by London Casey
I looked at Emily and smiled.
She inched her way away from Miranda and I.
“I can’t believe you, Liam,” Miranda said.
“Who cares? You used to love when I would get into bar fights, remember?”
“Here we go with this again,” she said. Her phone started to ring. “I have to take this call.” She looked at Emily. “Will you help him to the couch? And feel free to talk about the past with him. It’s all he keeps bugging me about.”
“Uh, sure,” Emily said.
Miranda ran across the apartment to the bedroom.
“There she goes,” I said. “On another call.”
“Liam, come here,” Emily said.
She touched my arm.
“I’m not as think as you drunk I am,” I said with a laugh.
“I don’t think that’s how the saying goes,” Emily said.
I stared at her as I walked.
The entire room was spinning but she wasn’t.
Damn, she’s as pretty as when we were teenagers, huh?
I looked down at my feet.
That thought needed to go away and stay gone forever.
Emily pulled me down to the couch and sat next to me.
I grabbed her hand.
“How are you, Em?” I asked.
“Em? You haven’t called me that in years.”
“I’m a little drunk.”
“I can see that.”
“So how are you?”
“I’m good.”
“Good? That’s not good. You never say good unless it’s bad.”
Emily pulled her hand from mine. “You should put your head down and get some sleep.”
“Hey. Want to talk about the past?”
“Not really, Liam.”
“Come on. It’s fun. We’re good, right?”
“Of course we’re good,” she said.
“So, who cares? I want to talk about… everything. Everything, Em. Hey, do you still sing?”
I leaned toward her.
She put her hands to my chest and eased me away.
“No, Liam. I don’t.”
“Why not?” I called out.
“The same reason you don’t skateboard,” she said. “Okay?”
“Fine,” I said. “I’m just… what’s wrong with talking about the past, right? It’s fun. It’s fun to do. We should do it. Let’s do it, Em. You and me.”
Emily laughed. “Wow. You are feeling it right now. Let me get you a blanket.”
She stood up.
I tried to stand and she snapped her finger at me.
I stayed on the couch and put my head back.
I shut my eyes.
Emily brought me a blanket and covered me.
“Thanks, babe,” I said.
“No problem, Liam,” she said. “It was good to kind of see you.”
“We should hang out. Just you and me. Okay?”
“Okay, Liam,” she said.
I kept my eyes shut and took deep breaths.
A few minutes later I heard the sound of Miranda’s voice.
Then Emily’s voice.
Miranda’s voice was like someone scratching a fork to a plate.
Emily’s was like the sound of a gentle rain.
Rain…
Thinking that sound made me feel like I had to piss.
I told myself not to piss my pants.
Not on the couch.
Not in front of Emily.
Miranda would be livid.
It was almost worth it.
But not in front of Emily.
Emily.
Em.
I drifted off to sleep with one more thought.
I kind of missed Emily.
Chapter Six
Emily
I sat at the desk and my mind instantly began to wander.
This was the part of the business that was extra tough for me.
Writing out checks. Trying to make things balance even though they didn’t want to.
It also didn’t help that I had the stupid papers from Miranda next to me.
She wanted more money.
I wasn’t sure if she was allowed to do that to me.
But if I put up a fight, then what? Our friendship would be at stake.
Of course Lucy and Ember said I had no friendship with Miranda.
They didn’t know Miranda like I did.
She was fierce and when she had a vision, she did anything to make it come true.
I sighed and folded up the papers and stuck them in the top drawer of the desk.
I set my attention back to the computer screen and went through Ember’s current purchase order.
There was no need for me to review the order.
Ember knew exactly what she needed and never wasted a penny.
That was yet another thing to be thankful for.
If you’ve ever watched those restaurant shows, you’d know how some places end up losing tons of money because they overstock.
That wasn’t Ember.
She was frugal and smart.
I approved the purchase order and submitted it.
Then I stood up and stretched my neck.
Last night had been a bit of a sleepless night. And when I did fall asleep, I would end up with my neck twisted around my head somehow and wake back up in pain.
You know where that came from though. Don’t be silly.
I looked to my right at the small mirror hanging on the wall.
I pointed to my reflection.
“Stop it,” I said to myself.
I opened the office door and Lucy jumped back and gasped.
“Lucy,” I said.
“I was just going to open the door when you did,” she said. She touched her chest. “You scared me.”
“Sorry,” I said. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah. I was looking for you. Someone is here to see you.”
“Who is it?”
“Someone named Liam.”
I spotted Liam sitting by himself near the front corner of the bakery.
“He insisted I give him two coffees,” Lucy said. “That is one good-looking man.”
I looked at Lucy. “That man is engaged to Miranda.”
“What?” Lucy asked. “Seriously?”
“Yes.”
“You should get on that before they say I do.”
“Lucy,” I said. “Miranda is my best friend. And I’ve known Liam for a long time.”
“Best friend…” Lucy rolled her eyes. “If that was me, I’d be all over that.”
“Then go get him,” I said. “Go ahead. I’ll stand here and watch.”
Lucy smiled. “Not for me, Emily. He’s all yours.”
She winked.
I walked around the counter and caught myself blushing.
Liam didn’t see me at first.
He was looking to his left.
I swallowed hard at that side view…
He’s engaged to your best friend.
I wiped my hands on my apron and took a deep breath.
Liam finally looked at me and he stood up and smiled.
“Liam,” I said.
“Hey, Emily,” he said.
Emily now? What happened to Em?
He moved away from the table and hugged me.
“Sorry, I smell like flour and coffee,” I said.
“I like that smell,” he said. “Can you sit for a minute?”
“Sure,” I said.
“I got you a coffee.”
“You didn’t need to do that,” I said as I sat down. “And you didn’t need to pay. You and Miranda never have to pay when you come here.”
“You’re running a business,” he said. “You need to make money. Not give stuff away. But that’s not why I’m here.”
“Okay. Then, what’s up?”
I felt happy near Liam. An old friend. Comfortable. It was nice.
“I was drunk last night, Emily,” he said.
“Liam…”
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“Just give me a second,” he said. “I wanted to apologize about that. I had no idea you were going to be there.”
“Why should that make a difference?”
“I looked like a damn fool in front of you.”
“Liam, I’ve seen you drunk many times,” I said. “And I’ve seen you look like a damn fool many times too.”
Liam laughed. “That’s true. But I wanted to apologize. If I said anything…”
“No,” I said. “Not at all. I think Miranda was annoyed, but whatever… right?”
“She’s always annoyed,” he said. “She’s mad at me about it. I get why. She hates Jackson to begin with. So the fact that I was drinking with him and got into a bar fight… then came home drunk in front of you…”
“Seriously,” I said. “It’s fine. If you want me to talk to her I will.”
“No, I wouldn’t ask you to do that,” Liam said.
“But I want to know something.”
“Sure.”
“What was the bar fight over?”
“Nothing,” Liam said.
“How?”
“Jackson just wanted to prove a point. I guess we’re all feeling our age a little. We’re not twenty anymore, you know?”
“So you just fought some guys for no reason?” I asked.
“Stupid, huh?”
“Not really,” I said. “You have to do you.”
“I like that thought process,” Liam said. “Well, I’ll get out of your hair here. I just wanted to apologize. And… I did.”
Liam stood up.
I stood up too.
“Hey,” I said. “It’s fine, Liam. Everything. You know?”
“No. I don’t know. What do you mean?”
I shook my head. “Nothing. Um… do you remember that time you got drunk and tried getting into my neighbor’s house?”
Liam laughed. “Oh. That night. I had never had expensive scotch before. I was so dumb. Me and Steve.”
“You’re lucky my neighbor could sleep through a war,” I said.
“I know,” Liam said. “And you dragged me off their porch. That was… that was fun.”
“Yeah, it was,” I said. “How is Steve?”
“Steve? He lives in Florida. Owns a software company. Married. Two kids. The whole deal. I really only know that thanks to social media.”
“Right,” I said.
My eyes moved for a split second from Liam to see my sister and niece coming into the bakery.
Liam looked. “I better get going. Your sister never liked me.”
“That was a long time ago,” I said.
“It’s always good to see you, Emily,” Liam said.
He slipped away and hurried to get the door for Elise and Henley.
Elise was my sister.
She looked at Liam, then at me, then at Liam again.
She didn’t say a word as she entered the bakery.
But my six-year-old niece did.
“Aunt Emily!” her little voice yelled.
She ran for me and I crouched down to hug her.
When she jumped into my arms, I shut my eyes.
And I pictured Liam.
“What was Liam doing here?” Elise asked.
“Nothing.”
“Don’t give me that,” she said.
She grabbed my arm.
I was holding hands with Henley.
Henley loved to go in the back and hang out with Ember. As if Ember didn’t do enough for me, when Henley showed up, she always let Henley play with some dough and bake something to take home.
I pulled away from Elise and took Henley into the back of the bakery.
“Ember, look who’s here,” I said.
Ember looked at Henley and smiled. “There’s my helper. What are you in the mood for today?”
“Chocolate chip cookies!” Henley yelled.
“Oh, those are my favorite,” Ember said. “Are you sure you don’t want to make some oatmeal raisin cookies instead?”
“Those are for old people,” Henley said.
“Henley, don’t say that,” Elise chided her.
Henley looked back at her mother. She was the spitting image of Elise when she was younger.
The chin, lips, nose, and blue eyes…
And then Henley rolled her eyes slowly.
Just like Elise used to do to me.
I was two years older than Elise, and that eye roll was a daily part of our relationship growing up when she would get in my way and I’d tell her to leave me alone.
“Come on, Henley,” Ember said. “Let’s get you your apron and get baking.”
“Thank you, Ember,” Elise called out.
Ember gave a nod.
Elise grabbed my arm again. “Tell me why Liam was here.”
“Will you relax?” I asked. “He was talking about Miranda. They’re getting married.”
“They’ve been engaged for ten years.”
“Not even close. Stop it.”
“People who are engaged that long really have no intention of getting married.”
“And if that’s the case, it’s not my business,” I said. “They’re my friends.”
“No, they’re not,” Elise said. “Miranda pretends to be your friend. And Liam used to be your friend. The whole thing is weird if you ask me.”
“You know, sometimes your brutal honesty isn’t needed,” I said.
“Yes, it is.”
I walked from the back to behind the register.
I got Elise a coffee.
“What’s going on in your life?” I asked.
She took the coffee. “Nothing. Henley was begging to come here.”
“You and Dan okay?”
“No. We’re getting divorced. He’s been fucking his secretary for a year.”
“What?” I asked.
“I’m kidding,” Elise said. “Jeez. I can’t just come say hey to you?”
“I was just asking.”
I walked Elise to the table where Liam and I had been sitting.
When she sat across from me, she looked around. “I still can’t believe you’ve kept this place open.”
“Me either,” I said.
“Any idea what you’re going to do with it?”
“I don’t know. Run it?”
“You know what I mean,” she said.
“I have no idea, Elise. I jumped in headfirst and I’m figuring it out the best I can.”
“My crazy sister,” she said.
“You’re crazier than me,” I said.
“I think I can agree to that. When you’re married and have a kid, you lose your mind for sure.”
“You’ve been crazy since before that,” I said.
“Bitch,” Elise whispered.
I laughed.
“Well, look at this… the sisters of trouble…”
I turned my head and felt like groaning in disgust.
“Hey, Jeff,” Elise said. “What are you doing here?”
“Best coffee around,” he said. “Can’t miss it.”
“How many times have you been in here?” I asked.
“Not enough,” he said. He looked around. “Great place here. I can definitely help turn it all around. The business and the building.”
Jeff winked and knocked his knuckles on the table.
He went to get in line and I looked at Elise.
“I did not set that up,” she said. “I swear on my life.”
“Elise…”
“On Henley’s life,” she said.
“So you’re telling me that your husband’s douchebag best friend who claims he’s in love with me just shows up randomly when you’re here?”
“Yes,” Elise said. “And Jeff isn’t that bad.”
“I can’t stand him,” I said. “And you and Dan keep putting the bug in his ear that maybe something could happen between us.”
“Well, why not?” Elise asked. “He works with Dan. He’s smart. He’s funny. He can help with this place.
For real, Emily.”
I sighed. “No. It’ll never happen. I want nothing to do with that guy.”
“So you just want to struggle to keep this place afloat, then have nobody?”
“Wow, you are just cutting into me today,” I said.
“I’m your sister. I love you. I’m never going to stop cutting into you. I’m sorry about what happened with Jon. You knew that was never going to work. I told you that from the second I met him.”
“And I can tell you right now that Jeff is not the guy for me,” I said.
“Then who is?” Elise asked.
I didn’t answer the question.
Partly because I told myself I had no answer.
But partly because I really did have an answer.
Chapter Seven
Liam
“Should we have a cigarette or go inside?” Jackson asked me.
“We don’t smoke,” I said.
“Exactly,” he said.
He reached for the door.
I looked around and shook my head.
I knew Miranda was stuck at the office.
Just like always.
It was a tough situation to be in. The more she did now the less she’d have to do later. It was the way up the corporate ladder of bullshit in life.
The only issue was that we made these dinner plans with Jackson and Callie two weeks ago.
When we got to the table, Callie was already there.
Sipping a glass of wine.
“You started without us?” Jackson asked.
“Don’t keep a pretty woman waiting,” Callie said. “Ever.” She looked at me. “Cheers, Liam.”
“Cheers, Callie,” I said. “How are you doing?”
“Great,” she said. “Where’s Miranda?”
I reached for my phone. “At the office. She’ll be here in a few.”
“Oh, how heartbreaking,” Jackson said.
Callie slapped his arm. “Don’t do that tonight. We talked about it.”
“Oh, right,” Jackson said.
“She cracks the whip, huh?” I asked.
“I don’t mind,” Jackson said.
“I’ll set on you next,” Callie said to me.
“You wouldn’t be the first woman trying to get herself between Jackson and I,” I said with a wink.
“Whoa, whoa,” Jackson said. “Secrets.”
“Oops,” I said.
“I want to hear this story,” Callie said.
“No, you don’t,” Jackson said.
