He sneered. “Who’s going to hear you?”
“The neighbors.”
“That old bat next door is almost as deaf as a stump. Come on, baby.” Evan pushed his lips to hers, covering her breast with his hand, pinching the nipple through her dress.
Stuck on his lap, held down by his strong arms, Emily didn’t have much leverage. There was only one thing to do. She clamped down on his lip with her teeth.
“Damn!” protested Evan, pulling his head away and rubbing his lip where she bit him.
Emily took advantage of his surprise and jumped off his lap. She lifted the lamp on the side table by the couch, turning over the pictures and knickknacks on it as she did so, and held it like she was going to swing it. “Get out!” She was breathing hard, frightened and pumped up to take a swing at him. All she needed was an excuse.
Evan glared at her. “Bitch.”
Unfortunately, that was not enough of an excuse. But calling her that didn’t help his cause.
“I’m not going to say it twice. Get. Out. Now.”
Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he stood. “I see how it is. You can slut around with this Luke guy, but your boyfriend is another matter. You’re just a cock teaser.”
“Get out! Now! And don’t bother to come back. We’re through.”
Evan looked at her stunned, and backed away. She shook the lamp in her hands, and he turned and left the apartment, slamming the door so hard the pictures on the wall rattled.
Emily sank to the couch, her hands shaking. Her eyes filled with tears. She had thought Evan was a good guy up until he lost his job. Then he became jealous and possessive. Today was just the last in a string of nasty incidents. However, with him coming into her home without permission, going through her things, and reading her personal diaries, well, it was too much.
A timid knock sounded on the door.
Emily rolled her eyes. He’d better not have returned with one of his insincere apologies.
“Yes,” she called out, glancing at the lamp she’d set down.
“It’s Mrs. Diggerty.”
She opened the door a crack.
Mrs. Diggerty was in her seventies, very thin and wore her hair in a bun on top of her head. She usually wore dresses, but she always wore a full apron. “Is everything, okay, dear,” said Mrs. Diggerty. “I heard shouting.”
“Evan and I broke up.”
“Oh. I’m sorry, sweetie.”
“I’m not.”
She looked ready to cry. “But I let him in. He said he wanted to surprise you.”
“Well, from now on he’s not allowed in my apartment.” Emily sighed and forced a smile. Mrs. Diggerty hadn’t meant to cause any problems. It wasn’t her fault.
She nodded her head. “Is Reger okay?”
“He’s fine. You can come in if you want.”
Mrs. Diggerty petted Reger for a few minutes, giving him some attention, while Emily picked up the pictures and knickknacks that had fallen on the floor.
Emily didn’t speak to her, even though she should. It was just the words wouldn’t come out.
“It’s okay, dear,” said Mrs. Diggerty gently. “I see you need some alone time.”
“See you tomorrow.” Emily didn’t try to argue.
Mrs. Diggerty closed the door softly, and Emily sank to the couch. Reger jumped into her lap and rubbed her face with his. Absently, Emily stroked her feline friend.
She closed her eyes, feeling sad. It wasn’t because she ended things with Evan. He never could claim her heart. That was the problem. In a way, she couldn’t blame Evan for being angry with her. She always kept him, and if she was honest, every man at arm’s length. It was as if there was a lock on her heart.
Emily picked up the journal Evan discovered buried in a box in her walk-in closet. She flipped it open.
I can’t believe Luke Wade paid attention to me, to me, Emily Rose Dougherty, of Wakefield, CT. When I went to my locker at lunch he was there smiling, at me! I asked what he was doing, and he said, “Waiting for the prettiest girl in school.” “Who’s that?” I asked. “You, of course.” I melted, just melted. I’m definitely not the kind of girl he hangs out with, not like Sheila Harmon who is always clinging to him. He looks so cool on that motorcycle of his...
Emily flipped forward a few pages.
He kissed me! He actually kissed me! I thought I was going to die my heart sped up so fast. When he kissed me it wasn’t a sloppy tongue kiss like Ted Healy tried to give me. No, it was smooth, and delicious, our lips sliding together like they were meant to kiss each other forever.
And then a few more.
Mom and dad are furious. Angela saw me at the Dairy Shoppe with Luke, and the little tattletale told them. Little sisters are so impossible. I told Luke we’d have to cool it for a little while and he looked so sad.
Emily shut the journal, the memories of her teenage life too much to take. Her parents didn’t understand her relationship with Luke, didn’t try to see that he wasn’t as bad as everyone else said. That day she and Luke arrived home after her curfew was a tipping point that sent her overprotective parents over the edge. Couldn’t they trust her? Didn’t they see that Luke made her happy? No. They couldn’t see past the leather jacket, the boots and the motorcycle. Her parents couldn’t believe someone like Luke wouldn’t take advantage of their little girl. But he didn’t, not ever.