“Also, I could make you better pancakes with the blueberries there ...”
She swallowed, and I could practically see the thoughts ripple through her mind, the expression on her face going from shock to surprise to something softer.
“You just want me to make up with my dad,” she said, changing the subject.
“I do.”
“You left Philly mad atyourdad.”
“Different story. Feel me? Your dad’s been with you since day one. Come on ... he may not like the idea of me, but he’ll warm up to me. And we’ll bring Tuck. No one can resist the blond bombshell of a dog.”
Emerson frowned. “I’ll think about it, okay? Will that get you to be quiet? I’ll call him later and see what he says.”
“My lips are sealed. Now, what do you want to do today?”
Setting her fork down, she took a deep breath. “I was going to see if I could get a last-known address for my mom. I planned to go see Bev’s mom while Bev is at her dance class. I know I shouldn’t, that I should let it go, but I can’t.” She rambled, closing her eyes.
“Hey, can I say something?”
“Can I stop you?” A half smile ghosted across her lips.
“Bev meant,means, a lot to you. Why don’t you try to see her too? Make a peace offering. Fall on your sword. Whatever type of words of wisdom they spout in those self-help books likeFriendship for Dummies.”
“I want to. Maybe I can ask Sheila—her mom—the best strategy, and get Paula’s address while I’m there. Would you ...” Emerson shook her head. “Never mind.”
“Would I go with you? Yep. Then we’ll go to the zoo. Nothing makes you feel better than the zoo. Done.”
We finished eating over small talk until Tuck trotted over, carrying his leash in his mouth and running in circles. Deciding he wanted a walk, we obliged before going back to Em’s for fresh clothes and to visit Sheila.
I wasn’t sure it was a great idea, but I couldn’t say no to Emerson ...until I could.
Emerson
“One sec,” I called from behind my bathroom door.
“No rush,” Price hollered back.
That was good because I was staring at myself in the bathroom mirror, wondering if I looked different. Like I wasn’t a virgin.
It was another one of those moments where I wished for my mom, someone to confide in or who could tell me I looked like the same damn woman.
Young woman, obviously, but woman all the same. My heart rate sped up when I thought about what I did. Whatwedid.
I’d known Robby most of my life, and I couldn’t come up with one decent reason why I should have shared this moment with him.
Smoothing my palm over my neck and down my chest, I closed my eyes and remembered the exact moment Price was fully inside me. It had stung, but then felt more than right. Like we belonged. I wondered if it was normal to feel that way.
Again, I needed a mom.
This made me open my eyes again and get moving. After slipping on some clean clothes, combing my hair, and adding a touch of makeup, I was ready.
“Let’s do this,” I told Price, who was sitting on the edge of my bed with his phone in his hand.
“Everything okay?”
He nodded. “Yeah, my dad, apologizing, saying he wants to come here in a few weeks. Same shit, different day.” He took my hand. “Are you sure you want to go see Sheila?”
I nodded.
