Page 21 of Dancing Hearts

“Shit.” I should have gone food shopping. Of course, my phone starts ringing and I run, hopping over the coffee table to grab it. “Hello?”

“Hi.” Just hearing Emma’s voice has a smile on my face.

“Hey, doll. How are you?” I can hear a lot of noise in the background. Before I can ask where she is, she answers me.

“I’m good. Listen, I stopped and grabbed some pizza. I’m down in the bar. I didn’t just want to show up. I can bring it up to you and then I’ll head home. I just wanted to make sure you and your mom had dinner.” She keeps finding ways to shock the shit out of me. Never has a girl I’ve dated brought me dinner, never mind when I’m dealing with my mom. This girl seems to have a heart of fucking gold. I’m not sure I deserve that, but I’ll gladly take it. I quickly make my way out my door to help her carry the pizza up.

“I’m on my way down to help with the pizza.” Before she can argue, because I’m pretty sure she would, I hang up the phone stuffing it into my pocket. I take the stairs two at a time to make it to her faster. I open the door and she is standing there like the fucking hottest delivery girl I’ve ever seen. She gets the attention of my dick as well. I give her a grin before I make my way to her. I grab the pizza from her and press my lips to her soft ones. “Thank you. Come on.” I turn and she grabs onto my arm, stopping me. I turn my head and she is chewing that lip. I raise my eyebrow in question.

“I don’t need to come up. I just wanted to make sure you had dinner.” I look around the bar. It is

running like a well-oiled machine. The girls are busy taking care of the tables, and Roy has got the bar totally under control. He looks over at me and smiles, nodding his head toward Emma. I nod back, meaning hell yes, she is amazing. I look back at her and she looks so nervous.

“Emma, have you eaten dinner yet?” She shakes her head ‘no.’ “Then get your sexy ass up those stairs.” She still doesn’t move, but bites that lip harder. I bend down so I’m eye level with her. “Why are you nervous, doll?” She lifts her eyes to mine and we stare at each other. It is like we are trying to see into the other’s soul.

“Don’t you think this may be a bad time for your mom to meet me?” she whispers. I smile at her.

“I actually think this is the perfect time for my mom to meet you. Don’t be nervous, doll. She is just sad, she’s not some crazy person.” I guess that was the wrong thing to say because she quickly releases that lip and frowns at me.

“I never said or even thought your mom was crazy. I just didn’t know if she would want someone she doesn’t know seeing her upset.”

“I didn’t mean it like that, I’m sorry. Just come up with me, and now, because these pizzas are starting to burn me.” Thankfully, she laughs at that and we make our way up to my place. Once we are inside, I set the pizzas down on the counter and pull her to me. I slam my mouth to hers and our tongues begin to dance together. She lets out a moan when I nip her bottom lip before pulling back. We hold each other and it feels so fucking good. She seems to help relax me. I sigh before I kiss her head. “Thank you, Emma. You have no idea how much it means to me that you would think to bring me dinner. I know we have a lot to learn about each other, but damn, you are making me one happy man.”

“Well, hearing that makes me one happy woman.” We pull apart when my stomach growls again. She looks at my stomach then up at me. “I think it’s dinner time.” She winks and I grab two plates out of the cabinet.

We ate and damn, it was good. Now we are sitting on the couch talking about our days. She told me the girl from work apologized to her, telling her that Shelly isn’t even a good friend, just someone she sees every once in a while. That made me feel much better. I told her everything I did all day and about how my mom was earlier. “Can I ask a question?” I give her a grin.

“Emma, you don’t need to ask. I told you, you can ask me anything.” She chews her lip again, so I know what she wants to ask makes her nervous.

“Has she ever been to therapy or tried anti-depressants?” I put my hand on hers and squeeze.

“Yes. She sees a therapist regularly and she takes anti-depressants. She hasn’t been bad like this in months. In the beginning, it was every day, so this is huge progress.” She climbs into my lap and hugs me. She kisses from my neck up to my ear.

“I’m sorry for everything you both have to deal with.” I hold her closer to me, just soaking up the comfort she is giving me.

“Cooper?” We both turn our heads to see my mom standing in the hallway. She looks an absolute mess, but she has a smile on her face. Emma quickly climbs off my lap and I chuckle at her.

“Mom, how are you feeling?” She shakes her head trying to avoid the topic. It is probably because Emma is here.

“I’m fine. Who is this beautiful lady?” I grab Emma’s hand in mine and we make our way to my mom.

“Mom, this is Emma, my girlfriend.” She snaps her head to me wide-eyed with a huge smile on her face now. In all these years, even before my dad passed away, I’ve only introduced my mom to two girls. I just tend to leave my social life separate from my mom. With Emma, it wasn’t even a thought. I wanted my mom and her to meet. “Emma, this is my mom, Mary.” Emma holds out a shaky hand and my mom grabs it.

“Oh Emma, it is so nice to meet you. Sorry I’m such a mess right now.” She still hasn’t let go of Emma’s hand, and I can’t help but just cross my arms, watching these two women. One who means everything to me and one who is starting to.

“It is so nice to meet you, Mrs. James. I brought some pizza if you are hungry.” My mom looks at me.

“How long have you two been together?” She lets go of Emma’s hand and smacks my arm. I laugh at her and wrap my arm around Emma’s shoulders.

“It’s brand new, Mom. I promise.”

We all sit down and my mom eats the sandwich Levi brought over earlier. I watch while she and Emma talk. My mom asks all about her. This is probably one of the best moments I’ve had with my mom in a while. If she didn’t look exhausted and like she hasn’t eaten, I’d say she is close to being the mom she used to be.

After about two hours of talking, my mom excuses herself to take a shower. Once Emma and I are alone, I pull her onto my lap. “Thank you for everything tonight. What time do you work tomorrow?” She is running her hands through my hair and it feels amazing.

“I go in at eight and get out at five, but I have dinner with my mom tomorrow.” She gives me her pouty lip and I suck it into my mouth.

“Alright, listen I’m going to be dealing with my mom for the rest of the week. How about Saturday we do something during the day? I have a new band coming in so I need to be at the bar, but we would do something early. What do you say?” She kisses me quickly before agreeing to it.

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