by Jenny Rabe
Gail patted her knee. “So, what’s your plan?”
Emilie shrugged, and a twinge of hope dug itself inside of her. That’s why she’d visited Gail. She always knew the right thing to do. “What do you think of Dean?”
“Oh no. I can’t do that, honey.” Gail shook her head, stood up, and walked to the kitchen. She pulled out pots and pans and began dinner. “But I can make you something to eat. How about spaghetti?”
“You bet.” Emilie sat at the counter and watched the woman work her magic.
“Just remember this is your choice,” Gail said, her voice tender and slow. “Your life. What do you really want?”
Emilie blew out an exasperated breath. “That’s not what I want to hear. I’m not sure anymore. At first, I moved here with every intention of moving away. But it hasn’t been horrible. Dean’s been so helpful, and we’ve had fun together. I have felt things for him, but I’m not brave enough to act on it.”
“You’ll figure it out, honey. I believe in you.”
After a hug and some dinner, Emilie went home with a heavy heart. Dean never came by, and she locked herself downstairs. Instead of thinking, she turned on a medical drama and zoned out.
Her phone rang a few times, but she ignored it. When the phone kept ringing, she finally looked. Three calls from Ava and a call from Dean.
Emilie raised an eyebrow. She ignored Dean and sent Ava a text. She wasn’t sure she could fake enthusiasm.
Sorry, can’t talk right now. What’s up?
A few minutes later, Ava sent back a response.
Just wanted to know if you’re good to help with some final wedding plans next week?
She wasn’t sure what that entailed, but it was time to say no to Ava’s demands. Emilie sighed and sent back a reply.
I’ve got a busy week before your wedding. I’m sorry. Hope you can work it out.
That felt good. She saved Dean’s call for later and went back to zoning out. A few minutes later, her phone rang with a call from Finn. Why did it have to be him? She held the phone for four rings before answering.
“Hey, just the girl I want to talk to.” His voice was overly cheerful and sweet.
Emilie bit her lip. Finn was friendly to everyone, but she could see how Dean had misunderstood. She’d have to set clear boundaries with him. “Did you need something?”
“Kind of. I wanted to go over the wedding plans with you for next weekend and make sure you knew about everything.”
Emilie’s heart fell. Had Ava whined to Finn about her not wanting to help? “Oh, Ava texted me something about it.”
“That’s my girl. Always on top of things. I’ll give you the details so you can plan ahead.”
Her ability to turn him down was not as strong. She reached over for a pen and notepad on the little table next to her bed. “Okay,” she said, trying to cover up a sigh that escaped with a cough. “Give me the details.”
“Ava went crazy with all of the events, so the wedding weekend turned into a week. There are lots of activities once we get to the resort.”
“The resort?” Emilie paused. She knew the wedding was going to be in Cape Cod, but didn’t know any more information. “How long should I book a room for?”
“Oh, you don’t have to worry about that.” Why wasn’t his voice this soft during their breakup? Don’t succumb to his sweetness. “I’ve taken care of all the guests’ rooms. You and Dean actually have a pretty nice suite.”
Emilie gulped. “Dean and I?”
“He’s still coming as your plus one, right?”
Emilie had a sudden urge to tell Finn the whole truth. If anyone found out about their lie, what would her reputation be like then? She shook her head. She needed to get off the phone before she did something stupid.
“Are you still there?” Finn asked, breaking into her thoughts.
“Yes. Can you text the details? My dad’s calling on the other line.” She needed an escape.
“Sure. I’ll see you at the wedding.”
“Right. See you.”
Finn’s text came soon after. Despite being annoyed by him only seconds ago, she hurried to read it.
Check-in is on the 15th.
Emilie looked up the calendar on her phone. “The 15th. That’s in” —she scanned the date and dropped her mouth— “in a week. How long are we staying there?”
In response to her questions, another text came.
We’re getting married next Saturday night. I told you she went crazy. I’ll give you a detailed schedule of all the events later. Ava’s still finalizing things.
Emilie replied with a short answer, hoping for no further responses.
Got it.
She stared at his texts until the screen blurred in her vision. Not wanting to prolong the inevitable anymore, Emilie called Dean.
“Thought I wouldn’t be hearing from you until the wedding.” His voice was brusque as he chastised her.
Emilie frowned. She should’ve expected his annoyance after their silent ride home, but it still shocked her. She tried not to let the bitterness out when she responded. “Speaking of the wedding, Ava gave me some dates, and I wanted to make sure you knew.”
“I can’t take off a whole week.”
Disappointment smashed away her hope. If he wasn’t with her, the week was sure to flop. “You found out about the dates?”
“Ava told me.”
Emilie bristled, sat up straight against the pillow. She resented the thought of them talking alone. Was this how Dean felt when he’d seen her with Finn? She wasn’t the jealous type, but it bothered her, a lot. “You don’t have to come—”
“I didn’t say that.” Even when he cut her off, he was polite. “I’ll leave a couple of times to check on the boat, but you won’t miss me.”
If only Dean could read her thoughts. Sitting with Finn meant nothing. Emilie bit her lip, wanting to shift the conversation in another direction. “Did you know we’re sharing a room?”
His answers were as clipped as before. “Ava said there’s a couch. You can take the bed. I’ll pick you up Monday morning.”
Emilie squirmed uncomfortably. Why did this feel like a business transaction? “Fine. Thank you.”
He sighed. “Probably won’t be at the house much. I’ll need to get some things done at work if I’m taking time off, but we do need to talk.”
Emilie gulped. “Okay.” His words sent fear into her heart. Why did everything seem to be crashing around her?
“Can I take you out to dinner next Saturday, so we can make sure we’re on the same page?”
She released a slow breath. There was still a chance she could clear this teeny misunderstanding before they spent the week together. It wasn’t a conversation she wanted to have over the phone.
“Saturday’s fine.”
Their friendship was too important to let things fester. At the same time, the thought didn’t make her feel better. The little chit-chat with Finn cost her more than she wanted to pay.
18
Dean
The next week crawled by. Every day, Dean wanted to stop by Emilie’s house. Yet on his way over, he remembered the way she had looked at Finn, and then he would sober up and go home.
He consumed himself in work, leaving and coming when it was too dark to see a glimpse of Emilie’s house from his window.
The boys razzed him at work, commenting on his lack of focus and change of attitude. He was usually more easygoing, but he angered at the slightest issue. Every day, he rehearsed what he’d say to Emilie, but it never sounded right, so he practiced it differently the following day.
On Saturday, he called to make sure she remembered their platonic date.
“I’ll meet you at the restaurant,” she said when he called to confirm a time. “Can’t wait to see you.”
He pushed back in his Laz-E-Boy chair and sighed. Unfortunately, hearing her voice softened him. It’d been a long week without talking, something he had done on purpose. With the need to ta
lk to her also came frustration. He wanted to be with her, wanted to hear about her day, but at the same time he was angry. Why was he so susceptible to her? Would he be able to express his disappointment without ruining what might be developing between them?
“I’ll pick you up instead. See you later.” He hung up before he said anything stupid like “I miss you” or “Can’t wait to see you.” How pathetic was he?
It shocked him to see her flirting with Finn. Emilie dated plenty throughout their friendship, but to see her chase after someone else’s fiancé made him question whether he really knew her.
When it came down to it, he was angry. Angry he’d said they were fake engaged, angry he’d given her so much of his time, and angry he’d gotten swept up in Finn’s wedding.
Regardless of how he felt, he couldn’t throw in the towel. Emilie was worth the wait, but that didn’t mean he would stand by and watch her destroy herself.
That evening, he dressed in a nicer outfit: navy slacks and a button-up shirt, but quickly swapped his slacks for jeans in case he’d send the wrong message.
When she answered the door, his resolve to be aloof melted like butter in the sun. She was beautiful in a blue sundress and brown strappy sandals that wrapped her ankles. Her hair was curled and pulled halfway up. It made her eyes stand out more.
“Ready to go?” he said, already turning back to the truck. He needed to remain strong. To withstand her enchantments.
“Mmm, hmm.” She linked her arm through his before he could escape. He froze as she locked the door. Unwanted tingles erupted up his arm, and when he gently pulled his elbow back, her grip tightened. Touching was not helping. If she didn’t let go of him soon, it was all over. He’d be putty in her hands.
“You look nice tonight.” Her melodic voice played with his heart.
Her fingers touched his skin lightly as she pulled him toward the truck. He gritted his teeth and stared straight ahead. No time for weakness.
He needed to make sure his voice didn’t sound too eager. “Thanks. You too.”
He opened her door. Before she got in, she held his gaze for one long second.
“It’s been forever since I’ve seen you. I’ve missed you.”
Warmth spread through Dean as she studied him, but all he allowed was a nod. Lay down the facts. Tell her what she did wrong and stick it to her. The task was not for the faint of heart.
Emilie started the conversation before he could turn the key. “All my ducks are in a row for the dance studio. Over one hundred students are enrolled for classes, and I haven’t even reached the end of my list.”
Other than a few nods, he didn’t interrupt. He wanted to hear about her week. Well, mostly he did. Knowing some made him want more.
“I hired another teacher, but that’s great news, right? Some of the students are enrolled for multiple classes, so if I can double my numbers, I think we’ll have a good year.”
Did she even know she was getting the silent treatment? He wanted more than anything to encourage her, but all it took was the memory of her with Finn to kindle the ember of anger inside him. How could she flirt with Finn? She continued talking, unaware of the internal battle in his mind.
“The instructor I hired came by a couple of times, and we divvied up the classes. I’m excited.”
Dean stared straight ahead. The happiness in her voice was both torture and kept the fire burning. Keeping his mind firm and steady was not working.
After unpacking her things, she glanced over at him. He cursed at himself for looking at her from the corner of his eye, but he couldn’t help it. “You’re kind of quiet tonight. What’s up?”
It wasn’t time for that conversation yet. He had to avoid it until they’d eaten a good meal. “Just listening.”
Emilie shot him a skeptical look. She wasn’t buying it. “How’s work? Did you get enough done?”
He bit his lip. Work talk was ordinary enough. “Bought a new net this week, repaired another one, and found some new business partners in the Boston area.”
“Does that mean you’ll be gone a lot more?”
That was exactly what it meant. Since the fishermen in Boston charged more, most restaurants preferred to get their fish from outlying cities. In two weeks, he’d have regular shipments to bring once or twice a week. He looked forward to the chance to get away, but he wasn’t going to tell her.
“Maybe,” he mumbled.
They were quiet the rest of the way to the restaurant. Dean steered away from Ava’s restaurant and picked the only other decent place in town. Pizzazz Pizza. It was a mom-and-pop spot they both loved, but was crowded enough that he could talk to her about his frustrations and not make a huge scene.
Luckily, the dinner rush hadn’t started, and he steered them toward a booth in the back. Instead of sitting across from Dean like she usually did, Emilie slid in next to him. He waited until she was settled and then scooted further away from her on the long bench. What was her deal? Right when he was throwing her back, she was reeling him in.
They ordered drinks and their favorite Hawaiian pizza before she started the conversation.
She turned to him, her knees closing the gap he’d created. “Ava’s texted me about the wedding all week, even though I told her I was done helping. You’ll never guess what kind of cake Ava got for Finn.”
Dean discreetly backed against the bench, moving further away from Emilie. “Probably not. What did she get him?”
Emilie smirked. “A chocolate fondue fountain. He doesn’t like cake, so he wanted something else.”
The mention of Finn reignited the fire inside him, but he ignored the flames. Still not time. “Who doesn’t like cake?”
“Right?” She laughed. “Remember when I made him a cake made out of marshmallows? The whole thing practically melted before he could blow out the candles.”
Annoyance crept up his spine. It had happened a week or two before Finn broke her heart, but he was sure she didn’t remember that little detail. “I didn’t go.”
Her mouth twitched. “You’re jealous, aren’t you? This is about the other night, right, seeing me with Finn on the boat. It’s all a misunderstanding. I don’t have feelings for Finn, not even an inkling.”
He opened his mouth to protest, but the waitress interrupted them with drinks and appetizer salads. After she left, Emilie turned to him and waited. Only when he looked at her did she open her kissable, pouty mouth.
“We haven’t talked in a week, and I’m not perfect, but I don’t think I deserve the silent treatment.”
Dean spun his salad bowl around. How could she have him doubt himself in less than a few words? “I saw you with Finn on the boat.”
Emilie picked up her fork and stabbed her salad. “Yeah, I told you about that.”
“You had that look. The one you get whenever you’re around him.”
Emilie picked up her drink and downed half of it before answering. “What are you talking about?”
“It’s like you’re pining after him.” Time for the dreaded conversation. Pizza eaten or not, it needed to happen. “I’ve only seen you like that with Finn. What are you thinking, Em? He’s engaged.”
Her face reddened, and she slammed her drink on the table. “You think I don’t know that? Since returning home, it’s the only thing that’s been jammed in my face. That and you thinking I still have feelings for him. He was alone, and I sat with him. Nothing else. You talk with Ava on the phone. Why can’t we sit together and talk?”
Dean swallowed a sip of soda. “I d-don’t like Ava. No feelings for her at all. You, on the other hand…” He softened his voice. “I care about you a lot.” He reached for her hand, but her eyes narrowed and she moved her hand away to pick up a fork.
“Finn is getting married, and all of our history together is in the past. If you don’t trust me, then we should be having a different conversation.”
Her words ripped through him like a knife. “He’s hurt you before and—”
; Throwing down her fork, she yelled, “I’m aware, Dean! Let’s just change the subject.”
Other couples around them stopped talking and stared. Somewhere he’d taken a wrong turn. Was he so sure she flirted with Finn? If not, Dean deserved a punch in the gut. He ducked his head and spoke softer. “I’m sorry. This conversation didn’t go the way it did in my head. I trust you. I do. And if you say you have no feelings for Finn, I’ll believe you. I really need to talk to you about something else. I’m sorry if I—”
She waved dismissively, stopping him. “It’s fine. You’re right in some ways. It’s hard to see Finn with Ava, it’s hard to be involved with their wedding, and it’s difficult to pretend I’m with you.”
Dean raised his eyebrows. She made it seem like being with him was a task. “Difficult, huh?”
Annoyance crept into her expression. “You know what I mean.”
Dean shook his head. He wasn’t sure if the disappointment won over the anger, but he couldn’t be still any longer. It was then or never. “No, I don’t. I’ve been wanting to tell you something for a long time, but you’ve been dealing with stuff since you moved back. I didn’t want to bother you with this, but I need to get it out.” He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I’ve had feelings for you for a long time.”
There, it was out, finally. He paused and let the silence envelope them. Her eyes grew wide as his words soaked in. A wave of relief washed over him, and the air electrified around him. Every sense sharpened while he waited for her to speak.
After a long minute, Emilie exhaled and glanced around them. She leaned closer and whispered. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
Dean sat back. “You knew? And you haven’t said anything?”
“Gail told me the other night. But this isn’t really a good time—”
He shook his head. “This is exactly the right time to bring this up. Do you know how hard this next week is going to be for me? For us? To be around you, pretend we’re engaged, and then not have you return those feelings? Instead, you’re pining after the man who hurt you in the first place?”