The Day to Remember (Emma's Story)

by Wood, Jessica

  “Emma? Are you drunk? Is everything alright?”

  “Nooooo,” she said, dragging out the word.

  “You’re not alright?” I asked, a feeling a cold panic wash through me.

  “No silly, I’m aaaaa-okay. I’m just here. With the girls.” I heard her giggle uncontrollably.

  My body relaxed at her words. “That’s great, babe. Are you guys having fun?”

  “Hey,” she said brightly.

  “Yes, I’m here.”

  “Hey,” she said again.

  “Can you hear me?”

  “Hear what? Hey. Hey. So I want to tell you something.”

  “Tell him about the hot guy,” I heard a distant female voice say.

  “Who was that?” I asked. What guy? “Where are you guys?” I demanded.

  “So I was going to tell you something,” she slurred, ignoring my questions.

  “Okay, what is it?” I decided to play along.

  “Hmm. I forgot.” She started giggling again. “Oh wait! I ‘member now … so, shhh, don’t tell anyone, okay? Promise.”

  “Um, okay,” I agreed tentatively.

  “So I think I am a lightweight.” There were more giggles.

  I laughed. “Emma, are you guys okay? Where are you guys?”

  “Umm, I’m not sure. Let me ask Damian,” she murmured into the phone.

  “Who is Damian?”

  “He’s … Hey, Damian, where are we?”

  “Hey you. You’re at Doc’s Clock, sweetie,” I heard a male voice yell through the music and noise.

  “Oh right. Baby, we’re at Doc’s Clock.”

  “Who is this Damian guy?”

  “Oh him? Just someone we met tonight. He seems nice,” she giggled. “Anyway, I called because I missed you. I’m mad that you’re not here.”

  I chuckled, “I’m sorry, babe. I really wish I was there too. I miss—”

  “Hey Brandon, did you need to shower?” came Des’s voice from behind me. I quickly moved away from Des, hoping Emma was too drunk to hear that.

  “Who was that?” Emma demanded.

  My heart leaped out my chest at her words. She wasn’t as drunk as I thought. “Who’s what?” I asked back, hoping to throw her off. Shit, why do I keep digging a deeper hole for myself?

  “I thought I heard someone say something. I thought I heard a girl.”

  “No, there’s no girl. That was just the … the TV,” I said and attempted a chuckle.

  “Really? It just sounded so real, and I thought I heard her say your name,” I could hear the doubt in her voice.

  “No, I’m just hanging out with the family here, watching TV. It’s kind of noisy on your end though, so maybe there’s something with our connection. Anyway I should get going. I’m glad you’re having so much fun.”

  “Oh, ok.” Her voice was laced with disappointment.

  “I can’t wait to see you. I miss you.”

  “Okay, I miss you too. Call me when you’re back, okay?”

  “I will.” I quickly hung up the phone, and looked up to see Des smirking at me and shaking her head.

  “I see you didn’t tell her everything.” There was a satisfaction in her voice that gnawed at my guilt. It was one thing to know I lied to Emma, but quite another to lie to Emma and have Des of all people know about it.

  “I’ll tell her everything when I see her,” I said, reassuring Des as much as I was reassuring myself.

  “Well, you better.” Her voice was threatening. “Because if you don’t, I will.”

  Chapter Eight

  Emma

  “Everything okay?” asked Damian as he handed me another drink. “On the house. You look like you need it.”

  “Yeah,” I finally said. Brief clear thoughts broke through my drunken fog. I swear I heard a girl’s voice. Even though I knew I shouldn’t, I wanted to dial Brandon’s number again. I don’t know what I would say, but a strong urge to dial his number took over me.

  Just as I was about to call him, Steph came rushing to the bar, her face flushed and glowed with alcohol-induced euphoria.

  “Shit, how many shots did we have at dinner?” she laughed. “Oh, you’re up next on shuffleboard.” She had a wide smile on her face as she gave Damian a wink. Then she saw my phone in my hand and frowned. “Did you just call Lover Boy?”

  I nodded, feeling guilty. “I know I know. It’s girls’ night out. I shouldn’t have.”

  “You’re the worst!” she teased and laughed.

  I gave her a weak smile. “What if he’s still interested in his ex,” I blurted out.

  “Jesus, Emma. I need to smack some confidence in you.” Steph tossed her long, wavy blonde hair back behind her shoulder as she sipped from her drink. I notice several guys at the bar eyeing her and watching her every move.

  “Emma, you’re smart, you’re hot, and you have an amazing body. Fuck, if I was guy, I’d bang you.”

  I laughed. “Thanks, Steph.”

  “Think about it, he chased after you that morning when that bitch showed up. He called and text you, and even went over to your place. If he was really worried about what that whore thought, he wouldn’t have done any of that.”

  “Yeah, that’s true.” I thought about Steph’s reasoning. Brandon called and texted several times after I had ran out. He also came after me. If Des was really the one he wanted to be with, and she was in town, he wouldn’t have wasted him time to go after me.

  “The guy obviously gaga about you and wants to be with you, and the bitch knows it. She’s just jealous. You’re fucking the man she wants.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Just remember, she might want him back, but if he loves you, nothing she does will change that unless you let it.” Steph was right. I couldn’t let Des win. There was nothing she could say or do that would make me not love Brandon. So long as he wanted me in his life, I was going to stay with him. There was nothing Des could do to change that unless I let it happen. And I know I would not give up Brandon for anything.

  “Thanks, Steph. You’re totally right. Maybe I should call Brandon to apologize. I was acting kind of weird and suspicious when we ended the call.”

  “Don’t be an idiot. Give me your phone. You’re on time out,” she said as she grabbed my phone and dropped it in her purse.

  “But—” I tried to protest.

  “Emma, snap out of it. You really need to learn how to play hard to get,” she said as she ordered another drink from Damian.

  “It’s not like that between us though,” I tried to reason, though a part of me was unsure of that now.

  “Girl, every guy loves a chase. Shit, I love the chase, and last time I checked, I’m not sporting a pair of balls down there,” she laughed. “The point is, stop calling him so much. Give him a chance to miss you.”

  Even in my intoxicated state, I knew Steph was right. “Okay,” I resolved. “Maybe you’re right.”

  “I know I’m right,” Steph said with an air of confidence.

  I laughed. “Okay, I’ll try not to call or think about him for the rest of the time you guys are in town.”

  “Good. And it shouldn’t be too hard. There’s some nice distractions to help you with that,” Steph said as her eyes gestured sideways to Damian, who was approaching them with Steph’s drink order.

  “Damian, babe, Emma needs a distraction tonight so she doesn’t drive herself crazy thinking about her estranged boyfriend. You seem like you’d be great at that sort of thing,” she said, flashing Damian her sexiest smile.

  Damian leaned across the bar towards us, and as his hands pressed against the edge of bar counter, his biceps flexed, causing the intricate arm-length tattoo down his left arm move as if the designs were alive. “Anything for a pretty face.” His voice was husky as he bore his piercing blue eyes into me, sending a jolt of excitement through me. His lips curled in a wicked smile, and I knew he was trouble.

  “Thanks. Now I’m going to go check up on Jill and Glo. I’ll be right back,”
Steph gave me a wink and began to walk away.

  “Steph,” I hissed under my breath, “I’m not interested.”

  Steph rolled her eyes and whispered back, “Emma, relax. It’s just innocent flirting. Something’s obviously up with Brandon that’s gotten you all on edge. You need to relax and get your mind off of him for the night.”

  “Steph,” I hissed again after her as I watched her walk to across room where Jill and Glo were playing shuffleboard with two guys.

  “Don’t worry. I don’t bite. I can tell you’re a good girl,” said Damian as he checked out Steph’s backside as she walked away.

  I rolled my eyes, but something inside me resented his comment, “No, I’m not. I make mistakes,” I retorted.

  He laughed. “You don’t even know what a bad girl is.”

  “I—” I began to protest, but stopped. He was right.

  “You seem like a sweet girl who probably deserves a sweet guy. But, if you ever want to be a bad girl, give me a call.” He scribbled his name and number on a thin, paper coaster and handed it to me. “I won’t say any ‘I love yous,’ but I promise you a great time with no strings attached” He licked his lips and winked at me. His piercing, blue eyes illuminated against his dark, bronze complexion. Everything about this guy oozed sex and danger. And a small part of me was turned on by him.

  I smiled nervously and accepted the coaster. “Thanks. I, uhm, should go and check up on my friends,” I said as I shoved the coaster with his number aimlessly into my purse and quickly walked away from the bar.

  I knew he watched me walk away, as he had done with Steph. I could sense his eyes looking me up and down and a shiver ran down my body. A part of me was excited by this man, but I knew that I wasn’t the type of girl that could have a night of fun with no strings attached. Damian was right. I had no idea what a bad girl was. I was a nice girl, and right now, all I wanted was to be with Brandon.

  ***

  The air was chilly and I felt light drizzles of rain fall on my cheeks as I entered the lobby of Brandon’s building. Nervous energy jolted through me as I waited for the elevator to take me up to his condo on the penthouse floor.

  It was Monday and he had invited me over tonight for dinner and “to talk.” I was excited to see him, but I also knew this wouldn’t be your ordinary dinner date. Whatever he had to tell me, it must have been big. It had been causing a silent rift between us for over a week now—a tension that was almost palpable in the air. That terrified me.

  I knew I would be devastated if I lost Brandon. The amount of pain that had hit me with the misunderstanding with Desiree was still fresh in my mind. Whatever this was, I knew it would not be a misunderstanding. It would be real, and it would be much more painful.

  I drew in a deep breath, trying to calm myself, and knocked on Brandon’s front door.

  “Hey you,” he smiled at me warmly when he opened the door and pulled me into his embrace. “God I’ve missed you.”

  I sunk into him and inhaled his familiar, comforting scent of aftershave and laundry detergent. “I’ve missed you too.” I looked up at him and pulled his face down to mine. Our lips met in a slow passionate kiss that melted away some of my anxiety.

  “I’ve definitely missed that,” Brandon whispered when our lips separated. “So how are you? Did you have fun with your friends this past weekend?”

  “Yeah, we had a great time. Here’s your keys. Thanks again for letting us stay over at your place. It was definitely much more comfortable than my studio.”

  He chuckled, “I think I should be the one thanking you guys.”

  I looked at him in confusion.

  “I arrived home to a much cleaner place than I had left it. So thanks for cleaning the place. I should invite you over more often.” He chuckled as he pulled me into his hard chest.

  I laughed. “That’s all Jill and her anal-retentiveness. So don’t get any ideas. You’re not getting a maid out of me.”

  “Well, that’s too bad,” he said as we walked through the hallway. “I was hoping I could watch you clean.”

  There was something in his voice that made me stop and look at him. He grinned at me, and I could see a flash of desire in his eyes. He then pulled me into his arms again, “In the spirit of compromise, will you at least wear a maid’s outfit?” he whispered as he gave me a devious smile, and I felt my body tingle with anticipation.

  “Compromise? I didn’t know we were in negotiations. What’s in it for me?” Before he could answer, I pulled him down towards me, and I kissed him eagerly, my arms wrapped tightly around his neck. Our lips moved together with complete abandonment, as if each kiss were the last.

  Then, in one fluid moment, he moved me with him and backed me up against the wall, his lips never leaving mine as he hungrily explored my mouth with his tongue. My nails dug into his shirt as he pressed his growing erection against my inner thigh between our clothes. I unzipped my skirt and pushed it down to the ground, needing one less layer of separation between us. His lips left mine as it explored my neck and earlobes.

  “Yes, we’re negotiating,” he panted in my ear, his hot breath sending chills down my back. “Do you really want to know what’s in it for you?” he asked seductively.

  “Yes,” I said breathlessly.

  “This is what you would get in exchange.” Before I knew what was happening, he was bent down before me, looking up at me. “Spread your legs,” he commanded. I obliged. Suddenly, his head was between my legs. “Bend your knees over my shoulders,” he ordered and I writhed in anticipation as I did exactly what he asked. He then stood up, lifting me up with him over his shoulders. I could feel his breath against my inner thigh and heard him inhale me in.

  “Do you know how crazy you’re driving me?” I heard the raw need in his voice, and I instantly felt a wetness flow below as desire coursed through me. I felt his fingers move aside my panties as his tongue plunged inside me, lapping me up as I gasped in agonizing pleasure, overwhelming my every thought. My hands grasped violently at his hair as my body exploded with hot spasms of pleasure as his tongue entered me again and again, until finally, I reached the apex of pleasure before crashing into the depths of ecstasy.

  When he lowered me down to the ground, I was still panting, my body was numb and tingled from the afterglow of pleasure. “That was—that was amazing,” I stuttered. I pulled him in for a kiss and tasted myself on his tongue.

  “So does that mean we have a deal? Maid outfit?” he grinned.

  I giggled. “I’m sure we can work something out.”

  “I’m looking forward to it.”

  “I haven’t made you come yet,” I continued as I pushed my hand down inside his jeans.

  He threw his head back and groaned in pleasure as my hands found his satiny, hard erection. “God, you have no idea how much I want to fix that problem right now,” he gasped. “—but we should eat first before the food gets cold.”

  As if in agreement, my stomach growled. We both laughed. “Okay, well I’ll go get cleaned up,” I said as I kissed him lightly on the lips.

  I walked towards the hallway leading to the restroom, my body buzzing with euphoria. When I passed the laundry room, an unzipped duffle bag sitting on top of the washer caught my eye. This hadn’t been here yesterday morning when the girls and I were here. Some of the contents of the duffle bag spewed out from it, and it was then that I saw it, sitting on top of some clothes and half hidden from view. My breath caught and my body stiffened as my mind raced frantically, trying to understand what this all meant.

  It was a half-opened yellow prism-shaped chocolate bar. It was a Toblerone.

  Memories of what Brandon said to me at the airport several weeks ago flooded back to me. We had been waiting for our flight to D.C. for the Imperial Hotel Project, and he had bought a Toblerone. “I never buy these things normally, but for some reason, I always buy a bar of it when I’m at an airport.”

  My heart grew heavy as I realized what this meant. Brandon was at an
airport this past weekend.

  Chapter Nine

  Brandon

  “Emma? Are you okay in there?” I yelled down the hallway towards the bathroom. Ten minutes must have passed since she went to clean up. What could be taking her so long?

  When I didn’t hear a reply, I walked towards the hallway leading to the bathroom and turned the corridor, and found Emma standing motionless in the hallway in front of the laundry room. Her face was pale and she looked like she saw a ghost.

  “Hey, what’s wrong? Are you hurt?” I asked as I rushed to her side. I examined her, making sure she wasn’t hurt. Then I saw the pain in her eyes and I knew something was definitely wrong. “Emma? Talk to me,” I pleaded as I pulled her into my arms and held her tightly against me. Something deep inside my stomach twisted in anxious dread.

  She pushed me away with force, “Don’t touch me. We both know something is going on that you haven’t been telling me,” she held out her hand, revealing a Toblerone bar. “You told me once that you only bought these when you were at airports. That bag wasn’t here this weekend when the girls and I were staying here.”

  I followed her gaze and saw the tote bag I had used this weekend in LA.

  “You told me that you were in Sausalito this weekend, that’s just a few miles north of here. Why were you at an airport?” she asked accusingly.

  I looked at her surprise. I had planned on telling her everything tonight after dinner. This was not how I expected her to find out. “Emma, I—”

  She cut me off. “When I called you Saturday night, I heard a girl’s voice. You said it was the TV, but I didn’t believe you then, and I definitely don’t believe you now. Who is she?” Her voice shook as it rose in volume.

  Dread paralyzed me as I looked at her. Her face twisted with pain as tears gathered in her eyes. A part of me wanted to lie—to tell her that it was all just a misunderstanding, that it was just an old Toblerone bar from a previous trip, and that she was overreacting.

  But one look into her eyes, and I knew that it was time to tell her everything. I had to tell her the whole truth now or I may lose her forever.