Page 56 of Wasted Memories
“Why? I mean, how? You need the money more than I need a car.”
He looked at me, grabbing my wrist to face my palm up. He set the keys in my hand, his hand still on my wrist. “It technically wasn’t my money.” I snapped my head to him, even more confused than I already was. “It was my inheritance from my father. I wasn’t planning on using it for anything else and it just makes me feel better knowing you have a vehicle to get around.”
I almost dropped the keys but closed my fist to grab them. “Wesley, I can’t accept this. That’s acar.”
“I’m well aware of what it is, darling.”
“Then you’re aware how expensive cars are? I can’t accept you spending that much money on me.”
He laughed, facing me. He cupped my face with his hands, leaning in close. “Do you see that thing, Em? It’s old. It barely made a dent in my inheritance. Please just accept it. For my sake.”
“But Wes-”
“But nothing. I’ll get it transferred to your name and work on it for you if any problems come up.”
I rarely received gifts, let alone an entirecaras a gift. I couldn’t tell if he was crazy or just extremely thoughtful.
“I’m going to pay you back.”
He shook his head, laughing. “Emerson, that’s not how gifts work.”
“Yeah, well, it will make me feel better.”
He pressed a kiss to my forehead, pulling me closer to him by wrapping his arms around my shoulders. I closed my eyes, blowing out a long breath. “If that’ll make you accept my gift.”
“It will.”
His chest shook as he chuckled. “Stubborn woman.”
I smiled against his chest, turning my head with my cheek pressed against him to look at the car again.
It felt good being close to him. He smelled like wood and spice, and I wished I could save the smell in a candle so I always felt close to him even if he wasn’t with me.
Life threw me some pretty shitty cards in the past few weeks, but it also gave me some pretty great ones, too.
Chapter Thirty Three
Emerson
Thunderboomedinthedistance as I parked my car in front of Wings & Wine. Contrary to the name, they served all kinds of food and beverages here. I didn’t feel like risking running into Jett at our usual bar, so I offered to drive us across town to this place.
“So, tell me again how your pussy is so great that he bought you a car after the first time?” Jessica asked from the back seat.
I laughed, shaking my head as I got out of the car. Stella and Jessica got out as well, all three of us making our way inside after I locked the car. “You don’t think he got it for me because of my personality?”
Stella sucked air in through her teeth, taking her coat off as we entered the restaurant. “I don’t know about that.. From what I’ve seen of your personality-” I elbowed her in the side as she laughed.
When this place first opened, the owners didn’t know which way they wanted to take the restaurant. They switched the theme between country and old school diner before landing on a more nautical feel. It had a rustic charm with weathered wooden beams overhead the dozens of tables set about the open floor plan. There were nautical touches on the walls, like old fishing nets and seashells collected from the Washington shores. The cozy bar area had two bartenders crafting cocktails inspired by the sea, their special on the board tonight was an Ocean Waves Vodka Wine Cocktail. It sounded like a headache in a glass to me.
Since the restaurant was open seating, we made our way over to a booth by the wall to the right of the bar. Most of the tables were filled, which didn’t surprise me since a thunderstorm was rolling in. Not many people wanted to be caught on the shore when those hit.
A waitress ambled over to our table with a smile on her face. She wore a blue and white striped apron around her waist, going with the nautical theme. “Lovely girls’ night, I see. My name is Sam. Can I get you gals started with any drinks?”
Jessica glanced at the drink menu before passing it off to Stella. “I’ll have a Cake by the Ocean, please.”
Sam scribbled it on the notepad before turning to Stella. “Tipsy Mermaid, please.”
She jotted it down, then faced me. “And for you?”
