Emma vs. The Tech Guy (12 page)

“What?” He flipped his head my way for a second.

I glanced away, hoping he didn’t see me staring at the stain.

“So you think it’s funny my shirt got stained?” His tone was playful, but his expression stayed serious. “What … is it payback for the suit?”

“I don’t think so.” Especially since I didn’t grab
his
ass.

“Seriously, though. Is this gonna come out?”

“How am I supposed to know?”

“Well ….”

“Oh, because I’m a woman I’m supposed to know how to get stains out?” Maybe I was sensitive because his uncle had those same views of women.

“I just figured since you were married, maybe ….”

Pop finally found his voice, but showed up for the wrong team. “Ha.”

“Oh, so we’re not a laundry gal, huh?” Guy asked.

When he looked at me for confirmation, I turned away. I didn’t want to go there, but it seemed I was trapped. I stared straight ahead, felt him peering down at me.

“Keep your eyes on the road, please.”

“What? Nothing to be embarrassed about. You both work, right? So what, he does the laundry and you do the cooking?”

Another sound shot out of Pop that sounded like he choked down some whiskey.

“Pop!” I elbowed him and folded my arms.

“No cooking, either?” Guy said. I didn’t need to look at him to see the smile smeared across his stupid face.

“How did we even get on this conversation?” I asked. My eyes narrowed to slits when Pop shot a glance my way. He shrugged and turned back toward the window.

Thanks for the support.

“I’m sure you contribute in your own ways,” Guy said. He kept his gaze on the road, white-knuckled hands gripping ten and two for dear life. “Marriages are very different these days. Not that I’d know anything about it.”

That’s the first thing he’d gotten right in the whole stinking conversation. He had no clue about me—or anything in my life, for that matter. Howard and I both had our strengths and weaknesses. We’d been through some serious ups and downs, but there’s one thing that hadn’t changed since the first day we met. We always, and I mean always, have come through for each other. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him and vice versa. We’d both proven that over the years. So I wasn’t going to sit there and defend myself with a resume.

“Times
have
changed. And not that it’s any of your business, but yes, I do my share.”

I could see the wheels spinning behind Guy’s eyes as he glanced over with a feigned smile. “So, are you all ready for tomorrow? It’s going to be pretty crazy.” He turned down the main road that led to Pop’s place.

“Actually, no. Sounds pretty overwhelming to me. Turn right at the next light.”

When he pulled into Pop’s driveway, I decided it would be better to get out there. “I’ll wait here and have Howard pick me up on the way back from the airport.”

“Are you sure?” Guy asked. “I don’t mind taking you to your place.”

Pop bolted for his door, leaving me standing beside the open door to Guy’s truck.

“No, it’s fine, really. Gives me more time with Pop before we leave. Thanks for the ride. It was sweet of you.”
Sweet? God I never use that word
. I started to shut the door, but Guy spoke up again.

“Hey, don’t worry about tomorrow. Some of this stuff is new to me, too. We’ll just take it one day at a time, okay?”

“Yeah, I’m sure it’ll be fine.” I appreciated his saying that and didn’t take it as anything but a pep talk among co-workers. “I’m actually excited to find out about future possibilities for the magazine. It’s just the timing, you know?”

“Yeah. Well, I’ve heard you’re excellent under pressure.”

I smiled before I realized it happened and hoped I wasn’t blushing like some stupid schoolgirl.

“Thanks. See you tomorrow.” I shut the door and walked around the front of the car. When I reached the walkway, Guy’s voice caught me once again.

“Emma.”

There was something about the way he’d said my name just then. I didn’t understand why I reacted in such a way, but the hairs on the back of my neck raised. I felt a chill on my skin and a warmth in my gut. I turned to find him with one arm hanging out his side window. That darn wavy hair shining in the setting sun like a halo over his silly smile.

“Yeah?” I answered sounding a little too much like Sandy in
Grease
.

“I really like your grandpa,” he said. “He’s a cool guy.” Then he backed out of the driveway.

I stood there watching him drive off and wondering what the next three days would hold. It was going to be three grueling sessions of information overload. But there was one thing I found myself grateful for: the presence of Adam.

Chapter 13

I decided to meet Guy and Adam, who rode together, at the airport. Howard insisted on driving me even though that meant two airport trips for him in two days. I suspected he wanted some time to talk with me since we hadn’t spent but five minutes together since the night Jayne showed up at our door. There was an unfinished conversation that night still hanging in the air.

But we were almost there and the silence that filled the car pierced my ears like a dog whistle. I glanced at Howard and smiled. He smiled back. I was beginning to feel like we’d stepped into the elevator of the tallest building in the world.

“So, you ready for this?” he finally said. He reached over and put his hand on my knee. “Sounds like it’ll be brutal.”

“Yeah, but it’s going to open up a whole new world of possibilities for the magazine.”

“I bet. Someday there might not even be paper magazines.” He returned his hand to the wheel and exited the freeway.

“I’m all for change and progress, but I hope that’s not the case.” I pulled the confirmation I’d printed from my purse to check my information. I wanted to make sure we pulled up to the correct gate, but I also had a habit of checking things over and over. I wasn’t quite at the OCD stage, but I was pushing it.

“Speaking of progress, I’ve been thinking about the pub a lot lately.” Howard flashed me some eye contact to gauge my reaction. “Kelly says there’s a great property for sale downtown.”

“Wow, I didn’t even know you were looking.” We hadn’t talked a lot about his pub dream lately, but I’d sensed Howard was getting antsy over the last few months.

“I wasn’t. Kelly brought it up at work.”

“So you too are buddies now, huh?” I didn’t mean to sound sarcastic, but it sure came out that way. I tried to recover by pulling the visor down and checking my makeup and hair in the mirror.

“Emma, I really think I’m ready for this. I don’t want to put it off any longer. It’s time.”

So, I lied. I’m not really all for change and progress. I was just fine with the way things were. There was safety in normalcy. You might think someone like me was used to change. I’d had plenty of huge transitions growing up. But that’s the thing; when it came to my personal life, change usually meant something bad.

“Can we talk about this when I get back?” I flipped the mirror back up, then checked my phone for messages. “Guy just texted me, they’re already checking in.”

Howard pulled into the airport entrance, and we both scanned a myriad of signs for my gate.

“Yeah, sure.” Howard said.

Neither of us spoke as we wound our way to the drop-off area. He pulled into the loading zone and turned to me. “I think we both know there’s a lot to talk about when you get back.”

I nodded. “I know.”

“But, Emma, let me say this before you go.” He grabbed one of my hands and held it in his. “Everything’s going to be okay. I promise.”

“I know.”

“Have I ever let you down before?”

I shook my head and we hugged. “Love you,” I said.

“Love you, too.”

Howard helped me get my bags out and asked if I wanted him to walk me in. I said I’d be fine since both Guy and Adam would be there waiting for me. We hugged at the curb, and over his shoulder I saw a threesome of kids lined up next to a car. The dad unloaded the trunk as the kids stood and watched. Mom got out and yelled at the kids to start getting their bags. Shoving, yelling, and grabbing ensued. As I walked away from Howard and the chaos from the neighboring car, I thought about what Pop had said the night before. He’d make the best great-grandpa.

***

I made my way through the airport and successfully maneuvered security without having to get naked. I had worn a cute matching bra and underwear set just in case. Adam texted me where he and Guy were sitting. I stopped off to grab a coffee and a magazine before meeting them. Up ahead I saw them sitting next to each other talking, laughing, and looking at a tablet. I’d bet money it was something to do with either women or sports. Men were so easily pleased. He and Adam had grown close since practice had started for the basketball team. They seemed to have a lot in common. A picture flashed across my mind of me sitting between those two in a bar after a long day of training, Guy and Adam exchanging stories of female conquest and rating women as they walked by.

I shook my head and gave myself a mental slap on the wrist. Guy was outgoing and friendly, but that didn’t make him a womanizer. My tradeshow teddies spotted me approaching and got up to meet me. They each grabbed one of my bags and asked how I was doing. They cleared their stuff from the chairs and offered me a seat. A very different picture than the one I’d just imagined. Maybe the trip wouldn’t be so bad after all.

We boarded the plane minutes later. I made sure to sit next to Adam and in the aisle seat. Guy sat across the aisle from us, but on the end so we could still talk if we needed to. I planned on having my hands full with Adam, so I wasn’t too worried about being able to chat with Guy. I wondered if Adam told Guy about his fear of flying. I’d been through it before with Adam, on two other trips. The first time it happened had caught me off guard. Generally, Adam has two looks: happy and suave. But for the first time, I’d seen fear and anxiety in him. It took me a while to figure it out and actually try to help him. It made me wonder if I’d ever have that mothering instinct. But I’m getting proficient at faking it.

The plane began to roll and shudder as we headed toward the runway. I reached over and tapped the old woman sitting in the window seat.

“Do you mind shutting that window shade while we take off?”

I gestured to Adam who had his head back against the seat, eyes closed, and earphones securely in place.

“Afraid to fly,” I mouthed in a whisper. It was important for Adam to have that closed. He’d be tempted to peek, and that only made things worse.

She pursed her lips into a smile and nodded. Her hair was pure white and looked like cotton candy. I watched as she struggled with the window shade and hoped I wouldn’t have to reach over. But the thing wouldn’t budge; it was stuck like it was superglued shut, or maybe she couldn’t move it because her muscles were old and as brittle as egg shells.

“Dammit!” she said.

I flinched, glanced around, and noticed Guy watching the whole thing. Then I saw a little girl peeking through the crack of the seat in front of us. I leaned across Adam to get the lady’s attention. “Can I help you with that?”

She had one hand on the hinge now, hammering down on it with her other hand. She was determined as hell. “Just … give me … one more … second.” Her words came out like she was holding her breath.

By then we’d reached the runway and I felt the plane turn. Adam opened his eyes, glanced out the window, and turned to me with a questioning look. I held up a finger and smiled.

I had to admire the old lady for not wanting to give up. She reminded me of, well, me. But if she didn’t get that window closed in the next thirty seconds, we’d have a problem.

I was about to unbuckle my seat belt when grandma managed to get the cover down about a quarter of the way, but it stuck there.

“Mother Fletcher!” She turned to me. “That’s one stubborn-ass window!” Her scowl turned to a smile. “I’m sorry, sweetheart,” she said as sweet as peach pie.

I hadn’t noticed the flight attendant walk up. She reached across to shove the cover the rest of the way down.

The plane once again shuddered and began to pick up speed. Adam grabbed my hand and turned toward me like a small child, his eyes big, brown, innocent. I knew he couldn’t hear me with his ear buds in, but I said, “it’s okay,” and he squeezed my hand. I had to admit it felt nice to comfort him in that way. I wondered if that was what it was like to be a mother.

We lifted off the runway and our ascension was pretty smooth. Adam and I both laid our heads against the back of the seat, staring at each other. I almost laughed at how silly we must have looked.

When the plane leveled out, Adam closed his eyes and said, “I’m going into my Zen mode now.” This time was much better than the last. Was it me that made things better for him, or was Adam managing his own fears better? Either way, I was relieved that was all there was, and I felt a warm fuzzy feeling I wasn’t used to pour over me. After a few minutes he released my hand. I glanced at Guy and saw him chattering away with an older Asian man seated next to him. I couldn’t make out exactly what they were saying, but it seemed that the man didn’t have a firm grasp on the English language. Guy didn’t look fazed by it and was all smiles as usual.

I stared at the back of the chair in front of me, trying to keep my thoughts focused on our trip. It would be easy to dwell on what might have been or what’s going to happen in the future, but I couldn’t afford to go there, especially not now.

I felt a soft tap on my shoulder. Guy took off his seatbelt, leaned into the aisle.

“I didn’t know you two were so close,” Guy said, looking past me at Adam.

“We’re not,” I answered before thinking. Maybe that wasn’t accurate after what just happened. Maybe we were closer than I thought. I was beginning to see it all depends on who you ask. “I mean, well, he needed me and I was just trying to help.”

“So I take it he’s not that thrilled about airplanes?”

“Ya think?”

We both let out contained laughter, and I checked to see if Adam noticed. When I turned back to Guy, he was staring at me in an odd way. I’m not used to reading looks of endearment and wasn’t about to try and analyze it. I glanced away, checking the aisle for flight attendants or those brave enough to use the telephone booth–sized toilet.