Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 45210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
“Look, lady—”
She cuts me off. “This is Violet, at Red’s Diner.”
I stop in my tracks. Why would Violet from Red’s Diner be calling me? And then I remember Emerson talking about the cake at Red’s. “Emerson? Are you saying Emerson’s there?”
She gives a sarcastic “Yep,” and then before I can get a word in, she continues, “Yep, Emerson is here, eyes red and swollen talking about needing a place to live.”
I turn on my heel and start jogging to the parking lot. “She lives with me.”
“Oh yeah? If that’s true, then why has she been crying like her heart is broken?”
My first thought is someone told her the story about me and her dad. She knows it’s my fault and she’s ending things. Well, fuck that, she’s not ending things without a fight from me. I’ve thought about this all morning, and somehow I have to find a way to keep her. I loved her dad, and she knows that. I would have done anything to save him. It was a freak accident and I can pray she won’t hold it against me.
“I’m going to fix this.”
Violet is gruff and straightforward. “Oh yeah, you’re going to fix it? Well, I hope you do or else those box seats tickets to the Jasper Eagles game that my husband promised you are going to be given to someone else.”
“Don’t let her leave,” I demand.
“Hurry,” she answers in return and then hangs up.
I get in my truck and drive too fast into town. I keep fucking up, over and over, and I’m not sure how many times she’s going to forgive me. I should have stayed in bed and talked to her this morning instead of leaving.
I barely get parked out front of Red’s Diner and am in the front door in a flash. I look around, and Violet is standing toward the back, pointing to a booth against the windows. Emerson is leaning over, writing in one of her notebooks.
I stop at the table, and I don’t even try to hide the pain in my voice. “You’re leaving me?”
When she raises her head, I see the torment and pure anguish on her face. I hate that she’s been crying. She sticks her chin out at me. “That’s what you wanted, right?”
My mouth drops. “Why would you think that? What happened between last night and today?”
“In your letter, you said that no matter what, you loved me. That no matter what happens. Basically, you’re pushing me away… again. I was just beating you to the punch this time.”
I shake my head and slide into the booth next to her. “That’s not what I meant at all in that letter.”
She sniffles, and there’s no trust in her eyes as she looks at me. ‘Oh yeah? What does that mean then? No matter what happens, you love me. It’s pretty ominous, if you ask me.”
I lean forward.
“No, listen, come home… to our home.”
She crosses her arms over her chest. “Why?”
I reach for her hand. “So we can talk.”
Her hand tenses at my touch, and that is like a kick in the gut. Her voice drops. “Are you taking me home to break up with me, Kanan? Because if so, just do it here.”
I suck in a deep breath. “No, I’m not now or ever going to break up with you. There are things I need to tell you, things I think you should know, and I’m afraid you’ll leave me—”
She gasps. “Leave you? I would never leave you… What are you even talking about? That doesn’t make any sense.”
I take her hand in both of mine. “I hope you feel the same way after we talk, Em. I really do.”
She looks worried, but she nods her head. “Fine, let’s go.”
I slide out of the booth, throw down some cash, and then lead her to the front.
Violet steps in front of Emerson, and they hug. Violet is telling her to call if she ever needs anything, and it’s amazing to see the impact Emerson has on people, even people she just met.
“Thanks for calling me,” I tell Violet and then lead Emerson outside. We stand under the awning as the rain continues. “How did you get here?” I look around for any familiar cars or trucks, but don’t see any from workers at the compound.
“I called a driver.”
I take off my jacket and put it around her shoulders before walking her to my truck. I help her in and then take my time walking around to the other side. As I get in and start driving, she turns in her seat to me. “So… talk.”
I glance at her out of the corner of my eye. “No, when we talk, I need to be holding you, Emerson. And I need you to promise me that you’re going to hear me out.”