6. Drake

Well, that went perfectly.

I glance back at my sister sadly. Callie is already beside her hugging her.

"How dare you try to scheme and get us to talk Drake? What's wrong with you? My anger and hatred are valid."

"I never said they weren't. I wasn't scheming either. Why do people keep saying that?"

Chasity glares and cocks an eyebrow at me. "You always try to play peacemaker."

"In this case, I wasn't. I didn't know she was going to be here when you were. Things kind of exploded and I didn't realize what time it was. If I had, I would have done something to avoid you two running into each other."

"I am not talking to her. I'm not going to listen to how it's my fault, not hers. I'm done with that bullshit."

I put my hands up in the air. "Okay, I hear you and I will not try to play peacemaker. However, you should know that we're engaged."

"You're kidding me, right? This is a joke?" my sister snaps.

Her dark brown eyes are narrowed as she takes a step toward me.

"It's not a joke."

"You've been dating her behind my back? Why would you keep this from me?"

"Chas, I wasn't dating her behind your back. I didn't keep anything from you, it kind of happened."

"Getting engaged to someone doesn't kind of happen," she hisses. "You can do so much better than her. You're going to get your heart broken."

"I don't get my heart broken," I sigh as I shake my head disgustedly. "I'm in control at all times."

"If you want to believe the lies you tell yourself, okay."

"Did you ever try to talk to her about why she wasn't there?"

"Of course, I did. She never even apologized. She didn't say a damn word about any of it. I can't believe she dared to show up back in town."

"Let it drop for now, let's go to lunch."

"She ruined my appetite."

"Come on, Chasity."

"Fine, whatever," she groans. "I can't believe you're engaged to her. Is that why I saw Zane looking like he's about to rip someone's head off?"

"Possibly. Why? Does he still have a thing for her?"

"Zane has a thing for any female that breathes and can spread her legs."

"Sometimes I don't think he cares about the breathing part," Callie teases.

"He's always asking me and her dad about her. I don't think he's ever gotten over their breakup."

"Clearly," Callie interjects with a shake of her head. "I also thought Drake was going to lay him out when he slapped her on the bottom."

"What did Emma do?"

"She slapped him across the face. I didn't give her a chance to do anything else."

"He was such an ass to her when they were a couple, I'm glad she finally stood up to him," she murmurs as she glances toward the entrance to the rink.

"What do you mean?"

Chasity shakes her head and gestures for us to leave the office. "Let's get lunch so I can get back to the office. I'll start getting phone calls in an hour tops."

"Part of the perks of being the most successful large animal veterinarian in four counties," I tease.

"It's because Jack and I love what we do so much," she shrugs dismissively.

"You left your hubs alone at the practice?"

"The office manager and vet techs keep him in line. He's a genius and so compassionate with the animals, just a little scatterbrained sometimes."

"Did you ever think you'd meet the love of your life in Vet School?"

"Absolutely not," she giggles. "I was not looking for that at all."

Our lunch is uneventful, we catch up on all the things and I explain to her about Loughlin coming for my head and the team. We avoid talking about Emma at all costs.

I can tell that my sister wants to bring her up, she wants to know how she's doing because, deep inside, she does miss her. However, she's stubborn and does not say anything.

"Is Emma pregnant?" Chasity asks as I walk to her car with her.

"No, why?"

"I'm finding it hard to understand why you two are suddenly engaged. It doesn't make sense to me."

"I love her," I reply.

It's not a lie. I do love the version of her I have created in my head. I have to give the illusion that this relationship with Emma is real. Loughlin will never believe it if I don't. I can't tell my sister the truth because she'll get angry and blow it for me. I can't take that chance.

She shakes her head and climbs into her truck without another word.

This is going to be a problem.

I walk to my car, get in and return to the ice rink. I've still got some work to do, mainly go through the contract draft the lawyers sent for Emma so she knows what I require of her.

***

Later that evening, I pull into my driveway after a long day. I'd given Brian the day off to spend time with his two little ones as they were out of school for the day.

I'm exhausted and contemplating placing a pickup order from Matthew's Bar Grill. Willow Creek hasn't evolved to a delivery service yet. Probably a good thing for my health.

I see Emma's little silver convertible parked behind the restaurant at the stairs that lead to the apartment above. Susie had mentioned they were letting Emma stay there until she found something permanent or left again. Susie is hopeful that extending the apartment and her own space to her Emma won't be so eager to run away again.

That makes her my neighbor. Isn't that fitting?

I smile as I take my laptop case inside the house and then stride over to the restaurant. When I moved into the old O'Malley's house, Hal and Hank extended an open invite into their restaurant's kitchen. I take them up on it almost weekly.

I open the back door of the restaurant and go into the kitchen.

"Drake!" Hal and Hank call out in unison.

"So good to see you!"

"Come to hang out with the old men?" Hal teases.

"It's been a long day, need to forget about it."

"You've come to the right place."

I smile back at the two old men. They were both recovering from childhood trauma and military services they don't speak about. Hal handled his stuff in a healthy way. Hank, Emma's father, was always a mess. Hal tried for a long time to help his brother to the point of enabling. He finally put his foot down and told Hank if he didn't get sober they would never speak again. It was the push Hank needed. When Hank needed a positive activity to focus on, the two of them began cooking classes, then the dream of their restaurant came to fruition.

Hank had changed their lives completely with the daily decision to say no to his devil.

"You're in luck, Drake. Try this dessert Hank made."

"I'm not one to turn down dessert."

They both loaded up plates, one with desserts and one with appetizers and handed them both to me. I went over to the corner of the kitchen and set the plates out of the way.

"You two have come a long way," I mentioned.

The two of them had started where they were the only staff in the kitchen and Susie ran the world up front. They'd become so successful that they'd had to hire more staff throughout the entire restaurant.

I eat and we talk while they continue cooking and filling orders.

"Drake, how nice to see you," Susie gushes as she walks into the kitchen and engulfs me in a hug. "Rumor has it you've found yourself that plus one we talked about." She raises an eyebrow and smiles knowingly back at me.

"Rumor huh?"

"I'm a little surprised that I wasn't consulted," she teases.

"Drake, you're seeing someone?" Hal asks.

"Engaged to someone," Susie grins.

"Engaged? What?" Hank gasps. "I never thought I'd see the day."

"Funny you say that," I chuckle. "I'm engaged to Emma."

Hank and Hal both stop what they're doing and look back at me in shock.

"Did I hear you right? You're engaged to Emma?" Hank asks slowly.

"Yes, Sir. I apologize that I didn't ask for your permission, it kind of happened."

"Do you love her?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Then my permission is moot. I'm happy if the two of you are happy. Having you in her life will be good for her."

"Does that mean she's home to stay?" Susie asks excitedly.

"I sure hope so," I laugh.

"Welcome to the family," Hal winks at me.

The conversation takes on another tone as Hal and Hank excitedly discuss having Emma home for good.

"Maybe the two of you can make amends, maybe she'll see how much you've changed, bro," Hal says.

Hank nods and smiles.

I stay in that kitchen watching the two brothers in action for another hour or so. The back door is open, and I see a set of lights pan across the back before they stop and park. It's a lifted F-150 truck with all of the flashy lights under the cage.

Zane.

What's he doing here?

He doesn't come in the back door. I watch as he goes toward the back steps and to the apartment upstairs. He knocks. He pounds on the door, and he calls out her name.

"I was really hoping he wouldn't find out where Emma's staying," Hal sighs as he glances toward the back door.

So she does live up there.

"It took him longer than I thought it would," Hank adds.

"Hopefully Emma is able to see through his bullshit this time," Susie interjects as she comes into the kitchen.

"What was their relationship like?"

"He wasn't good to her. Their relationship was very codependent and toxic," Susie replies.

I walk out of the kitchen and into the parking lot just as I hear Emma open her door.

"How did you know I was here?" she asks.

"Everyone knows. It's Willow Creek, everyone knows everything."

"Leave, Zane. I've already told you I'm not interested."

"We used to be best friends, Emma," he says hatefully. "We used to be in love. And now … now you act like you're too good to even be in my presence. You always have. I'm sick of it."

"That was a long time ago. I don't act like I'm too good for you. We have nothing in common."

"We have a lot in common in the bedroom. Maybe you should let me come in and I can remind you."

"Have you been drinking since I saw you this morning?" she snaps.

"There's the hoity-toity little …"

"That's enough, Zane. My driver will take you to your place," I interject from the bottom of the stairs.

"Lord Douchebag. How appropriate that you swoop in on my ex-girlfriend? Can't handle that I broke your record, so you want to steal the only thing besides hockey that ever made me happy."

I pull out my phone and text my driver. I notice Hank come out of the kitchen and go to Zane's open truck door to pull the keys out. Zane is overly intoxicated and shouldn't be driving. Brian, my chauffeur, will get him home safely.

"Zane," Emma sighs.

"Fuck you both," he snaps as he starts down the stairs.

He trips and falls down the steps. Emma and I both rush to him, he jumps up and pushes us away. He starts for his truck.

"You're not driving," I tell him in a loud, booming voice.

"What are you going to do about it?"

"I took your keys," Hank announces as he flashes them and then walks back into the restaurant.

"Fuck you, Hank!" he yells as he starts after him. His eyes dart back up to Emma. "Why does he have to be such a dick?"

"Funny, you used to sing his praises when we were in high school and college," she replies drily.

He shakes his head in disgust. He's looking around for what to do next. He goes to the front seat and pulls another beer out of the cooler.

"That's fine, I'll just sit here and drink, crank up a little, Hank."

"That's not going to happen."

"Aim my headlights at your bedroom window. Throw beer cans at your shadows. I'm not looking for a fight, but I'm up for anything tonight."

His eyes lock onto mine, daring me to start something.

"Spouting lines from my favorite song in high school is not going to get you what you want," she sighs. "Fighting doesn't turn me on. I don't know why you ever thought that."

Brian pulls up at the perfect time.

"Let's go, Zane. I'll take you to the strip club in the next town over."

"See, this is a fun man."

Zane is all amped up, gives Brian a high five, and climbs in the back of my Bentley. Brian gives me a knowing look once the door is closed.

"The heat is on high and there's classical music playing. He'll be asleep by the time we get to his house."

"I'll find someone to drive his truck home. Thanks, Brian."

He nods and climbs in the car.

"So they're not going to the strip club?"

"No, but Brian is really good about motivating people in the right ways," I chuckle.

She nods. "What are you doing here?"

"Went in to see your dad and uncle about dinner. Seems like you and I are neighbors."

"Seems like."

"Not very neighborly of you to not invite me up for a cup of coffee."

"I've got a headache."

"Caffeine always helps me."

She rolls her eyes and shakes her head. "Not tonight."

"How does it look to everyone that your ex shows up at your house and your fiancé doesn't come in?"

"I don't care how it looks to anyone but me," she snaps before she starts up the stairs. "What you did today with Chasity was crap. You shouldn't have set me up like that."

"Set you up? I didn't even know you were coming, so how could I set you up?"

"She's going to lose it when she finds out we're engaged."

"She already knows."

"You told her?"

"You're my fiancée, why wouldn't I want my sister to share in that with me?"

"You didn't tell her it was fake?"

"Is it?"

She stares at me with wide eyes. "I'm not in the mental space for your games, so have a good night." She disappears into her apartment without hesitation.

I'll get her to stop playing things so safe. She'll trust me before long.

***

Over the next few days, Emma continues to randomly show up at the rink. She watches a few practices where no one can see her. I made it a point to come down to watch the team practice, mostly because it's Zane's first day back on the ice and I'm anticipating him causing issues.

"Aren't you Emma Matthews?" the team captain, Syd, asks her.

"I am," she smiles nervously.

"Big fan. Once I learned an Olympic skater trained here I started following your career. You were big into the speed skating scene too?"

"Yes."

"Listen, do you have any conditioning pointers? Any way for us to improve our speed?"

"You're probably doing all of them already."

"Try me."

"Stability ball? Hill sprints. Slide boards."

"Hill sprints? We don't do a lot outside of the rink other than lifting."

"I always had luck with that. Helped my speed and cardio. I was able to last a lot longer on the ice than most."

"Would you be willing to sit down and work out a training schedule or something? Or even just give me websites to look up for tips?"

"I did promise Drake I would help consult so we can meet up after practice if you'd like. I'd be willing to map something out."

"That's great, thanks so much."

Syd walks off and I grin back at Emma.

"It says a lot about your captain that he's willing to ask pointers from someone, let alone a woman figure skater."

"You say that like you don't have a lot of accomplishments under your belt. You're not just a woman figure skater. You're an Olympic gold medalist. You're an all-state hockey player too."

She shrugs nonchalantly and turns around.

"Isn't this cute?" Zane asks as he rolls his eyes. "Are you always in the habit of allowing your woman to take over your team?"

"I'm not taking over anything."

"You're damn right you're not," Zane snaps.,

"Knock it off," I growl as I take a step forward, effectively placing myself in between the two of them.

"I don't need advice from a washed-up figure skater."

He skates off.

"You were saying?"

"He's an arrogant asshole, don't listen to him."

"I'm not, but that's normally the response I get."

"It'll be the last time you get it."

"I don't need you to protect me."

"I know you don't need me to protect you, but as your fiancé, it's my job to do so."

She opens her mouth to protest and then stops when someone calls my name. I walk off and leave her standing there speechless.