Page 89 of Summertime Friends

“She could be the right girl,” I say under my breath. Emerson’s eyes cut back to mine.

“Liam—” Her eyelids arefluttering.

“Could be, but you won’t admit it. This was a mistake.”

“Huge mistake,” Chloe snidely remarks. I know she’s protecting Emerson, and I appreciate her loyalty to her. But where’s Natalie?

“Liam, stop—don’t.” Emerson reaches out for me.

Taking a page out of her book, I leave. She didn’t stay then. I’m not staying now. The double meaning of walking away aside, I should walk away right now and go back to the table, turning this into our new unfortunate norm. Walk away from the feast of emotions that are on the table, too afraid to remove the lids to dig in and indulge them.

I’m halfway down the hallway before I turn back toward them.

“Don’t what? Walk away? Leave? Learned from the best.” I don’t acknowledge their responses. I head back to the table.

“Did you see Emme back there? She’s been gone awhile,” Natalie asks me with concern.

“I didn’t see her. Probably in the loo.”

“Oh,” she says as if she could see through my lie. “Chloe went after her. I hope everything will be alright.”

I don’t think anything will ever be alright. A conclusion I don’t want to come to but might have to force myself to. She, Emerson, isn’t letting this go. What I said, what she overheard. I hurt her in the one way that she’s always feared.

Cal scowls down at me from the end of the table.

“Everything good?” he mouths.

I shake my head, picking up a slice of pizza that was delivered to the table while I was in the bathroom.

Emerson is walking back to the table, head and shoulders folded in. Chloe is a few steps behind her and looks. . .I think a look of confusion, maybe frustration. Her smokey facial expressions are hard to read.

Chloe sits back down. Emerson does not.

“I’m not feeling well. Think I’m going to head home,” Emerson announces.

“Oh, no!” Natalie says first. “What’s wrong?”

“Headache.” Emerson’s eyes swivel in my direction.

“Hm, okay. Do you want to take any food home with you? I can ask for a to-go box,” Natalie offers.

“I don’t have much of an appetite. You know how I get when I have a headache,” she responds.

“Right.”

“Feel better,” I add.

Emerson doesn’t acknowledge me as she picks up her purse and exits the restaurant.

37

LIAM

Three Summers Ago

Everything feels right having Emerson in London.A little too right.

I hadn’t realized how much I missed heror loved her. We practically attacked each other—okay, I practically attacked her in the airport once she made it through customs. I didn’t waste any time once she was in my arms and kissed her.

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