Chapter 28 Emery
EMERY
“And that, everyone, is Emerson King!” The announcer’s voice boomed through the speakers over the roar of the crowd. Emerson held out her microphone and waved at the fans before she took a bow and headed offstage.
I was sandwiched between Timothy and Noah. We’d resorted to standing since everyone around us was on their feet, clapping and screaming. It was either go with the crowd, or see nothing.
I’d been honored when Sabrina contacted me asking if I wanted Fading Atlas tickets. They were coming to Madison Square Garden and she could get me floor seats and backstage tickets. I graciously agreed, but now I was regretting my choice.
The rock star scene wasn’t really my jam.
“Mommy,” Timothy whined as he pulled on my arm.
I bent down so I could hear what he was saying. “What buddy?” I asked.
“I’m thirsty,” he said.
I nodded as I glanced around. There had been a few vendors walking around earlier with drinks, but once the opening act started, they’d all disappeared.
If I was going to get Timothy a drink, I was going to have to go find it.
Which, honestly, I was okay with. I needed some space and room to breathe.
“Okay, buddy,” I said as I turned to Noah.
He didn’t look thrilled to be here. His arms were crossed, and he was staring straight ahead. He’d been seated next to a particularly excited fifteen-year-old girl who kept jumping and knocking into him.
“I’m going to go get Timothy a Sprite,” I said, ignoring the way my body reacted to him leaning in so I could speak directly into his ear.
He glanced at Timothy and then back to me before he nodded. “Okay,” he said and then straightened.
It was mayhem trying to get out of my seat.
Finally, I burst through the crowd and took a deep breath, grateful for the wide-open space.
Even though I had club access, I decided that prolonging this excursion would do wonders for my mental health.
One of the main concourse bars would do just fine.
After all, I’d grown to trust that Noah would look after Timothy, so there was no need for me to hurry back.
I found the longest line and got into it. I allowed my mind to quiet. I tried not to focus on anyone or anything. It was nice to just be. I thought I heard a soft chuckle behind me, and, against my better judgement, I turned to see if I’d been correct.
A tall, dark-haired man with bright blue eyes was smiling down at me. His eyebrows were raised like he’d asked me a question and was waiting for me to respond. I frowned and began to turn back around. The last thing I wanted to do was engage in conversation with this stranger.
“I’m sorry,” he hurried to say.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him reach forward, but then he hesitated like he’d suddenly realized what he was about to do.
I turned back, glancing down at his hand before bringing my gaze up to meet his. He gave me a sheepish smile as he drew his hand back.
“It’s just that…” He paused and looked around, prompting me to do the same. When I glanced back at him, he had returned his gaze to me and was smiling once again. “You’re the only person out here not on their phone.” He shrugged. “It’s an anomaly.”
I wasn’t sure what to say to that, so I settled on “okay” before I turned away from him.
“Are you, um…are you a big Fading Atlas fan?”
From the corner of my eye, I saw him take a step closer to me like he was determined to continue the conversation. I hesitated and then turned back to face him.
“Would I be here if I wasn’t?” I paused and closed my lips, internally scolding myself for being so snippy.
I was just not used to this, even though I needed to be.
I should welcome flirting from the opposite sex because, lord knows, I needed the practice.
The board’s expectations were still there, even if I was determined to ignore them.
In Harmony, Sabrina’s sudden return had shifted Abigail’s focus away from my situation, and I was grateful for that.
I’d been able to finish my visit and return to New York without having another breakdown.
Left to my own devices, I was perfectly content to go back to living my life like nothing had changed.
I’d been happy to forget my whole situation, until I was reminded yesterday in a meeting with Charles that the board was still expecting me to fulfill the CEO stipulation or I was going to have to step down.
My reality came crashing down on me whether I wanted it to or not.
The temptation to walk out on Torres Investments had been strong, but I’d forced myself to give him a curt nod and promise that I was working on it—even if that was a lie.
I guess there was no time like the present.
I took a deep breath and calmed my frustration. I forced a smile, and the stranger’s expression quickly morphed from confusion to excitement as he stared down at me.
“I’m a huge Fading Atlas fan,” I lied. I’d already failed at dating Harmony men, maybe the answer was guys from New York.
The man’s eyebrows went up. “Me, too,” he said, taking a step forward like I had invited him into my personal space.
Annoyance pricked the back of my neck from his sudden encroachment. I wanted to walk away. I wanted to flee. But Timothy wanted a drink, and I knew I sucked at flirting, so I forced myself to stay put and continue.
“What’s your favorite song?” I asked. That was a stupid question because I knew none of them. I was only here to support Sabrina. I hoped that he wouldn’t suddenly break out in song and expect me to join him. That would make things more awkward than they already were.
He studied me and then glanced up at the menu above my head. I was confused when he didn’t answer right away. He sighed. “I don’t know,” he whispered.
I frowned.
He flicked his gaze back down and then back up. “I’m here with my daughter. She’s the fan.” He sighed and turned his attention back to me. “I’m the designated chauffeur.”
“Ah,” I said and found myself smiling. It was cute that he was comfortable enough to admit he was here as a non-fan, not knowing that I was in the same boat.
He leaned in. “You’re not going to tell on me, right?” His eyebrows went up.
I pretended to lock my lips and throw away the key. “Your secret is safe with me.”
He smiled as he held my gaze. “Name’s James.”
This wasn’t too bad. I could be on a first-name basis with this man. “Emery.”
His gaze turned soft. “Emery,” he said, his voice low like he was savoring the feel of it on his tongue. He knitted his eyebrows together. “Any chance I can get your number?”
My entire body froze as I stared up at him. Flashbacks of breaking down in my car and breaking down at Abigail’s shop flooded my mind. I wasn’t ready. I wasn’t ready to date or flirt, so why was I doing this?
“Next!”
“She’s talking to you.” A blonde-haired woman behind us in line motioned toward the concession stand.
I turned to see that I was now at the front of the line.
His question mixed with embarrassment that I was holding everyone up had me scrambling to remember how to function.
I managed to get out Timothy’s drink order and pay for it.
The concession staffer looked annoyed as she handed me the bottle of Sprite.
I took the bottle from her and stepped out of the way. James didn’t place an order as he followed after me.
“I didn’t mean to startle you,” he said.
I gripped the cold soda bottle like it was my lifeline. Guilt and anger pricked at my skin as I met his gaze. All I wanted to do was run away. But I didn’t want to be rude. James had been nice and, to anyone else, his question was innocent.
“I didn’t see a ring, so I figured…” His voice drifted off as he studied me.
“I’m flattered, but the answer is no.” My voice was weak as I forced a smile.
He held my gaze and then nodded. “Gotcha.”
I didn’t wait for him to say anything more.
With the soda in hand, I hurried back to my seat.
I tried to ignore Noah’s gaze as he studied me.
I wanted to pretend that everything was okay, but I knew he wouldn’t believe anything I said.
So I handed Timothy his drink and sank down into my seat despite being my view being blocked by the group of raving fans in front of me.
Thankfully, Noah stayed away for a few minutes. I could tell from his tense shoulders and agitated shifting that he wanted to know what had happened. That he was fighting his desire to sit down next to me and demand I tell him why I was upset.
I was grateful for his discernment. He could tell that I wasn’t interested in talking, so he was trying to honor that.
I didn’t know what to do. I was tired of reacting this way to every man who tried to flirt with me. I was tired of being so weak that I couldn’t even go on an innocent date or give a guy my number without freezing up.
How on earth was I ever going to be able to get married if I couldn’t even move past the meet-cute? I was going to lose everything that Carson and I had worked for, all because I was too scared to move on.
Noah dropped down into his seat and turned to face me. His gaze was dark. “What happened?” he asked.
I stared at him for a moment and then parted my lips. Call it exhaustion, call it frustration with myself, but I spoke the first thought that came into my mind. Even though that thought was insane.
“Will you fake a marriage with me?”