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 slopp
y 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.
“Being with you is more important,” Luke told her. “When we’re married, there will be plenty of time for that.”
“Married?” Emily said surprised.
“That’s what I think about at night, when I’m not with you. What it would be like for us together, talking in bed together, telling each other what happened during the day.”
“I’m not ready to get married, Luke,” she told him.
“I know. You want to go to college. That’s important to you. I’ll go with you, whatever town you go to. Heck, I can get a job in any bike shop.”
Such dreams.
Shattered.
Like her heart.
CHAPTER TWO
Aces and Spades
“Hey, Luke!”
“Morning, Gibs.” Luke grinned as the older man shambled into Luke’s repair shop. Gibs was a top-drawer motorcycle mechanic, but most mornings he looked like something the dog dragged in, chewed up and spit out. His clothes were often oil stained, and his gray hair hung to his shoulders and his scraggly beard to his chest.