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Ialmostdidn’tbelieveEmmett’s text when it came through. I had to read it several times before I replied. We haven’t been anywhere near the water tower since I left my parents’ house that night. When I pull off into the grass below the water tower, Emmett’s car is already parked there. I look up and can just make out his legs dangling up above in the dark. My stomach rolls with a mix of emotions; excitement, nervousness, fear, and something else entirely.
I take a deep breath, readying myself for whatever is about to happen, and climb the ladder to the top of the water tower.
When I make it up to the small landing, I gasp. Emmett is standing there in the soft glow of dozens of LED candles, holding a bouquet of the most beautiful wildflowers. My hand involuntarily goes to cover my mouth and my eyes fill with tears. Emmett reaches his hand out to me and I take it without a second thought. My hand in his, being completely enveloped, feels soright. I wipe at my cheek as a tear escapes and rolls down it.
“Emmet, what is all this?”
He smiles at me and guides me to sit with him on the soft white blanket he’s laid out. We sit side by side so we can both let our legs hang over the edge, but our bodies remain turned in toward each other as much as we can manage. Emmett never loosens the grip he has on my hand and takes both of my hands in his once we’re settled.
“I-uh, I met your parents,” Emmett says.
My heart practically stops beating. The surge of butterflies I felt at seeing what Emmett set up here, morphs into something else.
Worry and fear.
Emmett must notice the change. He runs a knuckle across my jawline before taking my chin between his fingers.
“There’s more,” he says.
“More?”
“I metPastorJohnson,” he says.
The way he says pastor and the look of disgust on his face makes me want to giggle, but the worry keeps the laugh away. The more I’ve told Emmett about the church over the weeks, the more he’s developed a deep-seated anger for it that he rarely tries to conceal.
“I was driving Emily to my parents’ office a few days ago and passed by the road leading up here. There was a huge sign, saying the property was for sale and basically encouraging whoever bought it to tear down the water tower.”
“What? I didn’t see a sign,” I say, looking out toward the road, hoping to get a glimpse of the sign in the dark.
My efforts are futile. I can barely see a few feet down the road.
“The sign isn’t there anymore because the property’s been sold,” Emmett says, bringing my attention back to him.
“Oh no,” I whisper.
This all makes sense now. He brought me up here to say goodbye to this place. It has nothing to do with us, or the possibility of there ever being anus.No, it’s not about any feelings he may or may not have for me. I feel instantly foolish for thinking this was some grand gesture like I’ve read about in romance novels. Did I really think he was about to confess his love for me? I am so incredibly stupid. I start to pull my hands away as I look anywhere but at Emmet. But he squeezes them tighter, holding his grasp on mine.
“I bought it,” Emmett says, his voice breaking up my thoughts.
I whip my head up to look at him. A small smile plays on his lips and the flood gates that were holding back the tsunami of tears break.
“You–you bought it?” I say between breaths.
Emmett stands, then grasps my hands and helps me to my feet. Once again, he doesn’t let go of my hands. We’re standing close, very close, and I have to crane my neck to meet his eyes.
“Aubrey, don’t you realize by now? I would do anything for you.”
I swallow the lump that’s formed in my throat.
“You would?”
Emmett smiles and nods slowly, then brushes a strand of my hair from my face.
“I- I didn’t think you wanted me. I mean, we’ve been spending all this time together and sharing the same bed and you haven’t tried anything, or said anything,” I say, talking fast to get the words out before I chicken out.
Emmett holds my chin between his thumb and fingers, forcing me to look him in the eyes.
“Gorgeous, I don’t just want you. I need you,” he says.
