Chapter 43 Emma #3
“It was a long time ago, okay? Before I even knew them personally. I haven’t thought about them like that at all since I’ve met them, so you have nothing to worry about,” she confirms for me.
Thank fucking God. “But you seem to be focusing on the wrong part of my conversation with the girls instead of the important part.”
“And which part would that be?” I glance her way again when she shifts in her seat to face me.
“The part where I said that I thought about you after we met. Even when you didn’t like me and were a jerk.” She smirks.
“Yeah, I like that part a lot. But you’re wrong.” I smile to myself.
“About what?”
We’re at a stoplight, and I take the time to look at her as I speak.
“That I didn’t like you. I always liked you, Em.
I think that’s why I was such a jerk to you.
” She smiles and softens into her seat. The light turns green, and I turn back to the road.
“Don’t get me wrong, you annoyed the hell out of me. ”
“Thanks,” she deadpans.
“Let me finish.” I chuckle. “You annoyed me, yes. But now those same things that annoyed me are the things I love the most about you. I think some part of me just knew that if I let myself enjoy them, things would change between us. But I’m glad I finally did, because you changed my life for the best, Bunny. ”
She sighs dreamily and takes my hand, interlocking our fingers together. “Sometimes I wish we’d figured it out sooner. But then I realize that if we did, we wouldn’t have Gracie… and I would never want that. So I’m glad it’s only happening now.”
I look at her. “Me too.”
She’s quiet for a moment as she plays with her nails on the hand that isn’t holding mine.
“I’m sorry for encouraging Aubrey to wear the dress.
I just wanted her to let go a little. She’s so closed off sometimes and on a straight path that I’m worried she’ll never really live and grow to have so many regrets.
” She finally looks up from her hand and at me.
“I understand why you try so hard to protect her, but she’ll never learn if she doesn’t step out of her comfort zone from time to time.
I just want her to be happy and enjoy her life while she still can. ”
I let out a breath as I come to a stop sign.
“I know. I’m just so used to being her older brother and having to look out for her.
Even more now that we don’t live close to our parents.
But you’re right, I need to back off a little and let her explore on her own.
I just don’t want her getting involved with the wrong kind of people, certainly men. ”
“Grey, Aubrey is one of the smartest, most mature, and level-headed people I know. She would never do anything crazy. Plus, she’s a virgin. Trust me, if she were planning on getting involved with random men, she would have already done it.” She gives me a look that says I should know this.
“You’re right. I need to start trusting her judgment. I’ll try harder, okay?” I tell her genuinely.
Emma’s good for me in these situations. Anyone else would have told me to back off, and I would have told them to mind their own business. But Em makes me see things differently. It’s another thing I love about her.
She looks down at our hands again as I pull up into our driveway.
My truck is already here, and Sam waves.
I nod at him, telling him to head in and grab Milo while staying in the car and turning to Emma.
Gracie managed to fall asleep in her seat during the short drive, so it’s just me and Bunny.
I can tell there’s something else she wants to say, so I wait until she’s ready.
“I’m also sorry about today,” she finally whispers.
“What are you sorry about?” I ask curiously. I’m not sure what she has to apologize for.
“For drinking more than I should have while having Gracie. I know I shouldn’t have done it, and I feel guilty leaving her with Sam to spend time with the girls.” She speaks in that low, insecure voice that I hate.
This isn’t the Emma I know. My Emma doesn’t let things reduce her to this tiny version of herself. But I recognize where this is coming from. Her mother. She’s thinking that her actions today resemble something her mother would do.
When I don’t say anything right away, her eyes snap to mine, and she nervously rushes out, “It won’t happen again. I promise.”
So that’s why she’s been nervous since we got in the car. She’s worried I’ll accuse her of being like her mom. Again. Because I put those doubts and fears in her head.
I cup her cheek with my free hand and bring her closer to me, kissing her lips delicately.
“You aren’t your mother, Emma. What you did today wasn’t selfish or for your own needs.
You did it because you had a friend who was hurting and you wanted to help them.
You made sure Gracie was safe and in good hands.
You never even technically left her side. ”
“But I did. We went shopping. I left her with someone she barely knows to go shopping.” She says it like it would change things.
“Okay, so you left her for what? Two, three hours at most? Then what did you do? Did you come right back? Or did you go out for drinks or lunch?” I already know the answer, but I need her to realize that what she did was okay.
“Of course not. We came straight back, and she was napping most of the time I was gone.” She looks at me like I’m dumb for even suggesting she would do something like that. "I even called Sam while we were at the store to make sure everything was okay."
“Exactly. You came straight back home to your daughter and called to check in during your short trip. And what did you do when she woke up? Did you tell Sam to go fetch her without even saying hello?”
“What? No.” She shakes her head incredulously. “I told her I was back and kissed her plenty. Then Sam offered to take them out in the yard so that we could focus on Morgan a bit. He didn’t know exactly what was going on, but he could tell she was off.”
“See? You’re nothing like your mom. Because I’m pretty damn sure your mother would have left for her own selfish reasons and wouldn’t have returned until later that day. And even once she did, she wouldn’t have come to hug you or kiss you, letting you know she was home.”
I caress her cheek tenderly as I see the realization finally dawning on her. “And you didn’t leave her with a stranger, you left her in the hands of her caring nanny. I might have been against the idea of Sam at first, but I see how good he is with the kids, and they seem to love him just as much.”
I kiss her lips again, resting my forehead against hers. “You did nothing wrong, Bunny. You have no reason to be sorry. You’re the best mom our daughter could ask for.”
She lets go of my hand and wraps her arms around my neck, bringing herself as close as possible given our positions. Her mouth crashes to mine, tongue sliding in and twirling with mine. I feel her nipples hardening against my chest through our thin layers of clothing.
“I love you, Bunny,” I say between kisses as my hand tangles into her hair in a fist.
“Wolf,” she moans in return before pulling away.
“Can we go inside now and tire Gracie out as much as possible so that she can go to sleep early tonight? I want to put on that skimpy dress and pretend it’s our wedding night.
I even give you permission to rip it off my body,” she tells me in excitement.
This girl. She was fucking made for me.