Page 33 of Always Knew It Was You

“From Declan?’

“Him and others. Apparently, Micah’s pretty well known for leaving a trail of broken hearts behind him, even from, as Rachel would put it, ‘smarter women who should know better.’”

“Yeah, well, that’s probably because those women aren’t used to the disappointment of not getting what they want,” I point out. “They probably saw him as a challenge, and when they lost him, the disappointment felt like heartbreak. Versus me, who is very familiar with both disappointment and heartbreak. Micah Landing will not break my heart. That’s for sure.”

Emma lets out a heavy sigh. “Well, if you’re sure. Anyway, that isn’t really what I came to talk to you about anyway.”

“Oh? And what did you come to talk to me about?” I grab a spoon to start scooping some of the food into a plate and then pop the plate in the microwave. I then return the Tupperware to the fridge and drink some more water, all without Emma saying a single word.

She seems to struggle with whatever she wants to say.

And when she finally speaks, I understand why.

“I spoke to Tate…”

I nearly groan.Of course. The one thing I ask from that girl is to keep a secret from Emma, and she can’t even do that for me.

To be fair, Tate has never been able to keep a secret even when we were young. I don’t know why I expected her to do so now.

I already know where this conversation is going but I’m resentful that I even have to have it, so I don’t try to help Emma get the words out at all.

Her lips form shapes as she fights against the awkwardness, and then with a sigh of frustration, she finally blurts out, “You know you can always come to me if you need help. Right?”

“I know. But like I told Tate, this is something I want to handle on my own. And Icanhandle it on my own.”What part of that is so hard for people to understand?

“But you don’t have to,” she says. “Look if you need money, I can give you some–”

“No.”

“We can call it an advance, a work advance although you don’t even have to pay me back, to be honest–”

“We’re not doing that.”

“We’ve been friends forever. And if it’s more than I can afford, I can just ask Declan–”

“Emma, I already said no!” I finally explode. “Why does no one understand that I don’t need help? I don’t need anyone!’

There’s a moment of silence during which my outbursts sink like a stone between us. Emma reacts like she’s been slapped, reeling back and blinking. The flash of hurt on her face makes me feel like the lowest life form on the planet.

Regret instantly fills me.

“I’m sorry,” I say, walking close and hugging her. “I’m being a shitty friend, and I’m sorry I went off on you like that. I guess I’m just a bit more sensitive tonight than I thought.” Probably because of my cousin’s call and Micah’s words that stung more than I let on.

And the truth is that I’m not even sure why it hurt so much. It’s not like he insulted me outright, and everything he said about my folks is true.

But for some reason, his words continue echoing in my head, digging into me like a vulture picking at a wound.

“No, it’s fine,” Emma says, as she wraps her arms around me. “You were right to be mad.I’mbeing the bad friend by not respecting your wishes and trying to insert myself where I don’t belong. It’s just that… I’m worried about you.”

I sigh, allowing some of the tension to leak out of me.

“I know. And I appreciate it, I really do, but I just… I need to do this on my own. Okay?”

Emma nods and pulls back. She finally allows a hesitant smile to spread her cheeks, and her eyes finally regain their mischievous gleam. “So, we gonna crack open that ice cream and talk about the date, or what?”

I smile at her incorrigibility. “Yes to the ice cream, no to talking about the date that wasn’t really a date.”

“Boo. You’re no fun.”

---