At the time, I had no fucking clue what he was talking about, but when my father spoke, I always listened. Then two days later, Emily was standing in front of me with flour still smeared on her cheek from whatever she and my mom had been baking that afternoon, and she’d asked me about prom—if I was going and with who. She never gave me a chance to respond. All she said was, “Don’t break my heart.”
She was so young then, and I realized that she had this crush on me, one that I was sure would be fleeting. She was too young to know what she was talking about. I told her so. That was the last day she ever came to my family home.
Pretty sure Mom didn’t talk to me for a month after that. Dad's words still didn’t make sense to me at first. Until Emily started to change and grow into a woman. Then I got it. I understood more of my overbearing protective ways of her. I think on some subconscious level, I hadn’t even realized I knew one day she would be mine, and it all began to make sense.
“Why do you have to ruin everything?” she mutters when I open the passenger door of her car.
“I’ve never stopped you from going to other parties. But the McDonalds are different. Even the father is under investigation for some shady shit. This is not the place for you.”
“Whatever.” She drops into the car with a huff. I don’t know if it’s the drinks she’s had tonight or what, but something is off. I’m used to her cold shoulder, but this is different. There are no smiles lighting up her face or the normal bounce to her step.
“Are you hungry?” I ask when I slip into the driver’s seat and pull out and down the street.
“Am I hungry?” she repeats.
“You’ve been drinking. Some food might do you some good. Tomorrow is a big day for your father. Don’t want you to be hungover.”
“I’m not that drunk.” She folds her arms over her chest in a defensive gesture. I hate that I make her feel as if she has to protect herself from me. Emily is always on guard when I’m around. She has those walls up as high as she can get them. I don’t respond to her. Instead, I do the one thing I shouldn’t. I drive back toward my place in the city.
It’s not until I’m parking out front of the building that she asks where the hell we are. “I’ve got her door,” I tell the bellhop before he can try to open it for her. I toss him the keys and open the door for her. She glares up at me, so I lean in and unclick her seatbelt. “You’ll get out of the car, or I’ll make a scene.”
“Make a scene?”
“Yes, make a scene. I’ll toss you over my shoulder and carry you inside.”
“You can’t do that.” Her face turns to an adorable scrunch.
“You think someone will stop me?” She rolls her eyes. Emily is a Score; her family name holds weight, but I don’t think many know her from her face alone. She’s still too young to be drifting across the socialite scene. As for me, people know who I am with only a glance.
“You probably own the stupid building.” She ignores my offered hand and gets out on her own. “It’s ugly, by the way.” She drops her head back to look up at it. I snort a laugh.
“I don’t own the building. Only my unit. It is an eyesore,” I admit. It’s flashy and overdone, but for me, it’s in a good location, and my new place wasn’t ready yet. I take her hand and lead her inside.
“You live here?”
“Most of the time. Sometimes I crash at the parents’. You know how my mom can be.” I go over to the private elevator and slide my key in. It’s another reason I picked this place. It gives me some security and privacy.
“No, I don’t know how your mom is anymore. I haven't seen her in a while.” I can hear the hurt and anger in her voice. The elevator doors slide open. Emily turns her face away from me so that I can’t see it.
As soon as the doors close, I gently grip her chin, turning her beautiful face toward me. Her hair is still damp from swimming, and her face is free of makeup. The sprinkles of freckles that cross her cheeks and nose are on full display. I’ve always loved them, but for some reason, she covers them up. She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.
“She misses you. Every time I see her, she asks me about you.” Tears fill Emily’s eyes. Fuck, that’s not what I was going for. I wanted her to know that my mom still loves her and wishes she came around.