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“Oh yeah. As much as I’m getting over my whole thing with Dad, I still want to hear him admit that I did good – and not just good, but better than him. I know that’s kind of evil, and that I shouldn’t care, but I do.”
“That’s fine,” Emmett reassured me. “You deserve recognition for what you did.”
“I don’t need it though,” I admitted. “At this point, I’m pretty sure I have everything I need to be happy,” I said, blushing a little as I looked up to meet his eye.
“I’m pretty sure I do too,” he said, holding his gaze. “Actually, I know that I do,” he corrected himself. “And I know that if you ever so much as think you’re missing something, I’ll find it for you,” he promised sweetly, rubbing his thumb over the back of my hand. “Because I’ve honestly only ever wanted you to be happy.”
All I could do was nod in reply because I was too choked up to speak. He had me just about melting in my chair with that one, and it made me thankful for the distraction of two servers coming by to pre
sent a bunch of beautiful appetizers we didn’t even order.
Apparently, Emmett’s owner friend had just instructed the kitchen to send them out. As they were set down in front of us, our main server came by to explain each dish before whisking away our empty wine glasses and bringing a new pairing to match the food.
“Good Lord,” I breathed out, shaking my head at Emmett when we were alone again.
“What?”
“Nothing. I’m just still amazed by the perks that come with being Emmett Hoult’s girlfriend.”
“Well, stick around,” he smirked. “You ain’t seen nothing yet.”
I grinned. I definitely believed him on that one, and as the drinks kept coming, it was hard not to let my bubbly brain get carried away in fantasy. I knew it was dangerous and presumptuous, but my imagination was giving me images from next summer – when I’d have enough money to plan dates myself and take Emmett out to do things. I knew I’d probably never make quite as much money as him, but it was just the gesture.
I just wanted him to know how much I appreciated him – how much I recognized his patience for me all these years. After all, he had just as much a right to hold a grudge against me, but he never did.
“Aly, Julian’s called twice for some reason. Do you mind if I take it?” Emmett asked as our entrée courses were cleared.
“Go for it,” I said breezily, resting my chin in my hands as I watched him walk away. I laughed to myself a bit as I watched all the female eyes he passed follow and stick to him, aggressively checking him out in the way I couldn’t blame them for. He definitely looked sexy as ever in grey jeans and a lightweight Henley that was basically made to call attention to his pecs and biceps.
I was still checking him out when I heard heeled footsteps draw close to me.
“Omigod – Aly Stanton? Bitch, get over here!”
My jaw dropped even before I turned around but when I did, I was instantly pulled into the world’s tightest hug. I hadn’t even seen her face yet, but I already knew who it was.
“Drea!” I gasped, already forced to catch my breath when we pulled away because the excitement was so instant. “I haven’t seen you in so long!”
“Three years I think!” Drea squealed, pulling me into another tight hug that wound up getting both my blonde locks and her platinum curls caught in her earring. “Oops – careful. They’re expensive and I like my earlobes!” she squeaked as we untangled ourselves, taking another half-minute or so to come down from our giggles. “Holy shit, lady. I don’t even know how I recognized you with the long hair! You look amazing!”
“And you. I didn’t think you could get more glamorous but you proved me wrong!” I pulled back to assess her outfit from head to toe. Aside from being my former boss and mentor, Drea van Dahl had also always been my style icon, and today was no different. She looked stunning in a checkered mini-dress with a long, white blazer worn over. “So what are you doing in Montauk?”
“Oh, I’m just here to visit some college friends, but I was thinking of you because I’ve been reading such amazing things about your restaurant, and I am so proud!” she said, getting all gushy and giggly again with those last five words.
“Psh, well, I couldn’t have done it without you! You showed me the ropes on how to do pretty much everything that I needed to – ”
“Oh!” Drea interrupted me with a little gasp, and only then did I realize that she had just noticed Emmett on his way back to the table.
“Oh.” I bit my smile. “That’s just – ”
“Emmett?” Drea breathed, her long lashes fluttering as he looked up and stopped in his tracks. He blinked.
“Shit. Drea.”
Oh… kay.
I stood there awkwardly because for the next few seconds, it was dead silent, and I could see the smirking assumptions of the people in the adjacent tables that peered up curiously at the situation. My face burned because I knew what they were thinking – that I was the girlfriend. Emmett was the boyfriend.
And Drea was the ex.
