Emma vs. The Tech Guy (17 page)

“Crap.”

“Are you okay?” Guy said. He reached for my hand, but I instinctively pulled it away.

I held it close to my stomach, feeling a small throb begin. “It’s fine.”

Then the plane lurched again, this time continuing in tiny ripples like an earthquake. I stared at Guy.

“Probably just a little turbulence,” he said.

“Yeah.” I peered out the window across the wing flowing in and out of puffy clouds.

Another lurch and I noticed the wing tilting up and down as if we were going to turn, only we didn’t. The pilot’s voice came on to say we’d hit a bit of weather; nothing to worry about.

“They always say that.” My voice was low and shaky.

The bumping continued. Two flight attendants passed to the back of the plane with determined looks. That wasn’t a good sign. I grabbed both arm rests and stared straight ahead. I didn’t want to die a liar. Then I laughed at my idiocy. I wasn’t going to die. Plane turbulence was very common. I’d simply never experienced anything this strong or continual. Why wasn’t it stopping?

I began to take deep breaths, concentrating on the vibration. My mind was telling it to stop, like I’d often done as a child when I thought I had telekinetic powers. I never could get that darn spoon to bend. Then I felt Guy’s hand settle on mine on the arm rest we shared. He squeezed it gently, but I continued to stare at the seat in front of me.

“It’s okay, Emma.”

I nodded in sync with the bumping.

“Look at me.”

I turned to find understanding eyes and a faint smile spreading across his face.

“It’s really going to be okay. I promise. This will all be fine.”

I had a feeling he wasn’t only talking about the plane, and I believed him. I guess I trusted him, too. If he was right about all of it, then things would change when I got back home. They had to. I couldn’t keep it up any longer. I’m not the same person any more. I just wasn’t sure I’d be able to handle any more freaking turbulence, and that’s exactly what was in store for me.

“I know,” I said at last. We stayed that way for a few moments longer when I realized the plane was settling down. I looked down at my hand, still covered by Guy’s and slowly slid it down to my lap. “Oh, my gosh, Adam!” I felt a twinge of guilt at not having given him a second thought during the whole ordeal. I couldn’t see him from where I was at and looked at Guy with concern.

He leaned over Big Boy for a quick peek, turned back to me, and revealed a relief filled smile. “He’s sound asleep.”

Chapter 18

I didn’t have my car at the airport, so Adam gave me a ride home. We were all beat and thankful that Bill had said not to worry about coming into the office. But he did want us to stay connected, check emails and voicemails.

I wasn’t going to stay long. The wheels were turning, and for once it wasn’t about my career. But before I made any drastic moves, I needed to run it by my main man. So, I’d planned to drop my stuff off and head right back out and over to Pop’s place.

When I got home, I noticed Howard’s stuff sprawled across the dining room table. He was working from home.

“Hey, I’m back,” I said to the empty room. I wheeled my bag to the table and left it there. Then I heard water running; I assumed he was in the shower.

His phone rested on a pile of papers on the table and his laptop was in screen saver mode; a picture of Howard with Emilia and me back in college when she’d come for a visit. We’d had so many great times back then. Howard and I met freshman year in the dorms. We both seemed to be shell-shocked by the new lifestyle and pretty much kept to ourselves. I spent most the time in my room or in the library. We met in the tiny downstairs kitchen of the dorms. Did I say, kitchen? It was a closet with a sink and a microwave. I’d burned my popcorn in the microwave, which wouldn’t normally be a big deal. But along with worrying about everyone shooting me dirty looks for stinking up the kitchen and the lobby, I was already feeling stressed and lonely.

I’d taken on too much. Dad was supposed to be visiting that weekend, but he was a no-show, as usual. I had broken down, right there in the kitchen closet. Howard walked in, and I couldn’t even cover as I often did. Really, I wasn’t even a crier, but something inside me had just snapped. He stared at me for a few seconds and then walked over and put a hand on my shoulder.

“Hey,” he’d said in the softest, sweetest voice I’d ever heard. “It can’t be that bad.” He was thin, cute, and sporting bed head, but the look worked for him. He took the charred remains of the popcorn bag from my hands and tossed in the trash.

“I’m fine,” I said, attempting to slow my breathing so I wouldn’t sound like a hiccupping idiot.

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

I shook my head. “Thanks. I’ll be fine.” Then I noticed a small crowd had gathered outside the kitchen door. I didn’t know if it was from the smell or if some were waiting to get in there.

“Are you sure?” He watched me tentatively.

Then someone from behind yelled. “C’mon, people are waiting here.” Another said, “Great, now my fuckin’ lasagna is going to taste like popcorn.”

“Hang on!” Howard shouted in a voice so opposite of how he’d been speaking to me, it made me giggle for a second. But the dirty looks from the others pushed me back down.

“I better go,” I said. I squeezed out a smile and a “thanks.”

“Hold on,” he said. He pulled something from his pocket. “They’re going to love this.” He unfolded the popcorn bag, held it up to the crowd and said, “Three more minutes, guys.”

I think I fell in love with him in that second. We introduced ourselves while listening to popping and grumbling from outside. Then we went back to his room and talked for hours. We’ve been pretty much inseparable ever since. I couldn’t imagine my life without him.

His phone beeped and lit up on the table. I leaned over to take a peek. A text displayed on the screen from Kelly.
Did you tell her yet?

“Hey, you’re home.”

I whirled around to find Howard standing in the doorway wrapped in a towel. “Hey,” I said back.

He came over and gave me a hug. With his arms still looped around my neck he said, “I’ve been dying to see you.”

“You have?” I gave him a smile accompanied by a suspicious look. Then I felt the dampness seep through my shirt. “Hey, you’re still dripping.” I peeled his wet arms off my shoulders and went to the kitchen for a towel.

“How was the trip?” Howard said, while I brushed my sleeves with the towel.

“Exhausting and enlightening.”

“Hmm, sounds interesting. I want to hear all about it, but first, I have some news.”

Whatever it was, the expression on his face (along with that text) told me it was something huge.

“What is it?” I asked with reluctance.

He smiled and opened his mouth to speak. Then he seemed to change his mind. He held up a finger and said, “Mmm … maybe I should go get dressed, and then we can sit down for a nice, long talk.”

I didn’t want to prolong it any further. If it was going to sting, I much preferred to have the bandaid ripped off quickly. “Howard, just tell me what it is. Please.”

I walked over and sat down in a leather chair. Howard sat next to me on the matching sofa. “It’s exciting news, actually. Scary, but exciting.” He reached out and took hold of my hands. His eyes found mine and tried to prepare me. It was like they were begging for cooperation.

I nodded for him to continue.

“Do you remember The Purple Onion?”

“I think so. They went out of business a couple years ago, right?”

“Yeah. Well, I bought the place.” A giant smile of pride beamed across his face for an instant before he reined it in.

I processed the information he told me, but I couldn’t decide on the appropriate response. My actual feelings and how Howard had probably wanted me to react did a quick little battle.

“Wow,” I said to stall for time. “Uh … that’s huge news.” I should have sensed this day was coming soon. I could feel him growing anxious to move forward with opening his own pub.

“I know it’s pretty unexpected and there’s a lot to tell you about, but this opportunity just came up and it was too good to pass up.”

“Yeah, I want to hear all the details.” Like how Kelly fit into all of it. After that message I read, I was expecting the next big news to come. It was like when you start your period and everyone’s all smiley and trying to convince you what a great thing it is, but all you know is that your whole life just changed in an instant.

“I hope you’re okay with this,” he said rubbing my hand. “I mean, you’re not upset, are you?”

Of course I was upset. Why would I want Howard to finally pursue his dream and be happy? That’s the kind of selfish person I was.

“No, of course not.” I stretched a smile out, but inside I scorned myself for my reaction. If I’d only had a heads up, maybe I would have responded more positively. I would have had time to realize that only thinking of myself and holding Howard back wouldn’t make either of us happy. “It’s going to be great,” I said through a toothy grin.

His phone rang, and we both snapped our heads to the table. “I’ve gotta get that,” he said.

He popped up to take the call, leaving me with a swirl of thoughts going round and round in my head.
Get a grip, Emma
, I told myself. Change did not always mean the end of the world.

Howard had his back to me. He leaned over the table, writing something with the phone crammed between his shoulder and ear. I knew it was wrong to leave things hanging, but my feet had a mind of their own. A second later they were taking me out the front door.

***

I smelled garlic when I let myself into the house. “Pop, where are ya?” I headed to the kitchen expecting to see him and Lou boiling up some spaghetti. The table was set with a table cloth I didn’t quite remember, and two of everything in place.

“There’s my girl,” Pop said, standing at the stove stirring a pot.

His greeting lit a spark in me. Based on a smile that showed half guilt and half excitement, something was up.

“Hi!” I kissed him on the cheek and peeked in the pan. Red sauce. “For me?” I teased, knowing it wasn’t and hoping my suspicions would be confirmed.

“You’re welcome to join in. I’ve got garlic bread in the oven, too.”

“So I smell. What’s the occasion?”

“Nothing special, really. I was just craving some apple cobbler.”

That made perfect sense—if Pop was already in an old folks’ home talking to himself and calling me Lou. “What are you talking about?”

“She said if I made her spaghetti, then she’d bring homemade apple cobbler. You know that’s my favorite.”

“She?”

He shook his head and then stirred the noodles in a pan beside the sauce. “Don’t make me say it, Emma Jean. You know who.”

“Oh, Mrs. Elwood.” I smiled on the inside. I didn’t want to piss him off and ruin the mood. “So, just a casual dinner between friends, huh?”

“That’s right.”

Two quick whistles and a door slam came from the other room. “Here’s the wine you requested, Sire,” Lou said seconds later as he walked into the kitchen.

Pop’s brows furrowed, telling me I’d better not comment. I guess I didn’t need to wonder where I got my self-consciousness from.

“Thanks, Lou. Sorry you can’t stay,” he said.

“Welcome home, sweet thing,” Lou said to me. He gave me a one-armed hug and handed Pop the bottle. “You’re not even going to invite me to stay?”

“No. Now scram.”

“I can take a hint,” Lou said. “Have fun.” He began to walk away, and I was surprised Pop got off that easy. And then, “Better calm that boy down, Emma Jean. He’s more nervous than Mike Tyson at a spelling bee.”

Pop ignored Lou and stared down at the bottle. “Is this a good wine? She said she liked white Zinfandel.”

According to Howard, white Zin was crap and about the worst thing you could drink next to wine in a box.

“I think it’s a great choice.” No sense adding to the pressure.

“So how was the trip?” He turned the flames on the stove lower and leaned up against the counter. I went along with his obvious desire to change the subject.

“Long, interesting, confusing.”

“I bet. That technology stuff confuses the hell out of me.”

“I wasn’t exactly talking about that part.” I regretted the statement as soon as it left my mouth. It wasn’t the best time to get into a Guy discussion.

“Oh, could you be talking about a certain guy by the name of—”

“Stop! Sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything. There’s more important things to talk about now, Pop.”

“What’s wrong?”

“For starters, Howard went and bought a bar while I was gone.”

“No shit?”

“That’s what I was thinking. It really caught me off guard.”

“What did you say?”

“Not much. I told him I thought it would be great. Then he got a call, and I took off.”

Pop’s head fell to his chest and his shoulders vibrated up and down.

“So you think this is funny?”

He looked up and attempted to stifle his laughter. “Your life has more drama than
Days of Our Lives
.”

Sad but true. I sulked to the table and sat down. “I know. And I don’t want that anymore.”

“Then do something about it. You do have options.”

“But, I’m afraid of losing him, Pop.”

He pulled the door open to check on the bread. “No matter what happens now or in the future, you’ll never lose Howard. You two have been like two peas on a fork since the day you met.”

“Don’t you mean two peas in a pod?”

“No, I’m not senile yet. Two peas on a fork! You two peas have been holding onto each other so tight, just so you won’t fall off the edge of the fork and land in, well, life, Emma. That first step is a hell of a leap, but you can do it.”

“I don’t know. It’s different now, though.
I’m
different.”

“You’re afraid of the reaction?”

“I have a lot to lose, Pop.”

“Do you remember that clubhouse we built in the backyard?”

“Of course.” To me it was a cluboffice, but I never said it out loud.