Page 25 of Reject Him

CHAPTER TEN

Val sits on Eme’s bed while Eme rummages through her clothes in the dresser drawers. She has no idea what to wear to the full moon dinner. If she were at her father’s pack, any party would be formal wear. But here, everything is laid back. Does she dress up and risk embarrassment? Or dress down and risk embarrassment?

Eme groans.

“For the sake of all that is holy,” Val sighs out. “Just pick something.”

Eme holds up a top and quirks a brow at Val. “How about this?”

“It’s going to be outside, Em. Try a long sleeve. Perhaps something with a little less sparkle.”

Hanging the blouse back inside her closet, she moves clothes around a bit more until she finds a lavender knitted sweater. “How about this?”

Val nods curtly. “That will do.”

Eme removes her top and flings it to the floor. Then she rummages around in a drawer to find a tank top, slides it on, and fits her head through the knitted sweater. She yanks it down and flicks her curled hair to the side. “And pants?”

“How about jeans?” Val motions to her own pants.

“Right.”

“Why are you so nervous?”

Eme pauses while digging inside the bottom drawer. “It’s a new pack,” she lies.

Val sees right through her lie and chuffs. “Mhmm.”

Peeking at her through her hair, Eme wonders if she had seen something, perhaps their shared kiss. They didn’t exactly hide it. Others could have seen it, and word could have spread around.

The truth is Eme is terrified. Terrified of what is happening between her and Logan. Terrified that he may not like her if she keeps pushing him away. It’s a silly thought since he’s shown nothing but kindness and understanding for her, but she has those thoughts anyway. The thought of being rejected after finally, albeit somewhat, accepting her life with Logan and the possibility that it may not be so bad, that she kind of likes him . . .

“You know,” Val begins. “Pack gossip spreads like wildfire.”

Eme busies herself by picking out a pair of jeans. “I figured.”

“And you know, I-”

Standing, Eme turns toward her. “Let me guess. You heard about the kiss.” A blush rises to Eme’s cheeks.

Val grins. “Everyone did.”

“Great,” she murmurs. She doesn’t want anyone to draw conclusions when she’s still trying to figure it all out herself.

“Don’t do that,” Val chastises.

“Do what?”

“Shy away from what’s happening. Just embrace it.”

Eme slides on her jeans. “Easier said than done.”

Silence stretches for just a few moments until Val breaks it. “You don’t know what to do about it, do you?”

“Is it that obvious?”

Val slaps her knee. “Well, now it is. Girl, Logan is a nice guy. A catch. You don’t have to worry about falling for him.”

Eme checks herself in the mirror above the dresser. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”