Emily hurried up the walkway. “Mom, Dad, what’s this about?”
“Evan called and said you didn’t come home last night. We thought something happened to you.”
Evan? What the hell? ?
?Evan has no business calling you about anything.”
“Don’t talk to your mother in that tone, young lady.” Her father crossed his arms. “We’ve been worried sick.”
Emily sighed and turned her attention to the police officer. “Officer, as you can see I’m fine. Nothing dreadful has happened to me.”
He nodded. “Good to know. I was just telling your parents that we have to wait twenty-four hours to file a report anyway. If everything’s all right?” He left the question open for her to answer.
“It is. There’s no need to file a missing person’s report or a police report, or anything of that nature.” She held her breath. If the officer did, she could just imagine what the judge would say at her next court appearance.
“I just got here to speak with your parents. I won’t be filing anything if you can assure me you’re all right.”
“I’m perfectly fine.” She turned to her parents before quickly spinning around to the officer one more time. “Thanks so much for coming.”
He tipped his hat and headed back to his cruiser.
“What do you have to say for yourself, young lady?” Her father looked beyond angry. Sam Dougherty was a tall man, with the reddish blonde hair and blue eyes that marked his Irish roots. He was fiercely protective of his family but he was also old fashioned.
Emily loved her dad, but she was a grown woman, and this was ridiculous. She shook her head. “Nothing. There’s nothing to say. I’m an adult and what I choose to do is my own business.”
“Emily!” Her mother shook her head, shock all over her face. “We just got back. To this! We thought something terrible had happened to you!”
“I’m okay. Honest. Mom, Dad, please go home. I have to get ready for work. I’m already running late. And please, in the future, don’t listen to anything Evan tells you. We’ve broken up.”
“Broke up? But why?” Her father made no effort to hide his disappointment.
“I’ll tell you about it later.” Emily kissed them both on the cheek, and entering the building, shut the front door behind her.
Emily took the stairs in short choppy steps.
At the head of the steps stood Mrs. Diggerty. “Are you all right, dear?”
“Yes, I’m fine.” Seriously, her too, today? “Everyone else around me seems to be having kittens.” She knew Mrs. Diggerty loved that phrase.
“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.