One You Can’t Forget

“That’s because we love you, dear.”

“Well, I love you too. But I have to get to work now.”

“Okay. As long as everything is okay.”

“Yes,” Emily said exasperated. “I’m fine.” I had amazingly-fantastic sex with my high school flame. The boy’s incredibly hot and delicious. “Just late for work.”

Emily rushed through her shower, and got dressed. She flew through her make-up, and put out Reger’s food quickly. “Sorry, buddy. I don’t have time for the litter box. You’ll have to make do until I get home.”

Reger meowed pitifully, but she couldn’t stop. Emily rushed out the door and got into her sister’s car. Before she pulled away she pulled out her iPhone and earbuds. “Call Justin,” she said and the phone dialed the number. “Justin,” she said when he picked up. “You won’t believe what Evan did now.”

#

You r amazing.

The text flashed across the top of her iPhone. She quickly replied.

You topped me at every turn.

To which Luke responded: I’ll call you later.

Even with her parents’ intrusion on her life this morning she felt warm and happy. She moved through her day as a junior accountant, smiling for no particular reason, remembering from time to time little details of their night together: how his lips tasted when she kissed him, how it felt when he touched her, the thunderous release he brought her.

“Emily, are you okay?” Her boss, Maggie Pearson, stood at her desk.

Emily blushed, realizing she was daydreaming instead of working. “Sorry. Yes, I’m fine, Maggie.”

“Mr. Hartson’s looking for those profit and loss statements.”

“They’ll be done by end of day, Maggie.”

“Okay. But put your phone away. You know the rule about smart phones in the office.”

“Sorry.” Emily shoved her phone into her purse. Even though she felt the buzz of the phone vibrating with the notification of an incoming text she ignored it. The phone on her desk rang and she answered.

“Accounting, Emily speaking.”

“Emily,” said her mother. “I’ve been trying to reach you. Don’t you check your texts?”

“No, Mom. Not at work.”

“Oh, well then. Your father and I want you to come by the house tonight.”

“Mom—”

“Listen Emily Rose Dougherty, we want to talk to you. You’re coming to the house.”

Emily cringed. Her mother had put her foot down. “Yes, Mom. I’ll stop by after work. I really have to go now. Bye.”

CHAPTER NINE

Déjà Vu

“Speeding!” Her father’s face burned bright red. “Reckless endangerment!”

“We just don’t understand, dear. We want to know what’s going on.”

Emily sat in her parents’ dining room, her father standing, puffed up with righteous indignation. She’d barely been in the house two minutes and hadn’t had a chance to speak.

She shook her head. Hadn’t they just returned from Florida? “I want to know who told you all this?” Emily crossed her arms over her chest.

“He just wants to help you, honey,” said her mother.

“Who?” Emily tightened her jaw. She had a good idea who was spilling things into her parents’ ears.

“I did,” Evan said, walking into the dining room from the kitchen.

“What’re you doing here?” Emily took a step away from him. She didn’t have Luke here to ask him to leave.

“I was invited.”

Emily stood. “I’m leaving.”

Evan hurried over and stood next to her, whispering in her ear, “No you aren’t. Not unless you want your parents to know how much of a slut you are.”

“What was that?” asked her mother.

“I was just telling Emily how beautiful she looks tonight.”

Emily stepped away from Evan like he’d slapped her. “Mom, Dad, if this, this man stays here just one more second I will leave. You don’t know all the trouble he’s caused me, and you’re only hearing what he is telling you.”

“You’ll not tell me who I can have under my roof,” roared her father.

She stared at her father. “Fine. If you want to believe him over your own daughter, that’s your choice. I’m not being a victim one moment longer.” She spun around and headed for the door.

“Emily, please. Evan, you better leave,” said her mother.

“Okay, Mrs. D. I’ll call you later.”

Emily stopped and stomped back into the living room, glaring at Evan as he left. She couldn’t believe that ass-hat had the nerve to show up at her parents’ house and fill them in on lies. She felt like she was eighteen years old all over again. This was ridiculous!

“So, are you going to tell us what the hell is going on?” Her father had stood when she moved to leave and now was pacing.

“No.” They weren’t going to believe her anyways.

“No? Emily Rose I’m warning you—”

“What? That you’ll ground me for months at a time so I can’t see my boyfriend? That you’ll take away my college money if I don’t do what you say?” Emily couldn’t believe she was so angry that she brought up old hurts. She couldn’t believe her parents would side with Evan without hearing her side! It tore away the bandage she kept over her heart. The frustrated fury of her teenage years, the strangled truce she kept with her parents after, welled into deep and dark places of her heart unleashing the old hurts.