Sweetness

by S Gonzalez

  “Come on, Emma. Lets go.” Chris says. I nod in agreement and we walk in a cluster with our heads down, to the parking lot.

  The cemetery is so peaceful and quiet. It is filled with old oak trees that provide shade on this sunny, seasonably cold, November day. It is not until I hear a branch snap next to us that we all look up. And there under a tall oak tree we find, Glen Maser, lurking. Without hesitation Justin drops his arms and is lunging toward him. Rocco grabs his arms just before he reaches Glen, but Glen only takes a half step back. Clearly, Justin does not scare him.

  “The fuck you doing here, Maser?”

  “He was my friend too, Justin. I have every right to morn him like the rest of you.”

  “I beg to differ, asshole. He fucking hated you. I am sure my sister told you all about what happened when we were on tour. So you know he didn’t take kindly to what you did to, Emma. Therefore you are not his friend, and you are not welcome here. So go!” Justin points to the near empty parking lot.

  “Not now, Justin. Lets just go.” Christ pleads while holding me close to his side as I shake. More with fear, then from the cold.

  With Dominic gone, and Glens secret out, he will come at me with a vengeance. “Chris is right, Justin. Just let him be,” I say, barely audible.

  Rocco releases Justin, and Justin straightens his suit. “You’re not worth it, you sick son of a bitch.”

  “I’m sorry. I am. I just wanted to talk to, Emma, for a minute.”

  “Like hell you will.” Rocco bellows, crossing his arms in front of him.

  I need this to stop. I mentally can’t take this right now. I don’t want to talk to Glen but I can’t let this day get any worse. I don’t want the day I buried my fiancé, to be the day his friends all get sent to jail for murdering this sleaze bag.

  “Its fine, guys. Let him say what he came to say so he will leave.”

  “Emma?” Rocco questions.

  “Its okay, Roc. He can’t hurt me. Not with you guys here. So let him say what he came to say, so he can leave.”

  Glen leans in toward me causing me to flinch. “I was hoping to talk to you privately.”

  “Yeah, not going to happen, douchbag.” Chris snorts.

  “Just stay close. I will make this quick.” I tell them. They all reluctantly take a few steps away and each one of them bump Glens shoulder with their chest as they walk past him.

  “I guess they all hate me, huh.”

  “Can you blame them? What do you want, Glen?”

  “I just want to tell you how sorry I am for what happened to Dominic. I know you really cared about him. I did, too. He was my best friend. I’m going to miss him, too.”

  There was not an ounce of malice in his voice. For the first time ever, I actually feel a bit sorry for him. He has lost someone just like the rest of us. Dominic was Glen’s best friend for a long time. The one person who knew more about him then anyone on the planet; and now he’s gone. Despite my relationship with Glen, he should be allowed to grieve just like anyone else. Regardless of everything we have been through, I can’t take the memories of his friend away from him no matter how hard I want to. No matter how badly I would like to think this is some kind of peace offering, something tells me to be on point.

  I look past Glen to see the guys watching us like hawks, ready to pounce if necessary.

  “Glen, I know he was your friend. And I know this can’t be easy for you. I am sorry for how things worked out between the two of you but you have to understand why I had to tell him.”

  “I do.” He looks away and for a second almost looks remorseful. “I just want to put all of this behind us. No more hostility.”

  I cautiously watch as Glen leans in to hug me. I stiffen and hold up my hand to Rocco who takes a few steps forward. I really don’t care to hug him but if this is his way of calling a truce, at least I won’t have to worry about him lurking around every dark corner. Worrying about when and where he will pop up to take his vengeance on me for turning his best friend against him.

  As Glen’s snake like arms wrap around my shoulders, he whispers into my ear, “Tit for tat, Princess. You took someone away from me that I loved, so now you know how it feels.” Glen kisses my cheek and turns to leave without another word said.

  My eyes grow as wide as saucers as I watch him walk away. Me knees buckle out from under me as my brain registers what he just confessed. Did he just tell me he killed Dominic? No. Even a twisted son of a bitch like Glen would have killed his own best friend just to get back at me.

  Would he?

  The guys are on me all at once, dropping to their knees in front of me checking to see if I am okay. I cannot hear their muffled voices as I watch Glen walk to his car. Just before he slides in, he gives me a wolf like smile and slips into the drivers seat.

  He did it. He really did it.

  “Emma, are you okay. Talk to me Emma. What happened? What did he say to you,” Justin asks. “What did you say to her you piece of shit?” he yells across the parking lot as Glen closes his car door.

  “Emma, what happened? Talk to us. What did he say to you?” Chris asks. But I can’t speak. I am completely dumbfounded by Glen’s revelation.

  Panic. Panic.

  The world is spinning.

  Everything is getting dark.

  “Emm-“ is the last thing I hear before the world around me goes black.

  Thank you for reading!

  Look for the sequel, Bittersweet, coming soon!

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