t know,” she admitted.
“What do you know?” he asked intensely.
Emmalyn began wandering around the living room, looking anywhere but at him as she struggled to answer him. “I know that I’m glad I’m home. I know that I’m more settled than I was before, ever. I know that I’ve decided to build my house across the street from Havoc and Analise, so I can stay close to her.” She turned to face him. “I know that I don’t want to hurt you ever again. You matter to me. You’re so important to me. I feel horrible that you were hurt by my actions.”
“What did you think I’d feel?”
“I guess I just thought you’d been dealing with me all my life, you’d understand.”
“Things are different than when we were kids, Emmalyn.”
She nodded.
“Somewhere along the way, things changed. I took one look at you and I knew I’d crawl through broken glass joyfully if you were waiting on the other side for me. You, and our life here, are all I want. It’s all I’ve wanted for a long time. But all you did was belittle my dream. Make me feel that I wasn’t enough because I was happy to stay home surrounded by family and build my life here, where all my siblings and cousins could eventually come home and have a strong foundation to add to. I had to let go for a while. I had to protect myself from you. Just the thought of you hurt too much.”
Emmalyn nodded, and when he looked closely at her, he was surprised to see the glistening of unshed tears in her eyes.
“I’m not trying to upset you. I’m trying to clear the air between us. I’m trying to let you see that I’m done with the games. I know you’re strong, you don’t have to prove it to me. You’ve always been strong. That’s one of the many things I love about you. But I do have one question for you.”
She looked at him, almost afraid for him to voice his question.
“Are you brave enough to pack your things, just what you’ll need for a few days, and come back to my home with me? Are you brave enough to stop playing your games? Because I am. I stopped. I’m here, right now, standing in front of you, telling you, I want you in my life. Will you give us a chance?”
“There’s… there’s so much going on right now. It’s not a good time. You just don’t even understand.”
“I do understand, more than you know.”
“I’m trying to keep to myself for the most part…”
He looked at her, knowing exactly what she was thinking. She didn’t want to attract attention to whatever or whoever she was running from to anyone else unnecessarily.
“Emmalyn, I’m strong. I can protect both me and you, and be there for Brandt and whatever he needs from me, too. You know that. Whatever you think makes this a bad time, is just enough to piss me off, then I get stronger. Come home with me.”
Emmalyn weighed Barron’s words. He was right. He was strong. And with her, they’d both be stronger, and if she was actually being watched, like she was 99.9% sure she was, it would shift attention from her parents’ home to her and Barron. And between them, they were equipped to deal with it.
“Trust me, Emmalyn. At the end of it all, whenever that is, if you don’t want me I’ll let you go and I won’t even try to make you stay.”
“It’s not my job, I don’t want that anymore. I already told you I’m liking being home. I want to build my house here.”
“I already built mine. I didn’t take you or what you wanted into account, because you were gone and made it clear I was not in your plans. But it’s yours, too. But if you don’t feel like it’s home and want to build another — for us. For a family, I have no problem leaving mine for whatever you envision, and making a life in yours. Mine can go to whoever else might want it.”
“Oh, God, I’m so overwhelmed,” she said, pressing her hands to either side of her face as she began to shake her head back and forth. “I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know.”
Suddenly he was right in front of her, his hands covering hers where they pressed against the sides of her face. “I know. I know you’re afraid. I know you’re worried. I know you’re overwhelmed, and I know you’re considering every single side of every possible scenario flying through your head right now. But I also know you want me as much as I want you. And I know you’re as drawn to me as I am to you.”
She nodded tearfully.
“So, let’s back this up a bit. No promises. No vows. Just you and me, and some time together. Get your things. Come with me. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves and make promises or anything that make either of us feel pressured. Let’s just see what happens. See if we can manage to enjoy each other like we used to. See if we can be friends again. I got your back, I always will, and I believe that you have mine when it comes right down to it. Let’s start from there.”
A slight crease appeared between her brows.
He huffed a laugh. “That crease that lets me know you’re a little perturbed is back.”
“I feel boxed in,” she confessed.
“I feel like I’m standing on a bridge that’s about to be yanked out from under me.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Me, too.”
“I don’t know what else to do, but I’m not leaving here without you.”
“I don’t know what to do either.”
“Then we’ll take it one day at a time and not jump to any quick endings.”
“Okay,” she said.
“Okay?”
“Yes.”
“Trust me?”
“I do.”
“Only rule is, you can’t come running back here if we argue. You know we’re going to argue.”
She gave a flash of a smile. “It’s kind of what we do.”
He chuckled softly. “Let’s just see what happens. Let’s see if we can both be adults.”
She nodded.
“Go pack a few things, let’s go home.”
“Okay.”
“Mom, Dad! I’m going to Barron’s!” she called out.
“We heard, honey. That’s fine. Just keep in touch, daily. Like your sister does,” Everly called back.
“I will.”
She looked at Barron.
“Go on, now. I’m waiting. I’ll help you carry whatever you need.”
“I’m scared.”
“Me, too. So fucking much. In case you haven’t noticed, my mate is kind of difficult.”
Emmalyn burst out laughing. “Okay. Give me a minute.”
~~~
Everly and Bam stood in their bedroom with their ears pressed against their door, listening to the conversation going on between their youngest daughter and her mate. A young man they’d watched grow up and respected immensely. Bam, despite the fingers stuck in his ears, still strained to listen.
“You could hear more if you’d take your fingers out of your ears,” Everly said.
“I don’t want to hear some of that.”
“You have to hear all of it, in order to hear some of it.”
Bam backed away from the door and sat down heavily on their bed.
“You alright?” Everly asked.
“What happened to my babies? I don’t like that they’re both grown up.”
“Bam, honey, you knew they were grown women. Analise is getting married, she’s already living with Havoc. And now Barron has come for Emmalyn. It’s where she belongs, and it sounds like he handles her difficultness better than anybody else. This is a good thing.”
“I don’t like any of this,” Bam said, his voice petulant.
“Bramley!”
“Can’t help it,” he mumbled. He got up and opened their door, heading back into the living room. He made a beeline for Barron.
Barron who’d been relaxed, kind of meandering around the living room while he waited for Emmalyn, saw Bam coming and straightened his stance immediately, refusing to stand back, but at the same time showing respect for him.
“Barron, I’m gonna tell you exactly what I told Havoc.”
“Yes, sir,” Barron said guardedly.
“If you hurt her, I’ll kill you. Then your Daddy will come for me, and one of us will die. Then it’s a never-ending thing. Clan is torn apart.”
“I understand.”
“I know you haven’t done what Havoc did, so maybe it’s a little overkill, but she’s my baby.”
“I understand. And I give you my word, Emmalyn is safe and loved with me. I absolutely love her. I’ll give my life for her, without hesitation. And honestly, I feel like I need to say something to you, too. I want to extract a promise from you that if she runs and I track her down and lock her in my house until she agrees to stay, you won’t come after me. Because if she runs, I’m not going to just let her go. I flat out lied when I said I would. I’m not letting her go. I’m just tired of playing, and one of us had to cave and take the first step.”
“As long as it’s her anger making her want to run, I won’t interfere. If she truly doesn’t want you, I will be there to free her and deal with you.”
“I respect that.”
“Take care of her.”
“I will always take care of her.”
“You can both come back here anytime you need to,” Bam said.
“Thank you. But I believe we’ll be fine.”
Bam nodded, embraced Barron in one of his best-of-all-time bear hugs, then went back to his bedroom, taking Everly with him. When he put her down, she was smiling at him.
“What?” he asked.
“You really are a big teddy bear of a man.”
“I love my babies.”
“I know you do.”
“I know Analise and Havoc are good. But now I’m trying to believe that Emmalyn will allow Barron to make her happy. I know how hard she fights letting anybody in.”
“Emmalyn’s got the same heart we all do. She’s just very protective of it. She’ll find her way,” Everly said.
“I hope so.”
“And you forgot the best part…”
“What’s that?” Bam asked.
“Grand babies.”
Bam looked at her like she’d lost her mind, but then in his mind’s eye he saw himself surrounded by little babies all crawling around him and laughing that baby belly laugh all babies do so well. “Grand babies!” he said, his entire demeanor completely changed.
“Grand babies,” Everly agreed.