Page 42 of Right Where You Left Me
“Really good.” I say again, almost to myself.
“I’m so happy for you, Sage.” River says squeezing me into one more hug.
“I’m happy for me too.”
And I am. So. Fucking. Happy.
Emma is a mess when I walk into the cafe a couple hours later. Her hair is in a disheveled knot on top of her head. Her apron and face are covered in what looks like chocolate frosting. She’s holding herself so stiffly, I can almost feel her stress from the door.
“Baby.” I croon, walking up behind her and pulling her into a hug. “What’s the matter?”
“It was a very frustrating morning.” She says, leaning into my touch. I kiss her temple softly and reluctantly pull away to go and grab my own apron. When I join her back on the floor she’s making a latte.
“What happened to get you so stressed out?” I ask as I start helping her make the drinks lined up on the bar. Piper is at the register, side eyeing us while we work and I flick her off. She can mind her own business.
“Ugh. We had a mishap with the oven this morning so we didn’t get as many of the pastries out as we normally do, and people were so rude about it, Sage. I got yelled at by a customer. I’veneverbeenyelledat like that before.”
I stiffen. “Who yelled at you? Was it Arthur? I swear to fuck I will fight that old man for you. Is he still here?” I stare out at the cafe, trying to sense who could’ve been mean to my girl.
Emma laughs. “It wasn’t Arthur.” Her hand squeezes mine softly. “But I’m glad you’re willing to fight for my honor, babe.”
I scowl. “I don’t like knowing someone was mean to you, baby.”
“It’s really okay. I’m fine and they left and hopefully won’t come back.” Her eyes widen. “Not that I hope you lose business, Piper!”
Piper just laughs and waves her off. “Please, I don’t want assholes in here either.”
“See? We’ve got your back. No one is allowed to be mean to you.”
Emma rolls her eyes. “It was one person… Oh!” She goes back to making drinks, but smiles at me. “I do have good news to share.”
“Do tell.”
“Liam is coming to visit in a couple weeks.”
“Liam.” I say stiffly. I can feel a chill crawling down my neck. Why the fuck is herex-husband coming to visit her?
“Mhm. He has a weekend free and wanted to see how my mom is doing and how everything here is going.” Her hands still when she notices my reaction. “What’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong?” I ask, and even to my ears my voice is shrill. “Why is your EX-husband coming here, Emma?
“Babe.” She says soothingly, and I recoil when she tries to touch me. Hurt flashes in her eyes, but she nods her head and doesn’t try to touch me again.
I can’t understand why she’s okay with this? This man who has seen her naked, who knows her probably better than I do. I can’t deal with this. I can’t?—
“Sage.” She says firmly. I meet her gaze and I find only understanding there now. “Babe, Liam and I ended things on good terms. He’s my best friend, just like River is yours. He isn’t some villain trying to steal me away from you. He knows I don’t like men, seeing as that is the entire reason he and I are no longer married. Okay?”
I nod, but it’s rigid and my stomach hurts. And fuck, I do not like this. “I just don’t like the idea of my girlfriend and her ex-husband being all buddy buddy.” I grumble. And Emmagrins. Which I don’t know why she would be because this is not a ‘grinning’ type of situation.
“Your girlfriend, huh?” She says closing the distance between us.
“Yes, my fucking girlfriend.” I say, cupping her face in my hands. “What else would you be?”
She gets up on her tiptoes and kisses me, her tongue licking the seam of my lips. It’s hot, and it’s sweet, and it’s over way too quickly. “Sage. I promise you don’t have anything to worry about, okay?”
“Okay.” I murmur.
“You trust me?”
