10. Emmy
EMMY
A few days later…
“I swear it was just there…” I mumbled as I stared up at the mirror in my hallway.
“What was there?” Diamond asked from the other end of the line.
“My gris gris…it was hanging on the mirror,” I whispered looking around.
She chuckled on the other end of the line. “I’m sure you moved it, you’ve been really stressed out."
I sighed and checked my reflection in the mirror. It was true stress had come strolling into my life quickly. I’d probably moved the little bag somewhere in a haze.
The last few days I’d been dragging ass because of trial prep.
As promised, Will had dragged me and a few other first year associates into a huge murder trial. It was all hands-on deck at the firm.
“So?” Diamond said from the other end of the line as I fluffed my hair once more before heading out.
"So what?”
My sister was never one to beat around the bush. “Have you heard from that sexy ass Zane Bishop?”
“Diamond, come on!”
She sighed. “You never told me what happened either, after I drove and picked you up!”
Reversing out of the driveway, I pulled away from my house and headed towards the law firm.
I laughed as the conversation switched over to the car’s speaker. “It’s not your business.”
“Okay the next time you need someone to pick you up from a one-night stand’s house…baby, call your mother.”
Unable to stand it I rolled my eyes. “Sleeping with that man was a lapse in judgment. I shouldn’t have done it.”
Diamond laughed. “But was it good?”
“It was so good but it was unsafe. I fell in with a man whose sexual history I don’t have the slightest clue about.”
“Girl…” Diamond’s voice went on alert.
“I know and I immediately went and got tested. I don’t do casual encounters. My last relationship was a while ago. I guess I was just caught up in the moment.”
My sister’s tone turned soft. “You’re human, Emmy. Mistakes happen.”
I merged into the heavy traffic, still nearly a good twenty minutes away. “I know but, I know to be careful. After my…”
Taking a deep breath, I finally let it out.
“After my abduction, I have really steered clear of men. That psychopath really thought I was in love with him. He was my first case as a public defender and then finally getting him out of prison.”
I took a breath and my chest began to feel tight as hell. A car behind me laid on the horn and I found myself staring ahead at the light.
The stoplight, swaying gently above the traffic, switched from a violent red to a soft green, but still, I couldn't move. My chest had begun to feel tighter than tight as if all the air had gone out of the world.
“Em….Emmy!”
The horn behind me continued to blare. Sweat began to decorate my forehead, and I felt like my body was encased in ice at the same time.
“Emmy!”
As suddenly as it came, it passed, and I hit the gas speeding off. “Huh?”
“Are you okay?” Diamond’s voice remained soft and reassuring.
“Yes, look, I’m about to stop at this coffee shop, but I’ll call you this evening.”
Feeling generous and wanting to make a good impression with the other partner who was on the case, Amy Wong Hart, I grabbed coffee for the whole team. While I waited for the coffee place to make my order, my phone shook. Looking down, I stared at the name.
Rolling my eyes, I was so mad at myself for ever allowing this man to get my personal cellphone number.
Stepping outside, I answered. “Hello, this is Emerald Landry.”
Zane Bishop chuckled on the other end of the line. “Hey, Stank!”
A long deep sigh escaped from between my lips. “Mr. Bishop, how can I help you this morning?”
“You know it’s either Zane or my personal favorite now…”
He paused and I knew he was doing it for dramatic effect.
“Or daddy.”
“Look, I’m on my way to work,” I said stiffly before tucking a loose strand behind my ear.
From the way he was talking on the other end, I could tell that he was grinning. He was enjoying pissing me off at seven thirty in the morning.
“Is there something you wanted?” I asked.
“Yes,” he stated. “You know what I like now.”
“Zane…” he had me seeing red.
“Yes, Stank?”
Taking a breath, I was careful not to let him know he was having too much of an effect on me. “The two of us had a nice time the other night. But I'm not your type and you’re not mine.”
“What’s my type again?”
“Zane, I’m not a stripper. Have a nice day.”
I ended the call before heading back inside of the coffee shop. Paying for my order, I departed the shop and made it to the office with plenty of time to spare.
The rest of the day passed without much incident. With all the trial prep and even some interviewing of witnesses with the office investigator, I knew I was desperately craving a nice glass of wine after work.
Leaning back in my office desk chair, I casually scrolled on Facebook. Diamond had posted the pictures from the welcome home party. The further into the pictures I got, the more of Zane Bishop I saw.
Diamond had tagged him.
Which meant they were friends.
Against my better judgment, I went to his page and found that this man had friended all my siblings, my mother and a bunch of my cousins.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” I whispered.
A knock came on my door and Will poked his head inside. “Hey!”
Closing out of Facebook, I offered Will a smile. “Hey, you’re here late."
“I was about to head out,” he came in and closed the door behind him.
“Anything important?”
He shook his head and then sat down on the couch across the way. He seemed like he wanted to say something but didn’t know how.
“Is everything okay?” I asked, giving him a small smile.
He took a breath and words began to just flow out of him. “Emmy, I know that I’m married. But ever since you’ve come back into my life. We’ve always just been so connected and now that you’re here…and it’s real, not just a flirty email passing between two old friends…the cracks in my marriage have always been there.”
I could feel my face morphing and my heart began to pound in my chest as I hesitated, unsure of what I wanted him to say to me. I stood gathering my keys, knowing it was time to go. “Will…I…”
He held up his hand interrupting me, standing too, a begging look in his eye. “Emmy, for years... It hasn’t mattered who I was with. I always felt like it was you that I was missing in my life.”
As I stared him in the eye, the desperation continued to be present. “I’m not sure what to say.”
“Say I’m crazy. Say that you haven’t thought about me in that way.”
He closed the distance between us, he searched my face and went to lean in as if to kiss me but I stepped back. “Will, I want you to know that, our friendship…”
“Fuck,” he muttered rubbing at the nape of his neck. “This was so inappropriate.”
Easing back, as if he were suddenly timid and still rubbing at his neck he took a breath. “Fuck, Emmy…I’m sorry.”
The second Will exited my office, he took the heavy tension with him. Disbelief wove itself into the pit of my stomach because I couldn’t believe what had just happened. Will was for one my boss, but most importantly he was married.
It was a line I could never ever cross.
Picking up my phone, I texted my sisters.
Drinks anyone? I asked.
Diamond was the first to hit me back. I’d love to, maybe tomorrow night. My husband just came home.
Ugh, I replied. I thought y’all were divorcing.
I can’t either. We’re about to help B.J. with her science project, Summer replied.
We may or may not still be doing that, but that’s not your business, Diamond texted back with a devil emoji.
Y’all suck, I hit send.
Shaking my head, I finally headed out of my office, sure that I wasn’t going to run into Will anywhere.
Exiting the building, the sun was just starting to create the most beautiful fiery colors. I breathed in the fresh air but found that it felt a bit sticky.
My phone dinged in my hand and I looked down to find Zane texting me again.
How was your day? The text read.
It was innocent enough that I found myself actually replying to it. Long and I need a drink.
So come see me, he replied.
I made my way to my car, and unlocked the door before getting behind the driver seat. Thinking back to earlier in the day, I remembered the fucking panic attack I’d had. See you for what?
For a drink Emmy, he shot back so fast I had to look over my shoulder.
I don’t think it's a great idea, I replied.
Glancing around the parking lot, I noted that there weren’t very many cars nearby in the employee spots. Mostly everyone had gone home for the day, although Will’s car which I knew was a sleek red Chevy Camero was at the end of the parking lot.
Quickly, I looked away and threw my car into drive and pulled out of the parking lot.
The streets were still busy as people darted in and out of traffic. I found myself deep in thought.
What if you’d kissed Will? The thought rumbled through my head like beads being shaken in a jar.
I’d wanted to.
I had wanted him for a long time but I knew that it wouldn’t lead to anything good. He had a wife and three kids, if I wasn’t mistaken, at home depending on him.
Finally, home, I checked the mail before heading inside. It was nothing but invites to restaurants and a town newsletter. Slipping my heels off by the front door, I once again looked for my missing gris-gris bag.
You had to have moved it somewhere, I thought.
My phone started ringing, recognizing the number as my new primary care physician. Hesitation entered my mind but only for a moment as I answered.
“Hello,” I replied.
“Good evening, Ms. Landry. This is Dr. Matthews from Nola Primary. How are you?”
The woman on the other end of the line sounded chipper and I took that as a good sign.
“I’m fine,” I replied. “Are my results in?”
“Yes,” she replied. “I wanted to let you know that all your rapid tests came back negative. However, I would love for you to come in and for a full exam in a few weeks. Can you give us a call tomorrow and set something up?”
Nodding, I replied. “Yes, I’ll call first thing in the morning. Thank you.”
We ended the call and I let out a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding. Relief flooded my body as I sat my phone down and went straight to my bathroom. A shower was calling my name and then I was going to go and have a drink by myself.
Steam flooded the bathroom and I finally stepped under the hot water letting it cocoon my body. Thoughts of the men who’d entered into my life as of late danced in my head.
I could still smell Will’s cologne, hints of pine and tobacco.
But I could feel Zane’s touch all over my body, his mouth in places that would make a prostitute feel like she was in church.
Scrubbing my body raw, I worked to rid myself of the thoughts. I wasn't a cheater so there was no way in hell Will had a chance with me. He simply was not an option.
Zane, I thought.
Finally, I stepped from the shower and pulled a towel around myself before picking up my phone. My fingers danced over his name and finally I shot him a text.
One drink, that's it, I said.
His reply was instant and my stomach fluttered as if someone had released butterflies from a cage.
Whatever you want, Stank .
Grimacing at that stupid ass nickname, I headed into my bedroom to find something to wear.
Finding a loose blouse and a pair of black leggings, I pulled on a pair of deep purple ballet flats. After all, who was I trying to impress? Certainly not Zane.
Checking my reflection in the mirror, I noticed my edges needed some love and care after that shower. The steam had them looking fuzzy.
Once I’d applied some edge goo, and sculpted them into place, I added some red lipstick to my look before pulling my hair into a low bun.
I was reversing out of the driveway when I sent a text to the group chat. Since none of you bitches wanted to get a drink with me, I’m making bad decisions.
Summer replied by the time I was halfway to The Conjure. Is it with that fine white boy?
I’ll still bag him if you don’t want him, Diamond added.
Parking in the lot across from the strip club, I read their messages. He’s not fine. He’s an asshole that happens to be attractive. And Diamond, your husband came home.
Part of me was ashamed at how territorial I felt over this man because this was the second time my sister had implied, she’d take Zane off my hands. Once I was inside of the club, I managed to make my way to the far end of the bar, the farthest point away from the stage. The last time I’d been here, some girl’s bra had nearly smacked me in the face.
Zane came strolling up shortly.
“Have you ordered?” He leaned in, his scent surrounding me and a grin on his face.
“No,” I shook my head, my stomach fluttering at his nearness.
“Bobby makes a mean Panty Dropper,” he hollered at his bartender who slid over. He was a tall skinny guy with tattoos darting up and down his arms. He also had an eye patch over his left eye and his hair slicked back into a ponytail.
“Hey boss,” the man said.
Zane smiled at me and then rattled off an order to the guy who took it all in and then went off to make my drink.
“What changed your mind?” Zane sat down on a stool nearby.
“I’m not actually sure,” I shrugged my eyes darting over his shoulder while watching a woman go on the stage.
She began to move to some sensual music and the men were throwing so much money on the stage.
He leaned over and pulled my face back towards him. “I’m glad you came out.”
“You mentioned the other night that strippers are your type,” I bit at my lip.
He nodded unabashedly. “Grew up watching them…I told you my mother was a stripper. She’d take me along, have me in the dressing room.”
Bobby the bartender came back over with the drink and a little straw. “Enjoy, ma’am.”
A smile carved itself onto my face as I reached for the martini style glass that had ice and lemon wedge decorating the edge. Without hesitation I took a long sip.
“Mmm, this is good,” I told Zane.
Zane grinned and then took the glass from me. He turned the glass so that he could drink exactly where I’d had my own mouth. “I told you so.”
We locked eyes as he took a sip and then he sat the glass down.
“Come with me.”
“Wait, where are we going?” I tried to protest but Zane didn't even bother answering me.
He took me by the hand and all I could do was follow, leaving my drink behind on the scarred bar counter. Once again, he led me up the stairs of The Conjure and onto the rooftop bar where people were milling around the pool with drinks and bikinis. A fireplace had a small fire going as well with lounge chairs sitting around.
When he walked up, a few patrons seemed to recognize him and moved immediately.
“You didn’t have to make them leave,” I shook my head.
“I wanted them to go,” he said. “And it's quieter out here and I can think a lot more clearly about what I want to say to you.”
“What, you want to say to me?”
He nodded and he sat down, pulling me into his lap. The fire was crackling loudly as I held my breath. “Emerald, I never got around to it in high school.”
“Got around to what?” I could feel my eyebrow raising itself up into a dainty arch.
On the outside I appeared to be cool as a cucumber but on the inside, my heart rate had picked up. Zane’s scent had me going insane. He smelled like cedar and a heavy fall rain and the second he tucked a loose strand behind my ear he had my skin tingling.
“To apologize to you,” he whispered into my ear. “I always thought you were beautiful even back then and the shit I would say…I was a stupid ass kid, calling you out about how you smelled.”
“We lived roughly back then,” I bit at my lip. “Honestly, you being an asshole motivated me to get out of here and really make a name for myself.”
“Still,” he whispered again. “I’m so sorry that I was so cruel to you.”
Before I knew it, I found myself relaxing into his arms. My mind and body surrendered to both his arms and the New Orleans atmosphere as if they both had some sort of power over me.
The two of us sat in a long silence, just enjoying the fireplace. Zane’s fingers drew lazy circles over my flesh.
“This is probably a crazy time to ask, but how often do you get checked?” I turned my head to take him in.
“What?” He murmured softly.
“Like for sexually transmitted diseases. The other night, I…that was insane of me to sleep with you with no protection.”
“Relax,” he whispered, shifting slightly so that I was angled better and could see him clearly. “I’m clean. I honestly don’t fuck anyone without a rubber. So, it was out of the ordinary for me as well.”
It grew quiet again and I watched as a couple splashed around in the pool.
Out of nowhere, Zane spoke again.
“Now that you know that, do you wanna come back to my place tonight? Or yours?”
I shifted my head and stared at him. This man had way to much fucking audacity, but I was already replying.
“I have work early in the morning, so definitely mine.”
Yup, I thought.
I’d just invited my high school bully home to fuck me.