“That sounded doubtful. I think you doubt me.”
“Will, are we really about to have our first fight?”
“No. Because I’m pretty sure we fought plenty before this.”
Emmy groaned and collapsed back into the soft, welcoming cushions of the couch. “You’re not going to let this go, huh?”
“No. I’m not. One, because I’m going to come up with something so romantic it’ll knock your socks off. And hopefully everything else.” He wiggled his eyebrows and Emmy snorted. “Two, because I just ate dinner, I’m tired, and I’m emotionally drained. And three, corny as it sounds, I want the first time between us to be meaningful.”
Her heart turned to mush. How could she push back against that? She couldn’t, of course. And he knew it.
“Alright, you win.” She sat up once more. “What do we do in the meantime? More board games?”
“Maybe. First, I want you to tell me what you’re planning for your business.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, show me what you have so far. Take me through it.”
She assumed he was using the readily available distraction to move the conversation away from sex, but it quickly became apparent that he was genuinely interested. Before long, she was fully immersed in her own plans, showing him more of her logo designs, the beginnings of her five-year plan, target audience, budget. In the back of her mind, she chastised herself for expecting him to brush her off. Those were the lingering effects of Andrew’s influence, and she didn’t want her ex anywhere near this place or this man.
Later, with the lights all turned off and her notes carefully tucked away in her room, Emmy lay awake and listened to the songs of insects outside her window. She couldn’t tell how serious Will was with all his romance talk, though she hoped it meant he really did have romantic feelings about her. Maybe even love-type feelings. She knew shewanted to be with him soon, regardless of whether he could track down a voyeuristic Elton John cover band. To borrow a phrase from May, she had found her “It.” In her own thoughts, she was able to admit that she wanted to make love with him.
She drifted off to sleep imagining his hands on her.
Twenty-Five
Emmy woke feeling energized and optimistic for the first time in weeks. Maybe years. She was riding high on that gut feeling that everything was going to work out, that she and Will would be together, that she would see her family again soon. There were three texts waiting for her, two from Will, one from his mother. She checked them while she brushed her teeth.
First, from Will:
Ive left you for my mistress Alessandrica we are moving to Tahiti to weave baskets and MAKE LOVE you can have the house
And then…
(jk bbs)
Emmy laughed to herself, spat toothpaste foam into the sink. The text from Will’s mother contained moreexclamation points and emojis than were strictly necessary. She and Bill were ready to go ahead with the landscaping, and they had the deposit check ready for her.
In that moment, Emmy didn’t care that Will’s parents weren’t real or that she was in a book. Her heart skipped a beat. Pure pleasure swept through her.
This was what it could feel like. This could be her reality.
She found she was finally ready tomakeit reality.
Joanna’s text concluded by saying she’d asked Will to swing by and pick up the check.
Aha.
So that explained his trip to “Tahiti.”
After sending a quick response to Joanna telling her she’d get started right away, Emmy went to Will’s office to begin researching native plants. Just because she intended to escape the book didn’t mean she couldn’t continue to practice being a business owner, right? A slight twinge of guilt dampened her mood. Was it really fair to ask Will to leave his parents? Wouldn’t he miss them? What about Jared? His job?
Wouldn’t taking him with her simply reverse their positions?
Emmy shook her head. There were no alternatives. If she left him behind, she might end his existence. And she couldn’t stay with him indefinitely. Not only wouldn’t she live without her family, but she would go crazy knowing she could never be alone in public for fear of being flooded by meet-cutes.
They’d work it out. She was sure of it.
