AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I called the cops the last time, and that was the only thing that got him to leave.
I don't wanna hear it.
I don’t want to hear how he loved her.
How I was the one in the wrong for leaving her in pain when she was ready. He only said that once, but out of everything he said, that’s what stuck with me. Cause that really hurt.The truth always hurts the most.
I still feel guilty about keeping it from Emma for as long as I did. But she broke me down. I confessed everything to her. She didn’t run away like I thought she would. I made her promise she wouldn’t, but I know promises don’t mean shit sometimes. I want to give up on myself, but she won’t let me. She’s never broken a promise to me. And I’m starting to believe she’ll really stay. I fucking hope she does. Without her, I don’t know who I am anymore.
I thought the moment I told her what happened with Tony, that would be it for me, but she’s still here. And I’m ready to move on from this shit life. I’m ready for something more. Something with her. I want to be the man she deserves. And I will. I’m walking away from all this shit.
“I don’t wanna stay here.” I finally speak, not able to keep thinking on the shit that’s going through my head right now.
Emma’s wrapped up tight in a thick, hooded black coat with a scarf around her neck. The tip of her nose is peeking out. She looks up at me, blowing hot air into her hands and then holding back onto my arm.
“We can go whenever you want,” she says softly. I’ve been coming here every day for the last three days. So has Emma. She’s missed the first few days of school, but she’s not willing to leave yet. She hasn’t left my side. If that’s not true love, I don’t know what is. I know with everything in me that I can’t let her go.
“That’s not what I mean,” I tell her as I turn to face her. I wrap my arms around her waist as the light dusting of snow falls into her dark brunette hair. She’s so fucking beautiful. She’s more than a sweetheart. She’s everything to me. “I wanna go with you.”
“You wanna go to school?” she asks with disbelief.
A humorless laugh leaves me, and I look behind her before finding her eyes again. I don’t need school. I’ve got more money than I’ll ever need.
“Nah. Just go with you. I know you need to get back.”
Her features soften as she realizes what I’m saying.
“I wanna be with you, Emma. I’m not letting you go this time.”
She smiles softly and leans into me. “Come with me,” she says softly. “I need someone, too.”
I don’t wanna leave Ma, but I can’t stay here.
I give her one last kiss and start leading her to the car, walking through the graveyard and not looking back.
CHAPTER19
Emma
We just got to my tiny apartment, and it's strange seeing Derek here. He looks so at odds among all my cozy, chic accessories. I watch him as he picks up the small bird candelabrum in his hand. It's cast iron, and heavy. He holds it up and stares at it for a moment, then his brow furrows before setting it back down.
He takes in every item of the room slowly, processing this new environment. It’s almost comical. His broad shoulders and tall stature seems out of place in my living room. My chairs are so tiny, I’m not sure how he'll even fit on them. I have a small IKEA sofa, and if he lay down on it, his legs would be hanging off the end.
He's picked up every picture frame I have on the shelf above my couch to look closely at each picture. He doesn't seem to know what to do with himself. He looks so lost.
I wish I already had a place for him here, but I don’t. I will though. We’ll make it work.
“We can go shopping,” I offer. We’re definitely going to need to go shopping. I forgot how girly and small my apartment is. He’ll really freak out when he sees the bedroom. I still have the small single mattress from when I was growing up. Not that I wanted to keep it. I had to make a choice in what I could spend my money on. I decided that a queen mattress wasn’t worth having over actual kitchen utensils and a dining room table to eat at. Besides, I'm petite.
“Yeah, I think we should definitely go out today,” he says. The look on his face makes a small laugh come from my lips. I cover my mouth, feeling the blush rise to my cheeks. He smirks at me, shaking his head.
“I’m sorry, I just never thought I’d see you here.”
“Did you really think it was over between us?” he asks, walking toward me. The way his hips are moving and his eyes are piercing into me make him seem like a lion hunting his prey.
I try to breathe, but it’s hard with him looking at me like that. Like he wants me. Like I’m his to take.
And I am.
