Page 71 of Forbidden Dreams
Emery: If you're sure. I wouldn't want to intrude.
Cooper: Maria will be excited to talk to you.
Emery: Okay.
I looked forward to sharing a part of my life with the Sterlings. For so long, I'd kept them separate. Hell, maybe my mom could come over one day too. Maybe the Sterlings would rub off on her, and she'd realize she deserved something better.
But that was crazy. If the Sterlings found out that I was sneaking around with Aspen, I wouldn't be welcome here. It would confirm what I'd always suspected, that I came from a family that wasn't any good.
But for tonight, I was introducing them to my sister. I wondered what she'd think of them. Emery texted when she arrived, and I went outside to greet her.
She grinned as soon as she saw me and wrapped her arms around my waist. "I've missed you so much."
I held her tight. "You ready to meet everyone?"
"I went to school with them. I've just never been in their house." She pulled away and looked at the colonial home. "Are you sure about this? You've always kept your friendship with them separate from our family."
"I'm positive." I was excited to introduce her to the family that had come to mean so much to me.
I opened the door and let her precede me inside.
Hudson saw Emery and came over to greet us first. "Welcome to our crazy house. How are you?"
"I'm good. Just got home from school."
"How are you liking college?"
She smiled. "It's so much fun."
I wanted her to study hard and get good grades, but I knew there was a social aspect to school that she had a right to enjoy. I just hoped she was keeping up with her studies.
Angela and Ayla approached, and I started the introductions. We ended at the kitchen, where Mom was directing everyone to put the platters and bowls on the large dining-room table.
When Maria saw Emery, she grinned and moved over to us. "I'm so glad you could come."
"Hudson said it would be okay," I assured her, wondering if I should have asked her first.
"Of course it's okay. The more the merrier." Maria pulled Emery in for a hug, and I relaxed.
Then she ushered her over to the table. "Tell me everything. How are you enjoying college?"
Even though Maria hadn't talked to Emery before, she liked her because she was my sister. Why hadn't I done something like this before? Emery had her own friends, and I wanted something for myself. But she could have enjoyed the Sterlings too.
We sat at the table, Emery next to me and Aspen across from me. Aspen talked to Emery, asking her questions about school and her major.
There weren't any sharp back-and-forths or animosity. They were enjoying each other's company. And it wasn't weird or awkward that Emery was here this year. Plus, it took the pressure off pretending Aspen wasn't anything to me.
Maverick focused his attention on Emery. "Now, why didn't you come over when we were all in high school?"
I put my arm around Emery's chair protectively. "You think I'd let you near my sister."
Maverick's eyes flashed with amusement. "Relax. Everyone knows sisters are off-limits."
That comment made me tense. I clearly crumpled that memo and thrown it into the trash can.
My brothers were safely paired off with significant others now, so I didn't have to worry about any of them taking advantage of Emery. But I could see how it might have been nice to include her sooner. "She's here now. That's all that matters."
Maria nodded her approval. "Emery, you're welcome anytime."
