Page 46 of The Heir

After we had our food, we sat in our usual spot and began eating.

“Thought you had given up,” Ryker said, suddenly, coming to the table and sitting down with his food in front of us.

“I am ever patient, Ryker,” he said. Not understanding in the slightest their conversation, I looked at Ryker and glared.

“What the heck, Ryker, come on,” I said, giving him a look, which I thought meant, “drop it.”

“No, Emma, I won’t let him—” he cut himself off, as he stood up.

“Ryker, you are really overreacting here.”

He leaned in close to me, so only I could hear his next words. “I thought we were friends. Why don’t you trust me?” he whispered.

I gasped at him and pulled away, but before I could stand up and run away crying, Shad’s hand was on mine under the table. He slipped my fingers into his and squeezed them tight, distracting me from my pain. I felt his electric heat, and I sat up straighter.

“Wearefriends, Ryker, and I am also friends with Shad, too, so please behave yourself.”

Ryker grabbed his backpack and walked away, leaving his food. I watched as he slammed the cafeteria doors open and was gone from sight.

“I’m so sorry, Shad,” I said.

He squeezed my hand again. “I can handle Ryker, Emma. Please don’t worry about me. I would hate to ruin your relationship with him, though. I know he’s important to you.” With that, he released my hand and started peeling his banana. All I could think about for the rest of the school day was that one word: “relationship,” and the way he had said it. What had Shad meant? I looked to Shad once more and saw him close his eyes as he bit into the banana.

“Favorite fruit?” I asked, pointing to the yellow fruit in his hand.

“I forget how good they are.”

“How can you forget what a banana tastes like? I’ve been eating bananas for, well, forever.”

“I haven’t eaten them for most of my life, actually,” he said, biting again into the fruit.

That is odd,I thought to myself.Why had he not had bananas until recently?

Fay?—No Emma, stop it.

That evening at six-fifteen on the dot, my doorbell rang. Mary was home and sitting at the kitchen table. I was standing by the sink, drinking a glass of water, wearing some black high waisted jeans and a light blue crop-top. Mary said it wasn’t too formal, nor too casual, and I took her word for it. I left my hair the same as I always did for school, down and wavy. I applied lipstick in a darker shade than normal and wore earrings, but that was about it. When I heard the doorbell, I almost dropped my glass of water.

“He’s here!” Mary sang as she bounced up.

“Maybe, this is a bad idea.” I set the cup in the sink. “I was too forward.”

“From what you told me, it does not sound like you asked him on a date, Emma, just a movie as two friends.” She patted my arm as the doorbell rang again.

“You shouldn’t keep the boy waiting, though, dear. I am so excited to meet him.” She smiled and walked down the hall to the front door. I followed after.

“Hi, my name is Shad.”

“Hi, Shad, nice to meet you, I—I have heard much about you.”

I stopped walking to them as I noticed the change in Mary’s voice.

Is that shock? I mean, he is incredibly attractive, but a little too young for her. I guess at any age, you can appreciate an attractive person, right? Right.

They were just staring at each other–not saying a single word. What was that about?

“I am here to pick up Emma,” Shad finally spoke. He looked incredible. He, like me, had changed out of school clothes. He wore dark-washed jeans, a black, collared shirt with the two top buttons unbuttoned, and in his arms, he held his leather coat. He looked gorgeous. How was I supposed to sit in a movie with him for two hours? My nerves would be killing me the entire time; clearly, I hadn't thought that one through.

“I am Emma’s Aunt Mary. Please drive carefully and have her home by midnight,” she said stiffly and then turned to me and mouthed: “Meet me in the kitchen.”

---