by Ellie Hall
Will glanced at Emma, trying to read her response but before he could glimpse her face her arms were around him, saying what words could not. They remained in the embrace, still dressed in their New Year's Eve best until Emma whispered, "I'm sorry. I had no idea."
"This was the last time he spoke. I rushed to the hospice that night but he was unconscious again. He came in and out but for the last months, he was out." Will shrugged. "Although, when I visited I'd always talk to him."
"You told him about me?"
Will nodded, shy suddenly. "Maybe he could hear me."
She nodded. "Seeing you happy was his last wish." Emma brushed her thumb across Will's cheek. "He also wanted you to be brave."
Chapter 21
Emma
Will, clearly bereaved, excused himself to take a shower. Not a thing about the night before disappeared or turned into a pumpkin, like in Cinderella. Although, Emma wouldn't have minded if Everett turned back into a toad. Her gown didn't wrinkle even though she'd slept in it on the couch, having fallen asleep after Will left so abruptly.
She also needed a shower. Not only to wash off the makeup, but to wash away the stains from the last year: the self-doubt, the selfishness, and Everett. She finally was able to let go of all the emotions that tied her to their failed relationship and her failed career. Only now, both seemed less like failures and more like detours in the wrong direction. Perhaps life had different plans for her. Everett betrayed her but she too had a role in the situation. She should've spoken up for herself or made changes sooner. That was all in the past. It was a new year. Although she knew things might not work out with Will—perhaps this was but another unexpected turn in her life—, she was ready to move forward.
As she dried her hair, her phone lit up with Penny's name.
"Happy New Year!" her sister cheered. "You have to tell me everything. Starting with the midnight kiss from the guy who does not make you at all fizzy." Penny's voice trilled with a mixture of delight and sarcasm. "I saw it online."
She told her sister the entire story from start to finish.
"So much for your twelve dates of Christmas. When are you getting married?"
"Everett proposed. Will did not."
"Yeah, I know but that kiss was broadcast for the world to see and it was something real. There's no walking away from—"
"But that's just it." Emma went on to explain why it couldn't work between them.
"Those are the cons. What are the pros?"
She thought about this, unsure where to start or afraid to. "He gives good hugs." She told her about their embrace after the call from their mother.
"She called me earlier then blamed me for missing the timer on the roast she had in the oven. She called me, Emma. That woman is out of her mind."
"Uh, she'll be thrilled when she finds out what I've been up to." Emma groaned. Their mother was obsessed with money.
"She told us to marry rich men."
"She did and look how well that turned out for her. She's alone."
"But love is love. Don't rebel against love because of Mom."
"This isn't love—" Emma started.
"Whatever it is, it's fizzy."
Emma directed the conversation away from that topic and they complained about their mother for a few minutes.
"Okay, enough about Mom. Back to lover boy."
"Loverboy?"
"Will? Mr. Dreamy, Super Stud, Hottie McHot Stuff."
Emma laughed. "He loves dogs…"
Penny interrupted. "I'm getting another call. I'm sorry. I have to take it."
"Is it your own Hunky Hunkerman?"
"I like Super Stud better. But no. Anyway, I'll talk to you soon."
"I hope so. I miss you, Penny."
The sisters hung up and Emma flopped onto the bed. She was exhausted and still warm from the shower. She closed her eyes and instead of a list of the pros and cons, she thought about all the reasons they couldn't have a relationship and then fell fast asleep.
The light in the bedroom was the grayish purple of dusk when Emma woke to the smell of something buttery and sweet.
She pulled on a fuzzy pair of socks and wandered into the hall.
A pan clattered in the kitchen.
Bartholomew was as silent as a cat so she didn't think it could be him. "Will?" she called.
"I'm in here. Hold on. Wait. Don't come in." He sounded flustered. "Blast." He grumbled. "Just hang on. It's okay. I'm just—" There was another clatter and then a few moments later he stepped into the hall, pulling off an apron.
"What are you doing?" Her voice filled with curiosity.
"It's a surprise." He wore his glasses and looked particularly handsome or as her sister would say like a super stud.
"You can't hide a surprise that smells so good."
"Well, you can pretend you don't smell them."
"Hmmm…" She tapped her finger on her chin.
"I'm hoping you say mmm." A timer dinged from the kitchen. "Oh, that's me. Stay here. No, actually, go have a seat on the couch." He hurried back the way he came.
Emma turned into the living room and was indeed surprised to see twinkle lights draped along the mantle, a Christmas tree about as tall as she was, and two mugs of cocoa on the coffee table. A fire crackled in the hearth.
"Will?" she called again.
He strutted from the kitchen holding a plate piled with cookies. "As it turns out, you can teach an old dog new tricks." The saying may have been old but his accent would never cease to send the butterflies aflutter in Emma's belly.
Her mouth watered at the sight of all the cookies. "Did you bake these yourself?"
"I did." He smiled proudly. "But you can decide whether they’re any good. I hope so because I made a lot."
"You never do things halfway, do you?"
"Go big. Always."
Emma took a bite and then gave a nod of approval. "Delicious. They might be the best cookies in London."
"But not New York?"
Emma shook her head. "I spoke with my sister earlier. I think she might have met someone."
"Did you tell her about me?"
"Well, she and the rest of the world saw our kiss so she already had an idea."
The doorbell rang.
"One sec," Will said, leaping over the back of the couch.
He returned, carrying a paper sack, wafting the scent of yummy food.
"Will, what is all this?"
He slid onto the couch. "I made cookies for you." Then he got back up again. "I forgot one thing." He clicked on his phone and Christmas carols played softly from hidden speakers.
"Was this Jared's idea? To make up for the proposal gone wrong last night?"
"Nope. No cameras. It's just you and me. I even gave Bartholomew the night off."
"It's only us?"
He nodded. "And last night wasn't only a kiss. I want you to know me. The real me." Will tucked his head as though he suddenly felt shy. "It feels like a risk to speak the words out loud. I want you to have a date with the real me."
"Does it count since I live here too?"
"Tonight, you're my special guest. Take out and cookies. A board game. A movie. Cocoa by the fire." He pointed toward the set of windows across the room. "And it's snowing. How perfect is that?"
She smiled. "Wait? Does that mean you're going to eat take out and cookies too?"
"Don't forget the cocoa."
"Is this all for me?"
"For us. We met on Christmas and I want a redo." He took a sip of cocoa.
Emma thought about everything she'd change if she got a do-over. "New Year's Eve is for saying goodbye to the old—"
"New Year's day is for ringing in the new. I want to leave all of that behind. I want to start over with you." He stood up, pushed his glasses up his nose, and then extended his hand. "Hi, I'm William Wheaton. It's lovely to make your acquaintance."
Emma got to her feet and shook his, sending the butterflies afloat in her belly. "I'm Emmaline Jon
es, and I cannot say the pleasure is mutual."
He stepped back.
"This is silly. I already know you." She couldn't help but smile anyway.
"Not really. At first, I liked the idea of things being fake, easy between us. If I've learned anything about you, Emma, it's that you're not easy and there's nothing fake about the way I feel—both good things in my opinion. But for now I want to start over and truly try to be friends."
She considered the offer but wasn't totally ready to let her guard down. "I know a ton about you. You forget to put the seat in the loo down."
He held up his hands. "Case in point. You don't make things easy. But I can't help that about the lid. I've lived alone for a while. Although, I suppose I could find a few flaws of yours. Loo? You've adopted Briticisms and you've only been here—" He counted the days on his fingers.
"You count on your fingers and you have a terrible pen clicking habit." She poked his chest.
"You suck your teeth."
"You're really obnoxious, William."
"You're so difficult, Emmaline." Will stepped closer and tucked a loose piece of hair behind Emma's ear. "But you're also wonderful, smart…and I like you and your flaws. I hope you don't mind mine."
"Go on."
"You have the most beautiful eyes. You're thoughtful and kind. You helped me break down my barriers. You've helped me be brave." He stepped even closer.
"You're seeking more and more wealth and I wonder what amount will be enough. When will you see that you're enough?" she asked, knowing she might push him away when it was clear all he wanted to do was pull her close. But she couldn't risk her heart again.
"It's because I want to leave something for those I love when I'm gone."
"We don't leave those we love." Her voice was gentle but firm, certain.
"My father left before I was born. My mother did before it was her time. Sydney's gone."
"As for people like your mother and Sydney, they might not be here physically, but they're always in our hearts. They're with us."
"I won't leave you, Emma." His eyes told the truth.
She felt his breath whisper across her skin.
"I didn't ask you to stay."
He stiffened as though struck by her words but her voice was still soft. She was afraid. She'd let go of Everett but not her fear of being abandoned again.
"You signed the agreement."
She knew he was joking around, trying to make light of the situation, but she needed more than that and she didn't imagine Will could give it to her. They were too different. Their lives too far apart. "Then what?"
"Then us." He took her hands.
"Can I trust us?" She stepped closer so they were toe to toe.
"We have cookies."
"We have a lot of baggage too." She couldn't imagine how they could possibly make it work. What he was trying to do was sweet, but she wasn't sure they could get past everything between them and cross the divide.
"Do we have to complicate it? Can we keep it as simple as the recipe on the back of the bag of chocolate chips?"
"Is that what you used to make those?" she asked, pointing to the cookies. "Life isn't simple. It's messy, complicated, and expensive."
"It's a new year. We can make it what we want it to be."
"Do you believe that?"
He nodded. "We also have right now. You and me at this moment." His eyes dipped to her lips.
"I like this moment," she said, feeling herself give in even though she knew better.
His lips pressed against hers. Fizzy excitement rushed through her body, lighting her up as their mouths explored with little nips by the ear, the chin, the cheek, the neck, and then landing on the lips again.
The kiss was like softly falling snow, shiny bells, and sugarplums. It was everything she ever wanted from a moment like that.
Will's hands tangled in Emma's hair as if he was hungry but not for the food on the table. She returned with her own appetite, rivaling his. It was as if the kiss erased her doubts, her fears, and her knowledge of what could never be. Their hands gripped and roamed: neck, back, waist. It all felt so good and she never wanted to leave his embrace.
Their kiss deepened as the fire crackled and the music played in the background. Emma gave in to the fantasy while she could.
Chapter 22
Will
After eating takeout, succumbing to a cookie (they weren't half-bad if he did say so himself), and sipping on the cocoa, Will and Emma snuggled up on the couch. He let her pick her favorite Christmas movie even though it was New Year's Day. He owed her a redo of their first day together.
He knew he couldn't change anything about the past but he wanted to have a future with her. As it was, they had the present. She shifted, nudging closer to him, looking adorable with a smile on her face as she watched the move about an unlikely couple fall in love at Christmas time.
As the snow continued to fall softly through the window, they both must have drifted off because Will roused sometime later. The TV screen was dark, the sky too. Emma was warm in his arms and fit there perfectly. He didn't want it to end. She challenged him. She was vibrant, had her own opinions and beliefs. She had ambition and drive. Everything about her was perfect but he knew their situation would present too many difficulties. He forced himself not to think about them as he fell back asleep.
When Will woke a second time, it was to Emma startling.
She sat up on the couch.
"Did you have a bad dream?" He checked his watch. It was shortly after midnight.
Her face was pale, alarmed. "No, I thought there was a flash outside. I'm sorry. So weird. I must have imagined it."
Will was about to pull her toward him again when he thought he saw movement, a shadow blotted a shaft of light outside the window. He crossed the room in a few long strides. If someone prowled out there, they'd picked the wrong house to rob. Will threw open the large window leading to the balcony.
A man dressed in black wearing a black knit cap low on his head, and with a camera in hand, snapped several photos.
Will nimbly climbed through the oversized window, ignoring the cold night air. "This is private property. You're trespassing." He backed the guy toward the edge of the balcony. His muscles tensed and anger brewed inside him.
The guy took a final step back until he leaned against the stone balcony rail. The low light caught a glint of metal in his eyebrow.
Will recognized this distinguishing feature. "I've seen you before. You went through my rubbish. You tailed us when we went on a date, to the theater…"
"What can I say, the price is right."
"What do you mean? Who're you selling these photos to?"
"Do you mean who's buying?" The guy had an oily laugh. "Even a billion dollars in the bank doesn't buy honesty. It just causes greed."
"Are you saying I'm greedy?"
The guy clicked his tongue. "No, I'm saying be careful who you let into your life."
Did he mean Emma? He knew she needed the money but she wouldn't tip off the paparazzi. He glanced over his shoulder. Her silhouette filled the window, obviously distressed. He cursed himself for even entertaining the idea.
"Tell me who's paying you."
"Make it worth my time. Give me a few shots of you and the girl then I'll leave you alone."
Adrenalin rocked through Will's veins. "You're not in the position to bargain."
The guy shrugged. "If you say so. But she's awfully pretty and seems so sweet. I'd hate to see her name in the news."
They were hollow threats. He hadn't cared much about his own image in the last months but he'd do anything to protect her—even if she claimed not to care. What angered him was he'd finally gotten some alone time with Emma and the slimeball had to ruin it. He was done with having his life recorded and paparazzi prying into his business to make a few dollars. Will fumed and clenched his fists.
The man tossed Will a leer. "Always so hotheaded, Will Wheaton." The guy held up his ph
one, recording their interaction. "Be careful."
Will towered over him, ready to pound him into the ground. Will peered over the edge of the balcony. "It's a long way down."
"And it'll be a long way down for you and your career if you touch me and I show the world."
Will looked from the guy to the camera to the phone. Rage burned the fuse inside of him.
"Will, is everything okay?" Emma called.
Her voice provided the calm he needed, to refocus, and remember what was at stake. This guy had gone too far.
"Yeah. Be right in." He glared daggers at the intruder. He gripped the guy by the jacket and shoved him against the wall. First, he broke the phone in half. "That is for coming on my property." Then he smashed the camera against the cement wall and took out the memory card, snapping it in half. "That is for going through my trash and harassing us." He turned the guy around, grabbed his wallet, and took out his identification. "Brian Bowen." He threw the wallet, phone, and camera over the balcony and shoved the guy again. "If I ever see, hear, or get the thought in my head that you're anywhere near Emma, me, or taking photos, I will break you." He let him go. "Leave the way you came and never come back."
Will went back inside and explained everything that had happened. After brushing off the snow, he closed all the curtains to give them privacy even though he doubted the creep would be back.
Clearly shaken, Emma sat on the corner of the couch. "Do you think it was the same one who'd been following us?"
"Eyebrow piercing? Pointy nose? Dark eyes? About this tall?" He measured with his hand.
She nodded.
"I don't think we'll be seeing him again." The adrenaline hadn't dissolved and Will paced.
