Page 75 of Caught in the Middle

“Why didn’t you?” Her question was asked in anger and Lulu’s response was hoarse like she hated being in this position.

“It doesn’t matter,” Lauren protested. “At the end of the day, none of this should matter. Not how we started talking. Not that you guys have a history. None of it. It’s all old news, and now we’re trying to start this new chapter and we want you all a part of it.”

Emma choked out a laugh that sounded more vicious than anything. Cam saw that Asher was choosing to look down, his mouth shut much like Cam’s at this point, and even Henry seemed to sit back, the image of a dad who knew they’d have to work it out amongst themselves. Still, it didn’t stop Lulu from speaking up.

“Emma, I’m sorry. It wasn’t that I wanted to keep anything from you, I just didn’t know the right way to approach it.”

“How about honesty?” Emma shot back.

It was Lulu’s turn to scoff out a laugh. “Real ironic coming from you.”

“What’s that mean?” Lauren asked, a brow arched as she looked between the two of them.

“You’re supposed to be my best friend,” Emma said, ignoring Lauren.

“I am,” Lulu exclaimed, while Lauren asked again, “What’s ironic?” They continued to ignore her.

“Then why couldn’t you tell me? You knew I didn’t care about the breakup,” she said, not even bothering to sound guilty over the admission. “You should’ve known I wouldn’t have cared except maybe an initial shock.”

Cam could tell Lulu was tired of being in the middle of it as her temper rose and her tone sharpened. “I said I’m sorry Emma. Can’t you put yourself in my shoes for a minute? I’m not going to choose between my sister and my best friend.”

He could feel the way Emma internalized that as an invisible blow, her entire body freezing and her face falling. “So much for being a sister too, huh?” Her words sliced as sharp as knives through the air. “I’m part of the family until it’s an inconvenience.”

Henry spoke up. “That’s not true. No matter what goes on between you three, you’re one of us, Emma. You always will be.” She blinked back the tears.

“You’re overreacting,” Lauren commented as she rolled her eyes, which Cam knew wouldn’t help matters. If only he knew the right thing to say or how to save this. He didn’t want Emma’s life to blow up. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.

“You know what?” Lulu spat, clearly as pissed off as the rest of them at this point. “I’m tired of being the bad guy when it’s the two of you and your poor decisions putting me in the middle of this. Have either of you considered what kind of position you’ve put me in? And yet you want to talk about being sisters and best friends.” She shook her head as a scowl formed on her face.

Emma was still stone beneath his touch, her lips a tight line like she was refraining from letting any more of her anger spew at this table.

“No one is saying you’re the bad guy,” Lauren huffed, equally irate at this point. “And neither am I. It’s not my fault Asher chose me.”

Emma’s nostrils flared. “That’s cute.” Cam tensed as he could sense what was coming next. “How does it feel to be chosen by someone I turned down?” she asked. Cam recoiled. He knew she was just angry, but she would regret this, he knew it.

“Emma,” he tried, but she ignored him.

“Does it feel good knowing that you’re engaged to someone after their first choice said no?”

“Jesus, Emma!” Lulu said.

“You’re being a bitch,” Lauren responded with hate in her eyes. “I’d feel ashamed letting my jealousy take over with my boyfriend sitting right next to me.”

The world began slowing down as Cam felt the calm anger wash over Emma beside him, the snarl of a smile spreading across her face. He felt his heart sink even before she opened her mouth. He placed his hand on her arm, saying quietly, if not desperately, “Don’t,” but she didn’t listen.

“Am I?” Emma asked. “Or are you being the self-righteous asshole that I was dreading having to spend a week on vacation with? You know what’s funny? I didn’t want to come on this trip and once Lulu assured me you weren’t coming, I finally said yes.” She leaned closer to make her words clear.

“I knew that you’d make your relationship a way to see yourself as better than me, to pity me, to make me the one who felt awkward even though I didn’t go lapping up someone else’s scraps.” Cam could feel the weight of the words, the heavy consequences they would have as she kept going.

“So I didn’t want to be around you. Yet, you pretended to be all sweet and nice, the mousy little Lauren who everyone adores like you’ve not been twisting the narrative to make me the pathetic ex this entire time,” Emma snarled. “And you did all this while knowing you were scheming to force me to be at your wedding to the very person whom you didn’t even talk to me about until yesterday.”

Cam tried to keep his features calm, not look as bothered as he felt. But he couldn’t help but feel a punch to the gut when she brought up the wedding after she didn’t even tell him about their talk yesterday. Was it merely betrayal she was feeling or was there more?

“What’s it matter?” Lauren questioned. “If you’re so happy for me and clearly moved on,” she indicated toward Cam, though the gesture somehow felt hateful. “Then why does it matter if we have a surprise wedding?”

Everyone sat quiet, even the diners around them, probably all reeling in the juiciness happening at their table. Cam felt like everyone in the room was sitting on the edge of their seats and holding their breaths as Emma let out that soft laugh that was anything but the lyrical sound he’d been falling for.

“There you go again, relying on me having a boyfriend as your reason not to feel guilty. Or at least that’s how you put it yesterday, right? Your actions didn’t matter anymore since it all worked out and I’m dating someone, too. Do I have that right?”

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