“But, Em, I love you. Please don’t do this to us. What can I do to make things right?”
“Billy, it’s too early for this, and I haven’t even had my coffee yet. There’s nothing you can do. I’m not coming back, and it’s over. You deserve better than me. I have to go. I’m sorry. Coffee?” I asked Alex, who was leaning up against the counter.
“Yes. Coffee would be nice. You’re quite the little heartbreaker. I was feeling sorry for Billy.” He smirked.
I rolled my eyes as I handed him his coffee cup. “Billy will be just fine. Eggs?” I asked.
“No. I don’t have time. I have a meeting. Have a nice day, Miss James.”
“Enough with the formalities, Alex. Call me Emerson, Em, Emmie—whatever you want. Just not ‘Miss James.’”
He cocked his head and smiled. “I think I’ll call you ‘heartbreaker.’”
“Ugh.” I put my head down on the counter and heard him chuckle as he walked out.
Alex
I guess I didn’t need to make any rules since Emerson was a grown adult. A beautiful, grown adult, which ultimately could lead to trouble for me if I wasn’t careful. Damn Adam for not telling me how hot she was. Hot or not, she was my friend’s sister, and I couldn’t cross that line. Plus, she wasn’t my type. She wasn’t... how could I put this nicely? She wasn’t upscale enough.
The women I dated and fucked were of high society. They were classy, something Emerson seemed to lack. I had standards, and unfortunately, she didn’t meet them, which was good. I couldn’t help but wonder why she left Texas the way she did. Listening to her conversation with Billy was quiteentertaining, and the way she just blew him off was ballsy. The women I knew weren’t like that. They were the Billy of the relationship—begging and pleading with me to stay and always trying to change themselves for me. There was a story behind Emerson James, and I couldn’t help but wonder just what her story was. Was I going to find out? No. It was none of my business. She was here for three months and three months only. As long as she stayed out of my way and life, I would stay out of hers.
Chapter Four
Emerson
Jenna walked into the kitchen as I was cleaning up.
“Good morning, Emerson. How was your first night here?”
“Good morning. It was great. I slept like a baby in that bed.”
She laughed. “Good. Any problems with Mr. Parker?”
“No. Why?”
“Just wondering. He can sometimes be a little, how do I say this, rude and insensitive.”
“Oh. So far, he seems okay.”
“Good. Have a nice day, Emerson.” She smiled as she left the kitchen.
Now that I was back in California, it was time to reconnect with some old friends—friends I hadn’t seen in over eight years, but I still kept in contact with here and there over Facebook. Best friends I deserted when I left and never looked back. I went to my room and opened up my laptop, pulling up the page of Christine Howl, my best friend back in high school. She was married now with a kid and living her life as a stay-at-home mom.
“Hi, Christine. I’m back in California for a while, and I was hoping we could meet for lunch and catch up.”
It was a matter of minutes before she replied back.
“OH, MY GOD! I can’t believe you’re back. Yes! Can you meet for lunch today? I’ll call Bayli and see if she’s available. I know she’d love to see you.”
“Today will be great. How about we meet at one o’clock at the Polo Lounge? We used to love that place.”
“Sounds great. I can’t wait to see you.”
“I can’t wait to see you too.”
Walking into the kitchen, I saw a man talking to Jenna.
“Emerson, this is Phillip, Mr. Parker’s personal driver.”