by Amelia Shea
“No, you shouldn’t have, it’s none of his business,” Sadie snapped.
“It is if you want to introduce her to my dad,” Ethan chimed in.
“Wait, what am I missing?” Roxanne asked. Emory was thinking the same thing.
Ethan turned to Roxanne. “Pearl, while a very nice lady, was sleeping with her boss.” He turned to Sadie. “Her married boss.”
Oh shit! Emory’s mouth dropped open.
“And you wanna set her up with Dad?” Roxanne was shocked.
Sadie glared at Roxanne and back to Ethan. Stone’s arm was shifted off her shoulder when she shrugged away from him.
“Ya know what, we all have our faults, and for both of you to…”
“I do not want my dad with someone of questionable morals, Sadie,” Ethan interrupted, his tone firm.
She could no longer hold back. Emory burst out laughing. She was laughing so hard her eyes began to tear and her side hurt. Holding up her hand to the stunned table, she looked at Ethan. “Sorry, sorry…I just find it hysterical that you…who is banging his cousin…is questioning someone else’s morals.” She continued to laugh while the room lay in complete silence. Wiping her eyes, she tried to regain control.
“Emory!” Roxanne warned.
Emory looked over to Roxanne and rolled her eyes. “What? Oh c’mon, Rox, you don’t see the irony in all of this? Please, girl, I love ya but wake up and see perfect big bro for what he is.” Emory looked to Ethan and tilted her head from one side to another as she spoke. “Immoral…just like the rest of us, no better, no worse.”
Emory knew from the silence, they were all thinking the same thing, although, no one ever mentioned it, until now. The faces around the table ranged from shocked to awkwardly uncomfortable. Unlike everyone else, Emory felt triumphant. Fuck you, Ethan Barrett!
“I’m gonna clean up,” Sadie said quietly. Emory watched Stone reach for her hand but she yanked it away. She grabbed her plate and walked toward the kitchen. The room remained silent. She stopped at the door and looked over her shoulder.
“Ya know, Ethan, I may be just a waitress, but I worked really hard, and while Pearl may not have always made the right choices, she is a friend of mine. So, if you can find it in you, please try to muster up a little respect for myself and my friend. Your judgement is not invited to my wedding.”
Sadie walked through the door. Seeing the hurt in Sadie’s eyes, Emory gulped back a breath. She looked really upset. Emory flinched when the table shook from being hit.
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” Stone raged from across the table, all his focus on Ethan. Stone’s face had gone red and his temple twitched.
Ethan held up one hand. “You know I adore Sadie. I’d never intentionally hurt her.”
Stone stood up so quickly his chair fell back on the floor. “You just did, motherfucker! You better listen the fuck up, E, ’cause I’m not gonna say it again. You ever, fucking ever hurt that girl again, brother or no brother, I will kick the living shit out of you and cut your fucking tongue out, you arrogant son of a bitch.” Stone stalked to the kitchen door, turning to Ethan. “You’re lucky we’re sitting at Dad’s table, ’cause if this happened anywhere else, you’d be breathing through a fucking tube right now.” Stone threw open the door and walked through.
The room lay silent. She had never seen Stone so mad and she’d seen him pissed off a lot. Leave it to Ethan! Well, she was going to stick it to him too.
“Tsk, tsk, Ethan, someone forgot those fancy manners they were taught.”
Ethan turned his head slowly at Emory. “You enjoying this rift you’re causing between my family and I?”
Was he serious? Her mouth opened and her eyes widened. Was he really trying to blame this on her? Oh hell no.
“Me? Oh no, sweetheart, this shit storm is all on you.” She pointed at him. “You made your bed now you can lie in it.” Emory quirked her brow and sneered. “With your cousin.”
Ethan sat back in his chair glowering at Emory.
“Tell me something, Emory, what bothers you more, that I’m sleeping with Nina or that I’m not sleeping with you?”
Emory could feel her face drop, her vindictive smile cave. He hit her where he knew it would hurt. And it did hurt. It was a low blow. Pull it together, girl, hit back! Emory took a breath and smirked, “Oh, that ship sailed, my friend, my childhood infatuation for you is long gone. Holding my V card for you…done and over…see ya!”
That was a lie but so what? Fuck him!
“Em,” Roxanne snapped.
Emory turned to Roxanne.
“What? He asked. I just answered his question. Jeez, Rox, settle down. Isn’t this what family dinners are all about? Sharing?”
“Yeah, if you’re family, which I’ll remind you…you are not.”
“Ethan!” Roxanne shouted and slammed her hand on the table.
Emory lost her smirk and had a feeling that Ethan was about to throw the lowest blow possible.
“What? She can spew her so-called honesty but I can’t? She’s your friend, yes, but she’s not family. Her hatred of her own family doesn’t give her a place in this one.”
“You better pull back on that shit, E,” T warned at the same time Bogs chimed in, “Shut up, E.”
It was no secret that Emory had spent most of her time at the Garrisons’ because her own mom and dad couldn’t be bothered with her. Her parents never planned on having kids. While some referred to it as a surprise, Emory never sugarcoated it, she knew the truth. She was a mistake. While most parents would adjust and accommodate to having a “surprise baby,” Emory’s parents did the opposite—they expected her to accommodate to their life. She was never hit, rarely scolded, never mistreated. She was just ignored.
His words hurt but she gained confidence from everyone else coming to her defense.
“Great, so now I’m the asshole.”
“Yup, finally speaking the truth.” Emory laughed, raising her arms triumphantly.
T scolded her. “Knock it off.”
Emory raised her eyebrows and suppressed a laugh but she stopped. She knew better than to mess with T.
“I’m done here, this is ridiculous.” Ethan stood up and straightened his pants. He threw his napkin down and started to walk away.
Emory couldn’t resist one last dig.
“You’re not going to grab your plate? Oh wait, that’s right, that’s beneath you.” She cupped her hands over her mouth and shouted, “Hey Sadie, Ethan has something for you.”
All at once the room erupted and suddenly, her defense team turned on her.
“Hey!” Bogs grumbled.
“What the fuck, Em?” T snarled.
Ethan shouted, “You fucking little bitch!”
Emory flinched at Ethan’s tone more than his words. She had succeeded in her mission of getting under his skin. However, this was more than she expected.
Ethan stormed past the table everyone jumped up from. T shot up in front of Ethan and grabbed his shoulders. The room was total chaos. Bogs appeared out of nowhere in front of Emory pulling her from her seat and standing in front of her.
“Everyone calm the fuck down!” T shouted.
Emory surveyed the room, all eyes blazing and focused on her. T was holding Ethan back and Emory had the distinct feeling that Ethan would love to punch her through the wall. He never would, of course. For as mad as he was, Ethan would never hit her or any woman. Averting her eyes to Stone, who she hadn’t realized came back into the room. He stood next to T and Emory could read his face perfectly. He was fuming and it was all directed at her. Shit! The last thing she wanted to do was piss off Stone. Ethan was her target, not him.
Shifting her gaze to Ethan, his heated eyes glared at her. She curled her lips. Fuck you, Ethan!
Roxanne got in between T holding Ethan and Bogs. “What the hell is wrong with you, Emory?”
Emory flinched. She focused on Roxanne who looked li
vid. Why was she upset with her? This was Ethan’s fault not hers.
“What? Me? He started all this and…”
Roxanne shook her head. “No, Em, you goaded him. This whole conversation, you just kept poking and poking.”
Emory gasped, her eyes widening. What the hell?
“Are you serious? The way he was acting with Sadie? You think that’s okay?”
Roxanne shook her again. “No way, Em, this wasn’t about Sadie, that was just your in. Don’t make this about you sticking up for Sadie, you were just waiting for any opportunity to go at him and you know it.”
Emory just stared at Roxanne. She knew it was misplaced anger but it really pissed her off that Roxanne didn’t have her back here. Ethan was being a complete jerk and Roxanne was blaming her. This was bullshit. A small part of Emory knew that what Roxanne was saying was right, she had goaded Ethan. But Emory’s feeling were hurt.
Roxanne sighed. “Jeez, Em.”
Emory whipped her head back at Roxanne. She was blaming her for all this? Fine, she was done!
“I should go.” Emory glared at Roxanne. Emory walked around Bogs and grabbed her bag from the table.
Roxanne sighed heavily and pleaded. “Em, please…you don’t have to leave.”
But she did have to go, right now, before she said something to Roxanne that would leave their friendship ruined. Ethan may have been a dick but he was right on one thing, this wasn’t her family. Emory turned around, keeping her hurt masked. “Yeah…I think I do. Ethan’s right, this isn’t my family.”
“Em…” Roxanne sighed.
Emory ignored her and walked past them.
Inching to the door, she saw a figure in the doorway. Sadie looked shocked, her eyes confused. The last person she wanted to hurt was Sadie. She turned and gave her a pleading smile, “Sadie, I’m sorry. You know I would never do anything to hurt you, right?”
“I know that, Em,” Sadie whispered.
God, this night was fucked. Emory really needed to get out of here. She didn’t belong here, not anymore.
Roxanne took three steps to Emory but she held up her hand and shook her head. “I gotta go, Rox. Sorry that I fucked up your family dinner.”
Emory turned her hard gaze to Ethan. He stared back at her, his eyes still hard but his face changed, almost softened. He was probably anticipating an apology. No fucking way, Ethan!
Emory straightened her back, inhaling a deep breath, “I’m sorry, Ethan…sorry I ever met you.”
Turning away from the silent group, she rushed out the door and slammed it behind her.
*
Ethan was finishing his second glass of whiskey when he heard the knock on the door. He had come home, poured a glass and attempted to drink himself into oblivion to try and forget tonight.
The knock grew louder and impatient. He wasn’t expecting anyone. Resting his glass on the table, he walked over to the door, taking notice of the time. 10:36pm.
Looking through the peep hole, he pulled back, taking a deep breath while unlocking the door. Fuck! He pulled the door open wide.
“You here to kick my ass?”
Stone stood in the hall, scowling at Ethan. Stone was taller than Ethan by about three inches and built like a man one did not cross. Most people were intimidated by him. Ethan had a feeling he knew what was coming. He wasn’t scared, he could hold his own. But after the way Ethan acted tonight, he deserved whatever Stone was about to give him.
“I should but I think the fucking verbal beat-down Emory handed your ass is good for today.” He walked past Ethan into his apartment. Stone and his brothers rarely came over to his place. They all agreed it was stuffy and looked like a museum. They didn’t share his taste.
He may not like the place but Stone made himself at home, walking into the kitchen, over to the refrigerator, and grabbing a beer.
Ethan followed behind him, taking a seat at the counter.
After the fight with Emory, everyone cleared out fast including Ethan. He never formally apologized to Stone or Sadie. He had planned on doing it tomorrow but no time like the present with Stone standing in front of him.
“About tonight,” Ethan looked over at Stone, who was staring at him. “I am sorry. It was never my intention to hurt Sadie, I was being a…”
“Pompous fucking prick?” Stone smirked.
“Yeah.” Ethan felt like a complete asshole. He had no retort except to admit that he had been exactly what Stone called him out on. “I will apologize to Sadie.”
Stone snorted. “Of course you will. You’ll turn on that Barrett charm and she’ll forgive you. Hell, she already forgives you, man. She actually feels sorry for you.”
Ethan’s eyes widened. “Why would she feel sorry for me?”
“She’s been around long enough to know what we’ve all been seeing forever.”
Ethan’s body tensed. “Which would be?”
“That you just fucked up any chance you might have had with Em.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Fuck yeah, you do. You know exactly what I’m talking about.”
Stone stared back at Ethan. His hand clenched around his glass. He was not going to discuss this with Stone or anyone else for that matter. Stone walked over to the counter across from him, placing his bottle down.
“Thanksgiving? She was in the bathroom when you and Emory were in the hall, man. She heard everything. Even caught a glimpse of that kiss. I believe her exact words were “scorching hot”.
Ethan looked away from Stone, his anger building inside.
“You really gonna sit there and deny that you want that girl? That you’ve wanted that girl since she turned eighteen.” Stone snorted. “Fuck, man, probably longer but you won’t admit that shit. I know, E, we all do.”
Ethan jerked his head back in Stone’s direction, “I don’t know what you think you know, Stone…”
Stone sneered. “I know that you’ve been lusting after Emory Kern for years. I know that you’ve held back on that shit, I assume with respect to Rox, and maybe some pussy fear you have of actually getting her, or maybe losing her. I know that a few weeks ago T was pulling your ass out of mine and Sadie’s party because you were about to lose your shit ’cause she brought her new boyfriend.
“That’s not why…”
“Fucking spare me your bullshit, E. I know you, man, can’t hide the truth from me or T and Bogs. We see it. Just don’t get why you would sabotage it.” Stone released a mocking chuckle. “Don’t get you man. This girl fucking professes her love for you, even after walking in on you getting fucking serviced by that cunt and you let her go? Then you throw that shit in her face tonight? Spew your fucking garbage about her not being a part of our family?”
“Didn’t know.” Ethan’s voice was low. He shook his head, not bothering to make eye contact with Stone. He kept his eyes trained the glass. “Didn’t know her feelings for me ran that deep. Didn’t know that having her was even a possibility until that night in the hallway. And now it’s not.”
Ethan grabbed his glass and shot back the remaining whiskey in one gulp feeling the burn down his throat.
Stone shook his head. “You had her, man.”
His hand gripped his glass, the fury running through his body, and he snapped.
Ethan swung fast, throwing the glass against his cream colored flawless wall. “Fuck! I didn’t know I had her. You think I knew and just threw her away?” He turned to Stone, his face burning with rage. “She stood in front of me, fucking crying, asking me if knowing changed my feelings for her and do you know what I said? I said nothing. I gave her fucking nothing. This girl is everything and I gave her nothing.” He seethed, “That shit has eaten away at me for the last seven months.”
“Why didn’t you fucking go after her?”
“Because Roxanne told me not to, told me to let it go. I had all this shit running through my head after that night. She’s Emor
y, practically family. I’ve known her forever, been around her almost her whole life. This isn’t just some girl, it’s Emory! Then by the time I figured out that it didn’t matter, it’s too late.”
“Why didn’t you tell her after you figured all that shit out?”
“Because she was done, Stone. While I fucking dicked around with her feelings for me, denying and questioning my own for her, she moved on. I waited and I got fucked in the end.” Ethan ran his hand over his hair, grasping hard at his neck. “Now, she hates me. I let my frustration and her hatred seep into me and I blew up. I hurt her and I did it so she’d hurt. You think Emory deserves to be with an asshole who would do that.”
“I think she deserves a good guy.” Stone pointed at him. “That’s you, E. You’re a good guy that fucked up. Hell, you think I deserve Sadie? Fuck no, I don’t deserve her, but that didn’t stop me from making her mine. You think T believes he deserves Cass? He doesn’t but that didn’t stop him, and whatever the hell is going on in your head, shouldn’t stop you.”
Ethan ran his hand over his face. The idea that he was having a heart to heart with Stone was almost laughable. Tonight had been disastrous, and he had no clue how they could get past it. Emory’s words whispered in his head. “I’m sorry, Ethan…sorry I ever met you.” He had broken her tonight and he had no idea how to fix her or if it was even possible.
“What are you gonna do?” Stone asked.
Ethan shook his head, staring at the ceiling. “Don’t know.”
“My advice is to stop letting Nina suck your dick, for starters.”
Ethan jerked his head in Stone’s direction, glaring, “Twice, asshole. It happened twice, the second time being at Thanksgiving.”
“All the pussy out there and you pick that bitch?”
“Wasn’t like that. She’d been after me for so long, trying to get with me. It’s been a long time since I’ve dated anyone.” Ethan shrugged, disgusted with himself. “I made a poor choice, won’t happen again.”
“Unfortunately, the damage is already done with that one.”
“Yeah.” Ethan sighed knowing Stone was right. Even if he were to somehow get Emory to forgive him, she’d never get the visual of him and Nina out of her head. “Fuck,” he uttered.
