21. Anna
CHAPTER 21
Anna
E mma and I met at the diner in downtown Chicago. We were struggling to find a new spot for our meetups and so far had no luck, but this one seemed promising. We weren’t strangers to public transportation, so we chose things within that realm since neither of us drove or had the desire to.
The place we chose was called Eggy’s Diner. The menu mostly consisted of eggs and other breakfast foods, but there was a litany of other options, leaving Emma and me unable to decide. We ordered a few different things to share, and some coffee. Exhaustion set in marrow-deep; caffeine was going to be my lifeline. How did he expect me to sleep after showing up the way he did and then leaving as if he was never there?
“Hello?” Emma’s voice cut through as she dragged out the last syllable of the word. “You have this dazed look in your eyes. What’s going on with you? School stressing you out?”
She snapped her fingers in front of my face. “Yeah, the chemistry class isn’t going well.”
She cocked her head to the side. “What do you mean? I saw your grade, and you have the highest one in class. ”
What she said wasn’t wrong, but I hadn’t done a single assignment. I haven’t answered any questions or done any of the online modules yet, Dr. Hart… Reign continued to give me full credit for everything. And I was sure it had nothing to do with my chemistry skills.
“Yeah.” I picked at the bowl of fruit and omelet that sat in front of me. “About that.”
Emma sat straighter in her seat, her eyes were wide and they searched me for hints. “What is it? Did something happen?” She bounced with anticipation. “Tell me!”
“I kinda,” I thought over my words carefully, “might have hooked up with him a little bit.”
Emma’s jaw was on the floor as I filled her in on everything that happened. While it was incredibly awkward, it felt good to get it off my chest. She ate up every single detail that I gave her, and I pulled no punches.
“I,” she stuttered, “I can’t believe that, Anna.” She shook her head. “He broke in, and you guys,” she wiped drool from the side of her mouth, “did that. ”
I nodded, shifting uncomfortably in my seat. My panties were damp with the memories of Reign and me on the desk, on my bed…
“Was it good?” She rested her chin in her hands. Her engagement ring sparkled in the afternoon sunlight. “Like, did he make you,” she gestured with her hands, “you know?”
I glanced down at the table before settling my gaze back on hers, “Yeah.” I nodded meekly. “He did.”
She whisper screamed her excitement, her face and chest flushed. “That reminds me so much of me and Chase, there’s so much I never told you about us.” She giggled, filling me in on some of the explicit details.
I waited until she was done reliving her favorite memories before asking, “So you don’t think I should go to the police?”
“What?” Her brow scrunched together, and her lips parted slightly. “Imagine if I’d done that.” She waved her hand in the air, dismissing the statement. “Despite someone telling me I should.” The implication was clear. “If I had, we wouldn’t be where we are now.”
She held out her hand, admiring her ring. The diamond was huge, wrapped in a rose gold band that looked amazing on her fair skin. She radiated happiness, a feeling that I was only a tiny bit jealous of.
“I mean, he broke in,” I said softly, making sure no one around us could hear. “He all but admitted that he was going to…” my eyes darted around the place refusing to utter the word that felt like poison in my mouth. “Take me.”
Emma’s face fell, and her eyes zeroed in on a spot on the table. Her hands clasped together tightly until her knuckles turned white. “Yeah, I guess that would give me pause too,” her voice shook while she spoke.
“But you know,” she perked up. “If he’s anything like Chase,” she sat back up in the booth, her spine going rod straight, “they love more intensely. Powerfully.” She spoke the words passionately.
“Okay?” I wasn't sure where this was going.
“So maybe,” Emma’s hazel eyes darted around before settling back on me, “he was showing restraint because he adores you. And wanted to show you that even though he had ill intent,” she exhaled the words in one breath, “that he couldn’t actually hurt you.”
Part of me felt like she was right, but the other part of me felt gaslighted, and I wasn’t sure which emotion to run with.
“Emma,” I sighed. “That sounds insane and unhealthy. Shouldn’t a relationship involve consent from both parties?”
A dubious smile traced her features. “Some of us like the element of,” she thought for a minute, another blush flowing across her face. “Surprise.”
I shook my head and offered her a piece of the fruit. “Do you want the last few? I’m stuffed and couldn’t eat another bite.”
She smiled and accepted the fruit and the subject changed thankfully. The restaurant was closing soon so we finished, paid, and made our way out to explore Chicago. We’d spent so much time in downtown Pittsburgh, we were both eager to find new spots that reminded us of home.
She talked and I followed mostly, nodding here and there, letting her know I hadn’t completely disassociated. We walked along the Chicago River reminiscing and talking about the upcoming wedding plans that Chase and her were making.
My mind kept floating back to her comment. The element of surprise? I was curious if that was something men liked. Is that why he broke in? I’d heard of kinks, but my sheltered life led me away from any and all things related to sex. If my father knew the types of books I read or the toys in my nightstand, he would’ve beaten me black and blue.
My thoughts were rolling down a dark path; I shook them away immediately, tuning back into what Emma was saying.
“There’s a campus party tonight,” Emma said, reading something on her phone. “Look, here.” She shoved the phone in my face.
I tightened my coat around me, urging my body to produce more warmth in the brisk air. “Where is it?” I asked between the chattering of my teeth. “Did you want to go? I mean, would Chase be okay with you going?”
Her cheeks were turning a deep pink. “It’s on campus. We could stop by?” It was more of a question, she wasn’t going if I didn’t.
Bouncing the thought around in my mind, I pondered it. We weren’t party girls, we had a book club back in Pittsburgh, but that wasn’t the same thing. I had a feeling Emma was trying to get me out more since her upcoming nuptials probably meant that she’d be spending less time with me. She’d always be my best friend, regardless of whether she was married or not.
“Sure,” I agreed, “but only for a little. I don’t wanna stay for long,” I told her as she nodded eagerly. “I started a new book, and I’m anxious to go home and finish it.”
“Oh!” she exclaimed, “Me too, what’s yours?”
And just like that, we fell back into our typical rhythm.