Page 16 of Baby Girl
Not at all.
I think we can all, Emery included, agree that none of what happened on Friday night should have transpired.
“But since they did happen, we have to make a decision about how we plan to move forward, which brings me back to my original question. Why have we been summoned?” Darcy drawls, before taking a sip of his beer.
Glancing at Xavier, I wait to see if he would like to weigh in, but he has his head tipped back against the cushion of the backrest and his eyes are closed. The index finger of the hand holding his glass of scotch traces the bumps and grooves of the tumbler, proving he is simply disinterested in this conversation and not asleep.
With the apology still burning on my tongue, I force myself to meet both Darcy’s and Hudson’s eyes, brushing past everything they have said in favor of getting to the point. “You’re right, wedo need to decide. Thayne gave us the go-ahead to pursue a relationship with her. The question is, do we want to do so?”
“My form is submitted,” Xavier rumbles, eyes still closed. “And that Friday night’s situation has been dealt with.”
Of course, it has. A muscle in my jaw spasms as I fight to keep my face neutral.
There is a solid beat of silence as we all stare at him.
“Ah, right, back to the first thing. Is there really any decision to be made?” Darcy asks, glancing between Hudson and me. “We aren’t walking away from her, are we? I don’t think I could, even if I wanted to.”
“My form is sitting in my drafts, waiting to be sent,” answers Hudson, bringing his beer up to his lips. “The only reason I haven’t hit send yet is because I would like to find my replacement for her class first. I should have it sorted out by the end of the week. I’ve already put in a request to Brown for a conversation.”
The worry that they were going to abandon Emery uncurls from around my spine and is replaced with a pinch of relief. “Okay, well, I have a new plan, if you would like to hear it?”
Darcy eyes me, only a little skeptically. “As long as this plan doesn’t require us keeping it secret from Emmy, then I’m all ears.”
A smile battles its way onto my lips as my stomach clenches. “Actually, it requires the exact opposite.”
This plan has had a little more thought put into it than the last one, which was fueled by frustration, impatience, and irritation, and made purely in the moment.
Our girl has had a lifetime of abandonment, of people not showing up for her, and then when they did, having expectations of her. She has never been able to rely on anyone to provide her with the safety and comfort she deserved to grow up with. She has never been the captain of her own life.
We are going to give her that. We are going to be there, in every moment of every day, showing up and just being there if she needs us until she chooses to let us back in.
I know I have an uphill battle to fight to get us back to that space, but I’m not backing down. Even if we have to become enemies before we can be lovers again.
Chapter 9
Emery
SugarLife
$2,310 has been gifted to you from Brat4Us. You can find your gift in your Vault.
SugarLife
Your vault balance is $6,930.
Oakley:Morning! Today’s the day you come home, I know it *heart eyes emoji*
Oakley:I’ve bought you a few microwavable meals and some ramen cups, plus there is a bunch of chopped-up fruit in the fridge *green apple emoji* *red apple emoji* *orange emoji* *watermelon emoji* *strawberry emoji* *pineapple emoji* *banana emoji*
Oakley:And I have pre-opened a juice *juice box emoji* and a soda for you
Oakley:You’ll be eating one handed in style!
Oakley:Okay, so I am just now realizing that I may have gone a little overboard with the food prep, but it’s only because I’m locking in my position as your bosom buddy.
Oakley:*Fingers crossed emoji* I see you tonight!
Will:Hey, are you coming to class today? FYI, the TA has taken over the class.
