Emmett’s hand wrapped around my back, and I was suddenly flush to his body. I didn’t have t
ime to react before he landed his lips right on mine. They were warm, and perfect, and I swore I could feel actual sparks on his tongue. The kiss was just as I’d remembered, except this time, it felt like he was stealing me back. He was sealing his lips to mine, telling me that I was his, that this wasn’t up for negotiation. We weren’t up for negotiation.
Finally, Emmett pulled away and cupped my face in his hands. We stood, bodies touching, eyes locked onto one another for so long that my eyes started to burn.
His voice was low. “It’s been one month and twelve days since I let you go, and I’m just as torn up right now as I was the moment I watched you walk away.”
I felt my heart tumble in my chest. “Emmett…” I took a deep breath. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m here to tell you that you’re absolutely crazy if you think I’d let a threat from your father keep us apart.”
I looked away, because underneath his stare, I was putty in his hands. “Emmett.” I pushed at his chest, feeling small bouts of reality creep back in. “You don’t know him. He has money. He flat out said that if I didn’t stay away from you that he’d destroy you. He has the means to do so.”
Emmett brought my face up to his. “How though? Just because he has money doesn’t mean that he can take away what’s mine, Fallon. Don’t you see that?”
“Emmett. The world that my parents live in is ruthless and conniving. He could probably make up some story that you’re running an illegal meth lab out of the shop, and the police would believe him and arrest you!”
Emmett laughed, throwing his head back.
I smacked his chest. “Emmett! I’m dead serious! When I left, I told my mother to make sure he didn’t come near you. That me leaving wasn’t about you and that I wasn’t running off to be with you. But I have no idea if she told him. I have no idea if he’d even listen to her. He probably blames you for me leaving!”
Emmett put his hands on my shoulders. “Fallon, relax. Take a deep breath.”
I did as he said, taking more than just one deep breath. I felt like I was spiraling out of control. The last week had been a whirlwind, and now with Emmett here, standing in front of me, acting all nonchalant and laidback, my head was spinning.
“Your mom came to see me.”
My head snapped. “What?!”
He nodded. “She came by the shop earlier. That’s how I knew where to find you.” He looked around the room. “Where are we, by the way? This address was so familiar to me, but I know I’ve never been here.”
I laughed. “I’m staying with Becca.”
His brow furrowed. “Becca… like Ivy’s best friend, Becca?”
“Yes,” I answered quickly, waving my hand to dismiss the unimportant question. “What did my mom say to you?”
“Well… she said she came by to make things right.”
I arched a brow. “To make things right? How?”
“I think her attempting to tell me where you were, hoping that you and I would reconcile, would maybe show you that she was sorry.”
I paused, my thoughts still a jumbled mess.
“And… that your father wasn’t going to be bothering me. She made sure to throw that in there.”
I could feel the muscles in my face twisting, thoughts bouncing around like I was a real-life bobble head. “What?”
Emmett shrugged. “I don’t know, Fal. But she made an attempt to make things right between us, and that’s all that I really care about. I know she did it so you’d see that she is on your side, or maybe she just wants you to talk to her or move back home. I don’t really care why she did it. I’m just glad she did.” He clenched his jaw together and squeezed his eyes shut before locking onto my face. “The thought of you marrying Derek sent a knife into my chest, Fallon. I know you and I were never supposed to get this deep. It was all for fun. But I’ve fallen for you along the way, and I’ve fallen so hard that I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to get back up again.”
My heart squeezed in my chest. My body felt warm, my stomach had butterflies fluttering all around, and my lips were itching to get back to their home. I reached up on my tiptoes, wrapping my arms around Emmett’s neck and leaned in so close to his mouth I could feel his warm breath.
“The thought of marrying Derek sent a knife to my chest, too. The thought of a life without you made me miserable, Emmett. I knew I’d never laugh the way I did with anyone else. I knew I’d never feel the spark of life that you gave me after I walked away. But I wasn’t sure what was worse—living without you, or living with you and my father destroying us in the end. How would you ever be able to forgive me if my father goes after you? He’ll take everything from you, and I just can’t bear the thought.”
“The only thing that matters is you, Fallon. I could be living in a cardboard box with you, and I’d be fine. We’d still manage to have fun, I’m sure.”
I turned my head and a small laugh escaped my mouth.