by S. J. Sylvis
He smiled and nodded. “Yeah, I just want it to be perfect.”
“It will be. She loves you, as much as that annoys me to say, because I have no idea how someone could be that into you.”
My father coughed, and I could have sworn his eyes were teary. “I’m happy for you, son.”
I piped up. “I am, too, bro. I can’t fucking wait to throw the bachelor party.”
My father shook his head at me, and Dawson rolled his eyes. “You would be excited about that part.”
I shrugged. “Hey, what can I say? I’m a single man.”
Dawson and my father went on to talk about Dawson’s grand plan to propose, but I kept finding myself drifting to the one thought I avoided at all costs. It was exhausting, keeping up the walls in my head to keep a honey-haired woman away. It was an all-day thing. Even when I was tattooing, getting lost in the dark ink of something I’d sketched, I’d find my brain creeping to Fallon. In fact, I was sketching the other day to keep my mind busy, and when I was finished, I stared down at the cream-colored paper in disbelief. I’d sketched a woman’s face. Her nose was slender but cute, and her eyes were almond-shaped with eyebrows that were arched to perfection. The curve of her lips dipped down just a hair at the top, and the bottom one was slightly fuller than the one above. I sat back when a customer came in, placing my pencil down, and my heart halted when I realized that I hadn’t been blocking out the thought of Fallon at all.
I was fucking sketching her face.
I hurriedly shut the sketchbook and threw it in a drawer.
I haven’t touched it since then.
And I wasn’t sure I ever wanted to.
◆◆◆
The next day, I was sitting in the shop, waiting for my client to make their appointment, welcoming the warm, outside air that filtered in through the open doors. Summer was right around the corner, and I think everyone in town was eager. I was tapping my fingers on my desk to a Brantley Gilbert song, thankful that it wasn’t a song about a break-up, because those annoyed me to absolutely no end.
My head popped up when I heard Axe whisper, “Who the fuck is this?”
I was met with a brown-haired woman who looked as if she had stepped into an alternate universe. She was wearing a tan, pressed skirt with a top that looked about as comfortable as a straightjacket. She was well put-together, though. She almost looked like she worked in some fancy law office or something.
Was she a lawyer? Her hair was pinned back into a tight bun, and her eyes…
Wait a second… I knew those eyes.
“Hello,” she said, walking farther into the shop. The woman made eye contact with Axe first, and her eyes widened beyond disbelief. She raked her gaze down his tattoo-covered arms, and I swore she gasped.
“Can I help you?” I asked, standing up and smoothing out my jeans.
Her blue eyes flicked over to me as she stuttered. “Ye—yes, I’m looking for an Emmett Lanning.”
I walked a little closer, holding out my hand. “That would be me. And you are?”
She took my hand timidly and gave it a small squeeze. “I’m Mrs. Addington. Fallon’s mother.”
I swallowed as my suspicions were confirmed. The second I had looked into her sea-blue eyes, I knew it was her.
“Do you think we could talk for a moment? Please?”
I sighed and brought my hand up to rub my chin. What on earth would Fallon’s mom be doing here? Was she okay?
“Is Fallon okay?”
“I was hoping you could answer that for me.”
I pulled back, my brows furrowing. “Fallon and I haven’t talked for at least a month. Do you not know where she is? Is she missing?”
Panic started to surge through my veins. What the fuck has Fallon done? If she isn’t okay…
“Can we talk privately, please?” her mother asked again.
My jaw was set firm, but I nodded and turned around. I could hear Fallon’s mother’s heels clicking on the hard floor as she followed me back into my work area.
I pulled out a chair and ushered her to sit, but I continued to stand. My heart was beating hard, slamming against my ribcage with every breath that I took.
“So, you’re the man that finally got to my daughter.”
I cocked an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”
She let out a soft sigh. “I didn’t mean that in a bad way.”
“Then how did you mean it?”
Fallon’s mother rubbed her lips together before bringing her attention back to mine. A small smile formed on her face. “Fallon basically ran away after her father—my husband—threatened to come after you.”
What the hell is she talking about?
I furrowed my forehead even further. “What?”
She tilted her head and looked at me with skepticism. “She didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
She took a deep breath. “Fallon’s father hired a PI to follow her around after he’d caught you two together at some point. I’m not sure of all the details, but I know he wasn’t happy knowing Fallon was throwing her life away for someone we didn’t necessarily approve of. So once he found out who you were, he threatened Fallon that he’d ruin you and your means of support.” She looked around the room before settling onto me once again. “This place, I’m assuming. So anyway, Fallon ended things with you in an attempt to make things right.”
I was stunned. The only thing I could do was stare at Fallon’s mother in disbelief. So, that was why Fallon was so adamant that she couldn’t be with me. That was why she didn’t fight for me. That was why she looked so damn broken when I’d taken her home that day.
My voice was almost a whisper. “And now you don’t know where she is?”
She shook her head. “Fallon was extremely upset, Emmett, which is how I know you’re someone important to her. Fallon has fought us tooth and nail since the day she was born. She never wanted the life we wanted for her, and there have been many times that she’d mess around to get a rise out of us, but this is different. She ran away.” She adjusted her hands in her lap. “I guess I can’t really say she “ran away” as she’s old enough to be on her own. What I mean is that she left. She just… left. She said she wasn’t going to throw her life away to please us any longer.”
My breath caught in my chest. I had never felt so proud in my entire life. “So, you have no idea where she is? Is she missing? How long has it been?”
“She isn’t technically missing. I know where she is, but… she really wants no part of what I have to say. She’s the most stubborn person I have ever met, even more so than her father. But that’s why I’m here. I’m trying to make things right.”
“How is talking to me supposed to make things right?”
“This whole thing blew up because her father threatened you. You mean something to her. I thought that if maybe you and her reconciled, she’d see that we’re accepting what she wants. We’re respecting her wishes. I… I didn’t realize that things were this out of control. There’s a lot that Fallon and I need to figure out as mother and daughter, and there is a lot that her father needs to come to terms with. But I don’t want to lose my daughter. I need your help.”
There were so many things going through my head, but I somehow managed to lock onto one. “And how does your husband feel about this? He’s not going to come in here... ‘destroying’ my livelihood, correct?” It wouldn’t matter anyway. I’d go after Fallon regardless.
Fallon’s mother huffed. “You leave him to me. Just know that you’re safe.”
“Why should I trust you?”
She stood up and straightened out her skirt. Then those blue eyes landed on me. “I’m here, aren’t I? Do you think I’d come here and make a fool out of myself to a complete stranger if I didn’t truly feel that it was necessary? Emmett, you mean something to my daughter. And I’m here, trying to fix things. If she won’t listen to me, she’ll listen to you.”
“And what exactly do you want me to tell her?”
“Just
make sure she knows that her father won’t be bothering you. That’s why she’s staying away from you. She’s afraid her father will retaliate and attack you for the fact that she has left. I’m not sure how to fix things between the two of us, but I know that you are probably a step in the right direction.”
A sigh escaped my mouth as I continued to stand in the same spot. Fallon’s mother walked toward the door and stopped when she was a few inches away from me. She reached into her purse and handed me a small piece of paper.
“That’s where she’s staying. She won’t answer the door when I knock, but something inside tells me she’ll answer for you.” Then she walked through the shop, keeping her shoulders pulled back and her gaze leveled on the door.
My hands were shaking as I opened up the paper and stared down at the address.
It was familiar, but I wasn’t quite sure if I’d been there before. It was just familiar.
I didn’t waste any time grabbing my keys. Axe and Kip were outside the door the entire time Fallon’s mom was explaining things to me (eavesdropping idiots), so they covered for me and rescheduled my appointments for the day.
I wasn’t sure what to think, but the only thing I knew was that Fallon was staying in Oak Hill and she wasn’t marrying Derek.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Fallon
I couldn’t believe I’d managed to hide out in Oak Hill for almost two weeks without anyone knowing. Well, of course my parents knew, because my father had more than likely had some crazy PI follow me here. Or, hell, for all I knew, he had a tracking chip on my car.
I’d even gotten on my back and shimmied underneath it a few days ago to check after my mother had randomly stopped by to knock on the door, begging me to talk to her. I pretended I wasn’t there, even though my car was parked right in the driveway.
She didn’t stay long, and I made sure to tell Becca that if anyone came looking for me, to tell them I wasn’t there.
It wasn’t a big deal if they knew where I was, but I didn’t want to talk to them. I knew my mother. She’d try her hardest to drag me back home to talk some sense into me, but I wasn’t having it.
One day, in the future, I hoped to talk to my parents with a composed mindset, ready to tackle what they had to say, but I wasn’t ready. Not yet.
It took me an entire month to grow the balls to leave after my father had threatened Emmett. There was no way I was going back to do that all over again. I’d wondered what he thought when my mother told him I’d left. He probably said something along the lines of “good riddance.” I wasn’t really sure I cared. Okay, fine. That was a lie. I cared a little bit. Things were hard, and it was an unsettling feeling not knowing the future. I knew things would be hard, though, and I also knew that they were only going to get harder. But the one thing that kept me from going back home, to the comfort of the guesthouse, was Emmett. His words: I want you to choose you. That was what I was doing. He never said it would be easy.
I hadn’t left Becca’s once since I’d gotten there. I wasn’t sure what she was going to say when I had shown up a week ago. We’d only hung out a few times at Ships, and the only reason I had her address was because she’d invited me to a wine party a while back. It wasn’t like we were the best of friends and I stopped by her house all the time. In fact, I barely even knew her sober. But when she opened the door, she smiled genuinely at me. I smiled back and then very bluntly rambled my life story to her in a matter of five minutes and all but begged her to let me stay with her until I figured something else out. She did, and I was so thankful I could have cried right there on her doorstep.
I had nowhere else to go. I couldn’t go to Ivy’s; she was too close to Emmett. I couldn’t go to any of my friends in Chestnut Springs as they had probably known about me leaving and my father shutting me out within seconds of stepping foot into the club. I was sure they were already crossing my name off in their stupid address books.
And poor Derek. I sent him an embarrassing text before leaving the guesthouse. It said: “I’m sorry, Derek. I’m not marrying you. Have a nice life.” I still cringed, thinking about it. It may haunt me for the rest of my life.
After I’d explained a little more about the situation to Becca, I made her promise not to tell Emmett—or anyone, for that matter—because if my father saw that I had left home to be with him, I wasn’t sure what he’d do. I didn’t want to take the chance. I just needed somewhere to stay until I found a job and could get a shabby apartment. Becca understood, thankfully. I think she felt bad for me, and that was probably because I had cried onto her shoulder like a blubbering idiot. I barely knew the girl, and my snot had been all over her shirt.
We could add that embarrassing moment right under the text to Derek.
Later next week, I’d be attending two job interviews, and then I’d be able to start saving and move into my own apartment of some sort – or at least pay Becca some room and board, depending on if I got the job in Oak Hill or the other neighboring town.
It was a strange feeling being on my own. It was even stranger because I had actual worries for once. I was somewhat homeless; I had barely any money, no cell phone, nothing. Then the worry of my father going after Emmett just added on to all the stress. I was tempted to start meditating.
I was half-expecting my father to show up here today, since I wouldn’t talk to my mother yesterday. I was picturing him breaking down Becca’s door and dragging me out by my arm like I was a toddler.
Just as the thought filtered through my head, a knock sounded on the door.
I looked around the room with wide eyes. Oh, now come on! There’s no way…
Another knock sounded, and I jumped, causing my soapy hands to jerk in the sink. Relax, you can’t summon your father just by the mere thought of him.
Two more knocks and I let out all the trapped air inside my body. “It’s fine, Fallon. You’re an adult, act like one.” I nodded to myself sternly and then wiped my hands quickly.
I yelled from the hallway. “Who is it?”
I cringed, waiting for the dooming voice, but it never came. Instead, it was the most calming voice I’d ever heard.
“Open up, Fallon.” I almost yelped. Emmett?!
I quickly ran over to the door and reached up on my tiptoes. I was prepared to see my father standing there with a gun pointed to Emmett’s head, but my father was nowhere in sight. It was just Emmett.
I swung the door open, my heart in my throat. For one brief second, I felt actual happiness. His navy eyes peeked up at me, and a ghost of a smile was on his lips. But then his brow furrowed, and he shook his head as if he were clearing his thoughts.
That was when fear and worry weighed on my shoulders. “What did he do? Did he send someone to threaten you? Did he somehow dig up something and subpoena you? This is all my fault.”
“Fallon.”
I covered my face with my hands. “I should have freaking known that he wouldn’t listen. I’ve pissed him off, so now he’s doing everything he can to get me to come back! Agh! I knew this wouldn’t be easy. I should have warned you!”
“Fallon!”
I took my hands away and brought my attention back to Emmett’s. “I’m so sorry. What did he do? I’ll fix it. I will. Just tell me.”
Emmett’s eyes widened. “Fallon, stop!”
I paused, my breathing labored. I slammed my mouth shut as Emmett took a step toward me. “Wait, how did you even know I was here?” I asked, taking one step back.
He took another step toward me, and I gulped. Each gulp of air was becoming shorter as he continued to stalk toward me. When he was a few inches away from me, I peered up at him.
My heart sank.
I didn’t realize how much I’d missed him until he was standing right in front of me, breathing the same air as I was. I knew I missed him, but I was so focused on my worries that I’d forgotten how much it hurt.
Emmett’s hand wrapped around my back, and I was suddenly flush to his body. I didn’t have t
ime to react before he landed his lips right on mine. They were warm, and perfect, and I swore I could feel actual sparks on his tongue. The kiss was just as I’d remembered, except this time, it felt like he was stealing me back. He was sealing his lips to mine, telling me that I was his, that this wasn’t up for negotiation. We weren’t up for negotiation.
Finally, Emmett pulled away and cupped my face in his hands. We stood, bodies touching, eyes locked onto one another for so long that my eyes started to burn.
His voice was low. “It’s been one month and twelve days since I let you go, and I’m just as torn up right now as I was the moment I watched you walk away.”
I felt my heart tumble in my chest. “Emmett…” I took a deep breath. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m here to tell you that you’re absolutely crazy if you think I’d let a threat from your father keep us apart.”
I looked away, because underneath his stare, I was putty in his hands. “Emmett.” I pushed at his chest, feeling small bouts of reality creep back in. “You don’t know him. He has money. He flat out said that if I didn’t stay away from you that he’d destroy you. He has the means to do so.”
Emmett brought my face up to his. “How though? Just because he has money doesn’t mean that he can take away what’s mine, Fallon. Don’t you see that?”
“Emmett. The world that my parents live in is ruthless and conniving. He could probably make up some story that you’re running an illegal meth lab out of the shop, and the police would believe him and arrest you!”
Emmett laughed, throwing his head back.
I smacked his chest. “Emmett! I’m dead serious! When I left, I told my mother to make sure he didn’t come near you. That me leaving wasn’t about you and that I wasn’t running off to be with you. But I have no idea if she told him. I have no idea if he’d even listen to her. He probably blames you for me leaving!”
Emmett put his hands on my shoulders. “Fallon, relax. Take a deep breath.”
I did as he said, taking more than just one deep breath. I felt like I was spiraling out of control. The last week had been a whirlwind, and now with Emmett here, standing in front of me, acting all nonchalant and laidback, my head was spinning.