Page 12 of Trusting You

“Thank God you’re back!” Em shouted in an exaggerated voice as she flopped back on her bed as I was coming through the door. I didn’t notice it then, but there was a huge vase of pink roses sitting on my desk.

“Did Brock send you flowers?” I smiled. It was sweet and they smelled so good.

“No dummy,” she laughed. “They’re for you.”

I rolled my eyes, “Great.”

“Um, is this not a good thing?” she sniffed one of the blooms and plucked the card out of the holder.

“Not really,” I sighed as I tossed my things on my bed before shuffling over to the flowers. They were beautiful.

“Read the card,” she bounced on her bed.

“I already know who they’re from,” I shrugged as she shoved the small envelope in my hand.

“Me too,” she giggled.

I narrowed my eyes on her, “Did you already read this?”

She giggled as she bit her bottom lip, “Maybe. You know I can’t keep a secret. They’ve been here since this morning. I stared at them for hours before I gave in. Are you mad?”

“No,” I sighed. “You can have them.”

“What happened?” she pulled her legs up and crossed them as she shifted on her bed. “I thought McGill’s was your favorite?”

Of course she told him, “It is. It just isn’t going to work. He wants something that I’m not going to give him.”

“Sex,” Emma clarified. “I’m sure if you tell him, he won’t expect you to. I mean, it’s a big choice.”

“I’m not a virgin,” I stared at Emma. “It’s not that at all. I’m just not going to sleep with someone again until I find ‘the one’. It’s not worth it,” I muttered.

“Someone really burned you, huh?” she folded her hands in her lap.

“Something like that,” I began unpacking my bag.

“Are you seeing someone?” she prodded.

“What? No!” I shook my head as I set my books on my desk beside the flowers.

“Well, I wondered if that’s why you go home each weekend,” Emma has always been nosy, but this is new for her.

“I have to help my mom with stuff. I her owe her that much, and no I don’t want to talk about it,” I pushed a drawer shut as I ended the conversation.

“Fine,” she mumbled as she leaned back against the pillow behind her. “So tell me about your date.”

“We had a nice time. He gave me all of his attention. He was sweet, and attentive. It couldn’t have gone any better until the last few minutes,” I smiled at the memory of our time together and then frowned when I remembered how it ended.

“What happened?” Emma propped her hands behind her head.

“I found a condom in his pocket,” I deadpanned. “He pretended that he didn’t know it was there, but I know he knew. He thought if he was sweet enough that I’d just spread my legs and he’d score. That’s never gonna happen, so he just needs to move on,” I glared at the flowers, suddenly pissed that they were there.

“This,” I flicked at one of the blooms, “needs to stop.”

“Good luck with that,” Emma laughed. “I know my cousin, and I say this with love. He is the most stubborn man I know. He’s not going to give up.”

I shook my head at the idea of Aaron’s pursuit. I didn’t know then, but the flowers were just the beginning. Over the next two weeks I received flowers three more times, and he called me at least once a day. I refused to talk to him hoping that he’d give up, but he didn’t. If anything, it made him more determined. Emma was right when she said he was stubborn.

“We’re going out tonight, and you’re coming with,” Emma smiled as she burst through the door to our room. It was Friday, and I was packing for the weekend. My mom would be here in the next hour or two, and I wanted to be ready.

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