Page 40 of Falling Hard

“What the fuck just happened, Libby? Maybe that punch in the face really did more damage than I thought,” I muttered. “Now, where’s little Emmeline. She’s got some explaining to do.”

Walking down the hall, I headed back to the room I had found her in, but the door was now closed.

“Emmie. Oh, Emmie, where art thou, Emmeline,” I said in a singsong voice. Opening the bedroom door, I found her curled up on the bed, headphones in and eyes shut, unaware that I had entered the room. I quietly made my way over to the bed, and as slowly as possible, I made my way in front of her before I reached out a hand and grabbed one of the headphones, yanking it out of her ear. “Emmeline, what are you doing in here all alone,” I shouted, laughing hysterically as she screamed and fell off the bed, turning bright red from embarrassment.

“Oy, what the hell was that for?” she hollered from her position on the floor.

“Why the hell are you locked up in here? Come and join the rest of the world. I’m in the living room, and the boys went outside. Apparently, Critter thinks he can whoop Lynx’s ass,” I rambled nervously. I found it slightly off-putting she would rather stay locked up in her room than come and hang out with the rest of us.

Crawling back up onto the bed, Emmie looked at me weirdly, probably deciding on whether or not she could trust me, which was fair. I, on the other hand, had always liked Emmie. We got along great as kids, and I was a bit bummed we never kept in contact when I started traveling with my father.

“Hey, don’t look at me like that. I’m still the same Libby I was when we were kids, just a whole lot crazier,” I said, jumping on the bed and lying next to her with a grin as I propped my head on my hands.

“I will keep harassing you until you talk to me just so you are aware I can be that obnoxious,” I playfully warned her. “What are you even doing here anyway? Does your father know you’re here, or does he think you’re holed up in your room?” I arched my eyebrows, wondering if she’d own up to running away without telling Uncle Hammer.

“He may or may not know I’m here. I just needed to get away from there for a while, and I sure didn’t miss your chattiness,” Emmie admitted sheepishly as she stuck her tongue out at me.

“Hey, that hurts right here.” I laughed as I rolled over onto my back and pointed at my heart. “I’m going to go cry over in the corner because you don’t love me anymore.” I pouted as I fake cried.

Emmie laughed. “Stop, you overgrown child. Of course, I still love you, it’s just been a while, and I've changed,” she added hesitantly, fiddling with her earbud.

“Nonsense, you're still the same sweet, little Emmeline. I can feel it in my bones. Well, maybe not so sweet. I see you’ve beenCrittered,” I teased, wiggling my eyebrows suggestively.

Face going beet red, she covered her face with a pillow and muttered something I couldn’t quite understand.

“What was that, Emmie? I couldn’t quite hear you. You enjoyed Critter’s hands all over your body while he undressed you? You liked the feel of his hard body pressed against yours?” I giggled as I teased her.

She threw the pillow at me, which made me laugh harder.

“It wasn’t like that. Well, it was, but I couldn’t help it. He’s not even really my type, but he’s just charming,” Emmie confessed. “Anyway, it wasn’t like we had sex.” She sheepishly smiled. “Seriously, Libby, we didn’t. He was proving a point to me about…” She sighed. “Never mind.”

“Trust me. I know exactly how you feel. I’ve beenCritteredmyself. Last year, at my eighteenth birthday party, he snuck in a pack of beer, and I had a few too many. The night ended with me in his bed, and let me tell you, he’s got some skill. It wasn’t bad for my first time,” I admitted. This time, it was my turn to be sheepish. “After that, things were a little awkward at first. The man would follow me around like a lovesick puppy, but I put him in his place. He still likes to tease me about it, though.” I chuckled and nudged Emmie. “Really glad you’re here. I hate being alone, and Lynx is taking off when Maiden gets here. Now, what made you run away?” I asked coyly,

Her eyes went wide. “You know.”

“I know all.” I grinned wildly.

“Well, if you must know, my father is a dick. He kept the fact I have a stalker from me. Even though I saw the man, Dad kept saying it was all in my head. They let me think I was going crazy, Libby. Do you have any idea how that feels?” Emmie groaned. She got up and went over to the window, then said, “Maiden’s coming?”

“It’s just now registering in your head that I said that? Yes, he’s coming.” I laughed

“Shit, he’s going to be so mad I took off. We didn’t part on the best of terms exactly…” She started breathing sharply and then locked eyes with me. “Oh, I’ve meant to ask, you and Lynx, how the hell did that happen? He’s never shown interest in anyone the few times I’ve seen him around. He just goes in my father’s office and then leaves. A few of the club whores tried clinging onto him once, and he just shoved them off.” Emmie tapped her finger on the window ledge, clearly recalling something. “Not to mention the fact I heard Grit mention once that Lynx fucked someone up so bad in a fight it made even Grit cringe,” she said.

Opening the French glass doors that led to the patio, we made our way outside. We removed our socks and shoes and sat at the edge of the pool.

“Oh, Emmie, I don’t even know what’s going on. Everything’s happening so fast, and he makes me feel things I didn’t think I could. We met at an underground fight, and when some guy tried to grab me, Lynx saved me. The guy got away, somehow, after Grit had him.” I told her the details, and then I looked Emmie in the eyes. “But he’s a nomad, and I don’t want to be on the road all the time. I want a home, and he’s made it pretty clear he doesn’t, but he wants me, so it’s either I go with him or we only see each other whenever he’s around.”

Emmie gave me a look of pity and hating to see pity from anyone, I kicked water at her, smirking evilly as I saw it splash all over her.

“Hey, you little snot, knock it off before I push you in the pool, and you know I’ll do it.” Emmie pushed on my shoulder. “I’m kind of in the same boat as you but with Maiden.” She sighed.

I knew she and Maiden were going to happen as soon as Critter said they had been left alone together.

“I want him, I’ve always wanted him, but he doesn’t want to piss my father off, so he’s been staying away.” Emmie groaned in frustration. A haunted look came to her eyes. “Not to mention I think it was all fake, anyway.”

“What do you mean?”

“I heard Dad and Maiden speaking. Maiden said he had been putting up with me and, basically, made it sound like he was forced to look after me.”

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