Page 59 of For Emery

Emery

Sunlight yanked me from a restless sleep. My eyes parted and the bright room around me instantly reminded me where I was and why I was there. I sat up. Jordan sat beside my mom, his hand clasping hers. He watched her while she slept, his eyes heavy with sleep.

“Did she wake up?” I asked, turning so my legs hung off the side of the bed.

He looked to me. “A couple times.”

I nodded, not knowing what to say to him in the light of day. “You didn’t have to come.”

“Say it again and I’ll…”

“You’ll what?”

“I’ll come over there.”

I scoffed. “Is that supposed to scare me?”

He placed my mom’s hand down by her side on top of the sheet and stood, his tall body moving toward me.

I sat still, braced for his attempt at intimidation. “Still not scared.”

He stopped at the side of my bed and stared down at me. He said nothing, but I could tell he was taking in my puffy eyes and the creases around them—the result of lack of sleep and fear. Fear of Wayne. Fear of the unknown. Fear of losing the people I loved most in the world. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into his chest.

I pushed down the tears that sat at the ready as I breathed in his scent, then pulled back from him. “Don’t.”

His face scrunched. “Don’t what?”

“Don’t swoop in to save the day like you used to.”

He stepped back and crossed his arms. “Why the hell not?”

“Because you can’t be one guy with me and then hurt people when I’m not around.”

“This is about Flip?”

“This is about you. This is about you changing and me…well, me thinking you would’ve stayed the same.”

“You’re not making any sense. I’m the same guy I always was.”

I cocked my head, challenging his words.

Anger replaced his sympathy. “So, you don’t want me here?”

“I don’t know. Why are you here?”

“Because I’m your best friend. I show up when you need me and punch guys to protect your honor.”

I rolled my eyes.

He threw his arms out to his sides, frustration emanating from his body. “What, Em? What do you want from me?”

I shook my head, not wanting to answer.

“Tell me. What do you want?”

“Nothing.”

“Liar.”

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