Page 47 of Wasted Memories
I wondered if it pissed Jett off as well, but part of me thought Jett might also be the one asking Luke to spread lies. Jett knew as much as I did that we were not getting back together. At least I hoped he knew that. I still hadn’t talked to him since I left that night, but it was pretty clear I was done. Especially given I’d been away for a week now, and some of my clothes were missing from the closet.
The more people who knew Jett’s story meant less people knew the truth of what happened. Of course, Jett wouldn’t want people to know why we really broke up, and since Luke was his closest friend, he was trying to save his ass. If I came out with my side of the story now, it would look like I was the one lying. While a few people saw Jett slap me in the bar, I couldn’t necessarily go around saying he was abusive. I left before it could get worse, but I didn’t know how many would consider throwing a whiskey glass at a wall and leaving bruises on my arm abusive. People brushed men like Jett under the rug because they didn’t experience it first hand or have to go through it themselves. No one knew how scary it could feel when the person you loved turned on you until you’re the one living it.
While people in this town liked me, they liked Jett for entirely different reasons, and if I knew anything, they’d stand behind Jett before they stood behind me. Especially if he really was dealing to the people in this town.
I untied my apron from my waist and set it in my locker after grabbing my phone. Walking out the back door, I inhaled the cool, crisp air, taking in the silence after having been stuck in the clammy restaurant for hours with silverware clinking on porcelain plates ringing above the indistinct chatter of hungry townspeople.
I sat down on the concrete step outside the back door and unlocked my phone. There were four missed calls from my mother and a text asking me to call her as soon as possible. We rarely spoke, and even more rarely was she the one to reach out to me. I only had a few minutes left on my break, but I didn’t want to wait until after my shift to call her. I might as well get it over with and see what she wanted.
I dialed her number and before the first ring could go through, she was on the line.
“Emerson?”
“What’s wrong, mom?”
“I need you to come home.” I could hear that something was wrong by the tone of her voice.
“I’m at work. Can’t you tell me whatever it is over the phone?”
“No, Emerson, I need you to come home. This is important and I need you here.”
I couldn’t just leave work for something my mom deemed important. “Can I stop by tomorrow? I don’t have anyone to cover the rest of my shift.”
“It’s an emergency,” her words were rushed, a slight tremor in her voice as she spoke.
Sighing, I checked the time on my phone. My break was over and Jessica wouldn’t be too happy if I skipped out on covering her break before I left.
“I’ll figure something out.”
“Today, Emerson.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I ended the call and slipped my phone in my jean pocket.
I had no idea what she could be so worried about. It wasn’t like her to fake an emergency, which meant something truly was wrong.
Heading back inside the restaurant, I left my apron in my locker and grabbed my wallet. I peeked inside Elijah’s office but he wasn’t there. He’d have to hear about my leaving later, which was fine with me. I didn’t need to hear him putting in his smart remarks.
I found Jessica dropping dirty dishes into the sink in the kitchen. When she turned around, she noticeably looked to where my apron should have been.
“Don’t tell me you’re leaving.”
“I’m not happy about it, either. My mom claims there’s some kind of emergency. She’s not really giving me a choice.”
She sighed and walked around me, grabbing some drinks off the bar. “I’m only okay with this because I love you.”
“Thanks, Jess. I’ll make it up to you.”
“I should be having your mom make it up to me, but that’ll do. Drinks. Saturday.”
I smiled, thankful that I had the most understanding coworker on the planet. “It’s a date.”
Walking out the front door of the restaurant, I dialed Wesley. I didn’t want to involve Stella in whatever was going on and as much as I didn’t want to admit it, in the back of my head, I had a bad feeling Jett had something to do with this.
Chapter Twenty Six
Emerson
Wesleykilledtheengineto his truck but didn’t move to get out. My eyes were glued to the front door of my mother’s house, contemplating if we should turn around and leave. She never asked me to visit, which worried me. I wasn’t sure what could have happened that I needed to be here in person, but I knew I didn’t want to do this alone. Time and time again, I was finding ways to be thankful for Wesley.
