Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 52639 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 211(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52639 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 211(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
“We wait and we watch.” I tell him the only answer I have right now. Patience is practiced, I read that once and it has never been truer.
“This week has been full of unique adventures.” Emmalee feigns excitement through her weekly call to Diem.
I’m at my brother’s house sitting at his dining room table going over our upcoming run for the club when Diem walks in on a video call with Emmalee. Another week of waiting for her to touch base in order for me to know without a shadow of a doubt, she is okay. Do I have connections to seek her out? Yes. Do I have people tracking her, absolutely. Do I leave her to make her own plays?
For now, yes.
My chest tightens at the sound of her voice.
“What all did you do?” Diem inquires and I can’t stop the glare as my brother watches me instead of his woman. I want nothing more than to reach through the phone and yank Emmalee back home to the safety she can have with me. Except she doesn’t want that.
“Wes, get you got history, get you got fucked,” he whispers, “but that’s not on Diem so the death stare can stop.”
I shake my head pushing down my emotions. “You’re right. I’m sorry. Diem is great. I’m being a dick.”
He leans back in the chair, “brother, I’d be fucked in the head and mad at the world, she left me like Emmalee did. You’re human, it’s okay to feel, but can’t have you giving that kinda look to my woman.”
He’s not wrong. I don’t have time to dive back into the conversation we were having because Diem walks into the kitchen. If I was smart, I would leave right now. Do I? Nope. The glutton for punishment I am I glance to the phone.
Emmalee is sitting up with a black tank top on, her hair is in a messy bun on top of her head. She doesn’t have makeup on and the biggest thing I take in is her eyes. The life and vibrancy they once had is gone. The puffiness and bags show she isn’t sleeping. Whatever is going on, it’s taking a toll on her.
Why won’t she come home? Why won’t she let me save her from herself?
The background is set to a map of the state of Kentucky behind her. This is her usual. She pops on this video and always is using some kind of filter to change her background to give a visual reference to whatever area she is sharing with Diem this week.
Another day, another lie.
Only no one here knows what I know, including Emmalee.
“Cerulean, Kentucky. It’s this small town, Diem. There are these blue sulfur water springs. The color is breathtaking. In fact, the town is named for the color of those springs.”
I want to turn away, but I find myself watching the phone with every move Diem makes. Like a magnet, I can’t deny the pull.
“Where did you stay while there?” Diem asks while getting a glass down and opening the fridge to make herself a drink.
“They have a bed and breakfast that is on a historic farm.”
Diem beams, “I know you love all things history. God, I miss you Emmalee.”
“I miss you too. When I get back, we will have adventures of our own to do. I mailed you a book for us to read. I went to my first book signing in Louisville, KY. It was at the Muhammad Ali Center. I didn’t know what to expect, but I got to go to different tables and find new authors to read!”
My frustration builds at her lies. Yes, Emmalee loves to read. After they both were hurt by Thomas Reigns, they bonded over reading romance books together. Emmalee had to do quite a bit in order to overcome her injuries, things like learning to speak again, read again. If she was really on a road trip like she wants us to believe, there is no doubt she would enjoy a book signing.
“Kentucky seems fun!” Diem exclaims before taking a drink of her juice. My brother reaches out grabbing Diem’s wrist, pulling her to him. She twists the phone to him and immediately my view is gone.
Emmalee is gone.
Out of sight that is, but never out of my mind.
I wish I could turn off the way I feel. I wish I could let her go. That’s what she wants. She’s made it clear more than once. She doesn’t even answer my calls anymore. In the beginning, I tried to remain her friend. I went about it all wrong. When I questioned, she pushed back rather than answer. If only I dug deeper sooner, I would have handled things differently. Instead, I made a crucial mistake. One I knew better than to succumb to.
Emotions.
They will kill even the strongest of people.