Road to Love (Lessons in Love Book 1)
Page 19
“You answered though,” I countered.
“Because I missed seeing this handsome face, so I couldn't resist.”
“I miss you too, beautiful. So... what happened? I haven't talked to you since before the party.”
“Oh! So much, I don't even know where to begin,” she replied before she launched into the details of her and her father's reconciliation.
As she recounted the painful admissions shared between the two of them, I'd never seen her more serene or more beautiful. She asked after Alice and I ran down the progression of our reconnection. We weren't as far down the road of forgiveness as she and her father appeared to be, but I had no doubt in my mind that we'd get there.
“Hey,” Emerson started, then bit her lip before continuing, “Remember the other day? When we talked? Before the party?”
“Mmmhmm,” I hedged, knowing precisely what she was trying to get at.
It had been a slip, an admission I knew she wasn't ready for, but one of which I was utterly resolute in my mind. It hadn't been that long, but I definitely knew that Emerson was it for me right now. I certainly hadn't expected to have this conversation anywhere but face to face, but here we were.
“You...you said...maybe, I don't...I didn't hear you...did you say you loved me before you hung up in my face?”
I laughed because she had her face pulled into the most stank screwface after asking that question and I couldn't tell what had her more upset—that I'd dared to utter those three words or that I'd hung up so quickly that I didn't give her a chance to say anything on that day. That part was admittedly shitty on my behalf, but I was stuck. It just sort of snuck out on its own and I wasn't ready for her potential freak out. Though, I had to admit she was admirably calm right now.
“That I did,” I responded honestly with a bravado that I definitely did not feel deep down.
“Did you mean it? Or was it like a slip? Because I mean, I can totally see it being a slip. Like when you were in school and you accidentally called your teacher mom, you know?” she rambled, clearly nervous now that I'd acknowledged being cognizant saying it.
“I said it, and I meant it, Emerson Renee NoName,” I said, teasing her because despite having been inside her and around her folks on multiple occasions I still had no idea of her last name.
“Parker,” she supplied.
“Well, Miss Parker, I'll repeat it, so there's no ambiguity. I love you. So. What you got to say about that?”
“I mean, I guess you aight or whateva,” she replied, giggling.
“Really? That’s it?”
“Nope, that’s not it. I love you too, Roosevelt James Ashe and I gotta be real with you, it's freaking me out a whole lot right now. I've known you for like five minutes, dude! I'm not this girl.”
“But clearly, I'm that nigga,” I replied, boastfully.
“Really? This is what we’re doing right now?”
“Hey, you left yourself open for that one. I've got something else to tell you too, though.”
“Oh yeah, what's that?”
I told her about everything that had transpired today with Rich and Ryan. Her eyes got big once I got to the part of the story about needing to be in LA soon. I casually tossed out the idea that I was making plans to head back to Cali to meet with Ryan before making any decisions. By the time I was done, Emerson said nothing, but the broad grin stretched across her face said it all.
“So... you still need a co-pilot on your drive back to Cali or nah?” I asked.
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Other Titles By Nicole Falls
Accidentally in Love Series:
Adore You
Smitten
Then Came You
Holliday Sisters Series:
Noelle the First
Brave Hearts
Started From A Selfie
Standalone Titles
Sparks Fly
About the Author
Nicole Falls is a contemporary Black romance writer who firmly believes in the power of Black love stories being told. She’s also a ceramic mug and lapel pin enthusiast who cannot function without her wireless Beats constantly blaring music. When Nicole isn’t writing, she spends her time singing off key to her Tidal and/or Spotify playlists while drinking coffee and/or cocktails! She currently resides in the suburbs of Chicago.