Chapter 31
Emma
Ihad just sat down at my makeshift desk in the garage, ready to hit record on my next YouTube episode to talk about updrafts and downdrafts, when my phone started ringing. It was a video call from Jameson. That was weird; he rarely ever did video chat.
Hitting the green button, I braced myself, trying to erase the stress over the paparazzi interaction from my face, and make it appear like everything was still newlywed bliss. A second later both Jameson’s and my mom’s faces appeared on the screen.
My mom grinned. “There’s my Emma Bear!”
“Hey, Em,” Jameson greeted.
My heart squeezed at the sight of them. It hadn’t been that long since I’d last seen them, but it felt like forever. I’d been so lost in the little world Liam and I had created that I hadn’t realized how much I missed my family too.
“Hey,” I replied, a genuine smile making its way across my face. “How are you doing, Mom?”
Jameson snorted. “Nice to see you too,” he joked.
“Oh, I know you’re just fine, Jam-Jam.” I waved a hand, chuckling. “I would’ve heard otherwise from Elsie or Maya if you weren’t.”
He opened his mouth to argue, but then stopped himself, shrugging in acceptance.
“I’m just fine, dear,” Mom said. “We wanted to check in on you, but didn’t want to intrude on you and Liam.”
Probably a good idea since we’ve spent the last couple days kissing whenever possible.
Heat flooded my face, and Mom laughed.
“So, I take it things are going well for you two,” she commented. Sometimes I hated that she could read me so well. “Does that mean Liam finally admitted his feelings?”
For a second, I froze, completely confused as to what she meant since she was never told our marriage was fake.
“Um, what?” I fixed a glare on Jameson. Had he told her even though I’d asked him not to?
“Oh, Jameson didn’t spill the beans, Emma. I might be getting older, but I’m not blind. You and Liam acted like you barely knew each other at the wedding, and I’d never seen such a thing with you two. I knew something was off, but I figured you’d tell me when you were ready. As long as you were safe and taken care of, I was ready to be patient and wait for you to tell me.”
“Until you went radio silent,” Jameson chimed in, “and she cornered me and asked what was going on.”
“Don’t be mad at Jamie. He tried to fend me off, but I was persistent.”
Jameson gave an apologetic smile in response.
I blew out a breath, preparing to finally tell Mom about the marriage scheme. Part of me was relieved at the prospect of no longer hiding something from her.
Mom was quiet and thoughtful as I explained everything that had happened, why I’d agreed to the marriage, and how it benefited both of us. I wasn’t sure how I expected her to take the news, but I didn’t expect her to nod and say, “But now you both have admitted you’re in love with each other, right?”
“Um, not exactly,” I admitted.
“Emma Walker, why the heck not?”
A chill went down my spine hearing my mom use my married name. For some reason it made it feel more real.
I winced. “We’re really bad at feelings talk?” It came out as a question since I wasn’t really sure why Liam and I couldn’t just talk about how we felt.
“Emma Bear, take it from someone who has lived a long time, and lost a lot over the years. Life is so short. Tell Liam how you feel. That boy has been in love with you for so long, he’s just been in denial. If you continue to wait to tell him, you’ll only grow to resent him. I don’t know what will happen at the end of this silly marriage contract, but I do know that you’ll regret it if you don’t tell him. Quit wasting precious time.”
Coming from my mom, who had lost her husband so many years ago and then fought a hard battle with cancer, the words hit their mark. She knew better than anyone what it was like to love and lose someone. The words were firm, but came from a desperation for her daughter to find real love.
Was it possible for Liam and me to have that?
I wanted to tell him. I really did. But it was so easy to let my fear of being rejected by him, being crushed, get in the way of finally being honest.
“It’s worth the risk, Em,” Jameson added. “Even if it’s scary.”
Tears burned in my eyes. They were right. I knew they were right. If both Jameson and my mom had found the courage to tell the ones they loved how they felt, then why couldn’t I?
I just wished it was easier.
“Thanks, guys,” I finally said, swallowing down my tears. I didn’t know what else to say, but the great thing about my family was I didn’t have to say anything at all. They knew I appreciated them. Their words meant everything.
“If you can chase tornadoes, dear, then you can tell Liam that you love him,” Mom said. “You’re brave, Emma. Braver than most.”
“You’ve got this,” Jam-Jam added. “And we’re right here no matter what.”
I swiped at the rogue tear escaping my eye and tried to smile.
“I love you both.”
“And we love you,” Mom replied. “Now go put on your brave tornado chasin’ panties and tell Liam the truth.”
The words were so ridiculous that I burst out laughing. “Tornado chasin’ panties?”
“Well, something has to make you brave enough to go chase after those terrifying things. I just figured it was your underwear.”
I couldn’t stop the laughter bubbling out of me. Even Jameson chuckled at Mom’s ridiculousness.
“All right, Mom. I’ll put on my chasing panties and try to be honest with Liam.”
Mom’s smile was brighter than the sun. “That’s my girl.”