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Ididn’twanttolet her go. If I didn’t have to pick up the girls from my parents, I would have asked to stay the night. After the weekend we had, I can’t imagine a single moment without her in it.
Monday and Tuesday are a bit of a blur. Work piled up—probably in retaliation from my not taking the job—and I feel like I haven’t even had a chance to talk to or text Emma. We made plans for tomorrow night, which can’t come soon enough. Eating lunch at my desk, I'm about to message her when I get a call from Andrew.
“Hey man, how was your weekend away?”
I’m thankful that he isn’t still hung up on my dating his and Lily’s friend. “It was fucking amazing! I really needed to get away. Are we still on for tonight?”
“Of course, how about O’Brians? The game should be on.”
“Sure, I’ll meet you there around 6.” We hang up and the rest of the day is a grind, so I can head out in time to meet him.
When I arrive, the pub is packed, with our usual booth taken. Opting to sit at the bar, he orders an IPA and I order my usual gin and tonic, but with extra lime. I don’t normally order it that way, but it reminds me of her. It’s barely been 48 hours, but it’s 48 hours too long.
The drink is almost to my lips when I hear it.Emma’s laugh.I shake my head…it’s not possible, I’m just imagining things. I take a few sips and hear it again. Looking around, I spot her after a quick scan of the room. She’s sitting in a booth with a man’s arm draped behind her back. I almost spit out my drink.No, it can’t be her. She said she was hanging out with a friend tonight.Andrew glances over to see what I’m looking at. “Oh, hey! Your girl is here.” It doesn’t seem to faze him that she is with another man, instead takes a long drink of his beer and continues, “I gotta take a leak, but when I come back, let’s go say hi.”
All I see is red. She was so hesitant to date me, but she is out withthis guy? He looks like a fucking Ken doll.This can’t be her type.I don’t wait for Andrew, I head over to confront her. As I approach their table, there can’t be any denying it, she is definitely on a date. From the looks of it, it isn’t their first. She doesn’t look up, until I address her, “Hey E.” My voice is a little clipped, but what does she expect? She’s on a fucking date, after the weekend we just had. I know we never talked about being exclusive, but it felt implied.
Her eyes are wide with surprise, but not like she just got caught on a date. “Hey! What are you doing here?" She looks genuinely happy to see me, which is unexpected.Maybe I read this wrong?"Have you met Ethan? He’s also friends with Andrew, so maybe you’ve met before.”
“No, I can’t say that I have. Hi, I’m Dylan.”Do I add ‘her boyfriend?’
“Hey man.” He reaches out to shake my hand, but his other arm is still wrapped around her. “I’m Ethan. I’ve heardsomuch about you.” His tone is obvious—he doesn’t like what he’s heard about me.What did she tell him?
Emma clears her throat. “Right…well…Ethan and I are catching up. Can I call you later when I get home?”Is she brushing me off?I look behind me, Andrew is nowhere to be found. As I turn back, she’s checking her buzzing phone. “Shoot, sorry guys, one sec. I need to take this.” She slides out of the booth, squeezing my bicep as she passes me, but doesn’t address Ethan.Interesting. I slide in to sit for a moment, I need to feel this guy out.
As soon as she is out of earshot, he leans in, lowering his voice, “So…you’rethe asshole who ghosted her.” He clucks his tongue three times. “What. An. Idiot. I have to ask, what were you thinking? The mostincrediblewoman walks into your life, and you let her go? My Emma is a tough woman, but you sure did a number on her with that little disappearing act of yours.”Did he just call her his Emma? What the fuck?
“What the hell do you know about it? She hasn’t even mentioned your name.”
“Oh, I know more than you can imagine. She didn’t tell you? Maybe you’re not that close after all. I have known her for almost 20 years. In fact”—he pauses for dramatic effect—“we were texting when you were at the game…oh and also this weekend when you took her to that cabin, where I’m sure you tried to get in her pants, but failed miserably. Don’t worry, I know about that too. So, now that her husband is out of the picture”—he takes a drink of his old fashioned—“you think you can slide into her DMs, and sweep her off her feet like nothing happened? I was there to pick up the pieces last time, and I plan on being there again when you fuck it up.” It occurs to me that the meme friend is Ethan. She was textinghimalmost every time we were together. This is her supposed best friend, but all I see is competition.
“So, what, you plan on making a move? She’s mine now, so I suggest you back off.” I don’t know how she feels about him, but from the way he was touching her, I can tell he wants her.
A sly grin tugs at his lips as he lets out a light chuckle. “Well, maybe she just wants to see what’s out there before settling down after a divorce? I don’t even need to make a move, do I? She’s out withmetonight. Don’t worry, Houdini, I’ll make sure she gets home safe. Maybe I’ll even stay the night for good measure.”
“I said she’s mine, asshole. Back. Off.” I feel anger coursing through my veins.I’m not going to let this douchebag take my girl.
“What the fuck, Dylan?!” Emma is right behind me, and the look on Ethan’s face is like the cat who ate the canary.
I turn to look at her. “I don’t know what you thought you heard—”
“I heard enough.” She looks to Ethan. “I’m so sorry, I need to get back to the kids, can we have a rain check?”
“Of course, Em, I’ll walk you to your car.” He stands up and offers to shake my hand, “Well, Damon, was it? It’s been fun.”
I don’t take it. Instead I stand up, push past him, and grab Emma by the elbow, guiding her a few feet away from him to talk to her. “We need to talk.” I look back and he's leaning against the end of the booth. He’s not interfering, which I appreciate, but I don’t like how he’s seeing how this plays out.
She shakes out of my hold. “Get your hands off me! How dare you! What the hell are you doing?! First you threaten my friend, and now you’re going all Neanderthal on me?She’s mine, asshole…what the hell is that? I don’t get it! Don’t you trust me?! You came into my life a few weeks ago, you agreed to take it slow, but then you lose your shit?”
“Emma, I—”
“No, I’m not done. I have known Ethan for over half my life! What was that toxic, alpha shit back there? I’m all for some role play in the bedroom. I mean, who doesn’t want to be toldthis pussy is minewhen in the heat of the moment…but you donotown me, I am not a piece of property.” Her fingers find the bridge of her nose as she mutters to herself, “Gah! I already have three children, I don’t need a fourth.” She steps back and lets out a disappointed sigh. “We'll talk about this later. I told you we would, but I need to get home right now. My son is in the middle of a sensory meltdown, that’s what the call was. I don’t know how much you know about neurodivergent people, but right now he is my priority, not your ego. This is thelastthing I need.” I try to stop her, but she pushes me away. “Don’t touch me, Dylan.” She takes Ethan’s arm and heads out.
I spot Andrew at the bar, shaking his head. I walk over to him and sit down. “Did you enjoy the show?”
“I only caught the last bit, but you can’t say I didn’t warn you about her. I told you that she doesn’t do casual. If she is with you, she’sonlywith you. I’m not sure why you lost your cool with Ethan, but seeing Emma rip into you has to be the highlight of my year.” He laughs, takes a sip of his beer, and sets it down. “Well, that’s my cue. I need to head out and talk to Lily before she gets wind of this whole thing. She’s going to want to check in with Emma about Aiden. Drinks are on you.” Andrew stands up and pats me on the back, leaving me on my stool.
I pull out my phone to call Emma, but I know she won’t answer. Instead, I signal to the bartender to close out my tab.
