Can't Help Falling in Love (Memphis Moments Book 2)

by Annalisa Daughety

  “Please let it be a lock of hair.” He grinned. “Or some sideburn shavings.”

  She rolled her eyes. “You’re impossible.” With one last glance at him, she headed down the hallway to her bedroom. There was something she needed to show him.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Andrew waited for Emily to return. He glanced around the room again. His grandmother would love it. She’d been a huge Elvis fan—even saw him in concert once.

  “Why don’t you come to the living room?” Emily said from the doorway. “We can eat while I explain things to you.”

  He rose. “Yeah, I’d rather not stay in here any longer than I have to. All these Elvises staring at me are kind of creeping me out a little bit.”

  She shook her head and waited for him to walk past her before she turned out the light and closed the door. “Well, if you hadn’t gone around opening closed doors, you wouldn’t have had to endure it.”

  Andrew nodded. “You have a point there.” He settled on the couch and lifted the box on the pizza. “Yum.”

  Emily put a photo album down on the coffee table. “Go ahead and dig in.”

  Andrew grabbed her hand. “Slow down. Let’s say a prayer.”

  She nodded. “Okay.”

  Andrew thanked God for the food and for their time together. Once he said amen he picked up a slice of pizza from the box. “Do you mind if we eat in here?”

  “Go for it.” She plopped paper towels down on the coffee table. “I’ll grab your salad and a drink from the kitchen.”

  “I can go get my own.” He started to get up, but she motioned him away.

  “Don’t worry about it.”

  Once she’d returned with their drinks and salads, he looked at her expectantly. “Well? What gives?”

  She rifled through her purse and pulled out a folded up piece of paper. “This.” She sat down next to him and unfolded the paper. “I carry it with me everywhere I go. One of the things Holly and I would do when she was so sick was look through magazines and make something we called dream boards. We’d cut out pictures of things we wanted to have, to see, or to do someday when we got older.”

  “That’s a cool idea.”

  Emily smoothed the paper in front of her. “They took up a ton of room, I mean, we literally had these huge posters everywhere. We decided that we might need to pare our lists down some and choose only our very favorite things. So one day, we made these lists.”

  Andrew leaned over and looked at the paper. There, in swirly handwriting and pink ink, was Holly’s bucket list. “Drive a BMW,” he read out loud. He looked at Emily. “Hmm.”

  She nodded. “And number two was to live in a cool condo downtown in a big city.”

  Andrew looked around. “And now I’m beginning to realize why this place doesn’t seem like you at all.”

  Emily flinched. “She put a lot more on here. . .that hot air balloon race I went to in Flagstaff over the summer was number fifteen.”

  “And let me guess. . .” He trailed off as he scanned the list. “Yep. Number twenty-two. Decorate a whole room in Elvis memorabilia.” He shook his head. “Unbelievable.”

  Emily cleared her throat. “Elvis was one of her favorites. She loved his music and movies.”

  “So all of these that have checks next to them are done?” He looked closer. “Hold on. Number twelve? Really?”

  She nodded. “I tried out to be a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader right after college graduation. It was by far one of the most humiliating experiences of my life.” She laughed at the memory. “But I did it.”

  He looked over the list. “You went to the Kentucky Derby?”

  “Yes. I think Holly only wanted that on the list so she could wear a cool hat.” She opened the photo album. “Here’s where I’ve documented my progress.” She flipped to a page and pointed. “See? There’s me and my big hat at the derby.”

  It was sweet and sad all at the same time. She had literally devoted her life to fulfilling all of her sister’s dreams. “What else?” he asked.

  She ran her finger down the list. “Here’s a good one. I worked at Disney one summer.” She flipped over a few pages in the photo album. “Of course, I think Holly had in mind being Cinderella. I was Ariel.”

  Andrew peered closer at the picture. “You’re beautiful.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I hated that job. Think of all the vacation pictures I was in that summer.”

  “Maybe. But you’ve got a great Halloween costume.”

  “There’s that.” She flashed him a tiny smile. “Anyway, this photo album captures the things I’ve done from her list. Like here. . .” She pointed at a picture. “I went to see a Broadway play once.” She flipped a few more pages. “And this was the time I went to New York for fashion week.” She shook her head. “Not my cup of tea at all, but it felt good to check it off the list.”

  “So what’s left?” he asked.

  “Oh, there are still several. Some of them are doable and some of them are totally impossible.” She laughed. “Keep in mind, we made the lists when we were in high school. So I have to assume that Holly can’t really expect me to marry a member of N’Sync now.”

  Andrew laughed. “Yeah, I think it’s safe to just scratch that one off.”

  “I have a friend who thinks she might at least be able to introduce me to Justin Timberlake since he grew up here.” She smiled. “I think that will be sufficient. Holly would’ve been impressed by that.” She grew serious. “So now you know. My friends think I just go traipsing off on these wacky adventures, but the truth of the matter is that it makes me feel better to do some of the things Holly hoped she’d get to do but never did.”

  On the one hand, Andrew could respect that. But on the other, it seemed like an awfully sad existence. “How long are you going to do this?”

  She shrugged. “I guess until I’ve done all the things on the list that are possible. I keep thinking that I can get rid of the Elvis room now that I’ve had it for a while. I mean, it isn’t really my taste.” She half smiled. “But it makes me sad to think about changing it now.”

  Andrew brushed a strand of hair from her face. “Do these quests of yours make you happy? Truly happy?”

  She didn’t meet his eyes. “Don’t judge me.”

  He shook his head. “I’m not. I’m just concerned.”

  “Doing the stuff on the list makes me happy because I know it would’ve made my sister happy. And that’s enough for me.”

  “It would’ve made your sister happy to do them herself. As an eighteen-year-old. But would she really want you sacrificing your life to go off on her crazy adventures? Because Emily, I don’t know what kind of life that is.”

  She drew back like she’d been slapped. “You don’t understand.”

  The weird thing was that he did understand. It made perfect sense to him. There’d been a couple of times he’d thought the same thing about Beth. He’d gone somewhere or done something that might be a little out of character because he knew Beth would’ve enjoyed it. Like when he’d gone to see her favorite band a couple of years ago when they were playing in Jackson. He wasn’t really a fan, but he knew she would’ve loved it. “I think I understand more than you know. But I’m wondering if you realize how much you’re giving up to do things that you don’t even enjoy.”

  The look on her face said it all, but Andrew couldn’t help it. Even if he made her mad, maybe he could still give her something to consider.

  ***

  Emily hated him just a little bit in that moment. She’d shared something really personal with him and he was questioning whether or not fulfilling Holly’s list was in her best interest. “Funny. I didn’t mean to make it sound like this was open for discussion. I was just trying to explain the Elvis room to you. I thought you deserved to know the truth.”

  And here she’d been sure that tonight was the night Andrew would finally kiss her, finally tell her exactly how he felt about her.

  Instead they were arguing. And
about something that she wasn’t willing to give up.

  “Emily. Just hear me out. Please.” Andrew’s voice was soft. “I get that you want to honor your sister by doing these things. By checking off the things she hoped to do herself. But in doing that, you’re giving up your own dreams. I don’t see you anywhere on this list.”

  She swallowed. “Holly and I were very different people. Just because I’m not interested in the same things she was doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy doing them for the simple reason that they remind me of her.”

  He sighed. “But where’s your list? When do you get to do the things that would make you happy?”

  She sat quietly for a moment then turned the page over. “I wrote mine on the back.”

  “None of them are checked off.”

  Emily narrowed her eyes. “One is.”

  He leaned forward to see the paper. “Work at St. Jude. Okay, so one is done.” He shook his head. “But what about the rest?” He glanced at the paper again. “What about living in the country or having a dog? What about hiking the Grand Canyon or learning to paint? None of those are checked off yet.”

  She frowned. “I have plenty of time to get to the rest of the stuff on there.” She locked eyes with him and knew what he was about to say.

  “You think you have all the time in the world. So did Holly. So did Beth. Probably there are a lot of people we could put in that category. But the truth of the matter is that we don’t know what tomorrow holds. And I just hate to see you not pursue any of your dreams because you’re busy living someone else’s. That’s not really living.”

  “Neither is hiding away in some tiny Mississippi town.” If he was going to deal blows to her, she would return the favor.

  His gaze iced over. “I’m here now, aren’t I? I’m trying.”

  “Are you?”

  Andrew stood. “Thanks for the pizza.”

  “That’s it?” She put the list and photo album back on the coffee table and walked him to the door. “That’s all you have to say?”

  Andrew paused beside the door. “I don’t think we’re going to see eye to eye on this and I’m afraid if we keep talking we’ll say things we can’t take back. So I’m leaving.”

  She watched him go without another word, without a hug, without so much as a backward glance. The night had started out going well. Even his reaction to the Elvis room hadn’t been bad. He’d taken it all in stride. If she’d just let him believe she was some kind of closet Elvis fan, they’d be in the living room curled up on the couch and watching a movie.

  But she was tired of hiding, tired of keeping secrets. And if Andrew couldn’t handle her desire to fulfill her sister’s list, then she was better off without him.

  At least that’s what she tried to tell herself.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Suzanne clapped her hands in Starbucks as if to call a meeting to order. “Okay, ladies, now that you have your coffee, it’s time to make a plan.”

  Emily nudged Jade. “Who put her in charge?” She took a sip of her mocha.

  “I think she’s pulling out the ‘bride’ card.” Jade grinned.

  Suzanne whipped out a notebook and plopped it on the table. “Y’all thought I was kidding when I said ‘plan,’ didn’t you? Nope.”

  “Does the plan involve Muddy’s cupcakes? Because I could totally be onboard with that,” Jade said with a grin. Muddy’s Bake Shop was a popular bakery in east Memphis and a favorite of all three girls.

  “I might be persuaded to work Muddy’s into the bridal gown shopping plan.”

  Emily picked up one of the bridal magazines that had become Suzanne’s permanent accessory. “What style do you think you want?” she asked. She’d done the whole wedding dress thing once. In fact, she’d only just sold her unworn dress on eBay a few months ago. What a waste.

  “Traditional. But not strapless. Something that looks like it could still be in style in twenty years,” Suzanne mused.

  “Hmm.” Jade flipped through one of the magazines. “Do you want a straight silhouette or more of a princessy ball gown style?”

  Suzanne made a face. “I’m kind of on the fence. Maybe I’ll try on both.”

  “And what about our dresses?” Jade asked. Emily and Jade were the only two attendants. Suzanne had decided she wanted a small, intimate ceremony, especially since the reception was going to be a big party.

  Suzanne beamed. “That’s one of the things I wanted to run by y’all. I think I want you each to choose your own dress in whatever style you like. Do you think that will look weird? I mean, they’ll be the same color.”

  Emily and Jade exchanged a glance.

  “That would be awesome,” Emily said. “What color have you decided on?”

  Suzanne grinned. “Light blue. Kind of like a Tiffany box. I think that will look beautiful on both of you, plus it’s my favorite color.”

  “I was so hoping you would decide on that,” Emily confessed. “And choosing our own dresses sounds really fun.”

  Suzanne stood up from the table. “Well then, let’s go. I’ve pretty much got to make a decision today or else it will never be ready in time.” She led them to the door. “Actually I’ve cut it really close. I’ve sort of put this part off until the last minute. Everything else is done: venue, food, band, flowers. All I need is a dress and some bridesmaids and I’m ready.”

  Emily climbed into the backseat of Suzanne’s SUV. Her friends chatted all the way to the dress store, but she tuned them out. It was hard to believe it was already nearly Halloween. August and September had passed in a blur, thanks largely to her blooming relationship with Andrew. But since their fight a couple of weeks ago, they’d barely spoken.

  “Everything okay back there?” Suzanne caught her gaze in the rearview mirror.

  Emily nodded. “I’m fine.”

  “Something about your demeanor isn’t quite convincing,” Jade said, turning to look at her from the front seat. “Is everything going okay with Andrew? I’ve been dying to meet him.”

  Emily hadn’t mentioned to her friends that she and Andrew had run into an impasse because then she’d have to tell them the whole story. But maybe it was time to let it all out. “This might not be the best time to talk about it.” It should be Suzanne’s day. Choosing a wedding gown was a unique, special experience. And Emily should know. She’d already done it once.

  “Don’t be silly. Spill it. You know we won’t leave you alone until you do.” Suzanne merged onto the interstate.

  Emily cleared her throat. “We’ve hit a bit of a rough patch.” She quickly filled them in on Holly’s list and the fallout with Andrew.

  Jade glanced back with sympathy written all over her pretty face. “Why didn’t you tell us the list sooner? We would’ve gone with you to do some of those things, or at least helped you however we could.”

  “And how did you manage to try out to be a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader without me knowing?” Suzanne asked. “I would’ve helped you perfect your routine.” She grinned.

  Emily giggled. “I know. But you never would’ve let me live that one down. I didn’t even make the first cut. That is not my thing at all.”

  “But the fact that you tried out is super-funny. And we would’ve gone along to offer support,” Jade said.

  “I’ll keep that in mind next time I go to do something that isn’t in my comfort zone.” Emily sighed. “Honestly, I just hate the whole situation. Andrew acted like I should just throw the list out the window and forget about it.”

  Suzanne pulled into the parking lot of the bridal store. “I’m not sure that’s really what he meant.” She parked and turned off the engine. “It sounds like he just wants to make sure that you’re doing some things that are your own passions. We only get one shot at life, after all. I think he probably just wants you to think seriously about what you’re doing.”

  “It sounds like you agree with him.”

  The words hung in the vehicle for a long moment.

  “Y’all,
why don’t we go in and get started?” Jade finally asked. Ever the peacemaker, she could always be counted on to defuse a potential conflict. “We can talk about it later after everyone’s had time to think.” She smiled. “And try on some pretty dresses.”

  Emily followed her friends into the store, determined to put her problems out of her mind and focus on finding the perfect dress for Suzanne’s wedding.

  ***

  “Thanks for going this morning,” Suzanne said later that afternoon at Sea Isle Park. Once they were finished dress hunting, they’d grabbed a quick lunch and dropped Jade off at her house. Suzanne and Emily had vowed to get in some half-marathon training time since race day was drawing closer.

  “I had a great time,” Emily said. “And I love your dress. Nick is going to fall over when he sees you in that.”

  Suzanne beamed. “I can’t believe how close we are to the wedding. It doesn’t seem real. Like I half expect to wake up and find that it’s all been a crazy dream.” She stretched her calf muscles. “And you’re going to look amazing, too. So is Jade. I love that the dresses y’all chose fit your personalities.”

  “I know. Me, too.” Emily stretched her arms over her head. “Do you think we’re ready for today?”

  “Seven miles seems like an awfully long way.” Suzanne grinned. “I’m glad we’re doing our long runs on Saturdays so we can run together. How many times are you running during the week?”

  “At least twice and I’ve been aiming for three times.” Emily frowned. “Of course, Andrew and I had been meeting up once during the week to run. But we haven’t gotten together over the past few weeks. I hope he’s keeping up with his training anyway. Otherwise his niece will be pretty disappointed.”

  Suzanne chewed on her bottom lip. “You ready to walk a lap to warm up?”

  “Sure.”

  They headed toward the path.

  “Listen, I think we should clear the air about earlier today,” Suzanne began once they’d started walking.

  Emily glanced over at her friend. “We don’t have to talk about it again.”