Page 22 of Something Like That

Em stared at Alex, her expression blank. Very carefully blank. The kind of blank that took a huge effort to maintain. Her cheeks were flushed and… were her lips swollen?

It took far too long for the pieces to weave themselves together in Alex’s brain. “Oh,” she squeaked, and her own cheeks blazed to life. “Sorry… umm, I didn’t mean to… I mean… umm… could you turn the music down a little? Okay, then. Thanks.” She stared at the girls, no one moving. The seconds turned to eons, no one quite sure what to do.

With one last nod, Alex turned and hurried out of the room, closing the door behind her.

The volume on the music lowered to a more reasonable level. She rushed into her own bedroom, shutting herself in. Leaned against the door.

For some reason, her heart felt like it was going to crash right through her ribs. She closed her eyes, sucked in a deep breath. Held it. Slowly released it. She did it three more times, searching for her center. On days like today, she appreciated her morning meditations.

She sank into the chair in front of her vanity. Although her body was under control—somewhat—her mind was whizzing around like a carnival ride.

What had she just witnessed?

That was a stupid question. She knew exactly what she’d witnessed. Em and Hannah had been fooling around. She just wasn’t sure what to do with the information. They were both so young… Then again, maybe that was just her perception. Em was going to be fifteen next month. And while, yes, that was still young, she wasn’t a little girl anymore. No matter how badly Alex wanted her to stay that way.

Oh, geez. She planted her elbows on the vanity and buried her face in her hands. How embarrassing. Em was probably mortified. Alex couldn’t imagine either of her parents barging in when she and Kevin were making out. Just the thought made her sick to her stomach.

Em was never going to forgive her.

A door opened down the hall, followed by the rush of feet down the stairs. She waited another agonizing ten minutes and then stood up. Taking a fortifying breath, she opened the door and walked to the top of the stairs. It was now or never.

Each step down the stairs sent a tight band of the unknown squeezing her chest. It also cleared her head. The shock was slowly wearing off. Em was still grounded—the residual effect of the breaking into the school incident—which meant she wasn’t supposed to have anyone over. Especially when Alex wasn’t home.

The house was silent. What if Em had left with Hannah? Being grounded meant she wasn’t allowed to go out either, but could Alex blame her if she wanted to have some time by herself? Or with Hannah? Although, honestly, hadn’t they spent enough time alone together already today?

She rounded the corner and came up short. Em was sitting on one of the stools at the breakfast bar. The open concept of the ground floor meant the kitchen was only separated from the living room by the stretch of counter.

Em looked up at her and quickly ducked her head, burying her chin against her chest. She looked so young and embarrassed and ashamed. It cracked Alex’s heart right down the middle.

She walked over and sat on the stool next to Em. The silence stretched between them, taught and tangled, until finally, Alex couldn’t take it anymore.

She turned to face her daughter. “I’m sorry.”

Em’s head shot up. Fear, unease, and confusion warred in her wide, hazel gaze. “Why are you apologizing to me?”

“Because it was rude of me to barge into your room like that. You’re a young woman now and you deserve your privacy.”

“Um, okay.” She dropped her gaze again, watching her finger trace a random pattern across the countertop.

Alex placed her hand on top of Em’s, stilling her. “Are you and Hannah a couple?” She tried to keep her voice level, even, matter of fact. She almost managed.

Em’s gaze met hers for a moment before bouncing back to the counter. She made a kind of dismissive noise in the back of her throat. “Of course not. Why would you think—”

Alex squeezed her fingers. “Emily.”

Em looked at her and her face crumpled, tears filling her eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“Oh, sweetheart.” Alex’s voice cracked, her throat thick. Tears burned the back of her eyes. “Why are you sorry?” She wrapped her arms around Em’s shoulders and pulled her in. Gave her a hard squeeze.

Em hugged her back, burying her face against Alex’s neck. He shoulders shook as she sobbed. It had been a long time since Alex had the opportunity to hold her daughter like this, since her daughter let her hold her like this. If only Em wasn’t so upset.

Alex cooed and soothed, rubbing Em’s back until her sobs turned to hiccups. She pulled back and took Em’s face between her hands. Her daughter was so big, a young woman, and so very beautiful. The love Alex had for her was so huge, so encompassing, it made her heart ache. She kissed the tip of Em’s nose and then got up and poured a glass of water.

She pushed the glass across the counter. Em took a big drink. “Better?”

Em nodded, sniffing and wiping her cheeks with the back of her good hand.

“You know I don’t care that Hannah’s a girl, right?”