chapter eight

I was so close to her I could leaned in an tasted her. If that bastard hadn’t walked in that’s probably what I would have done. Of course, he did walk in with Kris. I haven’t seen Em for a couple of days and I’m getting antsy knowing that were literally minutes from each other and I haven’t seen her. The bastard probably has her. What I wouldn’t do to get him away from her. Thankfully, I am aware that business comes before her, so I’ll just have to wait till he leaves. And it’s then that I realize I’ve lost my mind. Over Emily Haywood. My Em. But she’s not mine anymore.

Trace is coming home tomorrow, so at least I’ll have someone to talk to. I’m so confused that any help sorting everything out would be helpful at this time. Mom is normally a good person for this kind I go to open the door to go outside when I run smack into Emily. She jumps, startled by the sudden opening of the door. Em stands there for a minute before saying anything, “You left your keys at my house.” She says, handing them to me.

I take the keys from her, letting my hands touch hers, “Oh, thanks.”

Em shifts from one foot to the other, “I’m sorry the way you had to leave. I didn’t know Chad was going to show up.”

“I know. Don’t worry about it.”

Em gives me a half smile and turns to go. I grab her arm before she can take another step, “Why don’t you come inside? I was just hanging out and going to have some ice cream.”

I can tell she’d wrestling with the idea, “Ice cream?”

I grin, “Yeah, unless you are planning on eating a celery stick.”

Emily puts her tongue in her cheek and step in without another word. I chuckle as she walks inside and sits down, pulling her legs up to her chest and wrapping her arms around her legs. I scoop some mint chocolate chip, her favorite, into two bowls and carry them into the family room. I hand her a bowl and sit down with her.

“Have a nice time with Chad?”

And I bring him up again. I’m not sure why, it kills me every time she talks about him. Somehow I reason that if she can pick out his flaws by talking to me, maybe she’ll realize how horrible he is.

“It’s always nice to have your boyfriend home with you for a while.”

Okay, that’s enough of that, “So what’s new?”

Em laughs, “Nothing much. How about the last few years, anything exciting I missed?”

“Not a lot worth mentioning. Made a few records, won a few Grammys, dated a few women. You know, the usual.”

“Yeah, that’s totally normal.” She mocks.

“What about you?”

“I don’t have that much to say. At least not to the extent you do.”

I smile, “I have all the time in the world right now. I won’t get bored, promise. If you see me falling asleep, just flash me and I’ll perk right up.”

“Okay smart ass, I dated Mike after us, but we only lasted about six months though.”

“He’s not your type, too flighty.”

She takes of a bite of her ice cream and I can see she’s trying not to throw a comment back at me, “After that, I started Creative Designs with the help of a man my dad does business with. I opened one store in California and one turned into two, then three and before I knew it, everything spiraled from there. I met Chad after that.”

“And your parents moved because?”

“My dad got a promotion and they left. I still see them, just not as much. It’s just sad, I consider my home here and they’re there.”

“I can’t believe you dated Mike.” I say, changing the subject.

Emily raises her eyebrows, “Why?”

“Because he was a jock. The only thing he thinks about is scoring, and it implies to sports and women.”

“He was nice, we just didn’t have a lot in common. I just thought we’d give it a try after he asked me out several times in high school.”

I nearly choke on my ice cream, “He asked you out?”

Emily shrugs, “A couple of times.”

He just got cut off my Christmas card list. I never would have left Emily with Mike. He’s not good enough for her. But I guess anything would be better than Chad though.

“You never told me.” I say.

“Gee, I wonder why. You were so… careful with me, the last thing I wanted you to do was beat up or get beaten up over something stupid.” I lean my head against the back of the chair, “I wouldn’t have gotten beaten up.”

“Yeah.” She says.

“I wouldn’t have. You underestimate my strength.”

Em tries to keep from smiling, but fails and starts laughing. Soon she doubles over, holding her stomach. I crack up watching her and try to hide my smile as I focus on staying serious, “It’s not funny.”

Emily doesn’t stop shaking though and I move over to the couch and grab her bowl.

“Hey, that’s mine.” She gasps, trying to recover from laughing so hard.

“I’m sorry, those who mock me don’t get any food.”

Em reaches out for the bowl and I hold it over my head. She laughs and reaches further, falling into me. I grab her hand to keep her from getting the bowl and notice something around her neck A diamond ring. The kind you get engaged with. The kind a guy gives a girl when they ask them to stay with them forever.

Emily looks down at me as I stare at her necklace and pulls it away. I feel like I’ve just been burned by touching something hot. I know she knows what I’m thinking. And it’s not good.

“What the fuck is that?” I demand.

Emily holds her hand over her chest, blocking the ring from my view, “What do you think it is?” she asks angrily.

“It looks like a mistake to me.”

Emily backs up from me, “Marrying me is a mistake?”

That’s not what I meant at all, I just can’t get the image of her and Chad out of my head. Him all over her. I can barely think strait, “How can you marry him?”

She stands up and bites her bottom lip, “Why shouldn’t I? He loves me.”

“Because he’s a dick.” I burst out.

“Don’t talk about him that way.” Her eyes fill up with tears.

“Why not? You can’t marry him Em.”

“Don’t call me that.” She protests. I know she only lets a select few call her Em.

“When I asked you what was new, don’t you think that constitutes as news?”

“You know what? I don’t have to tell you anything. You’re the one that left and you think showing up for a couple weeks gives you the right to dictate my life. Well guess what, you no longer have a place in it Justin. You’re just a face on a fucking magazine.”

Emily slams down the bowl on the table and runs out the door. I put my bowl down and run to the door, but her car is gone. Damn it. She’s getting married. What the fuck? This cannot be happening, why in the world would she say yes?

I throw my hands up in defeat and realize I’m going to have to go over and apologize. Oh, this has not been a good day.

________________________________________________________________________ I run inside the house, throwing my keys somewhere and diving onto the couch, collapsing in tears.

Flashback-

I feel someone kiss me on the forehead and I stir, waking up.

Chad smiles, “Morning baby.”

“Morning.”

He kisses my lips before laying on top of me. I just hold still as he does which provokes him to look up at me, “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing, I just have to get this sketch done today.”

“I know what will make you feel better.”

Chad reaches into the drawer next to the bed and brings out a little box. I hold my breath as he opens it to reveal a diamond ring, “Emily, will you marry me?”

I look at the ring and then back up at him, “I thought we were going to wait until after you got that promotion you’re up for in the next year or so.”

My mind reels as I realize what all of this means. I wish I could feel something, anything. Instead, all I feel is numb. It’s like one of those dreams that you realize you’re dreaming, but can’t wake up.

“I couldn’t wait that long, I love you.”

I manage to smile as he takes that as a yes, sliding it onto my finger. A few tears drip down my face as I look at it.

“Oh, baby don’t cry. I’m just glad you like it.”

But I can’t.

End Of Flashback.

I hug a pillow to my chest and let a few sobs come out. How could he blow up at me like that? It’s my life. I can do with it what I please. If only I was happy about everything. I used to think this is everything I could ever want. Right up until he came back into my life. My hands find the phone next to me and I dial Kristen’s number. After about three rings, she picks up, “Hi.”

“I’m engaged.” I blurt out.

“Excuse me?” disbelief clearly ringing through her voice.

I hold up the chain which holds the diamond and look at the monstrosity gracing my neck, “Chad proposed to me last night, so I guess I’m engaged.”

“Okay, what happened to his big plan?”

“It was shot to hell. He didn’t want to wait any longer.”

I hear heavy breathing over the phone, “I’m coming over, don’t move.”

“I wasn’t planning on it. Just come over.”

I hang up and eagerly wait for Kristen to get over here. She can help me through this. Tell me that this is all good and help me plan a wedding like I should be focused on. The door opens and I wipe my tears, getting up from the couch to meet Kris. Only when I get to the kitchen, it’s not her.

“I’m sorry Em.”

“Justin, you really need to leave.”

I wrap my arms around myself as he gets closer, “I’m sorry for yelling Em, I didn’t mean to.”

I can’t move. A car squeals into the driveway and Kris comes running through the door, who is again greeted by the two of us. Justin doesn’t waver and somehow I’m unable to pull my eyes away from his. Kris comes over to me and stands in front of my face, blocking my view of him, “Emily, what’s going on? Where’s Chad?”

I start to cry again when someone other than me cries out. It’s a shrill cry and I hear my name called. Gram. We all run into her bedroom and she’s clutching her chest, holding her hand out for mine. I grip it tightly as Justin dials 911.

“Hold on Gram, help is on the way.” I cry.

I hang onto her as she holds my hand until her grip gives out and she just lays there. I gasp and Justin runs over to my side as sirens can be heard in distance. Kristen is on the floor next to the bed, crying hysterically as a couple of men walk in. One of them pulls me away from her as the other calls for help. Justin holds me against him as I sob into his shirt and the put Gram on a stretcher. I start to shake in his arms as he wraps me around him tighter. One of the men comes running up to me, “Your too hysterical to be on the ambulance. Meet us at St. John’s.”

Justin pulls at me and we jump in his car. Kris sits in the back seat with me as I struggle to maintain breathing.

“It’s okay Em, everything’s going to be okay.” Kris reassures me.

But in my heart, I know she’s wrong.

9