7. Emerson
“Why did you have to do that?” I asked after I’d shut the apartment door and collapsed against the nearby wall. I leaned forward, resting my hands on my knees as I took a few deep breaths. This afternoon did not go the way I thought it would, and my mind was racing a mile a minute.
I needed a second to catch my breath.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Tilly sang out. Her words were followed by the sound of ripping tape.
I glanced up to see her elbow deep in one of my boxes. “What are you doing?” I asked as I straightened and moved to see what she was digging out. When I saw the colorful patterns that made up my wardrobe, I narrowed my eyes. “What are you doing?” I asked again, slower this time, so she knew just how serious I was.
“I can’t have you going out with half of Tennessee’s NFL team looking like a hobo,” she said, her gaze never leaving the jumper she’d just pulled out and stretched out in front of her. She wrinkled her nose as she shook her head and tossed it onto the couch before she started digging around once more.
Tilly was being purposely obtuse. “I meant, why did you offer to take those guys out?” I hated that she’d done it. But I especially hated how quick Stone had been to dismiss the offer. Like they were too good to have us take them to lunch. It was a strange sensation to simultaneously not want to be around him and be offended that he was attempting to stay away.
She shrugged. “It’s the hospitable thing to do. Especially since they brought all the boxes up here.” She turned her attention back to the clothes. “Ooo,” she said as she pulled out a denim romper. She held it up toward me, squinted one eye and tilted her head. “Yep, I can see it.” She shook it out and moved around the box to make her way toward me.
“I think it would be smarter if we hung out here. You know, I need to unpack…work on a song.” I raised my eyebrows to encourage her to listen to me as she continued to hold up the outfit.
“Going out with the Tigers is work,” she said as she bunched the outfit together and handed it to me. “Go get dressed.”
I stared at her, hoping that she would see my reluctance. But if she did, she didn’t care. It became a stare-off until I sighed, took the romper, and headed to my new bedroom. “You’re insane, you know that?” I called over my shoulder.
“But that’s why you love me,” she called back.
I shut my door and stood in front of the full-length mirror that Poppy had affixed to her wall. I stared at my reflection, suddenly self-conscious that a group of extremely attractive men had seen me in my scrubby tank and shorts. The desire to show them what I really looked like rushed through me. I headed into the bathroom to get ready.
Tilly was a genius. The romper that she picked out for me was designed to be off the shoulder. It had shorts, but when I stood, it looked like I was wearing a denim mini dress. I found the box with my jewelry and dressed the outfit up with some chunky necklaces. I picked my large, gold dangly earrings.
I used a curling iron to create waves in my hair, and after studying my reflection, I pulled my hair into a half updo. I freshened up my makeup, gave myself a once over, and headed out into the living room, where Tilly was waiting for me.
She held up a pair of white sneakers and a pair of wedges. I picked the wedges and slipped them on as she studied me. I glanced up at her, and my stomach sank. “What?” I asked, drawing out the word.
“Don’t hate me,” she whispered.
I sighed, straightened, and folded my arms as I stared at her. “What did you do?”
“I can’t go with you.”
“Tilly!” She was the reason I’d forced myself to get dressed. There was no way I wanted to go by myself to hang out with a bunch of guys I didn’t really know. Sure, Stone would be there, but he really wasn’t high on my list of people I wanted to talk to.
She held up her hands. “I know, I know. But Cadence needs me to watch Trinity. She has to take Beth to the doctor. Plus, I need to drop the moving truck off, so we don’t get charged for longer than we have to.” She clasped her hands together, pleading. “Please, just go. Have fun. Make connections.” Her lips tipped up into a smile. “And don’t hate me.”
I sighed as I stared at her. All I wanted to do was slip back into my sweats and turn on Friends while I unpacked. But she looked so hopeful. And hanging out with a group of Tennessee Tigers wouldn’t hurt me. Plus, I was curious about what they had planned for the day, and I’d been taught to never turn down an invitation, especially when you were the one doing the inviting.
There were three knocks on the door, and Tilly clapped her hands together, her eyes twinkling. “They’re here,” she sang out as she headed toward the door.
Before I could stop her, she pulled the door open in one flourishing movement. She stepped to the side, and the guys came in.
Stone was the last one to enter. He had on a black t-shirt and a pair of dark jeans. His hands were shoved into his front pockets. His elbows were tucked in like he was scared to touch anything.
Realizing that I was staring, I pulled my gaze from him and smiled at his teammates, who were listening to Tilly. She was explaining how she couldn’t go, but I was still going to treat them.
They took turns glancing over at me. They all nodded and offered to take a raincheck, which sounded like a great idea to me. I stepped forward to take them up on that, but Tilly was quick to wave away the offer. I snapped my gaze to her, but she just ignored me.
Instead, she moved to stand behind me and started ushering me toward the door. She was saying something about how we should have fun. I was too focused on not tripping to resist being shoved out of my own apartment. The guys followed after me, and Tilly pressed the down arrow for the elevator before she bid us farewell, disappeared into my apartment, and shut the door.
An awkward silence fell around us, and I instantly felt Tilly’s absence. She was the social lubricant that I depended on. Without her here, my thoughts gummed up, and I couldn’t form coherent sentences.
“She’s interesting,” the tall blond said as he smiled over at me.
“She is,” I said, blowing out my breath and reminding myself to smile. “That’s why I keep her around. She pushes me to get out of my comfort zone.”
He smiled. “Name’s Isaac.” He extended his hand. “We haven’t been formally introduced.”
I slipped my hand into his. “Emerson.”
“Isaac.” Stone’s voice had us both turning to look at him.
His gaze was frozen on Isaac, and I could tell that he was trying to send a message, but I couldn’t understand what he was trying to say. And I really didn’t want to put in the effort to figure it out.
Isaac seemed to decipher it and dropped my hand just as the elevator doors opened. I glared at Stone as I waited for the guys to go first, but they all seemed prepared to wait for me. I got into the elevator, and the guys followed.
I was standing next to the buttons, which meant I was standing right next to Stone when he got on. He’d waited for his friends to file in, and I could sense his entire body stiffen when he realized that he was going to be standing next to me.
I kept my gaze forward, trying hard not to be offended by his reaction. I was trying really hard not to care at all, though I seemed to be failing epically.
Two of the guys, who introduced themselves to me as George and Jayden, were talking to each other. That filled the silence as the elevator brought us down to the ground floor. We all got off, except for Stone. He moved to stand by the buttons.
“Where are you going?” he asked. His arm was extended, and he was pressing the “door open” button.
Confused, I glanced to the other guys. Was Stone bailing?
Isaac looked at me before he glanced over at the other guys. “Um, how about Tony’s Pizza?”
“On Pennsylvania?”
Isaac nodded. “Unless you know of one closer.”
Stone shook his head. “Nope. I’ll meet you guys there. I’m going to ride my bike.” He pulled his hand away, and the doors began to slide closed.
My brain hadn’t caught up with my ears until Stone was gone and I was left standing with four of his friends. Great. First Tilly, now Stone. It seemed like everyone was content with abandoning me. I didn’t really care one way or the other what Stone did, but he was the only one I knew in this group.
“We’ll get you there safely,” Issac said.
I gave him a grateful smile as he nodded for me to follow him and led us over to the parking lot. They let me sit up front in Isaac’s Ford F-150. I had to hoist myself up to get into it. The other three guys stuffed themselves into the back, and it was comical to see them sitting shoulder to shoulder.
We kept the conversation light as Isaac pulled out onto the street and took a right. They were actually really nice guys. They told me where they were from, their girlfriends’ names, and even showed me some pictures. They asked me where I was from and what I did. When I told them I sang, they all said they wanted to come to one of my performances.
It didn’t take long before Isaac pulled into the parking lot and found a spot right next to Stone’s motorcycle. He was pulling off his helmet and setting it on his seat when Isaac turned off his engine and pulled out the keys.
“Crap,” Isaac announced.
Everyone in the truck turned to look at him.
“You know what, we forgot that we have that thing,” he said as he glanced at George in the back seat.
“Er…yeah! That thing Coach wanted us to do.”
I glanced between them. “Um, okay.” I wasn’t sure what was happening; this felt a little forced. But who was I to call them out? Maybe they really did forget. “It’s okay, we can do lunch some other time.” I just wished they had come to this realization before they drove me all the way to the restaurant. I could’ve been in my sweats eating chocolate right now.
“You know what? Coach only needs us. Why don’t you treat Stone to some food, and we’ll call it even.” Isaac’s smile was wide as he studied me.
“Treat Stone?” I repeated.
“For sure. No need to pay for all of us. Just get him some lunch, and we’ll be square.” Isaac extended his hand.
I didn’t know what to do, so I just let instinct take over. I shook his hand and then pulled back. “That’s all you require as payment?” I asked, my brain trying to catch up with what was happening.
“That’s all,” George said.
I glanced at each of them before I turned and pulled on the door release. “I’ll buy him lunch, and we’ll be good,” I said as I swung the door open. I climbed down, and just before I shut the door, I glanced at each of them once more. They all looked a little too happy.
I was ready to get this over with, so I could focus on unpacking and working on my music. I slammed the door shut and stepped back. Isaac saluted Stone, whose confused face appeared in front of me as Isaac pulled out of the parking spot. He peeled out into traffic and disappeared.
Now alone with Stone, I turned my attention to him. His gaze was trained on the road as if he were willing Isaac to drive back. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do. I didn’t want to stay here and eat lunch with him, but my ride had just bugged out of here.
I could call Tilly, but I doubted that she would make the effort to come get me. To her, this was a brilliant idea, even if I was left to eat lunch with just Stone. She wouldn’t see the problem.
Stone finally glanced over at me, and I couldn’t read his expression. But he didn’t look happy. Which perfectly reflected how I felt.
“I’ll get a ride to take me back,” I said as I shuffled around in my purse for my phone and then cursed out loud. Realizing what I’d just done, I pinched my lips together and glanced up at Stone.
His ridiculous half smile that used to make my knees weak appeared for a moment before it disappeared. “Everything okay?”
I sighed and shook my head as I silently willed my heart to stop pounding. “I forgot my phone.” I raised my hands and dropped them to my side. “I’m stranded.”
Stone studied me before he dropped his gaze to the keys he had in his hands. “I wouldn’t say you’re stranded.”
“Oh really? I have no phone and no car. What would you call it?”
He glanced up at me. “I’m here.”
All thought left my mind as I studied him. I knew I shouldn’t read into his words, but there was a tone to his voice and a softness to his gaze that had me questioning my assumptions. And then I remembered everything that happened to my family after he stole Cayden’s scholarship. Talk about cold water in the face.
“You don’t have to stay. I can take care of myself,” I said as I started walking toward the restaurant. “I’ll see if I can borrow someone’s phone inside.”
I didn’t glance over my shoulder to see if he was following me. I just focused on getting inside. The smell of basil, tomato sauce, and garlic filled my nose as soon as I pulled open the door. The dining room was about half full of people dressed in business suits or construction clothes. I got in line behind a group of guys dressed in neon green shirts. There were six people between me and the counter.
I heard someone clear their throat behind me, and I turned to see Stone standing there with his hands shoved into his front pockets. He was staring at the menu above the cashiers. I narrowed my eyes.
“What are you doing?” I asked, hating that he was this close to me. He smelled like sandalwood and musk. Did he wear cologne? What kind? I shook my head to get my thoughts right.
“This is a restaurant,” he said as he leaned closer to me without taking his eyes off the menu.
“I know it’s a restaurant.” My entire body flushed from his proximity.
He flicked his gaze down to me before he straightened and sighed. “I’m hungry, so I’m deciding what to order.” He frowned. “Unless you’re not okay with that.”
My lips parted. I wanted to say something quippy in return, but all I could manage out was a soft, “Oh.”
He held my gaze. I hated that he could bother me like this. I wasn’t sure how long we’d stood there, staring at each other, when Stone flicked his gaze behind me and said, “Line moved.”
I whipped my head to glance behind me, and red-hot, searing pain rushed through my neck and down my shoulder. I winced as I brought my hand up to my neck. I was glad I was facing forward so Stone didn’t witness my contorted face as I tried to breathe through the pain. I shuffled a few feet forward and stopped, waiting for the guy in front of me to finish his extremely long order.
“You know, it’s stupid for you to spend money on a ride when I’m heading in the same direction.” Stone’s voice sounded inches away from me. I wanted to turn around to face him, but I also didn’t want to find out that he was as close as he felt.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I said as I instinctually tipped my head to the side. My neck protested.
He was silent for a moment. “Not a good idea?” he asked. He sounded like he had no clue what I was talking about. “It’s a ride, Em. Not a proposal.”
Butterflies erupted in my stomach from the way he said my nickname. Like it was as normal as breathing.
“I know it’s not a proposal,” I said, this time keeping my face forward, so I didn’t aggravate my neck again.
“Then why can’t I give you a ride home?”
Heat prickled my skin. Why wouldn’t he let this go? It was better for us to pretend that we didn’t know each other. It was better for him to keep to himself and for me to keep to myself. Things were less complicated when we lived like the other person didn’t exist.
“Because,” I hissed.
“It’s just a ride. A neighbor helping another neighbor out. Unless…you think it means something more.”
I turned to face him, his last few words still lingering in the air. He stared down at me, almost daring me to respond. I narrowed my eyes, mentally telling myself not to let him goad me, but it was too late. He was daring me, and I was stupid enough to take the dare.
“I don’t think it means something more,” I said, enunciating each word.
His gaze drifted down to my lips, where it lingered. Then he leaned in, inches away from me, as he whispered, “Prove it.”