Page 57 of Ramsey & Emerson

I paced next to my car, counting to ten. I didn’t blame her one bit for bailing on me, but it didn’t help with my frustration levels. I was ready to storm the diner and take hostages when the waitress from earlier approached me, stopping me.

“Oh, hey,” she greeted. “You’re Emerson’s friend from earlier, right?”

My feet stopped in front of her. “Yeah.”

“Oh, well, she already left,” she volunteered, and it wasn’t until she stepped into my personal space that I realized why she was being so helpful. “Is there anything I can help you with?”

I had no interest in her whatsoever. However, I needed information from her, so I couldn’t be an outright dick. “I think I entered Emerson’s address wrong,” I lied. “My GPS keeps getting me lost.”

Rebecca looked over at my Range Rover, then tsk’ed. “You know, you’re risking some serious vandalism if you drive that thing out to the trailer park.”

“That’s what I have insurance for,” I replied dryly. “But thanks.”

Her brows furrowed. “For what?”

“Letting me know where I can find Emerson,” I answered as I turned my back on her, then got into my car.

I pulled out my phone, then searched for Hantover Trailer Park, and God bless there was only one, and it was only a few blocks away. I started my car, then drove towards the park.

When I finally came upon it, I could totally see why Rebecca had warned me. The place was a debilitating disaster. The grass was the color of lifeless wheat, and there was graffiti everywhere. I drove past the office, and even that looked like it belonged in a horror flick. It killed me to know that this was where Emerson had run to; that this level of poverty and desperation was where she’d felt safe enough to run to.

I finally came upon a small trailer where her car was parked. I didn’t waste any time as I got out of my car, locked it, then was up the rickety steps in seconds. I was about to knock when a sound brought me up short. I looked around but didn’t see anything. When I heard the sound again, that’s when I realized that it was coming from inside the trailer. I put my ear up to the door, and that’s when I could finally identify the sound.

Emerson was weeping.

Emerson was sitting inside a rundown trailer, and she was sobbing because of me.

That knowledge was eating me alive.

I turned the doorknob, and to my surprise, it was unlocked. I didn’t wait for permission to enter because I knew that I wouldn’t get it. So, I walked in like I had every right to, and the sight before me gutted me completely. Emerson was sitting on her couch, clutching a pillow as she cried and cried.

I locked the door behind me, then stepped towards her. “Emerson…”

Her face shot up from the pillow, and her eyes widened at the realization that I was here. Her wails must have drowned out my arrival. “Ra…Ram…sey…”

“Baby-” I started as I reached for her, but her next move stopped me cold.

She was completely unmanning me.

Emerson threw the pillow off her lap, then she sank to the floor on her knees in front of me. Her beautiful slate-colored eyes were so wet that they looked like flowing mercury. “Ppp…please, Ramsey,” she begged through her sobs. “You…w…win, okay. Okay? You win,” she bawled. “Y…you win. So…so just…please…pl…please leave me a…alone.Please.”

I couldn’t breathe.

My Emerson…my strong, fearless, stubborn, challenging Emerson was on her knees, begging me to just let her be. She was a broken mess, and I was the person who’d broken her.

“Emer-”

“Please…oh, God, please, Ramsey,” she continued to beg. “W…Why can’t you just…just leave me alone?” Her sobs turned into bone shattering wails. “I’m sorry…I’m sorry for…for whatever…ever I did…to…to you. Just…just ple…please leave me alone.”

Jesus Christ.

Emerson in the throes of an emotional breakdown had to be the most magnificent thing that I’d ever seen in my life. She was absolutely the most beautiful thing walking this earth, and I knew that I wasn’t worthy of such breathtaking beauty.

Nevertheless, I reached down, then hauled her up by her arm. She was still crying and shaking when I took hold of her chin, then forced her to look at me. “I want you to listen and listen well, understand?” I waited for her to nod in understanding, and when she did, I said, “Don’t youeverget on your knees for anyone ever again, Emerson.” Her eyes widened, but she remained quiet. “You are the best person I know. People should be on their knees beforeyou, not the other way around.”

Her eyelids closed, forcing more tears to flow down her cheeks. Emerson’s tears were so incredibly stunning that they were turning me on, and I knew that I should be ashamed of that, but I wasn’t.

She opened her eyes again, and ignoring what I’d said, asked, “Wh…why are you here, Ramsey?”

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