Emery #2
I turned to leave, but his hand on my arm stopped me in my tracks. I turned to see him staring down at me. The look in his gaze caused a feeling in my stomach akin to hot chocolate on a cold winter’s eve.
“If you want more time, you’ll let me know,” he said. His voice was deeper now, more commanding. He wanted me to know that he was serious.
Goosebumps rippled across my skin from the warmth of his fingertips and the tone of his voice.
“I will,” I whispered.
He hesitated as he held my gaze for a moment longer and then dropped his hand back to his side. “Good.”
We didn’t say anything to each other as we walked to the valet who hurried off to get my car. We were silent as he drove us back to my condo. He didn’t try to engage me in conversation as we fell into step on the way to the elevator.
The only thing he said to me, once we got inside, was a soft “goodnight” before he headed down the hallway to his room.
I had to wake Kennedy—she’d fallen asleep on the couch with the TV on. She gave me a quick rundown of her evening with Timothy. They ate the pizza and played video games before he passed out on the floor and she’d had to guide him to bed.
I handed her two twenties and thanked her for watching him. I smiled as her eyes widened slightly at the two bills before she hurriedly stuffed them into the front pocket of her jeans.
I asked her if she wanted me to walk her to her condo, but she just shook her head and told me that she had it. I made her promise that she would text as soon as she was home. She gave me a quick salute before she slipped out the door and the latch engaged behind her.
Now alone, I headed into the kitchen, where I pulled open the fridge and grabbed out a bottle of water. I bumped the door with my hip, and it swung closed. I cracked the lid of the bottle and then brought it to my mouth.
Just as the cool plastic touched my lips, I paused.
The memory of my kiss with Noah washed over me.
Maybe it was the anxiety that had coursed through me in that moment, but the details were hazy.
I could remember the feeling of his lips on mine.
The pressure of his hand on my waist. His body pressed to my own.
But it was like a dream, and I was struggling to remember if it had actually happened.
Suddenly, I realized how ridiculous I must look, standing in my kitchen and touching the bottle to my lips with a dazed expression. I quickly took a sip of water before I returned the cap, flipped off the light, and headed to my bedroom.
Some time away from Noah seemed like the best option. It was only going to be a few days, but I was determined to get my head on straight by the time he got there.
It was going to just be me, Abigail, Timothy, and Bash. The perfect combo. Everything was going to be easy breezy. Just what the doctor ordered for my very confused mind.
Monday
“Emery!”
The sound of Abigail’s voice mixed with knocking on my door had me startling out of bed. I glanced at the clock and then over to Timothy, who was still passed out next to me. I groaned as I flopped back onto the mattress and used my right arm to cover my eyes.
“Go away, Abigail,” I murmured. “It’s only seven.”
I heard a keycard being inserted and the lock disengaging, and I pulled my arm down and propped myself up on my elbow. I squinted as I saw an Abigail-shaped fuzzy blob enter the room. My eyes were having a hard time focusing, but even I could tell she was disappointed we were still asleep.
I regretted ever giving her a key.
“Why aren’t you up yet?” she demanded as she walked further into the room.
I glared at her. “Why are you up so early?”
She crossed to the window and rudely pulled open the drapes.
“I gave you a full weekend of no wedding talk just like I promised. It is Monday morning, the shop is being taken care of, and we have things to do.” She placed her hands on her hips and stared out the window like Superman surveying his domain.
“A wedding doesn’t just plan itself, you know. ”
I blew out my breath as I collapsed back against the mattress, my gaze locking onto Timothy.
He was still asleep. All of this wedding and marriage talk had me worried.
I told him on Saturday that Noah and I were getting married.
He didn’t seem to understand how that was different from our current situation.
So I just told him that Noah was going to be around for a while and there were going to be times that we would hold hands.
He scrunched his nose at that idea but didn’t protest until Abigail told him he was going to have to wear a tie for the ceremony.
That he could not tolerate. I had to bring him back around with the promise of cake, and suddenly, he was on board again.
My weekend getaway from Noah that I’d so desperately needed was quickly becoming corrupted by Timothy’s push and pull.
So I’d declared that the words wedding and marriage were banned for the rest of the weekend.
I just didn’t think that Abigail would be in my room at The Silver Lake Hotel bright and early Monday morning to pick up where she had left off.
“There’s another wedding this weekend, so we want to get moving to have any hope of utilizing the services in town.” Abigail turned around and stared at me. “Lucky for you, a lot of businesses owe me favors, and I know just the right amount of pressure to get them to comply.”
I frowned at her words. There was no way Abigail was going to let me continue sleeping.
I pushed against the mattress until I was sitting with my back resting on the headboard.
“You sound like a mob boss,” I said as I drew up my feet and hugged my knees.
I yawned and enjoyed the sensation of my lungs expanding while pushing out the sleep that still lingered in my body.
Abigail’s maniacal laugh drew my attention back to her.
“You obviously never lived in a small town.” She entwined her fingers before pushing her hands out, cracking her knuckles in the process. “Every small town has an underworld of mob bosses and kingpins.”
I snorted and shook my head. “You’re a dork.”