Fool for You (Southern Bride 7)

With a nod, I said, “She was going to out him right in front of everyone. I think it was just her anger driving that decision. I’m glad you said something, Emme.” I turned and our eyes met. She smiled the sweetest smile, and I had to force myself not to lean down and kiss her.

“Well, I know if I was about to do something stupid, she would stop me,” Emmerson said.

“Ha!” my folks shouted in unison.

I shook my head and looked at Emmerson, who simply chuckled, knowing that she and Hailey had gotten themselves into some pretty sticky situations over the years.

My father pointed his finger at Emmerson. “Do you know the high school principal called us and your folks more times about you two girls than they did about Landon and Noah? You were both trouble!”

The front door closed and we all turned to see if Hailey would walk back in alone or with Mike. She came in alone.

“That was fast,” I mused.

“Well, it didn’t take me long to tell him the engagement was off, and he was free to go back and fuck—sorry, Mom and Dad—his ex-girlfriend as much as he wanted. Of course he begged for forgiveness, said it would never happen again, he had too much to drink that night, it only happened once. He did admit to talking to her on the phone since then a few times, but said that was also a mistake.”

“And you still told him the engagement was off, right?” I asked, praying to God she’d told him to take a hike.

Hailey wiped away a tear that had slipped free. “I told him to leave, that I would never be able to trust him again.”

My father stood and wrapped Hailey in his arms. “I’m so sorry, baby girl, but you did the right thing.”

Mom stood and made her way over as well. “Your father is right. You made the right decision. No matter how much he tells you it was a mistake, once you lose that trust, it’s gone forever.”

“If he loved you like he said he did, drunk or not, he wouldn’t have even entertained the idea,” I added as I joined my folks and wrapped Hailey up in a cocoon of our love and protection. Emmerson sat at the table and wiped her tears away.

Finally, we withdrew from smothering my poor sister and she smiled at each of us. “I love y’all.” Facing Emmerson, she said, “And thank you for showing me I needed to take the higher road.”

With a nod, Emmerson said, “I’ve always got your back.”

“And I’ve got yours. There is a positive to all of this.”

“What’s that, Hail?” I asked.

“I can help y’all plan your fake wedding! Oh my God, I have so many ideas for the fake engagement party.”

“We should probably stop calling it fake so we don’t slip in public,” Emmerson giggled.

And just like that, my sister launched into planning our fake—er, our engagement party. I knew it was her way of trying not to think about Mike, and so did my folks, because they didn’t make a single comment about the engagement party for a wedding that wasn’t really happening. Any other time, I would attempt to pull my sister back some with her sudden enthusiasm, but with one glance at my father, I decided to let my sister go full throttle. Even though I knew she had a hidden agenda when it came to me and Emmerson.

With the way my mother was smiling, a part of me knew she saw right through our charade of still being friends and nothing more.

“Are you sure the two of you don’t want to stay for game night?” my mother asked, making a sad attempt at pouting.

“I’ve got to get caught up on some work for a wedding this weekend,” Emmerson said as she hugged my mother and then my father goodbye.

“And I’ve got to run by the shop after I drop Emmerson off to check on a fifty-five we’re working on.”

Pulling me in for a hug and kiss, my mother said, “Rain check, then.”

“Absolutely, Mom.”

It took everything in me not to grab Emmerson by the hand and drag her to my truck.

After we both got in, shut the doors, and were heading down the driveway, Emmerson started talking. “I don’t care anymore where we do it, Landon. I can’t take it anymore. I feel like I’m going to die. Can you die from being so horny? I’m thinking yes, you can! Did you have to keep touching me so much with your leg under the table?”

“Me! You kept putting your hand on my leg! Do you know how close you were to my dick? I’m pretty sure you brushed up against my balls. I was so fucking hard I could hardly walk!”

She giggled. “Where is the closest place we can go?”