Page 49 of Yours to Conquer

I’m so sorry. I made the biggest mistake of my life. Please forgive me.

I wait for his reply, but nothing comes. I text the address for my doctor’s appointment and then send it.

Kat stays the night with me. I think she felt she needed to remain on suicide watch, but I couldn’t kill myself because I’m already dead. I died the minute he walked out of the restaurant and told me to leave him alone.

We’d climbed into my bed like we did when we were kids. My mind filled with the investigator’s findings. The rest of the report was just a summary. Daniel Lloyd disappeared after my mom’s death but left enough money in a trust to pay for the household expenses. When the house sold, he shuffled the money so many places, it was impossible to track. Daniel Lloyd vanished off the face of the earth. He probably emerged as his true identity and went his own way. The only contact anyone has had with him was a note I received years ago. My mind reels from all the information. I wonder who his sister was? Was she his sister? I’ll never know.

I waketo the warmth of a body spooning mine. I almost believe it’s him until I roll over and see the long blonde hair spread across the pillow. Kat had stayed with me all night.

I crawl out of bed quietly. I have so much to do. I went to bed defeated but woke up ready to battle. Daniel Lloyd took everything from my mom because he wanted a new beginning. I’m not letting him take everything from me. My life has been molded out of fear, and I refuse to cower anymore. I messed up, and if I can win Anthony back, I will. He is worth thefight.

I think about Roxy and her family, how parents can ruin so many futures because they thought they knew best. Only your heart can decide whom to love. It’s too late for Anthony and Roseanne, but it’s not too late for Roxy, and if I can make it happen, I will.

The next several hours are spent calling every police station in Los Angeles County. I finally locate a detective named Bobby Anderson. To my relief, he is the one and only Bobby from Roxy’s past. He’s still single, and if he can find someone to cover his shift, he will come to prom to catch up with Roxy. He all but admitted he had a secret crush on her throughout high school, but she was out of his league.

I have no intention of telling her. I think prom should have a few surprises.

I wake Kat’s lazy butt up and tell her to get ready—we are having a spa day. If I am going to win my man back, it will not be with raggedy nails, frizzy hair, and sallow skin. I’m in desperate need of help.

The only appointment I could get us is at noon, so I hurry and change. I pull my hair back into a messy bun, throw on a pair of jeans, a T-shirt, and sandals. I toss some clothes at Kat and tell her to put a fire under her ass. The day is wasting, and I have to prepare for the fight of my life.

I have one thing left to do before we head out. I sent the original prom invitation to Anthony, but I feel like I need to send him something more personal. I take out a beautiful black note card made of fine linen paper. I scrounge through my junk drawer and find the silver, acid-free marker and write.

Anthony,

You are cordially invited to join Emma at the event of the year. Formal attire is preferred, but I will take you dressed in anything.

Please understand that I’m young and learning.

Remember that you loved me once.

Only you matter to my heart.

My life will be empty without you.

I’m sorry––I would like to trade in my brownie points––can I have another chance?

Your Emma

I place the invitation in the envelope and put it in my purse. I will hand deliver it tomorrow.

Kat and I spend the next three hours getting everything done possible. We’ve been scrubbed and polished, painted, and patted until our skin glowed and our nails shimmered. I drop Kat off at the house. She jumps directly in her car and heads home to Damon. I race inside to plan my next move.

I read through the packet again and notice my family has left contact information. I sit in front of the computer and send an introductory message to Tate Smith.

Mr. Smith,

This is Emma. My mother was Adrianne Helms. I received the report from Anthony, and I wanted to reach out to you and say hello. I hope I have the opportunity to meet you and your daughter someday. I’d love to hear more about your family and the life you share. Please feel free to contact me.

Emma

I send it and move on to my next task. I need to pick out an outfit for tomorrow. I want to knock Anthony’s socks off. I have a doctor’s appointment in the morning, but I plan to stalk Anthony at some point, and I want to look nice.

I rummage through my closet and find a sexy outfit that will be suitable for work and capable of making Anthony speechless. I settle on a black pencil skirt with a back slit. The emerald-green scoop neck T-shirt I chose will show off my cleavage without showing too much. It will show just enough to remind him of what the girls look and feel like. I pair the outfit with a cropped jacket that will show off my waist. A pair of tall black pumps will complete theensemble. I choose several gold chains in varying lengths and a simple pair of gold hoops as accessories.

My next task is to compile a playlist that represents our time together. I’ll send him songs daily, reminding him of who we are and who we were. I download the song for today. I send it as a gift, having it delivered directly to him. The first song is Taylor Swift––“Back to December.”I’ve started the playlist off with an apology. I press send and hope he responds.

I get a text immediately, and my heart swells with hope.

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