Chapter 26

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

The next day, I had to manipulate Emma into having another girls’ night with me. Did I feel lousy I would ditch her? Nope, she needed a push, and I was the person for the job.

There were five places to eat in Sunny Pines. Emma’s, Franny’s, The Convenient Store—our take on 7-Eleven, Rocco’s,and Moore’s. Moore’s was a bar slash grill. I had never been there, but I knew the place was the local watering hole.

Emma and I were in my shed, aka my closet.

“Emma, close your mouth,” I said as I rummaged through my clothes. I found the perfect emerald skater dress, black booties, and a black leather jacket. It was chic and cool. Emma’s only request was no heels. She was scared to end up in a neck brace.

“Are you opening a small boutique?” she joked. That wouldn’t be a bad idea, except the town was too small for a boutique to thrive. Besides, I had already shared my closet with San Francisco’s slutties.

“I’m giving you a makeover for tonight.” Once I grabbed my stuff, I dragged Emma to my little room. It was odd having her here, not just because my place was tiny, but because I never had another chick in my room.

“Emma,” I said as I straightened her waves.

“Yeah?”

“I’m glad we’re friends.” I could see her grin reflected in the mirror, and it hit me deep in the feels.

“I’m glad we’re friends too.”

“You look beautiful.” I grabbed oils and put it on her hair so it wouldn’t frizz. Looking at herself in the mirror, Emma seemed to forget her worries. Quincy and Jess were holding the fort down tonight, and it made Emma nervous since she had never taken a night off, which was another reason I didn’t feel guilty about lying to her. To keep up appearances, I had to wear a dress.

Not that I minded, I loved dressing up.

Mine was also a skater dress, long sleeved, and black, with the difference that the whole back was open. I loved it. It made me feel sexy, and let’s face it, after the weeks I had, I needed to feel desired.

Too bad there wasn’t anyone worth looking at. Dex didn’t count, Rusty was my brother, and he-who-shall-not-be-named most definitely didn’t count. My dress was awesome, and my silver stilettos rocked. Hopefully, Emma didn’t hate me after today .

“Wow, Freya,no one has ever dolled me up like this.”

Where I was dark and jaded, Emma was sunlight and innocence, and it sucked that she was also lonely.

“Well, with me as your bestie, you can count on it,” I said. I didn’t expect to be overcome with emotion.

Grandpa was in the living room as we made our way out.

“Grandpa, this is Emma. Emma, this is my grandpa.”

Emma waved at Grandpa.“Nice to meet you, sir.”

“You seem like a smart girl. Why did you go on andyell werewolf?” Jesus Christ, my grandpa had to mention the wolf in the room, didn’t he? I pinned him with a glare, but it didn’t faze him. He just glared back at me.

Emma didn’t get embarrassed; she was quick to reply. “I could barely handle hanging out with Freya for one night. How did you put up with her during her teenage years?”

Grandpa chuckled. It made me smile, even if they were laughing at my expense.

“Vodka and lots of fishing trips.”

“ Ha. Ha. Ha . Hate to cut into your bonding, but we gotta go. Love you, Grandpa. Be back later.”

Emma didn’t suspect a thing; she even let me drive to the bar. I parked in the first spot I found. It wasn’t very far from the entrance. People were outside loitering. Emma fidgeted with the hem of her skirt, a sign she was nervous. Come to think of it, I never got nervous, not when I left town, not even when I had to start over in a city where I knew no one and only had a couple of dollars to my name. Not once in those years did I falter because I had nothing to lose. Iwas hollowedand didn’t have much room for useless emotions like fear. I had already lost my heart; nothing else mattered.

I guess that was the one pro in getting my heart broken; it helped me be fearless without being reckless.

When I met Ashton, he walked into the boutique looking for a gift for his mother. At least that’s what he told me. Now I wondered if it was a lie. Maybe I helped him pick out a dress for a chick he left for me. I took a chance on him because I was lonely and because I didn’t fear gettingmy heart broken.

Not by him.

“Emma.” I held her arm before she opened her door. “Don’t be afraid to take risks because you’re scared you’ll get hurt. Take it from someone who once had it all; nothing beats that feeling I had in my heart every time I saw him . Sure, it hurts now, but back then, every time our eyes locked, I felt the world fade. The way your heart races, the thoughts that flow through your head, and all those butterflies you get right before he kisses you. If I close my eyes, I can still picture it in my mind so perfectly clear, and those feelings come back, and they remind me how it felt to be in love. Nothing compares. Not a penthouse with a golden bridge view, not a closet filled with designer clothes. Don’t be scared to open your heart because you’re afraid of a little pain. You’ll end up regretting it.”

As much as it hurt, those two years I spent with my boy are some of my most cherished memories.

“Oookay.” Emma got out of the car thinking I was crazy. My words might not make sense now, but they would. Grabbing her hand, I led her in through the doors, ignoring the stares we were getting.

“Freya, people are staring… I’ve changed my mind. We can go back to the woods. Hell, we can even vandalize Abigail’s car, just as long as you take the blame.”

Keeping a firm hold on Emma’s arm, I dragged her toward the back were Dex said he would wait for us.

Emma stiffened when she saw him. Her eyes widened with horror while Dex’s were filled with affection. The soft look he gave her eased my conscience, and I told myself it wasn’t a bitch move to leave my girl with him. All girls wanted love, even if we said otherwise. We justdidn’t want to sound like pathetic little princesses.

“Dex, fancy meeting you here.” My smile was wide and extra cheesy.

“You look lovely.” He only had eyes for Emma. Nudging her seemed to make her remember we were in a crowded bar.

“Hey.” Her voice was soft like a lullaby. It didn’t take long for me to leave. I told Emma I was going to the bathroom and gave Dex a look. We both knew I wasn’t coming back. I justhoped Emma didn’t hate me after this.

“Nah, it has to be something big, something motherfucking epic.” Quincy was pretty much shouting in Jess’s ear. She didn’t mind; she was hanging on to his every word.

“What’s motherfucking epic?” I asked .

Quincy whistled. I swore the boy got off on teasing me. “Girl, where are we going tonight? You look fine.”

“Kid, jailbait. Remember?”

“I won’t tell if you don’t.”

“I don’t think so.”

“It’s a damn shame. Chicks love me. I’m a chick magnet. Tell her, Glooms.”

I gave Jess a questionable look.“Glooms?”

“Because she has that whole broody thing going. She’s my girl, Gloom.”

Jess shrugged it off.

Don’t promise when you’re happy, don’t reply when you’re angry, and don’t decide when you’re sad. I was beginningto think the blackboard was magical. It always hit the spot. Well, I was guilty of all three, but then again, it was so easy to promise when you’re happy, when you think nothing can go wrong. It was so easy to assume everything would stay the same. It was hard to keep your mouth closed when you were mad, because if you were passionate like me, you always wanted to have the last say. And sometimes deciding when you were at your breaking point was the only way you’d get results.

I knew I did.

“I’m going to help Emma with some paperwork. Then I’ll go get us some Rocco’s on me.”

Quincy and Jess got excited at the mention of free food. Show me a teenager who didn’t. I didn’t think much on overstepping when I turned on Emma’s computer. I was good with prices and budgeting a store. I wanted to lighten her load. What I didn’t think I’d find was Emma was trying to keep a secret.

The business was not doing good. The revenue in the past years had declined. Sure, Em sold coffee and pastries, but it wasn’t enough. I felt guilty, and I didn’t know why. I knew I wanted to help her. Because if it weren’t for her,I wouldbe lost. Being here at the store had given me a new purpose and stopped me from running to Max’s house and demand to know why he could stop fighting for us.

How could he stop fighting for me?

I never moved on because I had hope.