Page 88 of The Emerson Effect
Me:Forget it. I don’t know what I’m saying.
Joey:I think you do, Twila. I think you’re falling for Emerson, and you’re too afraid to let his family love you because you’re afraid he’s the only one who won’t.
Me:God, when did you become so insightful?
Joey:Always have been. Just didn’t have the confidence to speak it until…recently.
Me:Since Dallas?
Joey:Exactly. Now, stop being a wimp. You are a strong, beautiful, brilliant woman. I see it. Emerson sees it. If you want him, just tell him how you feel.
Me:I don’t think I can, Jo.
Joey:Ugh, you’re exhausting.
Me:Gee, thanks, bestie.
Joey:No guilt trips, T. You know I adore you. But sometimes, you’re too stubborn for your own good. Open your eyes. See what’s in front of you and seize it.
Joey:Or fake it in front of his family and end things when you get back here. This limbo is making you crazy.
Joey:And for the record, I’m all for option number one. I think option two is a terrible decision.
I hear Emerson call my name, and I know I’ve been in the bathroom for too long. I quickly send Joey a short message to let her know I have to go, then flush the toilet like I’d used it before washing my hands. I open the door, and spot Emerson smiling at me from the other end of the hallway.
“Dinner is ready,” he says, and I plaster on a smile as I walk toward him.
The food is delicious, and the company is stellar. The banter never lags, and by the time we’re halfway through the meal, I am completely relaxed and laughing along with them, for real. Later, when it’s time to go, the women hug me tightly and tell me how great it was to finally meet me. I hear Cadence whisper to Emerson that she thinks I’m perfect, and my cheeks heat with a mix of embarrassment and pride.
“Your family is awesome,” I say as we drive back to his house.
He nods. “I know. That’s why I try to take care of them. So the stress of making ends meet will never knock the joy from their hearts.”
I love you.
The words ring through my head again and again, my mouth threatening to blurt them aloud. I bite the inside of my cheek to snap myself out of it.
“Glad I can help,” I say instead, then flinch at the trite words.
I’m helping them monetarily, of course, but emotionally? It’s going to hurt them when Emerson and I “break up.”
Shit.Divorce.
Divorce is the right word, and I fucking hate the sound of it.
FIFTY
Emerson
It was a fun few days in L.A., but damn it’s good to be home.
As soon as I have the thought, I freeze. L.A. is my home. Not Grenville. Not this house. I keep forgetting. Despite having been here only a short while, it feels like home.
Because of Twila.
Pushing the thought away for another time, I focus on our trip. The guys love her, of course. She fit right in with them, and her plan to boost their online status worked like a charm. Ritchie’s account has skyrocketed to over fifteen thousand followers since he posted a video Stone filmed of him dancing at work Friday night. He has this nerdy librarian bit he does sometimes, and I’ll be damned if “BookBang” didn’t get ahold of the video and make him famous.
The twins are right behind him, with their account blowing up when Twila talked them into doing a “lights off, lights on” video where it started with a Stone thirst trap and after the lightswent off and back on, Mason had joined him and they mirrored each other.
