Page 105 of Riding the Curve

I feather my lips over the elegant slope of her back.

“Henley with no words? That’s a first.” I chuckle as she rolls those gorgeous eyes of hers. “Definitely a performance that should be repeated.”

Hen hums in agreement as I slide out of her. Wobbling like a baby doe, she turns around to face me. “You broke me . . . again.” She snorts.

“Let’s get you cleaned up.”

Lifting my shirt over my head, I use it to clean her thighs, and then myself. Since she’s still a little wobbly. I have her hold onto my shoulders while I slide on her leggings, then I wrap her in my sweatshirt. As I zip up my jeans and buckle my belt, Hen grabs the discarded gloves.

We jump into the car and start the drive back to the shop.

Her palm slips over my hand on the shifter, and I interlace her fingers with mine.

“Thank you, Emerson,” she says softly. “For everything. Knowing you’re by my side makes the unknowns less daunting. Because I know that if I stumble, or fall, you’ll be there to help lift me back up. I hope you know I’ll always be there to do the same for you. I love you so much.”

When her glossy gaze pierces through me, I feel the sting of tears behind my own eyes. “I love you, Hen. I will always be there for you. You’re stuck with me from now on, Trouble.”

The moonlight illuminates her enchanting smile, mending the last tears in my broken soul.

CHAPTER 38

Henley

“Give ’em hell, baby girl. Show them what happens when you mix amazing talent and a beautiful soul.” Dad sniffles against my forehead while squeezing me tight. Mom pats his shoulder, and he reluctantly releases me to let her have a turn.

She gathers my cheeks into her palms. “Now listen to me, don’t worry about any of us, we are going to be fine. Dad and I already talked about setting money aside so that we can make visits more often when you move.”

“Mom, I don’t even know if I’m going to get the job.”

“Oh hush, we all know you are going to blow the competition out of the water. We are so proud of you, Hen. Go follow your dreams.” She kisses me on the forehead. Her embrace lingers a little longer than usual, but I don’t mind one single bit.

After she steps back, Ryleigh pulls me in for a hug. “Good luck, sis. You’re going to do great. I’m incredibly proud of you, Hen.”

He bends down and picks up a sniffling Lyla, and that’s when I feel the tears I’ve been holding slip free. She’d been crying for the past hour, and I was barely holding myself together. “Who’s gunna make cookies with me?” Her little lip wobbles, and I steal her from Ryleigh’s arms.

“Aww, honey. I’ll be back in a few days and we can bake some more.”

“Noooo, I heard Daddy tell Gwandma and Gwampa that you were going to get the jwob. You gunna weave us fowever.”

Ryleigh mouths an apology over Lyla’s shoulder as I shoot him a glare.

I return my focus back to my niece. “Well, how about I make you a deal. If Em and I do end up moving, we will FaceTime you every week, and we can bake cookies together. Right, Em?”

He comes up behind me and wipes the tears from Lyla’s cheeks. “That’s right. You’ll help remind me when to put the extra chocolate chips in, okay?” She wipes her little red nose with her arm and gives Emerson a little smile before nodding. Then her arms wrap around mine as she squeezes me tight.

Ryleigh lifts her out of my hands so that I can give my friends a hug. Harper and Mel wish me luck, and I promise them to call as soon as I get into the hotel room.

“Thank you for everything,” I whisper to them both.

“You got this, babe. Go get that job! Then find us both a hot, single chef friend and we’ll move up to join you.” Harper smirks.

Emerson steps up behind me and whispers softly, “We got to hit the road, so we make our flights.” I nod, and we say one last goodbye as everyone wishes Emerson good luck in his race.

“You okay?” Emerson’s palm curls around my thigh, giving me a reassuring squeeze.

My family and friends fill the frame of the side mirror as we drive down the gravel path. The smaller they get, the stronger the ache in my heart grows.

Leaving the first time had been hard. But everything about today felt much more difficult.