Page 27 of To Feel Like This Again
“Of course. Pick me up at 4:20pm, I’ll send my location closer to the time. Can you do me a huge favour?”
“Sure, what’s that?”
“Don’t wear any underwear… it’s been too long.”
“I won’t.” She smiles at that and looks relieved.
And just like that night on the beach, I look into her eyes with theintensityof someone who wants to be all over her.
Thatintensityhas to be put on ice though, as my Uber pulls up. I badly want to pull her close and make her mine, but settle instead for a hug.
Hopping into the vehicle, I leave to get ready for a night out on the town (or city to be exact).
In the passenger seat, I look back at the house as the Uber driver turns left on to the adjacent street. The name of the Netflix series with the similar-looking houses almost comes to me… I can literally see it... but it flies right out of my head when I see Lisa’s silhouette, all curves, against the front door. Her hands by her side.
Chapter 16
Nicholas
Later that evening, I am riding up in an elevator to the penthouse. “Hey. Come on in,” Emily takes my hand as I come out of the lift, like we are dating, and leads me to the pool where eight of her friends are chilling.
I’m not going to comment on how she looks. I’d be asking for trouble.
“Everyone,” she hollers, “this is Nick” and on cue they all shout, “Hey Nick”. She then introduces everyone to me by name. Zoned out, I say, “nice to meet you” to each of them, forgetting their names instantly, except Isabella. Yup, you know why. No brainer there.
Emily and I naturally separate from the group, moving to the other end of the pool where it’s a bit quieter and sit facing each other around a small table.
“I was really really surprised to see you today. You lived with Lisa?” I ask curiously, resting my glass on the table. I’ve wanted to ask that question from the moment I found out earlier today.
“Ah. Um. It’s a long story. I doubt you’d want to hear it tonight,” she replies in an effort to deflect.
“Well, if it’s okay with you, I’d like to hear,” I say reassuringly.
“Um. Um. She and my mom were best friends. They were inseparable from high school. The summer before my freshman year, my mom got really sick. So, when she passed away, Lisa welcomed me into her home.” She is focussing earnestly at her drink on the table.
This is heavy. I really wasn’t ready for it. I pause for a moment, searching for the right words.
“Ahh. Um. I’m so sorry to hear that, Emily,” I say, disappointed in my response and wishing I had said something more comforting.But what do you say in moments like these?
Taking a sip of her drink, “It’s okay.”
“And may I ask… where was your dad in all of this?”
“Well, when my parents got divorced, he resented me for taking her side even though I was only ten at the time — I haven’t heard from him in years, up to today. I stumbled across his Facebook profile some years ago… and it seemed like he was doing fine.”
“Oh. Wow. That’s terrible. I am so sorry, Emily.”
“Yea, I’ve gotten over it a long time ago.”
“You know, in a way, I guess I kind of understand what you’ve been through,” I say, while drumming my fingers on the table.
Emily looks up. “What do you mean?”
“Well, I lost my mother when I was young,” I tell her as the finger tapping intensifies.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” she says, placing her hand on top of mine to quell the tapping. “And what about your father?”
“Well, he had a major gambling problem and refused to acknowledge it and get the necessary help. So, at one point, we lost everything, and my mom had to start over again. It was at that point she decided it was best to move on without him. And I haven’t heard from him since.”
