Exception (15 page)

The first time he did that, Emily looked at him with suspicious eyes, thinking that maybe she was wrong about him. Recognizing the tension in her, he leaned close to her ear. His movement was extra careful so as not to touch her and add to her unease. “I’ve got your back and you’ve got mine; how about that?”

She locked her eyes on his and smiled her agreement. From then on, every hopeful that approached either of them received a dirty look as they signaled to each other. With their little game having its intended effect, Emily found herself relaxed in a way she hadn’t been in a long time.

During the span of three and half hours the band played all of the songs on Emily’s list, and most of the others by the same band. Emily and Taylor laughed and had the best time together, until the band finally said goodbye and exited the stage.

When Emily settled back on her chair, a thin coat of sweat covered her skin, matting her hair to the back of her neck, and her eyes sparked in a way that was imperceptible to anyone other than her two best friends.

The room was emptying as they ordered a round of desserts as a nightcap, and Jody walked over to the band to discuss payment. “That other night, while we were discussing our freeloading tendencies, Zack mentioned something about doing it for fifteen years and school dances,” Taylor said as the three of them waited for their desserts. “Is that how all of you met? You went to school together?”

“Not really. That’s how Z and J met. I was coerced into joining the pack last year,” Emily said, laughing.

In between laughs, Zack started the story he loved to tell. “J and I met in junior high, after my parents and I moved here from Texas. I was the shy, geeky, new kid and J, being the only smart mouthed, well-developed sixth grader, was Miss Popular.

“One day, my mom sent a homemade red velvet cupcake with my lunch. I was sitting alone at one of the tables, and suddenly Jody showed up and sat next to me. I stared at her like she was an alien. She started giggling, pointed at my cupcake, and asked if I would give it to her. My momma’s red velvet cupcake was my favorite food, so I obviously said no. That was the first time I ever saw the Jody face.” Zack laughed at the memory and Emily joined, thinking about the funny face Jody always made whenever anyone said no to her. “That half-laugh and half-pout totally freaked me out and I offered to share it with her.

“After her first bite, her face lit up, and she asked where I got the cupcake. I told her it was Mom’s. She nodded and asked me three questions. What was my favorite band, what was my favorite sport and what was my favorite videogame. Apparently, I got all of them correct, because she extended her hand and introduced herself as Jody Francis O’Connell, my new best friend.” Zack laughed, his eyes filled with love.

Taylor looked stunned and amused as he imagined the little firecracker Jody must have been as a child. “I was going to ask how they coerced you to join the pack, Ems, but I bet it was pretty much the same way.”

Emily laughed and nodded. “Yep, I rented the apartment through a real estate agent when I still lived in California, and all I ever heard from the owner was that she was a young woman who vacated the apartment to move in with her fiancé. Two days after I moved, I heard a knock on the door. When I opened, Jody was standing there. She introduced herself and we made small talk, she told me that anything I needed I could call Zack who lived across the hall. She peeked inside, said goodbye and left.

“The next afternoon she knocked on my door again. This time she had this beautiful fruitcake in her hand and Zack by her side. I thanked them for their trouble and went back in. The next day she came back with Brad and some cupcakes.” Emily giggled at the story, and also at the amazed look on Taylor’s face. “On the next day she came alone and empty-handed. When I opened the door she walked right past me, planted herself on my couch and asked me what was my favorite desert. I told her it was cheesecake. She acknowledged it, complimented me on my couch and walked in my direction.

“She looked me straight in my eyes and said that she would come back with Zack and one of Brad’s famous cheesecakes, and that I should stop being difficult and understand that the three of us would become best friends, so I’d better stop being rude and start inviting them in. And that was it. The next day they came back and we were best friends.”

As she finished the story, Emily had the same loving expression on her face Zack had on his when he’d told his story. At that moment, the dynamic of their friendship became crystal clear to Taylor. Jody’s impulsive personality was the glue between the emotion and reason that were Emily and Zack. They were each the perfect balance to the other two’s personalities.

“And how did the cake thing start?” Emily and Zack looked at him, not really understanding what he meant. “The pet names, Cheesecake, Fruitcake and Cupcake. How did that start?”

Jody arrived back at the table and flopped down on her chair. “Z always called me Cupcake because of how we met, and since his favorite cake is fruitcake, I started calling him that after he came out— and before you say anything, I know it’s rude. But it was funny and I do it with love. When Ems here told me that cheesecake was her favorite dessert after making me almost beg to be her friend, we decided that if she was going to be one of us, that’s what we would call her,” Jody said shrugging her shoulders and dropping to her chair.

Jody wasn’t one to hide her emotions, so irritation was crystal clear behind her warm smile. “What’s wrong, Cupcake?” Emily asked.

“Those assholes are never playing in here again, that’s what,” Jody said, glaring at the band from over her shoulder.

Three pairs of eyes looked quizzically from Jody to the band behind her. She huffed and shook her head before continuing, disdain clear in her voice. “That douche Nick kept asking about you and wanted your number.” She directed her words at Emily, while keeping her eyes in the mirror behind her bar. “I told him you weren’t interested but he was drunk and pushy . . . ”

All the laughter that had been at their table, just seconds before, vanished. Jody was still fuming with anger and Zack looked worried and pissed all at the same time. Emily’s shoulders were stiff with tension, her breathing frantic, and her palms sweaty.

Comforting Emily in moments like these was Zack’s job, and one he was really good at. He leaned over the table to reach for Emily’s hand, but before he had a chance, he saw Taylor had already spun around and had both her hands clasped between his.

Zack’s eyes were round and worried. His body tensed in preparation for a full-on panic attack from his friend. He watched, sitting on the edge of his seat, as she lifted her face to look into Taylor’s eyes. Her expression wasn’t at all what he’d expected.

There was undeniable fear in her eyes. However, it wasn’t of Taylor. She looked at her newest friend with the same worried, scared eyes Zack had seen countless times when she sought comfort and a safe haven in him. His eyes watered as he watched Taylor lower his face, leveling with her. He held Emily’s gaze for the longest time before speaking in a low and tender voice. “You’ve got my back and I have yours, remember? I meant it when I said I’m not opposed to breaking limbs, Ems.” A ghost of a smile crossed his lips as one of his hands reached up to tuck a stray lock of her hair behind her ear. “I’ll always keep you safe. Do you trust me?”

The honesty in his eyes and smile calmed Emily, and at that moment, she knew she trusted him completely. No one in her life made her feel as safe as Taylor did. “I do,” her voice was barely a whisper, but her smile spoke volumes.

There were no words Zack could use to explain his feelings at the scene unfolding in front of him. Happiness and joy seemed inadequate at the sight of Taylor soothing Emily.

From the bits and pieces of information Emily had given him regarding her relationship with her parents and ex-boyfriend, Zack understood perfectly the reason why she hated human interaction and her fears of being touched. He didn’t even blame her or think of it as weird. After all, anyone who’d been through even half of what she’d endured had every right to be reclusive.

However, Zack knew that Emily had thick skin and was tough as nails. There was no doubt that she could take care of herself if she needed to. But, he thought that maybe, if she had someone who treated and loved her in the way she deserved, she might start trusting people again. From the very beginning of their friendship, at around the same time as their FB agreement started, he’d taken upon himself the task of protecting her and soothing her and, for the past year, he’d been the only one who could.

Looking at the two of them whispering to each other and exchanging glances that were so filled with meaning, Zack had the feeling of mission accomplished. He’d gotten what he’d worked so hard for. Emily was finally opening up to someone who wasn’t female, old or gay.

A few minutes after Emily excused herself for the bathroom, Zack’s reverie was broken by Taylor’s angry voice. Being so deep in thought, he hadn’t noticed the conversation happening between Taylor and Jody. “What the fuck did he say about her, Jody?”

“Let it go, Taylor. I kicked him out and threatened to ruin their little band, so just drop it.”

It wasn’t normal for Jody to withhold information like that, which made Zack think that whatever had happened was a lot worse than she was letting on. “J, tell us. We all want what’s best for Emmy, and it’s pretty clear that Taylor cares for her and is here to stay, right?” The look Zack gave Taylor was one of a concerned father.

“Of course I am,” Taylor stated. “Look, Jody, I know you just met me, but I’m really interested in being Emily’s friend and yours.” Taylor took a deep breath to try and subdue his temper and impatience. “I can see that you protect your friends, and so do I. If we’re going to do this, you should start by trusting me.”

“Fine, but you’ve seen Bradley, and if you hurt Emily for any reason I’ll give him the green light to use his very sharp set of knives on your balls,” Jody said, in the no-bullshit tone she usually reserved for suppliers and health inspectors.

Taylor looked at her square in the eyes. “Got it. Now start talking before Emily comes back.”

Other than being impulsive, being stubborn was another personality trait that defined Jody. Seeing Taylor challenge her and win gave Zack a sense of respect and appreciation for his new friend.

“Apparently, he’s one of those guys that mix being nice and friendly with being flirty, because he was damn sure that Ems wanted him. He asked me to call her over so they could work things out.” Indignation and disgust twisted Jody’s freckled face as she continued. “I said that she wasn’t interested and that she was here hanging out with her friends. He got angry, called both of you and me a few names and said he’s not giving up so easily.”

A cracking sound came from Taylor’s knuckles as he tightened his fists. The anger was getting the best of him. His brain was working all possible scenarios, and all the things he could do to ensure that man never came near Emily again, but before he said anything, Jody continued. “The tone in his voice was creepy and he was pretty drunk, so I called their excuse for a band manager, paid them and told him to get the fuck out. I also told them that none of them are welcome here and that if I ever see him near Ems again I’ll call the cops.”

“You don’t think he’d try anything, do you?” Taylor asked between clenched teeth.

Jody let out a deep breath and shook her head. “No I don’t, Taylor, I think he’s just another piece-of-shit drunk.”

“Jody, promise me you’ll let me know if he ever comes back in here?”

The pleading tone in his voice was all the confirmation she needed that the man in front of her really cared about the friend she considered a sister. The tiniest smile tugged the corner of her lips. “Fine, Taylor, I promise.” She pushed her phone towards him. “Gosh, you’re even pushier than I am.”

Taylor laughed at Jody’s half-amused and half-annoyed face as he typed his cell number into her phone. “I think we’ll get along just fine, Cupcake.”

Jody was trying her best not to laugh or let her appreciation show too much, but it was proving an impossible task. She rolled her eyes and retrieved her phone from his hand. “Don’t push it with the nickname, Taylor.”

When Emily returned to the table her three friends were relaxed, laughing cheerfully. “What’s so funny?”

“Tay just won a stubborn fight with J,” Zack said, widening his eyes comically.

Taylor chucked before answering. “I’m not stubborn. I’m persuasive.”