Chapter 12 - Emma #2
“No. It wasn’t. Instead, you put your social life and standards ahead of her.
You focused on what would look good in the eyes of the world, rather than what looked good in the eyes of your own daughter.
You put her needs aside and forced her to act a certain way, to love certain things, and to dress in a way that was acceptable for your social class. ” He snorts and shakes his head again.
“When in reality, it’s not even close to what she actually likes.
But here’s the real problem, you continue to treat her that way.
Just now, you're telling her she should put her own morals and opinions aside and go back to a cheating asshole who treats her like an animal. Because it would ‘look good’ in your social circle.” He air quotes as he says, ‘look good’.
“And that I’m not good enough for her, because I’m just a boy who plays with sticks for a living.” He throws his head back and bellows with laughter. “Which is highly absurd, because I make millions compared to your precious Tommy.”
He stops laughing and clears his throat while resting his elbows on the table, clasping his hands together as he becomes serious once more, only focusing on my mother.
“So, you know what that tells me about you? That you have no respect for your daughter and her well-being. And you know what I think about mothers like that? I think they're unworthy of being called one. And I’m fucking glad my daughter won’t ever have to deal with shit like that. ”
The room falls completely silent except for Gracie’s gurgling as she plays with her plastic spoon. My mouth hangs wide open as I stare at Greyson. I can’t believe he said that. He’s right, but holy shit. No one has ever talked to my mother that way.
It’s kind of hot…
My mother is red from head to toe, her pulse line throbbing in her neck, and a vein has popped out on her forehead. And my father—I can’t tell what he’s thinking. He simply looks pensive as he lets Little Tulip grab his finger.
“Get out.” It’s a whisper at first but quickly turns to a yell as my mom loses her hold on her anger.
“GET OUT! You come in here, uninvited, and think you can disrespect me?! Get out of my house, you lowlife, and don’t ever come back here!
” she screams so loud that her shrill voice makes Gracie wail out in fear.
“MOTHER!” I shout at the same time as my father yells, “ELAINE!”
Greyson stands from the table. “Gladly. I don’t want my daughter around such egocentric, small-minded people any longer than necessary.” He puts his hand out for me to take. “Come on, Bunny. We’re done here.”
I grab his hand and stand without hesitation.
He lets go once I’m up and lifts Gracie from her chair.
“Lance, I’m sorry the evening didn’t turn out as expected.
Still, it was a pleasure meeting you, and know that you’re always welcome in our home.
” He offers my father an apologetic smile.
“But I hope you understand that Emma will no longer be attending your weekly dinners or Christmas for that matter. At least not until that woman apologizes for the way she’s treated her daughter and learns from her mistakes.
I’m sorry, but there is no way I can let Emma be around such toxicity. ”
He holds his hand out to my father, waiting to see if he’ll take it.
My dad observes him for a moment but finally nods and stands from his chair, shaking Greyson’s hand firmly.
Grey steps aside with Gracie and stands by the entrance to the dining room, leaving me to face my father.
I wrap my arms around him and pull him close.
“I’m sorry about your mother's behavior. I think it’s time she and I had a good chat. I’ll call you soon, Sunflower.” He kisses my temple and takes my face between his hands. “He’s a good man, much better than Tommy. I know you’ll be in good hands with him.”
My eyes widen slightly as I peek over to Greyson, who stares at me, then back to my dad. “It’s not like that between us,” I whisper to him, looking down as I feel my cheeks heating.
Jesus, I really have no idea what’s going on with me and all this blushing nonsense. I’m turning into Aubrey. She must be contagious.
He chuckles and plants a kiss on my forehead. “Not yet. But trust me when I say a man doesn’t stand up like that for just anyone.” He smiles warmly. “Now go, Sunflower. I’ll deal with your mother.”
I step out of his embrace and look back at the table to my mother’s now vacant seat. She’s so self-centered, she couldn’t even wait until we left.
After putting on our coats, we pile into Grey’s truck and zoom out of my parents’ estate. Greyson hasn’t said a word, but neither have I. I don’t know how I feel about all of this. No one has ever stood up for me the way he has. And twice in one night. It makes me feel things I shouldn’t.
It makes me want to kiss him.
Not even five minutes on the road, Greyson parks along the side of a deserted street and pushes the back of his head into the headrest. Closing his eyes, he passes his fingers through his hair. “Fuck, Bunny. I'm so sorry. I completely lost it in there. It was inappropriate of me.”
I remove his hand from his hair and intertwine our fingers. “Stop, you have nothing to be sorry about. I’m the one who owes you an apology. She had no right talking to you like that when all you did was point out the truth. So thank you for everything,” I say genuinely.
We gaze at each other, a connection we both feel but won’t address passing through us. “How is it that you know me better than anyone else?” I whisper in the quiet cab of the car. Gracie is already sound asleep in her baby seat.
He turns slightly to me, brushing my hair behind my ear that keeps falling forward. “Because I see you. Everything you try to hide, I see. Everything you don’t say, I hear. You can’t hide from me, Emma Mackenzie. I’ll always see right through you.”
My heart skips a beat, butterflies taking flight in my stomach. My eyes drop to his mouth as he swipes his tongue along those soft, kissable lips. Those lips I dream about kissing again. But I can’t. I look away, down at our hands.
My stomach decides to make itself known at that moment by growling loudly in a very unladylike manner. I break out in a fit of giggles, thinking about our disastrous night. “We went through all of that to end up not even eating.”
Greyson smirks, looking at me. “Makes it seem pretty pointless, right?” he says, chuckling. “How about we go home and order out? Gotta feed my girls before they get hangry.”
I let go of his hand and slap him in the chest. “I do not get hangry!” I tell him, laughing.
“Oh, you do. Honestly, you’re kind of scary when you’re hangry.”
“Shut up.” I roll my eyes as he winks and puts the car back into drive, bringing us home. I look out the side window, resting my head against it with only one thought playing on a loop in my mind.
He said his girls…