Page 67 of For Emery

“I have an idea,” I said.

“What?” she asked, her head beneath my chin.

“I’ll tell you when I get it all worked out. In the meantime, there’s something I need to tell you.”

She pulled back so she could see me and I watched her swallow down hard. “What?”

“I need you to know why I punched Flip.”

She released a slow breath, clearly expecting something much worse. “Fine,” she said.

“He told me you were a virgin.”

She flinched.

“He was trying to get to me, like he knew something personal about you, which I guess he thought would make me think you told him things you didn’t tell me.”

“We were playing Have You Ever,” she explained. “And it just came out.”

“It’s not your fault. And believe me, I tried to avoid him, but he kept pushing. Then he said something like he wondered how long you’d stay that way.”

She gasped.

“He wanted me to think he was gonna take your virginity.”

I watched as the blood drained from her face.

“So, I punched him,” I continued, needing her to know everything. “And he made it look like I started it, so Coach was pissed at me. The guy’s a snake, Em. I just want you to know who you’re hanging with.”

“Who I hung with,” she said. “I’m sorry I didn’t hear you out. That was wrong of me.”

A cocky smile pulled up the corner of my mouth. “I’d say you’ve made it up to me.”

Her brows shot up. “Oh, yeah?”

I pushed forward and rolled her onto her back, covering her with my body. “Definitely wouldn’t be opposed to you trying to make it up to me some more, though.”

She couldn’t respond because my lips captured hers.

When I finally pulled away, I said, “Let’s stop at that store across the street and grab you some clothes before we head back. You’ve been wearing yours since Alabama.”

“So, that’s you’re idea?”

“Nope. I’m full of them, baby.”

She laughed, and I loved that I had that effect on her.

I leaned down and buried my lips where her neck met her shoulder. I teased her with kisses that turned her laughter into quiet moans that would undoubtedly leave me hard as a rock for the foreseeable future.

* * *

I grabbed Emery’s hand as we walked out of the store with a bag full of clothes and a new outfit on her. While she’d been in the changing room, I’d been able to secure the surprise I hoped I could give her. We made our way across the street and the second we stepped into the hospital parking lot, her body tensed.

“What’s wrong?”

She looked around the crowded lot, as if expecting to find something there. “Nothing.”

“Em. This is me. Talk to me.”

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