Page 4 of That Emerald Vow

“I hear you make your victims keep their eyes on you the entire time you assault them. So I thought it’d only be fitting to take one of yours to start. But don’t worry, you can keep the other one open as I continue.” I laugh, which beautifully melds with his yelling. “Yes, Landon.Screamfor me.”

“That looks amazing on you!” my best friend, Lily, says from behind me, looking in the mirror to make sure she’s ready for drinks tonight with her ex-best friend/boyfriend, Adrian, and what’s-his-name.

I met Lily freshman year of undergrad, and we’ve been inseparable ever since. Well, except in distance. I moved to her hometown for my master’s degree to become a nurse practitioner two years ago, after we both graduated. Thankfully, we were only a two hour drive from each other. Which was helpful, considering our night time activities.

I wink at her. “Thank you.” Swatting her hands that won’t stop fidgeting with her dress, I look at her through the reflection. “Would you stop fussing? You look amazing, Lils.”

“I’m just a little nervous about tonight,” she admits. Lily moved back after graduating from her MSW program less than two months ago. Not too long after, she bumped into her childhood best friend—later turned high school boyfriend. Aka, the one who got away.

“No kidding,” I say, laughing as I turn around and rub her arm. “Safety in numbers, babes.”

She puts her hand over mine. “Thank you again for doing this with me. Ade and I are moving in the right direction. But it makes it a bit easier to hang out with our closest friends.” They both had a lot goingon emotionally when they broke up and parted ways their senior year, as a result of trauma Lily suffered through and Adrian losing his father . . . The same man who happened to be Lily’s assailant. He doesn’t know what his father did to her, making things very complicated.

I don’t do complicated. I do quick and easy. No strings attached, ever.

“Speaking of friends, what’s his name again?” I ask, curious.

“Damon. We weren’t super close in high school, but he was a cool guy. A bit grungy and too-cool-for-school vibes.” She goes to grab her purse hanging from the desk chair in her room.

“Sexy grungy like a rock star? Or pothead grungy?” My eyebrows raise with intrigue. It’s been a while since I’ve gotten laid, and as much as I love my toys, it’s not the same as a man’s touch.

Lily laughs. “I haven’t seen him in five years, but I would say sexy grungy.” She pauses before adding, “Though, he did have a rough childhood from the few things Ade told me back then.”

I open my mouth to ask more, but she cuts me off, saying, “And that’s all I know about that.”

“Well as long as he’s hot. Mama needs some fresh blood to play with,” I say, looping my arm into hers as we walk towards the front door.

“Since when does Charlie Thatcher struggle in the dating department?” she asks, eyeing me.Since visiting my mother last Christmas.But Lily doesn’t know about that visit because I didn’t want to worry her. She knows basically everything else that went down with my family. Even though she’s my best friend, I try to shield her from some of the bad shit that happens. It’s out of our control, and there’s no point wasting our breath.

My childhood was far from perfect,but it taught me one thing: words can cut as deep as any physical weapon can—if not more. Oftentimes more. And my mother’s words slice me down to my core.

“What man could ever want you? You’re just a disgusting little whorelike the women your father spends time with.”

I roll my eyes at Lily and laugh even though my insides feel like there are pins stabbing me everywhere. “Struggle? Psh. Just bored with the recent selection is all.”

She scrunches her nose at me but seemingly decides to drop it. “Hmm. Okay.”

I’m right behind Lily as I usher her through the club doors. “Come on. We’re late.”

Lily looks down at her watch before saying, “Calm down. Your crazy is showing. We’re having drinks with Adrian and his best friend, not dinner with the Queen.”

I pinch her arm before responding. “You’re crazy. And you know I hate being late.” It was ingrained from a young age that you should never be late, and being on time might as well be late.

I burst through the front doors, terrified of what my mother will do. “Mother, I am so sorry. I just need two minutes to change and I’ll be ready,” I say, running up the stairs to my room.

Ten seconds after entering my room, my mother appears at the door—putting on her pearl earrings. “I’ve told you time and time again that being late is unacceptable in this house.”

While I shove my arms through the dress, I say, “It’s not my fault. There was traffic because someone got run over at—”

“Insolent girl. I don’t want your excuses. You can stay home.” She seethes at me before turning to leave.

I trip over my bag as I try to catch up to her. “Mom—” She turns to glare at me. “Mother, I am sorry. It won’t happen again. Please, may I still come? I’m almost ready,” I say, my throat in pain from tears that threaten to spill over.

She steps closer to me and strokes my hair, making me warm at the maternal touch. “My daughter, don’t you fret,” she says, smiling. “No one is going to miss you anyway.”

I immediately step back, flinching at the cruel words. “Moth—”

“Vivian, we must leave now,” my father says, walking towards us as he puts his coat on.

---