Chapter 17
Emma
Emma hadn’t planned on making Lisa take Riley out. But when she got stuck in an extra-long tutoring session, she shot her a quick text asking if she could use the spare key and take Riley for a quick bathroom break. He was probably about to burst after being inside all day since early that morning.
While she found it peculiar that Lisa had walked him all the way there, it ended up being easier for her to get here straight from school. What she wasn’t expecting was to find the one man she couldn’t seem to forget, standing there and petting her dog.
“I’m gonna take Riley further down,”
Lisa said, grabbing the leash back from Emma. “You two should hang out. Why don’t you grab a bite to eat at The Point?”
The thought of walking along the beach with Luke made Emma’s heart race. “Thanks for taking Riley, Lisa. I’ll text you when I’m on my way back.”
“Take your time.”
Lisa waved at Luke, making the hashtag sign with her hands, and mouthing the words ‘hashtag Lemma’ when his back was turned.
Emma rolled her eyes and turned toward Luke as they began to walk down the beach.
“So, how was your day? Is it good to be back in the classroom?” he asked.
“It was great. I was so busy I didn’t have time to think, but I enjoyed every minute. I love kids, and it just feels natural for me to teach.”
Despite Chad’s negative comments about her teaching job creeping into her mind, Emma pushed them aside and focused on her conversation with Luke. He shared details about his career as a financial consultant and his travels, leaving Emma in awe of his experiences. He was unique and unlike anyone she had met before. The way Luke spoke, his confident demeanor and his sense of adventure, had her feeling drawn to him. She found herself wanting to spend more time with him, not wanting this day to end.
As they rounded a bend, a small beachfront bistro caught their eye, with its large neon sign reading “The Point”
blinking on and off.
“This is The Point?”
Luke asked.
Emma nodded, a grin spreading across her face. “The food is to die for. I haven’t been here in forever,”
she said, her eyes brightening.
“Well, I’m hungry,”
Luke said. “How about you?”
She laughed, her stomach growling in agreement. “Famished.”
Luke held out his arm with a devilish smile on his lips. “Shall we?”
Emma hooked her arm around his, causing a surge of excitement to course through her. The sensation of his muscular arm linked with hers triggered memories of the moment he had caught her from falling. Together, they walked toward the entrance of the restaurant, their steps in sync with each other. Emma’s eyes darted to a couple entering the foyer.
Her grip on Luke’s arm tightened, and she turned to him. “I don’t think we should go in there,”
she whispered.
Luke looked over and raised an eyebrow. “Why not?”
Emma’s body tensed with anxiety, all the air leaving her lungs. “Chad and Ashley are here,”
she said, turning away from the foyer, hoping they hadn’t seen her. The last thing she wanted was for any sort of altercation to happen while Luke was there.
Luke followed her gaze, then turned back to her. “Well, the thing is, I’ll be by your side the whole time. But it’s up to you if you want to go in or not. We can always find someplace else.”
“Okay, we’ll just go in. It’ll be fine,”
Emma said and nodded, her voice steady.
Emma’s heart pounded with a mixture of nerves and excitement when Luke reached down and took her hand. He held on firmly as they walked up the stairs that led up from the sand. Emma couldn’t believe this was all happening. Despite her unease about the possibility of running into Chad and Ashley, Emma found solace in standing by Luke’s side. She had an unexplainable sense of comfort and security with him, something she had never experienced with anyone else before. It was as if nothing could harm her as long as she was with him.
As they stopped at the hostess stand, a warm glow of soft lighting and the delicious aroma of food wafting from the kitchen enveloped them. The lively sounds of dinner music were heard coming from somewhere in the near distance, adding to the cheerful atmosphere.
“Emma! You’re back!”
Luis, the owner of The Point, ran over to Emma, grinning widely. He was short and balding with a thick black mustache under his nose.
Emma smiled warmly. “It’s good to see you too, Luis.”
“And you’ve brought a friend with you?”
Luis raised his eyebrows suggestively.
Emma giggled. “Luis, this is Luke. Luke, Luis is the owner and a friend of mine.”
“Hi Emma! We haven’t seen you in forever!”
greeted the hostess, her voice full of the bustling energy of the restaurant. “Give me a few minutes and I’ll find an open table for you.”
Luke looked down at Emma and chuckled. “So, I guess you come here pretty often.”
“Well, I used to...with Chad,”
Emma hesitated.
Luke squeezed her hand. “Well, you’re here with me now. So, here’s to new memories.”
“I have to run and grab Carmen. She’ll be dying to see you!”
Luis said as he scurried off to the back.
“Carmen is Luis’s sister. They own this place together. They’re really nice people,”
Emma explained.
Luke looked around the warm and cozy restaurant. “I love the vibes here already.”
A minute later, Carmen walked up to the hostess stand. She was a thin woman with graying black hair pulled up into a bun.
“Oh, my goodness, Emma! You’ve stayed away too long!”
Carmen said, her voice laced with excitement.
Emma flashed her a dazzling smile. “I know. I have. I’m happy to be back though.”
Carmen smiled back at Emma. “You are glowing! I don’t know if I’ve ever seen you look so happy.”
She glanced over at Luke, raising her eyebrows. “I can see why.”
“Aww. Thank you,”
Emma said. “This is Luke. He’s new to Hadley Cove.”
Carmen shook his hand and gave him a flirtatious smile. “What a catch! And easy on the eyes too.”
She leaned toward Emma. “I call dibs on this one if you decide you don’t like him anymore.”
Emma laughed, playfully hitting Carmen’s arm. “Oh, I’ll be sure to let him know.”
“Well, it’s lucky you came in tonight because we have some wonderful specials from the chef. Let me find the hostess, and she’ll get you seated.”
“Is your terrace open?”
Emma asked.
“It is, but no one is sitting out there yet. It’s still early.”
“Well, we’ll sit out there if that’s alright.”
“For you, anything!”
As Carmen walked away, Emma and Luke remained standing, holding hands. Emma felt a surge of joy and excitement, but also a twinge of uncertainty. She couldn’t believe she was here with someone new, someone who made her feel so alive.
A few minutes later, they were shown to their table on the terrace, with a breathtaking view of the ocean. Waves rose and fell in a soothing rhythm, their white crests crashing against the shore in a spray of foam. Seagulls soared overhead, their calls blending with the distant sound of boats and jet skis. The afternoon sunbathed everything in a warm golden light, casting long shadows on the sand and creating a shimmering path on the water’s surface. Emma was captivated by the beauty of it all. Luke held her hand as they sat down, and a sense of peace swept over her.
As she daydreamed about a future with Luke, walks on the beach, lazy Sundays curled up together, and whispered promises of forever, Emma felt a flicker of doubt. The memories of Chad’s betrayal lingered, casting a shadow of uncertainty over Emma’s heart. She remembered the nights spent crying, the endless questions that kept her awake. She didn’t want to make the same mistakes again, and the fear of repeating the past held her back. Emma longed for certainty, for a sign that would guide her in the right direction.
She genuinely liked Luke but wasn’t sure if she was ready for something more serious. How would she ever truly know?