wanted to talk to you, she’d answer the phone. Take a hint.” The door slammed shut and Cherry sighed. “Jesus, Clash.”
My phone started to ring.
Connor Calling…
Cherry waltzed back into the living room and when she saw me looking down at my cell phone, she said, “Just ignore him and he’ll go away.”
“Yeah,” I muttered, not at all believing that.
Not a moment later, Connor started to call out, “Emmy!” and I felt worn thin. “Emmy, open up. I know you’re in there!”
My cell phone stopped vibrating before it chimed in my hand.
@ConnorClashOfficial: I just wanna talk, baby. Please.
“Emmy, please!”
Cherry was absolutely livid. “Oh, that is it. I’m calling the cops.”
Immediately, I held out a hand, and said, “No.”
@ConnorClashOfficial: PLEASE!
“What?” She looked pissed. “Are you kidding me?”
But my mind was already made up. “It’s okay. I’ll talk to him.”
My reasoning was pathetic.
I wasn’t sure Connor’s career could risk another hit to his name and getting arrested would be a public event. I didn’t want that for him. All I ever wanted was for Connor to be happy.
A slow, hard knocking, then a forlorn “Emmy” was all I could take.
Before I opened the door, my heart began to thump in my chest. I’d always been a sucker for this man. Now was no exception.
I just needed to be firm.
Easy.
My hand sat on the knob a while before I turned it. I only opened the door a few inches, just enough to converse and be done with it.
I saw him before he did me. My gut clenched at the amount of stress I saw etched on his face. “Emmy!”
Closing my eyes, I spoke out. “Here.”
He spun to face me and just like that, the strain I saw a moment ago disappeared. He smiled crookedly. “Hi, baby.”
Don’t call me that.
Connor stepped forward cautiously. “Can I come in?” He held up his hands in a pacifying gesture. “I just wanna talk, I promise. I won’t take too much of your time.”
I hated that he made it all seem so simple, that he sounded so rational. It wasn’t simple. None of this was simple.
If I refused him, I’d be the unreasonable one.
Ugh.
With an internal sigh, I slowly pushed open the door and his smile widened marginally. When he passed me, he made sure his fingers brushed mine and suddenly, I couldn’t breathe.
Averting my gaze, I shut the door and watched him walk into the house I shared with Cherry. I trailed behind him and fought a defeated smile at his ensemble.
Connor wore a pair of black jeans, a fitted black tee, and his black Vans.
Some things never changed.
When he entered the living room, he ordered, “Sit.” When he saw my scowl, he took in a deep breath and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Sit, please.”
Yeah, you better use manners in my house.
I did as he asked and made sure to sit as far away as possible without actually exiting the room.
Connor sat on the arm of the sofa and watched me a while. He looked me deep in the eye and uttered a wounded, “You kissed Noah?”
I didn’t owe him an explanation.
But my mouth opened without permission. “Technically, he kissed me.” I said this quietly.
“It’s all over the papers. You guys a thing now?” Connor swallowed hard, looking like he might be sick.
It was torture.
Seeing him was torture.
Him being within walking distance… torture.
Sluggishly, I wrapped my arms around myself and shook my head.
“Okay.” His nod was thoughtful.
My skin itched to be close to him but my heart remained wrapped in barbed wire. His mere proximity was too much. I stood and breathed out, “Was that all?”
His brow narrowed. “No, that’s not all.” He blinked then stated a careful, “We’re married, Emmy.”
Oh, about that… “I want a divorce.”
Connor reared back as if I’d slapped him. He seemed to think about it a while and I watched his expression go from confused to fuming. “No.”
My head snapped up. “No?” Was he kidding? He had to be kidding. A stunned laugh escaped me. “You can’t be serious.”
“I am,” he said and to my absolute dismay, I saw he was.
My brow lowered as I attempted to paste on a cool façade. “You said it yourself—it was a gag.”
“No.” He stood, shaking his head. “It wasn’t.”
Suddenly exhausted, I lifted my hands to cover my face and groaned. “I’m just trying to fix this mistake.” My hands fell from my brow and my eyes widened. “Why are you fighting this?”
He gaped at me a second before he opened his mouth and bellowed,