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My extremities shake as William fist bumps Bryan.
“No. You two don’t get to do this.” I stomp forward, squeezing my coffee so hard I’m amazed it doesn’t shoot out onto the floor. I meet Emma’s concerned eyes, her face pale and her hands shaking. Some of my anger dissipates. Moving slowly, my eyes soften as I approach her. “I’m sorry, Emma. I don’t mean to upset you. But something happened in high school that we need to air out.”
She nods. “Can I sit down?”
“Of course.”
I move to grab her, but William and Bryan are already around her, steering her gently to the chair, helping her sit. William lifts her feet onto the ottoman, offering her water, which she gratefully accepts. He gives me a pointed look as he heads to the mini fridge, silently chastising me for upsetting her.
Reaching down, I grab her hand, smiling at her. “I’m sorry, Emma.”
She shakes her head. “You surprised me, dear, but that’s all. I needed to sit because I’m not feeling well.” Her grin widens. “And these two need to be put back in line when they step out. I think you are the perfect lady to do it.” She glances over at the bowl of popcorn. “Oh, look, I even have a snack for the show.” She winks at me, and we both start laughing.
Bryan raises his hands in mock surrender. “I’ll take my verbal lashing.” He nods his head toward Emma. “She gives it to me often.”
William comes up behind me, reaching around me to hand Emma a bottle of water. “She gives me a lashing, too, whenever she thinks I need it.” His smile is soft as he locks eyes with Emma. Then he turns to me, crossing his arms. “Go ahead, blondie. Let’s have it out. Although I hope you are prepared for the truth this time.”
I swallow hard, looking at Emma, not sure I want her to hear this. “You told Bryan to dance up on me and grab me at your party, right?”
Emma gasps. “Bryan, you grabbed her?”
“Not inappropriately. I just danced on her and pulled her against me so William could play the hero.”
“William.” Emma’s voice is sharp, her expression full of disappointment.
“Yes, I did do that. I saw another guy dancing with her and I hated it. Plus, I had taken her journal and read it, knowing that she liked good guys. So I thought—”
“You read her journal?” Emma’s brows knit, a frown forming on her lips. “That’s like a diary, right dear?”
I nod. “Yes. Pretty much the same thing.”
“That’s an invasion of her privacy. You know better.” She shakes a finger at him. I can’t help but grin as Emma claimed she was going to watch me give them a verbal lashing, yet here she is…
“Yes, but I didn’t sexually violate her or take her virginity that night.” His tone is low, but his words are harsh, hitting their mark, cutting me.
Silence descends over the room as William stands there, breaths heaving from his chest, hurt in his eyes.
I stare at him, my face flushing to the roots of my hair, stunned he blurted that out in front of them.
He blanches, looking at Emma, then Bryan, then me. “I shouldn’t have blurted that out. I’m sorry.” Releasing a long breath, he turns his pleading eyes to me. “Will you listen and let me explain what happened that night?” He shoots a look at Emma and Bryan. “Privately?”
Studying his face, I move my eyes to Emma, who nods encouragingly at me.
“Let’s let these two have a few moments of privacy, Bryan. I’ll fix you a snack.”
Bryan scowls at Emma. “You don’t need to fix me a snack.” He reaches his hand out and she grabs it, getting to her feet. As he stands behind her, his hands lightly gripping her arms, Bryan meets my eyes. “Give him a chance to explain, okay?”
I give him a weak smile and nod, then look back at William.
“I’ll text you when we are finished,” William says to Bryan before he passes him.
Bryan nods, looking at him, then at me, before moving to the door with Emma, shutting it behind him.
Silence descends over the room once they leave. My legs feel like jello, so I head to the bed, sinking onto the mattress, sitting on the edge of the bed. I gesture to the chair beside the bed. “Do you want to sit down?”
He moves toward it, his gaze on mine. “Will it make you uncomfortable if I do?”
I shake my head. “No, I won’t be uncomfortable. Thank you for asking.”
