Page 120 of The Emma Special

She stayed there until her bare legs and feet grew cold from the AC blowing out from under the bed. Her disheveled hair tickled her face and she swiped it out of the way.

James had kissed her last night.

If not for the concoction from Summer, Emma wasn’t sure she would have fallen asleep on her own. Whatever elixir Summer had given her this time was way too strong. Or maybe she’d overdosed? She’d have to ask Summer again how much she was supposed to take.

James had kissed her. Then she’d run away like a kid. What if she had stayed? Kissing James was wonderful.

Soft knocking on her door startled her. “Emma? Can I come in?”

Exhausted, Emma raised an arm to the edge of the bed and dragged her blanket to cover herself. “It’s open.”

James entered with her pink mug in his hand and wearing his Clark Kent glasses. He didn’t react to her pathetic position on the carpet. Maybe she was still drugged?

“I tried to make us coffee. I tasted it to make sure it wasn’t awful.” He scrunched his nose. “It’s not as good as yours, but it’s okay. Want to sit up and have some?”

Emma pushed herself up to sitting. “You shouldn’t have done that. I’m sorry.”

“Why are you sorry?” He sat carefully beside her on the floor. “I’m allowed to use our kitchen.”

She ducked her head. “I know that, it’s just something I can do to get closer to deserving everything you’ve done for me.” Emma blinked. It sounded terrible when she said the words so bluntly.

James stared at the opposite wall, a muscle pulsing in his cheek. His nose flared as he drew in a controlled breath. Then he set the coffee on the floor and walked out of her room. Grabbing her door handle, he shut the door with a firm click.

His heavy footfalls passed down the hall. She heard the sound of his keys, and the house shook with the force he used on the front door.

Steam wafted from her cup sitting by her knee. Songbirds in the tree outside her window tweeted their repetitive calls.

Emma curled her knees to her chest and dropped her forehead down. It was about time he wised up and left. Yet, even knowing it was inevitably going to happen didn’t shelter her heart from the blow.

A text binged her phone on her nightstand. Blowing a breath that puffed her cheek, she pulled herself from the floor.

Lottie: Hi Emma! Sharon is meeting Kenna and me at the park at ten. The one across from your friend’s flower stand. Will you join us?

Yes. The Lord was sending her a moment of peace when everything was starting to spiral.

Emma: That sounds lovely.

She opened the thread for James. Started four different texts and deleted them all. “I don’t know!” Emma threw the phone on the bed and immediately picked it up again to text the Kiss and Tell group.

Emma: I’m toast…

Katie: I don’t want to hear that pessimism. Give me some pep!

Emma: I’m toast!

Allison: Not likely, but I’ll bite. What’s up?

Emma: James is upset with me, and I don’t know what to do to fix it. I’m afraid I broke something. Maybe he regrets marrying me?

Allison: That dog won’t hunt.

Katie: Everything broken can be fixed.

Summer: Have you eaten breakfast yet?

Emma: No.

Allison: Then we’re not going to talk about this. Go wash your face and eat something. When you’re not in Looney Town, try again. I’ll wait.