“It's officially up for sale.”
Dad nods. “Now, hon, don't take this the wrong way, but I've got to ask. I know you're engaged and you love Jake, but are you sure that you're ready to move with him? He'll be making enough money, I'm sure, to hire someone to help with Drake. Don't let that be your reason for moving with him.”
“I'm going to move to Chicago with him, Daddy. I want to move with him.”
“Okay. Just making sure.” He stands and kisses the top of my head. “I've got to get ready.”
An hour later, my boys show up. Drake is in the other room helping Dad fix supper. Jake and I are in my room, packing things up. Well, Jake is more so than I am. I'm sitting on my bed and watching.
“You better be happy that I love you,” Jake says as he places picture frames from my wall into a box, smiling. “All I've been doing lately is cleaning up and packing. By myself.”
“I told you I could help. It just might take longer. Plus, you going to be rewarded.”
He lifts his head, his eyes boring into me.”What kind of reward?”
“The good kind,” I smirk. “But,” I drag out, “I don't know when you'll get the reward. I might even change my mind.”
“Oh, no, Sweetness.” He's across the room and sitting beside me in seconds. “You can't take it back now that you've promised it to me.”
“I never promised anything, love.”
He pushes a lock of hair behind my ear and traces the pad of his thumb over my bottom lip. “Are you sure about that?”
I don't want to let him know that he's getting to me, so I tell him. “Shouldn't you get back to work? Losing reward points by the second.” When he stands to walk away, I smack him on the ass. He looks at me, completely shocked, and I can't help but fall over laughing. About ten minutes later, we hear Cherish arrive. Jake peeks into the hallway and then steps back in.
“I saw her,” he whispers.
Giggling, I whisper back, “What do you think?”
He sticks his head back out and looks once more. “She's hot.”
I throw a pillow at him and he chuckles. “You're sick. Get back to work before I deduct more points.”
>
“Supper will be ready in ten minutes,” Dad calls from the kitchen.
“Chop, chop, Jake,” I smile. “You've got ten minutes.”
I watch as he gets back to work and by the time dinner is ready, my walls are bare and it's time for us to have dinner with my soon to be stepmom. We've all fixed our plates and we're sitting at the table. This can't get too awkward, right? God, I hope not.
We're just biting into our steaks, it seems that is all my dad fixes anymore, when Cherish just has to open her mouth and say the wrong thing.
“I know things weren't perfect with your mother and I hope that doesn't shadow how our relationship can be.”
Her eyes are full of nothing but pity. Dad told her everything. I know just by how she's looking at me with such sorrow and sympathy. Speechless, I glare at my father and if looks could kill, I'm sure both of them would be dead. I never expected him to tell her anything about that. It's none of her business and she damn sure didn't need to say anything to me about it. My chair falls backwards as I abruptly stand and grab my crutches.
“Jake, take me home,” I say, still looking at my father.
“Hon, don't.”
“No, Dad, you don't. Jake.”
Jake stands and motions for Drake to do the same.
“Emily, you're overreacting,” Dad pleads.
“No, I'm not. We're leaving now.”