Page 18 of Right Where You Left Me

“Oh.” She says looking around shyly. “Yes.” She points over to a booth we passed. “I wanted to look at the jewelry over there. It looks cool.” She mumbles.

“Hey, Riv?” I call out. “We’re going to go to that booth there if you two want to keep walking.”

He nods. “Alright, I’m going to go back down that way and then I’ll meet you guys back here.”

“Going to go check out his man again.” Peyton stage whispers, making Emma giggle.

“Leave him be.” I say to Peyton, who just rolls her eyes at me. Little brat.

We walk over to the table Emma wanted to look at and I watch as she handles each item with care, looking at each piece with such wonder and awe in her eyes. “Is this sea glass?” I hear her ask the artist and the two chat back and forth while I just stare.

It’s hard not to, when she’s like this. When her delicate hands gloss over things so gently.

I watch her fingers brush against colored glass and notice little nicks and burn scars decorating her skin.

Things I didn’t notice before, but make sense for someone who works in a kitchen.

What other things haven’t I noticed while I clung to all the anger and hate I had for her for so long.

There’s an ache in my chest, clawing at me, raging against my feelings while I try to stay indifferent towards Emma.

I run a fist against my sternum, willing it away.

I can’t let myself feel those things. Not again…

Emma finishes up, smiling softly as she shows Peyton what she bought and it isn’t long before River joins us again and we wander back down the street.

“Hey, Sage?” Emma asks softly. “Why don’t you ever post your personal art? Or set up a table like this for yourself? You used to love showing your stuff off. But I don’t ever see anything other than your tattoo stuff on your profiles.”

“You stalking me, Em?” I joke, but swallow the knot forming in my throat.

She’s been looking me up? And she’s… fuck she still knows me so well.

I used to post my art and enter art shows in college.

I loved the sense of community it brought out, but I stopped as I got older.

The internet changed, people got hyper critical and it just wasn’t fun anymore.

“I may have creeped on your Instagram.” She says with a wry smile. “Sue me.”

I laugh and shake my head. “I just think I’m too scared of the judgement now, you know?

Too many people think they know way more about art than they do.

It took the fun out of it.” I sit with that for a second before I continue.

“It’s easier, safer, if I just post my tattoo work because people are coming to me for a service, and that way they know if they want me or River when they come in.

But posting my own personal art, that’s just way more terrifying to me.

No one can tear it down if I never show it off. ” I say and shrug. “Safer that way.”

She hums. “Some things are worth taking a risk on, Sage.”

And with that, she leaves me reeling. Because I can’t tell if she’s still talking about art. I take a deep breath and force a smile on my face. “I guess we’ll see, huh? Maybe I’ll try to be brave.”

“I think you’re braver than you give yourself credit for.” She glances over at my friends and smiles. “And I think you have a really good support system, your friends, they’re your family now. I can see how much you all love each other. I’m so glad you have that.”

“Yeah. Me too. It was hard, you know. When my parents—” I shake my head. “I’m glad I have them too.” I say, choking a bit on the emotion in my throat. “You fit, just so you know.”

She looks at me with wide eyes, so full of hope it kills me. Did she think she wouldn’t?

“Really?”

“Yeah. River is smitten.”

She giggles. “Peyton hit on me, before at Blazing Brew . Did she tell you?”

I stiffen and shoot a look at my friend, who isn’t paying us any attention. “She said you bought her a drink.”

She nods. “I did, because I already had one and she wanted to buy mine first. I was very flattered.” She’s smiling wide, her eyes twinkling with mirth and I have to fight the surge of jealousy in my chest thinking about what could have happened if Peyton didn’t realize who exactly Emma was back then.

“Well. She is cute I guess.” I grumble.

Emma huffs and looks up to meet my eyes. “I’m not interested in Peyton.”

“Okay.” I say roughly. “Good to know.”

“It’s getting late.” She says softly. “I should probably get back home.”

“Alright, we’ll walk you to your car. We parked the street over that way.”

“Oh, me too. How perfect.” She says with a grin. Perfect .

The four of us make our way down the block, Emma fishing out her keys as we approach her car.

Call it fate, kismet, or a fucking curse, but she’s parked across the street from us.

River hands her her things and she gently sets them in the passenger seat of her car.

“I had so much fun tonight.” She says. “Thank you for inviting me along.”

“You’re always welcome.” River says and wraps her in a big hug. “Automatic invite, alright?”

“Okay.” She says softly and looks at me with a nervous smile. “What he said.” I huff out.

Peyton gives Emma a hug, and she and River walk over to where our bikes are parked, getting their helmets unlocked from where they’re clipped to the back of River’s.

I hear a choked sound come from Emma and fight a laugh. “Okay?”

“Those are yours?” She squeaks, waving toward where my motorcycle stands next to River’s.

“You like it?” I ask, my grin spreading wide.

“Ye—yeah.” She breathes. “So fucking cool.”

I let out a loud laugh. “See you later, Emma.” I say with a wink, walking backwards toward my bike.

She watches me go and keeps eye contact as I unhook my helmet and slip it on.

I let out a shaky breath the second I’m hidden behind my visor.

She waves as I turn the key in my ignition, the engine rumbling loudly.

I wave back and follow behind River, Peyton nestled on the back of his bike, as we head back to Cedar Falls.

My heart in my throat the whole drive back.

Fuck. Me.

She’s under my skin now, and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get her out.