Chapter Thirteen
Thirteen
“IT ISN’T FAIR EVERYONE GOT TO MEET HIM EXCEPT ME ,” Jackie complained as she set up the ring light. Since their last recording, Jackie had also invested in new second-living-room wallpaper that went better with Emma’s “ghostlike” skin tone. Emma probably should have been offended by the description but she knew the redesign was an act of love.
“It’s not like I planned to dislocate my knee to orchestrate the meeting. I didn’t even invite Mom and Dad to the urgent care. They just showed up.”
This was technically true, but Emma knew as soon as she told them where she was headed they were going to come. They were “those parents” and based on all the other types she’d heard about over the years, Emma’s gratitude outweighed her occasional annoyance.
“Mom is obsessed with him by the way. She keeps mentioning his striking blue eyes and asking me where to take him to dinner.”
Emma smiled as she imagined the four of them at a nice restaurant together. No more tables for three and an empty chair to remind Emma she might be unlovable.
“I told her I’d only make a recommendation if Chris and I are allowed to come.”
“Jackie! What are you trying to do, scare him off?”
“If a free dinner with your immediate family is enough to scare him off, good luck planning the wedding.”
Emma tried to stop her face from betraying her feelings, but she wasn’t quick enough and Jackie noticed.
“What?”
“It’s just… I think I really like this guy. I know it’s only been two dates and we haven’t even kissed—”
“You haven’t kissed yet? What if he’s awful at it?”
“He won’t be. Or maybe he will be and it will ruin everything.”
“It won’t ruin everything. Chris was a tongue darter when we first met and now he’s fine.”
“What is a tongue darter?”
“You know.” Jackie quickly stuck her tongue in and out of her mouth a bunch of times. “But I told him to stop and he got better. Men need direction or they’re completely useless.”
Emma tried to vanquish the image of her hugely successful brother-in-law playing what sounded like tongue Whac-A-Mole in order to focus on the task at hand. “I’m just worried that if I bring up Operation: Save My Date I might sabotage something real. Or the potential for something real.”
“Emma.” Jackie squatted in front of her sister, which was a little awkward because Emma was currently sporting a cumbersome knee brace. She needed to wear it for the next two weeks before starting physical therapy. It wasn’t an ideal time to have to dress with a brace in mind, but she figured if she didn’t make a big deal about it, neither would her subscribers. “You can’t give up just because you’re scared. If Will doesn’t get what you’re trying to do, then he isn’t the right guy for you in the first place.”
“Is that true though? Because what I’m trying to do is pretty bananas.”
“How many new YouTube subscribers have you gotten since you announced the plan?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Fifty-two thousand.” Jackie waved away Emma’s surprised look. “I’ve been monitoring the stats. This thing you’re doing is huge . People are invested. It’s giving them hope for their own lives.”
“Or they’re watching to see me fail.”
“Who cares why they’re watching! You can’t give up now. It wouldn’t make any sense.”
“You don’t think fostering a healthy relationship without a ticking clock makes sense?”
“Not really. Because what happens if he turns out to be another Ryan? You’ll have invested years of your life in another failed relationship and you won’t be socially relevant or have a best-selling book. How is that the smarter choice?” Jackie was now standing above Emma with her arms crossed. Emma felt like she was in the principal’s office. “Tell me. How is that the feminist option? You’d be putting a man’s preference above your entire life and career.”
Emma nodded as Jackie’s words sunk deeper and deeper. “You’re right. I’ll tell him and see what he says. If he says no, it won’t be the end of the world. I’ll just keep looking.”
“Exactly. And I’ll help.” Jackie smiled before returning to her position behind the tripod. “Now go check the mirror before we start recording. You have lipstick all over your teeth.”
***
“Look at you,” Will teased as he opened his front door to reveal Emma, her knee brace and a star-covered cane. She was glad his downtown apartment building had an elevator, even though she otherwise loathed the area. “I love the outfit.”
“Thank you. I ordered these leggings special so they would fit under my brace. They’re already tearing,” she announced with a hair flip.
“Sexy,” Will said seductively. Emma’s brain knew he was kidding, but her body…not so much. She resisted the impulse to push him against the door and see if his tongue darted or not. “Come on in.”
Will led the way into his one-bedroom apartment. It was on the eighth floor and had huge windows looking out over the closest Los Angeles had to real city streets. The floors were made of cement, but Will had managed to make the space feel inviting with different colorful rugs. His walls were covered with podcast art and framed photos of what Emma assumed were his travels. She tried not to appear overly curious, but she was happy to see everything looked clean.
“How are you feeling? I bought this sectional so you could put your leg up.” Will gestured to the inviting navy couch.
“Really?” Emma asked, completely shocked—until Will started to laugh.
“No. That would have been super weird. But I do think it might be your best option to get comfy.”
“I think you’re right.” Emma hobbled over to the far end of the couch. She carefully scooted her butt all the way back and then put both her legs up. Will sat next to her. She felt herself get nervous, which meant she was about to start talking a mile a minute. “This couch is perfect. Where did you get it because my parents are looking—”
Without any warning Will interrupted her word vomit with his lips. They were soft and big and Emma immediately felt like she wanted to crawl inside his mouth. She kissed back without worrying if she was coming on too strong, and within seconds she moved to straddle him only to realize she couldn’t because of her knee. This left her in the uncomfortable position of hovering over him. After a moment of awkwardness, they both laughed.
“Sorry. I forgot I can’t bend my leg.” Emma moved herself back into her original position even though she wanted their bodies to keep touching.
“I’m sorry I came at you like that. It was pure instinct.”
Emma snorted at the callback. Then she had a second wave of delight as she realized they already had inside jokes. “Honestly, I’m glad you did. I hate the lead-up. It’s much better to get the first kiss out of the way so we can relax.”
“So why didn’t you kiss me on the first date?”
“Oh, you know, patriarchal double standards. And I’m a coward.”
Will laughed again as he tucked some hair behind her ear. “I’ve got two pitches for you right now. One: we order some food and put on a show. This option involves a lot of laughing and probably dessert. Two: I give you a tour of my apartment that ends in my bedroom. Totally up to you. Both options—”
“I’ll take the tour,” Emma replied as her heart raced.
“Great choice.” Will reached out to help her up. “Over there is the kitchen. This is the living room.” He put his hands on her waist, directing her from behind to walk down the narrow hallway. “To our left we have the one very small bathroom, but I assure you it gets the job done. And to our right—” Will veered Emma into his bedroom “—is where the magic happens.”
“Oh no. You ruined it,” Emma retorted without missing a beat.
“Damn it. How close was I to closing?”
“ So close. But now I’ll have to leave and never speak to you again.”
“Wait! Give me a redo. Can I have a redo?”
“Fine.”
“Whew. Okay, come with me.” Will led Emma back out into the hallway to re-create the moment. He put his hands back on her waist and he once again navigated her into the room with the help of her cane. “And to our right,” he paused for dramatic effect, “is my bedroom.”
He looked at her expectantly, with his eyes wide and his head tilted to the side. She burst out laughing. “Much better.”
“Oh, thank god.” Will sighed before kissing her again.
Kissing standing up made it much easier for Emma to press her body against his. Her brain noted how much better it was to make out with someone closer to her own height—no neck craning or tiptoes involved.
As Will expertly moved them both toward the bed, Emma let her cane drop to the floor. It made a loud noise, breaking them apart, which offered a moment to check in with each other.
“Is this okay?” Will asked, breathing heavily, pausing on his way to take off her shirt.
Emma loved how obvious it was that he was into her. Ryan had always maintained his composure until right before he climaxed. It had made her feel self-conscious about fully giving in to the moment. But with Will she already felt like she could scream in ecstasy, and he would join her.
Emma reached her arms up to imply consent and make it easier for Will to undress her. She then leaned over and pulled his shirt off. His chest was covered in more dirty blond hair than one would expect from his boyish face. She immediately ran her hands through it.
“How should we…?” Will gestured to the brace on her leg.
“Maybe I should lie down first, so no risk of another collapse?”
“Great idea.”
They both made the final few steps to the bed. Emma lay down on her back, while Will remained standing. She took in his body and realized it didn’t feel weird or wrong that she was about to have sex with someone other than her ex-fiancé. For someone who was nervous ninety percent of the time, she felt in control and at ease.
Will gently took her right foot in his hand and slowly lifted her leg up. He expertly un-Velcroed each strap before sliding the entire brace off and placing it lovingly on the floor. It felt more intimate than getting her underwear stripped off. Emma shimmied out of her leggings and pulled him on top of her. His full weight on her body made her feel both safe and horny.
“I like you a lot,” she confessed without thinking.
“I like you a lot too,” Will replied immediately.
And then, for the first time since they had met, they stopped talking.