Page 32 of Forbidden Hearts
Emmy leans forward, resting her head on her hand. “I know you’re excited about the doctors at least.”
“I am. I get to meet Dr. King, but who knows if I’ll make a good impression.”
“And is her dad still giving you shit all the time?”
No, he’s giving me something much more complicated. “Uh, no. Not . . . exactly.”
“Oh? When did that change?”
“About seventeen hours ago.”
“Spill it.”
There’s no point in holding back. “Okay, I went down to the creek with his sister, Brynlee, to fish with Asher, Olivia, and Rowan, who is Asher’s brother. You know I don’t do any of that, but Brynn likes it and Olivia really wanted me to learn.”
Emmeline laughs. “That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.”
“Yeah, it really was. I caught the tree and never got my line . . . hook . . . whatever in the water, but—” I pause, feeling strange talking about it. Not just because I clearly make bad decisions when it comes to men, but also because I think it’s all in my head. “Asher was teaching me.”
“That was nice of him to put a pause on thinking you’re a total dumbass.” I tilt my head and raise my brow. She purses her lips. “It wasn’t?”
“Sure, I guess. We can go with that. Also, he doesn’t think that anymore. I’ve more than proven myself, and Olivia loves me.”
“Good to know, but tell me what happened with Asher?”
I don’t know how to phrase or explain it since I can’t really wrap my head around it still. However, maybe talking about it will help?
“Ugh. He had to show me—like, touch me to show me, if that makes sense.”
“Did he come onto you?” Her voice gets animated as she perks up.
“I think so . . . I don’t know.”
“Tell. Me. Everything.”
I go over the entire encounter, explaining how I felt his nose brush along my neck and the way his voice was like sandpaper on silk. It was scratchy in all the right ways and yet smooth as well.
“I’m not normal,” I say at the end.
“Why?”
“Because, seriously, what is it with me and guys who are completely off-limits? Does my mind not know any other way? My entire life was flipped upside down because I slept with my stupid professor, and now I can’t stop thinking about sleeping with my boss. I think I need therapy.”
Emmeline snorts. “That is true, but who cares? He’s your boss, not your professor. Your life isn’t going to be ruined because you want him. Also, can we just, for one second, look at the bright side to this?”
“There’s a bright side?”
“Yes! You thought you loved Jonathan. You thought what you guys had was ‘life-altering,’ and you’d never feel the same about anyone else, but clearly, you were wrong. If you loved him so much, you wouldn’t be dreaming of being handcuffed by your hot cop boss.”
I’m starting to think all my relationships are unhealthy. “As my best friend, your advice sucks.”
“You’re twenty-four. You’re single and know for an absolute fact he is not married. Plus, you leave in, like, three months for your new school.”
“IfI get into anywhere!”
“You will,” she says as though it’s a fact. “I say . . . sleep with him.”
I shake my head, refusing to let any of this seem like a good idea. “Emmeline, I love you, but you are truly the worst. I have made so many damn mistakes, and I don’t want to make another one. He’s my boss, and he works for my dad. Can you even imagine how that would go over if mydadever found out? Jesus, he’d have a heart attack! Not to mention the only thing my father has ever asked me when it comes to men is that I never, ever date a cop. Which Asher is. Plus, there’s Olivia, who I adore, and I . . . no. Bad idea all around, and I am really tired of making bad choices.”
