by S. J. Sylvis
“Who is that? I asked aloud, staring at a woman who was eyeing me like she was seconds from snatching up a silver platter and hocking it at me like a Frisbee.
Derek turned toward me. “What?”
“Who is that woman, and why is she glaring at us?” Derek moved his gaze over to the dark-haired girl and grimaced. He angled his head down to me, a remorseful look in his eye. I knew right then who it was.
“If you think, for even a second when I’m your wife, that I’ll be okay with you being with other women, you’ve got another thing coming.”
Derek’s eyebrow raised, and a devious grin formed on his mouth. “I have a feeling, after I have my taste of you, I won’t be needing anything else.”
My heart stopped. “Who says you’ll be getting a taste of me?”
His eyes darkened. “You expect me to stay monogamous in a marriage full of… nothing? I can’t force you to fuck me, Fallon, and I won’t touch you unless you give me the okay… but just think of how dull and unfulfilling this marriage will be if we don’t even try to make it work. I sure hope you change your attitude. For the both of us.”
My stomach felt like mush. My entire body tingled. Guilt was caging me in, as was fear. What have I gotten myself into?
“Come on,” Derek said, shifting our conversation. “Let’s just get a drink, and you can sit over there at the table and think about what I just said. If you’re not willing to be in this marriage, then you need to say something soon, because both of our parents are ready for this—as am I.”
I hated that I wanted to cry, but I did. A few weeks ago, I thought I was finally coming to terms with the entire thing–this life. I weighed my options carefully: be thrown out of the family and disowned, or marry a man of approval and continue living life the way it was. I chose the latter. But now that I’d had a small taste of a different life—one where I had fun and laughed, one where I felt lighter—I was fully aware that marrying Derek would feel like I was signing my own death certificate.
I didn’t make another peep to Derek as we made our way to the table. We didn’t stop to say our “hellos” to anyone else. I couldn’t even bring myself to smile at people. Derek snagged me a glass of white wine and ushered me to our table. Then, he turned on his heel to go talk “shop” with my father and his associates.
I sighed as I leaned back in my chair. Usually at these types of galas, where the entire company was forced to come, I would walk around and mingle with old acquaintances, or I’d at least entertain myself by secretly making fun of Mallory from afar. But tonight, I sat quietly, taking small sips of my wine. I hated wine, but of course, it was “classy,” so I was forced to drink it at these events.
Just as I was pushing my wine glass away from me, I felt my phone buzz in my clutch. I quickly unlatched it and pulled my phone in front of me. Excitement filled me up completely and drowned out all the words that Derek had just said.
Emmett: You never did tell me why you can’t have tacos when you want.
I looked around the black tablecloth, noting the pretty centerpiece, and quickly typed my response.
Me: My mom told me that it’s not proper food for someone with our class. So, whenever she’d see me eating one as a teenager, she’d lose her mind.
I swallowed more wine, still disgusted with the blunt, fruity taste. My phone buzzed again, and I had to hold back my laughter when I opened the text.
Emmett: ATTACHMENT
It was a picture of Emmett, Dawson, and Ivy, all smashing a taco into their face. Ivy somehow still managed to look pretty, Dawson had cheese on his face, and Emmett was licking his taco…
I was instantly jealous.
I wasn’t sure if I was jealous that Emmett had a taco or of the taco itself.
The taco looked so tasty. So tasty that my mouth watered.
But seeing Emmett’s tongue darting out of his sculpted mouth only brought me back to when he’d been under my dress in yet another embarrassing moment caused by yours truly. I was suddenly all hot and bothered.
I texted him back after glancing around the room, making sure no one was paying any attention to me.
Me: I’ve never been so jealous in my entire life! Oh, and tell Ivy that I’m annoyed that she still looks pretty while shoving a taco in her mouth.
Emmett: What about me? Do I look pretty, too?
I giggled.
Me: Of course. You look beautiful, Emmett. ; )
Emmett: So do you.
My heart slowed in my chest, pausing for a second like it was about to go over a speedbump.
Me: How do you know? You can’t see me. ; ) Oh, and our plan backfired! Derek said he knew I would go against what he said and that I look—and I quote—beautiful. He must know me a little better than I thought.
Emmett: He’s right, you know. You do look beautiful.
Me: How do you know? You can’t see me, and no, I’m not sending you a picture.
Emmett: Hot-as-fuck red dress, brown hair pulled back with a little bit hanging around your face, red lipstick that makes your lips look even more kissable… you look good.
My heart was no longer pausing. Instead, it had turned into a shooting star, flying through the night sky, fire trailing behind. I slowly brought my head up, placing my phone on the table. My hand was shaky, and my head was going a million miles a second. I took my gaze and trailed it around the spacious room.
I didn’t see Emmett anywhere.
And the disappointment that I felt after realizing that he was probably just guessing what my hair looked like and that I had on red lipstick was mind-boggling.
How the hell would he be here, Fallon? Did you think your white knight was going to come swoop in to save you from this over-priced event? Get a grip!
I brought my head down, seconds from reaching for my phone, when I heard a voice from behind.
“Taco, miss?”
I stopped breathing.
My eyes grew into the size of golf balls. In fact, they almost rolled out of my head.
I glanced to my right when I saw a silver platter appear out of thin air.
When I turned my head, I wanted to scream.
Confetti may have been coming out of my pores.
I stuttered, looking from the silver platter to Emmett’s face. “What… What… what are you doing here?!”
He kept his face stone cold, acting as if it were completely normal for him to be serving me at this event (and a taco, at that!). Emmett blended in with the other servers as he was wearing the same attire: black slacks, shiny leather shoes, white undershirt with a black vest overtop, and a bowtie to match. The only difference was that Emmett was aggressively handsome compared to the other servers. I wouldn’t be surprised if every single woman in this room flagged him down for their mushroom bite.
“I’m serving you a taco, my lady.”
Emmett reached up and pulled the lid from the platter, and what laid inside was one perfectly crispy hard taco emitting its delicious spicy scent. My mouth watered.
“But…” Not a single word would come out of my mouth. I just sat there at the table, staring at him, a smile mere seconds from swallowing my entire face up.
“You are…” I smashed my red-stained lips together. “You are amazing, Emmett Lanning, but holy shit, how are you here?!”
He shrugged. “I paid one of the servers to take over his job for the night.” He looked around. “I paid him way more than he would have made here tonight, anyway.”
“You paid someone to trade clothes and let you work his shift… all so you could bring me a taco? Are you crazy?”
“For you, yes.”
I flicked my eyes up to his, and there wasn’t a single inch of humor on his face. He was serious.
And I was seriously in big fucking trouble.
“So the picture? Of you with Dawson and Ivy?”
He still held the platter and gazed around the room. I did the same, locking onto Derek, who wasn’t paying me any attention.
“It
was from earlier. I had them go with me to get the tacos.”
“The tacos? You brought more than one?”
He smiled cheekily, looking down at me. “I have a ton in my car, just in case I could get you to bail.”
I wanted nothing more than to bail.
“Are you going to take it?”
My brows furrowed. “Huh?”
“The taco.”
I grinned after looking around the room once more. I snatched the taco and napkin off the platter and placed it on my lap, trying to be incognito.
Emmett placed the lid back on the platter and stood up straighter. He didn’t look down at me when he spoke.
“Read the napkin, Fallon.”
Read the napkin?
I slowly lifted the taco up, some cheese falling off in the midst, and scanned the scratchy handwriting on the white, pristine cloth.
Meet me on the third floor when you can.
I brought my head back up and quickly looked to my right and left and then behind me. Emmett was nowhere to be found. I smiled, shaking my head, a few more stray hairs falling out around my face. He was good.
He was too good.
I blew air out of my mouth, feeling pure anticipation.
Emmett was going to have me coming back for more and more, until I simply lost myself in… whatever this was.
I pushed away from the table and stood up, squaring my shoulders. I didn’t see Derek any longer, and it sent a surge of panic down my spine.
He would come looking for me again—and soon. That way we could mingle some more before the dinner and guest speaker. I needed to move fast.
Hell, maybe I would just disappear for the night.
What could he do?
Nothing.
My parents on the other hand…
If they learned I’d ditched, they’d flip. They’d start to worry, stage a meeting with someone that was licensed in mind reading, and demand to know where I was and what I was up to. I was twenty-three years old, and here I was, worried my parents were going to catch me sneaking away.
My life, folks. My life.
I caught Katie’s eye as I was slipping out of the room, heading for the doors that led to the stairs. Her eyes widened as a small grin appeared on her face.
She knew.
She saw him.
I mean, she had only seen him once—when he randomly showed up at the house the other day to give me back my ID—but I’m telling you right now, Emmett had a face that was simply unforgettable.
I paused, staring directly at her, asking her—without even saying a word—if she’d cover for me.
She nodded, just once, and then went back to talking to another woman that had joined their group.
I wanted to jump with glee, but instead, I pushed through the doors as quietly as I could and sneakily slithered through the hallway like a con artist. I should have worn black!
I ran up the stairs, extremely pleased with the fact that I could run up stairs in heels without tripping and hurting myself. I guessed all those etiquette debutant classes my mother forced me into had paid off in the end.
As soon as I got to the third floor, I was winded and out of breath. My chest huffed and puffed, wanting to break out of my tightly fitting gown. It was a little hard to breathe with the fabric suffocating my ribcage.
I peeked my head forward, looking down one end of the hallway, but I didn’t see Emmett. I turned the other way and did the same, but I still didn’t see him.
Guilt started to pull at me.
Maybe I should just go back downstairs.
What are you even doing, Fallon? Ditching your future life? For what? A guy that made your heart skip a beat all to just leave him behind in the end? Turn around and go be the daughter you were meant to be.
I swallowed my pride and my want for something more and turned on my heel to head back to the gala, but that was when I heard him.
“Where are you going?”
My heart lit up like a sparkler on the Fourth of July. The fireworks were lit and ready to take off any second, all from the sound of his voice.
I spun back around, looking through the darkness of the hall, and that was when I spotted him. He appeared out of thin air, slowly creeping toward me.
Emmett wasn’t wearing the vest or bowtie any longer. He was sporting his black slacks and sleek shoes with that white dress shirt unbuttoned at the top.
He walked closer to me, and I did the same to him. I felt like I was walking on land mines – bright yellow “Danger” signs popping up with every step I took.
We met in the middle of the hallway, inches away from one another. My eyes automatically fell to the open part of his shirt, and an eagerness flew throughout me when I saw even more of his hidden tattoos displayed right there in the open.
I wanted to take his shirt off all the way just so I could learn what they were.
“What are you doing here, Emmett? I officially think you are the craziest person I’ve ever met."
He smirked.
“And I’m pretty sure I love it.” I laughed quietly.
Emmett locked his jaw and stared down into my eyes. My heart was pounding against my ribcage, nerves gripping my throat.
“I couldn’t take one more day of just talking on the phone. I had to see you.”
I laughed. “But here? You should have just asked me to hang out. We do have a bucket list to complete, you know.”
“I like you, Fallon.”
I gulped, briefly looking away. “Emmett…”
“Don’t say it. I already know.” He stepped back and rolled his eyes. “You’re not mine for the keeping. Trust me, I know. You’ve told me that more times than I can count.”
I huffed, crossing my arms. “I’ve told you, like, twice.”
He chuckled. “You told me the first two times we met, then several times this week whenever I’d tease you about how you were obviously in love with me.”
I kept quiet, thinking back to our conversations over the last week.
He was right. I told him several times this week, usually when he was teasing me. But I had only told him that simply to remind me.
“I know you’re not mine, Fallon,” Emmett whispered, taking a step toward me. “But I can’t stop thinking about last week.”
I swallowed, knowing my voice would be more like a rasp when I spoke. “What about last week?”
He took another step toward me. “In the dressing room.”
I snickered. “You mean when I embarrassingly got this dress stuck to my piercing, and you had to literally crawl up my legs to detach it?”
Another step. Now I was pressed along the wall, Emmett an inch away. His breath fanned out over my face, and it smelled minty with just a pinch of husk intertwined. “What are we doing, Fallon?”
I looked up at him through my long eyelashes, my heart literally seconds from beating right out of my chest. My breaths were barely escaping my mouth. I could have passed out looking up into his stormy eyes.
“We’re… we’re doing what friends do. We talk, we joke. We get to know each other and eat tacos. Isn’t that what friends do?” I wanted to look away. I didn’t like feeling scrutinized underneath his stare. His look was treacherous. I’d never wanted something so badly in my entire life. And I knew, feeling what I was feeling in that very second, that it wasn’t a matter of wanting something you couldn’t have, because I was pretty sure I’d want him no matter what. I bit my lip before letting the truth spill out into the darkness. “Okay… I don’t know what’s going on, and it might be wrong because… things are complicated and they won’t change.” I darted my eyes away, just for a second, to get myself in check. “I just… I don’t want to stop doing this until I have to. Until I’m forced to. And that’s asking a lot from you, because this could potentially hurt you… I know it’s going to hurt me.”
“But…” he said, voice low. He scanned my face, wondering what I was going to say next.
“But I don’t care if I ge
t hurt, and I don’t care—for once in my life—that I’m being totally selfish right now. I’m being selfish with you, and I just don’t care, because there’s just something about you that pulls me in, Emmett. You make me feel alive. You make me feel like me. Calling you a friend is just a way to keep you at bay, but it’s the complete opposite of what I’m feeling. I know I sound crazy.” I tried to let out a small laugh. “We’ve spent a few nights together, and we’ve talked on the phone, yet I feel something. Something strong.”
Emmett placed his arms along the wall, right beside my head, caging me in. I stood up a little straighter, angling my head upward. I wanted him to kiss me so badly. I wanted him to kiss me so badly that I thought I might actually die if he didn’t. If his hands didn’t touch my body. The one kiss we had in the musty bar hallway a week ago was nothing but a tease.
He was like a drug that took my inhibitions and threw them right on the ground.
“There’s something you should know about me, Fallon.”
I sucked in a breath, waiting for whatever it was that he was going to say to change my mind.
“What?” I whispered.
“I don’t like to share. So when you’re…” Emmett clenched his teeth together and looked away before bringing his attention back to me. “When you’re married or engaged, I’m out. You’re not mine for the keeping, and I’m not yours, either.”
My heart was slowly falling to the ground. I could walk away right now and never look back with my heart fully intact.
I could walk away, and marry Derek, and try to love him, and try feeling the same things I felt with Emmett’s body this close to mine, but I knew better.
I wanted to feel those things.
I wanted to feel all of them, and I wanted to feel them right now with Emmett.
He wanted the okay.
He was giving me an out. He was giving me an ultimatum.