Page 73 of Falling With a Spin

“Well, hey asshole,” he is pissed off. Great, “glad to know you are alive. Since that's the case, get your ass home, we need to talk.”

Rolling my eyes, I stare out my front window. “I’ll be home in a few hours. I need time to myself to process everything.” I shut my eyes and take a deep breath in.

A heavy sigh comes through the phone, “Yeah, I know, man. But you need to get your ass home so we can talk about that. If you don’t, then we’ll come find you.” His threat is serious and I debate on testing it out or not.

Figuring that dealing with a fuming Garrett isn’t worth it, “Fine. I’ll be home soon.” I hang up the phone and throw it onto the passenger seat.

“I shouldn’t have picked up the phone,” I grumble to myself.

I’m pulling into the driveway forty-five minutes later, and I see everyone on the couch waiting for me as I walk through the doors. I walk over, plopping onto the couch, and Garrett shoots me daggers. Justin shakes his head, Matt gives me a tight smile and Cole is eating chips.

Does he ever stop eating?

“Alright, you will listen before speaking, okay?” Garrett's voice is laced with annoyance and frustration. I keep my mouth shut, unsure if I’m supposed to answer that. “Good,” well that answered it, “you and Emma need to work your shit out because this is annoying.”

“Yeah, man, come on.” Matt says. “Cole has started eating more than normal because of your brooding ass.”

Cole's only response is a grunt as he stuffs his mouth with more chips.

“But isn’t that normal for him?” I ask, and all the guys just groan. “What? He’s a fucking garbage disposal.”

“On a serious note,” Garrett brings the conversation back to the topic at hand, “I understand you’re upset with what you saw, but if you had stayed for just five seconds longer, then you would have known what happened.”

I stare blankly at him because, currently, I couldn't care less what happened. The hurt and anger is still festering inside. “Alright, what happened?”

Garrett starts speaking, and the only two words I hear are friend and Caleb.

I’m a fucking idiot.

Chapter 27

Emma

“We’re going out tonight,” Taylor says, strolling into my room.

I look up at her, closing my laptop and the assignments that I have been working on for the last week. Attempting to keep myself distracted with work, school and dancing since the day at the diner. Giving Hunter the space he needs is what’s best, but it’s been hard not to reach for my phone to call or text him.

“Who is we?” I question her.

“You and I, obviously.” She points between us.

“No, it wasn’t obvious. Plus, I can’t go out tonight. These assignments need to get done, and I really need to focus on school right now.” I tell her, opening the laptop back up.

Before I can continue the assignment, Taylor takes the laptop from me and shuts it down, setting it on my desk where a strew of other assignments lay.

“Taylor, what the hell!” I get up, trying to reach for the laptop, but she blocks my way, folds her arms across her chest, and raises her eyebrow at me.

“No. You won’t be doing your homework,” I roll my eyes at her and turn back towards my bed, climbing back under the covers, taking a book from my nightstand, “or reading either.” She grabs the book holding it out of my reach.

“You’ve been consuming yourself with dance, school, and work during winter break. You didn’t go home for Christmas like you usually do. You can say that your parents didn’t care, but we know for a damn fact that’s a lie. Emma, Christmas is your favorite holiday, and you didn’t even decorate the damn apartment. This place usually looks like Christmas thrown up on it, except it's bare.” She gives me a pointed look, and I look away from her.

I didn’t go back home last week and the guilt feeling I had when I told my parents that Liam would need me to work ate away at me. I needed a distraction, and dealing with them both would be too draining, so I stayed home on Christmas Day.

“Okay, what is wrong with that?” I give her a pointed glare right back at her.

“Oh, don’t give me that bull shit question because you know exactly what is wrong with it. It’s New Year's Eve, and we are going out. I’m not letting you sit at home by yourself. Now get up, get dressed, and look hot.” She pulls my arm, yanking my short 5’3 ass out of bed. “If I have to, I will throw you in that shower myself.”

Realizing that she won’t let up, thinking that this might actually be good for me. “Okay, fine. Get out of here so I can get ready.” I push her out of my room and slouch against the door once it shuts.

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