Getting by (A Knight's Tale) (20 page)

“She’s easy to love,” Dad said, placing a hand on Mom’s shoulder. I began to walk through the room again. “It’s been only a couple of days and we—”

“Adopted her,” I said, stopping my walk and looking at the door. “We noticed. You two are suckers for adopting strays from around the world. And she’s special. I’m going to talk to her, see where we can go from here. But don’t get your hopes up, this might not end the way you two want it.”

“I just want you to be happy, son,” Mom said, and Dad agreed.

They wanted me to be happy and that’s why they were interrogating me like a criminal. My life had nothing to do with theirs and a lot to do with Emma and whatever was going on in that mind of hers. I took a deep breath, cleaned the sweat from my hands and gathered all my thoughts before speaking to the meddler and her flock. For years they kept tabs on me, making sure I continued with my life the way it was supposed to be. That was not possible after failing and getting a lot of good men killed under my command. But I tried to live for what they wouldn’t be able to, so I pushed myself out of bed and lived like everyone in the world on a daily basis.

Though, waking up next to Emma, or looking forward to seeing her or at least speaking to her made the daily routine much easier. No, having Emma as my girl gave my life sense. What was that Liam had said? The pretty girl and I were different when we were together—the best part of each other. I wasn’t sure if I was that for Em, but she brightened my day and guided my nights. Yes, Emma Anderson made me happy, and I had to find a way to be next to her, share the day with her or at least be her first and last phone call of the day.

“You two can’t expect things to fall magically into place.” I stood in front of my parents. “Things between Em and I are extremely complicated at best. I still have no idea what those things were that made her change her mind about us. And I of course have my limits.” Then I looked directly into Mom’s eyes. “She has baggage, Mom. Her sister and I don’t like each other. I have a lot against Chloe. You need to know that she’s not a good girl, Mom.”

“Emma isn’t her sister,” Mom said. “I hope you understand that too.”

“Yes.” I looked at her appalled, what was she insinuating? There wasn’t anything similar between the sisters, not even physically. Blond versus auburn, tall against short, and there were so many things that differentiated them. I would’ve never guessed they shared the same parents. “But I’m not sure which side Emma is going to take when it comes to Chloe or Jake,” I pointed at myself, “during holidays or birthdays.”

“I thought they didn’t talk to each other,” Mom mentioned.

“That’s something I need to look into, Mom.” There is an attachment with Chloe’s file in my mailbox waiting to be opened.

Our first night together, Emma mentioned her sister, and how they didn’t speak to each other. But Mitch and I saw that picture of the baby and Chloe’s phone number under her favorites. Was there a relationship between them? There were three months that she blocked out from me. Four if I counted the three, almost four weeks that she stayed in Connecticut with her grandparents and avoided me like the plague. Perhaps they reconciled during that period. Emma was an enigma that, for the past few days, had been unraveling.

My instincts back then told me to fly to Connecticut, where she was and never leave her side. But then, the fear of being too close and blurring the line between light and the next step kept me on the edge waiting for a call that never came. One night together and the next day I was told to leave my keys with the doorman on my way out. Emma didn’t wait for me to get dressed or anything—because she didn’t want to see me leave. My departure hurt her, and instead of fighting her and what she was doing to herself, I budged.

Four sets of eyes were staring at me, waiting for some sort of…I had no idea what my family wanted from me. At best I would discuss with Emma our relationship, confess my love for her and hope she’d want to continue being with me. I had to convince her that we were good together. My closet was full of Emma’s clothes, just like my bathroom and the kitchen. Her studio on the other hand, well, I didn’t know what she did with my belongings. Trashed them after the doorman gave her the key that she requested back? Donated them to a charity? I sighed, hoping that like me, she was waiting for us to get back together.

“I don’t want the same things,”
Emma said the day before, only a few minutes after we stopped from ripping each other’s clothes off in Gaby’s room. What did she know about what I wanted? No, the question I had in mind was—what did she want from me? I’d give her anything, my life if she wanted it; anything to be next to her.

Well, this conversation had nothing to do with them—my family—and everything to do with me. I still didn’t understand much what Mom wanted from me, but I opened up to the entire family for one time, no repetitions.

“Emma works in mysterious ways,” I began. “Tonight I planned on talking to her to see what was going on between us. Because obviously there’s still an us.” I placed my right hand over my chest and tapped while I talked. “However, she might surprise me and kick me to the curb. There’s not much I can do if that’s the case. Either way, like Liam,” I tilted my head toward him, “you can separate my relationship with her from the ones you are building. She doesn’t open up to people, but miraculously Emma likes you.”

“Translation.” Mitch stood up. “Most likely, they won’t fix much today, and my boy wants us to know that we don’t need to choose sides.” He arched an eyebrow at me after I gawked. “What, Jay? I’m telling the truth. As I told you before, you two are perfect for each other. She’s it for you if you did permanent. Are you telling me that you’re willingly going to change that?” He crossed his arms and challenged me. I looked down and thought about it, no, I wasn’t into permanent.

“Thought so.” Mitch didn’t wait for an answer. “You want to continue the open relationship—”

“Open?” Liam interrupted him. “They were exclusive.”

“I know.” Mitch’s eyes gave Liam an unfriendly glare. “Sarcasm, learn to interpret it. Jacob’s scared of titles and papers and the word forever—after the accident.” I hated when he gave away my feelings like they were his. “Until he cures that fear, Jay and Emma aren’t going to be ‘an item’.” With both hands he used his index and middle fingers to draw quotation marks in the air.

“I hate you, Mitchel,” I said, and walked toward the door because the conversation was taking on a tone I didn’t like. “My relationship with Emma will be as permanent as she wants. Are we done?” I touched the handle, and before I opened it, Mom talked.

“Will you tell me what happens between you two?”

I shook my head, the meddler was impossible.

“Give me a day, Mom.” Dad gave me that look of exasperation, while my brothers’ humorous eyes made me want to erase the internal smirk I knew both had going. “Twenty four hours, Mrs. Knight. Is that too much to ask?”

“I’m your mother.” She faked insult, then gave me a half smile. “Fine, Jay. One day, and then you’ll give me the good news.”

“Don’t hold your breath,” Mitch said before I left. If he was taunting me, I decided to ignore him and leave the room. Before meeting Em, I headed to my room. I needed to take a shower and clear my mind before heading toward Emma’s to have a long talk with the pretty girl.

Chapter 24

Emma

THE DARTH VADER entrance music began to play, a ringtone assigned to Bridezilla. She needed to confirm the next day’s plans, and give me a synopsis of the fabulous dinner she had. The chic, contemporary restaurant featured a menu to die for.

“My dinner alone cost over a hundred dollars.”
So? You could feed an entire village in South America with that money.
The conversation revolved around the places they’d visit for the honeymoon and her new in-laws. “Can you believe she wanted to discuss holidays? They aren’t Cade’s real family. Mom won’t like it if I fly to London for any holiday.”
Rachel wouldn’t like if her nephew never showed up for any holiday.

“Who paid for dinner?” I asked, while I played Mitch’s conversation in my head. “Ed’s already footing a huge bill for your wedding.”

“The Knights have the money, Emma.” Her disdain confirmed Mitch’s point—
great.

Plus she didn’t deny that they were paying for her bridal bash. “About tomorrow, you have the morning free. I reserved the bowling alley for five hours. Who would you like me to pair you up with?”

“Mitch.” I’d avoid Jake, and I enjoyed his brother’s company. But before she decided to pair me up in real life, I added a comment to shake her off my case. “Any of the Knights, they seem nice.”

Not letting her ask why I was mingling with the family, I jumped into explaining the dynamics of the bachelorette party, including Mitch’s new plan. We fused both groups into my party limo, upgrading it to a party bus and nightclub hopping all night. Friday I had a surprise for her, her Mom, the bridesmaids and the mother of the groom—Rachel. I’d take them to an all day spa, from ten to seven. The package included lunch and dinner. Everyone would be rested and ready for the morning wedding on Saturday. Pacified she hung up, but not before she reminded me about the bridesmaids’ gifts. We bought them a couple of months ago, and I guarded them with my life—she tended to lose everything.

Before I undressed to take a relaxing bath in the huge Jacuzzi bath tub, my phone rang at the same time that someone knocked at the door. Grandma Lily and Jake—double whammy. What was he doing here? Didn’t I make it clear that I made a mistake yesterday? I ignored the door in hopes that he would go away.

“Emma, I’m happy to hear from you.” Internally I wanted to scream at her, because the last time we were together she was washing her hands of any responsibility that included me. She and Grandpa didn’t want to take me for a few months. “You and that sister of yours have been avoiding us for years.”

“Hi,” I said instead of hanging up on her. “Well, I’ve been busy for the past few years with school, grad school and work.”

“Em, baby, open the door.” Another round of knocks hit my door. “I can hear you from here.”

Right, I was on the phone, and with his impressive super-hero hearing he had detected me.

“Well, dear, why don’t you come on Sunday?” she asked. I shook my head and opened the door, before Jacob continued with those loud knocks and disturbed the other guests.

“No, I can’t, I leave Sunday morning,” I answered Grandma, while Jake’s puzzled stare tried to decipher my call. “Tomorrow would work for me, Grandma Lily.”

I hoped that the short notice would get me out of seeing them. The only reason I contacted her was because Grampy asked me to. That sounded terrible and insensitive, but they didn’t care much about me when I lost my parents. Neither one took the forty five minute drive to come and see what happened to their son when I called them. Where were they when I needed them to support me?

“I’ll move a few things around and we’ll do breakfast, at nine,” she said, surprising me, because the woman was inflexible when it came to her schedule.

“Sounds good,” I twisted my mouth after saying it. There wasn’t much I could say to get out of the ordeal. She at least was trying. If I remembered her well, changing her schedule for an impromptu visit was out of her character. “I’ll call the concierge and have him schedule a cab for tomorrow at eight.” Jake shook his head.

“I’m taking you,” he said, and pulled out his phone. “Mom, Emma’s grandma called, she’s having breakfast with her tomorrow at nine.” I scowled. “Would you guys be—hold on, Mom. Everyone, I don’t think—fine, meddler.” He pushed the mute button before speaking. “Em, Mom wants to know if we all can come to meet your grandma.”

I shook my head, because they shouldn’t and wouldn’t and couldn’t and…what a mess. I scratched and crinkled my nose and scratched my arm and Jake smiled.

“We want to be there with you, Emma.” He removed a lock of hair from my face, delicately placing it behind my ear
—so freaking hard.
“Ask your grandma, Pretty Girl.”

“Grandma Lily,” what could I say, my bosses family wants to meet you, and by the way I used to screw his brother? “I’m not alone, Ed and Rachel Knight, along with their children would like to have the chance to meet you. Will it be possible?”

“Children?”

“Adults, they are in their late twenties. There are three of them to be precise.”

“Well then, we’ll move it to nine thirty.” Who was this woman? “That gives me plenty of time to set things for six. See you then, Emmy, I’m glad you called.”

“Nine thirty,” I said to Jake.

“You heard?” Jake asked over the phone. “Well, subject to change of course. In the morning, Mom, please. You promised twenty four hours, not minutes.” He smiled fondly at the phone. “Love you too.”

“We need to talk,” Jake prompted.

His green eyes searched my face. The earlier lust and desire was gone and my head celebrated and filled with joy. I was relieved, because Jake had a strong sexual power over me and it was hard to reject him. Why did we need to talk, I remembered him saying that Chloe called and we needed to talk the prior day. The second time he said it was just when he was about to unzip my jeans and common sense hit him. Jake was here, clean clothes, wet hair—fresh one hundred percent male. But my sister? Did he sleep with her?
No, no, no, did he fuck Chloe? Was he another notch under her belt? Oh, no he paid for it.
I began to walk slowly toward the bathroom, I wasn’t having this conversation.

“Emma we need to talk,” he repeated, trying to stop me before I shut the door, but I was faster. “Open the door, baby, this is important.”

“I don’t want to hear it,” I responded, like a bratty two year old. “Chloe, you, we need to talk, doesn’t sound appealing, Jake. Add to the mix that I don’t want to discuss my sister with anyone.”

“Don’t be disgusting, Emma.” His deep laugh annoyed me. “Her picture brought up something I’ve been hiding from you, Em. But it has nothing to do with me sleeping with the whore.”