Page 40 of Chasing Storm
“Yes. I’m just a bit gobsmacked. When did you decide this?”
“For you to help me, just now, but really, it’s been brewing for a while. I’ve been on this bandwagon or a while, but just not actively seeking it. But now, I want to get serious about getting serious.”
“And you want my help to find you a man?” Her hesitant tone tells me she doesn’t quite believe her ears.
“Yes. Will you help me?”
“YES!” she bellows in my ear. “Yes, I will help you. In fact, I have a bunch of eligible single men ready and waiting! When do you want to meet them?”
“What?” I ask, not quite keeping up. “You have men lined up already?” Something is really suss about that, like she was secretly looking and hoping I’d come around.
“I do. Let me make some plans, and I’ll get back to you!”
She is so excited, I shrug and go with it. “Awesome,” I mutter. “Can’t wait.”
25
THATCHER
JP comes bursting into my bedroom like an angry pitbull. “You need to talk to Emma right the fuck now!”
I look up from scrolling through my phone. “I don’t want to. Why?”
“Tim Jackson just rang. His wife, Cheryl, works with Storm and just saw Emma march over to her and start speaking to her about something. If this is even remotely in the samehemisphereas what she did with Cassidy, you need to shut her the fuck up!”
I sit up. He is absolutely incensed. I’ve never seen him so angry before. Not that I can blame him. If Emma is meddling again, then she definitely needs to be shut up. I just don’t want to be the one to do it. I swore to myself that I would never speak to her again after what she did to me, and despite being in several local messenger chats seeing as our friend circles overlap, I’ve been true to that promise.
“Can’t you do it?” I ask hopefully.
“No,” he growls. “Your mess, you clean it up.” He bangs my door closed again, storming off up the stairs to his room.
“Fuck,” I mutter and glance at my phone. With a sigh, I open the messenger app and find Emma in the list of participants. With a grimace, I stand up and dial, taking the stairs down to the kitchen quickly. I think I’m going to need a drink after this.
“Hi, Thatch,” she says a few rings later. “What’s up?”
“You know exactly why I’m ringing. What did you say to Storm?”
“Storm?”
“Storm Rivers, a few minutes ago.”
“Oh, that,” she giggles. “Just a chat between girls.”
“What did you say?” I grit out.
“I told her to stay away from you. I want you back, Thatch, and I’m going to get you. You know you still want me.” Her tone has changed, completely shocking me. She is fucking delulu. “Join me outside.”
I swerve away from the kitchen towards the front door and yank it open. Emma waves at me from across the street, where she is leaning up against the small red-brick wall that separates the pavement from the park. She trapped me. I’ll fucking kill JP when I get my hands on him. I hang up and storm over the road, stopping in front of her, ready to end this once and for all.
“Stop spreading lies about me and stay the fuck away from Storm. Do you hear me, Emma? I’m not fucking about. This is serious, and you are being a complete bitch. Back the fuck off and stay away from me.”
“Ooh,” she says, pursing her lips. “So aggressive.” She blows out a breath and looks to the side. “Look, Thatch. I know I fucked up, and I’m sorry. I still love you, and I want you back. I just want to make sure that no one is messing with this. I know we can work it out.”
“Fuck right off,” I scoff incredulously. “You don’t love someone and then cheat on them.”
“I know and I”m sorry. We were getting in so deep and I panicked,” she says.
“I don’t give a flying fuck!”
