Page 23 of Right Where You Left Me

Sage

I stare down at the text on my phone screen and I know I’m smiling like a fucking idiot, but I couldn’t care less.

Emma has been texting me all day on and off.

She’s off today and has been running errands around town, while I’m stuck here all day.

I wish I could be spending it with her though.

Holding all her bags while she goes thrifting and ‘ingredient hunting,’ whatever the fuck that means.

She’d pretend to be exasperated while I pretended to be annoyed.

But we’d both know I’d do whatever she asked me to do.

I look down at her last text again and feel my stomach flip.

Emma: Can I see you soon?

The emoji is what I can’t stop staring at. That little red heart. It’s doing things to me…

Me: I’m off at 4. Want to meet up tonight?

I blink at the screen, now realizing I too used that fucking heart.

I’m not an emoji person. I don’t ever use them, but here I am, sending Emma hearts .

I shove my phone back in my pocket and force myself to get back to work.

I have a client coming in in a half hour and I haven’t finished the sketch for his tattoo yet.

She has me rattled. I wish I hated that, but I really, really don’t.

“Why is everyone in this town either crazy or ‘looking for a unicorn’?!” I hear Peyton lament from the front counter.

“Where the fuck are you looking for dates, Peyton?” River responds, looking up from the tablet he’s sketching on. The look on his face can only be described as ‘concerned fatherly figure’ and I stifle a laugh.

“Apps…” She mumbles, swiping through her phone. “It’s like anyone local either is a walking red flag, or they just want a bisexual hottie to have a threesome with. I hate it here. I should have moved to the city when Amelie and Colette asked me to.”

“That… sucks.” River says sympathetically.

“I’ll take you out this weekend. I’ll drive you into the city, take you to a club or something, so you can drink and I’ll be your wingman.

We’ll have the girls meet us there and the three of you can let loose and I’ll make sure you guys are safe from weirdos. ”

“Okay…” She says with a pout. “Thanks, Riv.”

“Sorry about the apps being a bust.” I say, but smile to myself.

I wasn’t really trying to date before Emma.

At least, I wasn’t actively searching for a girlfriend.

Sure I hooked up every once in a while, but it was never anything serious.

This thing with Emma, it feels different.

It feels like it could turn into something real, and that thought scares me almost as much as it excites me.

I just hope she feels the same way. I’m worried that I’m putting my heart on the line again, only to get ripped apart by the same person that broke it in the first place.

But I can’t think like that anymore. If this is going to work out I have to trust her.

Trust that she won’t hurt me like that a second time.

My phone vibrates and I push that thought aside when I read her response.

Emma: Your place or mine? Or do you want to go out somewhere?

I smirk at my phone.

Me: My place, because the things I want to do to you tonight shouldn’t happen at your mother’s house.

She sends back a string of blushing emojis followed by a ‘see you tonight’ and I can’t help but laugh. She’s so fucking perfect. River gives me a curious look and I grin. “Can you help me cook Emma dinner tonight? Please?”

“Oof, I don’t know Sagey. My schedule is pretty full tonight.” He says with a maniacal grin. This mother fucker, acting like I don’t know his stupid ‘schedule’.

“Please, River.” I beg. “I’ll do your laundry? I’ll feed Pistachio that nasty wet food you hate dealing with!”

“Alright, alright.” He says. “I do hate that fucking food… but she loves it so much! I’ll take you shopping after work tonight and I’ll help you cook it all before she shows up at the apartment.”

“Thank you so much.” I say sincerely.

“You’re welcome, cheri.” He says. “And Sage?”

“Hm?”

“I would’ve just done it.” He says with a wink. “But no take backs on the cat food!”

I roll my eyes. “You’re lucky I love you.” I grumble and he just laughs at me again.

“Wait. What are we making?” I ask, staring in horror at River who is meticulously picking through the cuts of meat at the grocery store. We’ve been standing here staring at raw meat for the past fifteen minutes. Apparently choosing the cut of meat is incredibly important to my best friend.

“Beef Wellington.” He says absently as he reads the label on the package of tenderloin he’s holding.

“You think that I, the woman you thought was going to give everyone food poisoning from cupcakes, can make Beef Wellington ?!”

He scoffs. “No. I think that I can, and that you can lie and say you made it.”

“Couldn’t have picked something simple that I could actually pass off as food I can make, but sure. Beef Wellington.” I scoff. “How do you even know how to make this?”

“I’m French.” He says absently flagging down the employee behind the meat counter.

The two discuss what other cuts of meat they have back there and I tune them out.

I should be grateful that he’s going through this much effort to make this dinner tonight, but I’m just getting more stressed. This has to go well. It has to.

“Alright, they had the perfect tenderloins hidden back there so I was able to sweet talk the guy into giving them to me.” He plops the meat in the cart and huffs when he sees my tense frame standing next to the cart, my hand grabbing the handle so tight my knuckles are blanching.

He grabs me by the shoulders gently, urging me to look at him.

“Sage.” He says softly. “I don’t have the words to explain to you how jealous I am that you have someone that you can cook for.

” He giggles and I try to shove him, but can’t because well, he still has my shoulders in his giant fucking hands.

“Well, that you can pretend to cook for. It’s such an expression of love and affection.

Cooking for someone you care about—” He pauses and I can tell he’s trying to collect his thoughts.

River always shows off his goofy and ridiculous side, but no one really gets to see this part of him.

The sensitive and tender side. He’s been through so much shit, and hasn’t ever let it harden him.

He’s sweet and thoughtful and he has so much love to give.

I know he’s going to find that special person to give his heart to some day. He deserves it more than anyone I know.

“It’s just really special.” He says quietly. “And so, I’m going to make this fancy ass meal for you to show off, and to show Emma that you care in a way that speaks to her too.”

“Yeah, okay Riv.” I say and squeeze his hand. He’s right, and isn’t that what Emma said too about why she loves baking so much? He loves to express her love and care through food? “What else do we need?”

He guides me through the aisles— picking up all the herbs, mushrooms, and puff pastry we’ll need.

We’re scoping out the vegetables for what River deemed ‘the perfect green beans’, when a throat clears behind us.

I turn and find River’s blonde crush standing there, a basket of groceries hung on his arm.

He’s wearing another one of those colorful button ups, but he’s wearing a denim jacket over it today.

His hair is swept back showing off his blue eyes that are locked on River.

River, who is staring wide eyed at him, like a fish out of water with rosy cheeks. I nudge him with my elbow and he lets out a breath. “Oh. Hello.” He wheezes.

“River, right?” He smiles, eyes crinkling with the movement and I hear River’s breath hitch.

“Uh. Yes. Yup that is me. And you— You’re Levi Moreland.”

Levi chuckles. “Most people don’t full name me, but yes.”

River’s cheeks get even darker at that. “Are we in your way?” He asks shuffling me and the cart away from the produce he was just diligently pilfering through.

Levi’s eyes twinkle with mirth. “No. But you never texted me and I saw you over here and felt bold. I wanted to ask if you’d want to grab a bite to eat and a drink with me tonight.”

“Oh, I—” River looks down at me and then back to Levi. “I promised my friend I’d help her cook dinner tonight, but maybe another time?”

“He’d actually love to.” I say and bump him in the side. “He’s just here helping me pick out the perfect produce, but then he’s free as a bird.”

Levi’s grin is bright as he looks back up at River. “Perfect, text me later? So we can hammer out the details?”

River nods, a dopey and adorable smile on his face, as the two say their ‘see you laters’, and as Levi walks away River sags against me. “Sage, I really don’t mind meeting him another time. You’ll need my help with this dinner tonight.”

I wave him off. “You have been pining over the man for months , River. Do not put this date off because of me. Just, give me this recipe and I’ll be fine.”

He looks unconvinced, but nods in agreement.

We check out and once we’re back at the apartment he heads straight to his room to get ready for his night out, and I sort through all the food we just bought and grin when River comes out of his room.

He’s dressed in a nice pair of chinos, a black button up with the sleeves rolled up his forearms and his hair is tied back.

“You look very handsome.” I coo at him and laugh when he flicks me off.

He walks up behind me, looking over my shoulder as I lay out all the food in a way that makes sense to me. He lets out a choked groan and I turn to make a face at him. “What?” I snap. “Do you not approve of the way I’m organizing?”

“Sage… are you sure you don’t want me to stay and help? This meal is?—”

I scoff. “I can read, River. You gave me explicit written instructions. I’ll be fine.” I wave him toward the door. “Now, go. You’re going to be late for you daaate.”

He hesitates, but nods. “Alright… text me if you have questions okay? I promise I’ll answer.”

“You better not.” I say, and mean it. I’m not about to let this meal take away from River’s date with Levi.

He deserves this night out. I watch him leave and turn to the paper he wrote out for me settled neatly on the kitchen counter.

Seems simple enough, and I mean, how hard can it be to follow a recipe?

Turns out, very fucking hard.

I somehow managed to fuck this dinner up so badly.

Everything is ruined. The green beans are a disgusting pile of mush.

The potatoes that River assured me were foolproof to make somehow aren’t cooked all the way through, even though I did exactly what his stupid sheet of paper said.

And this Beef Wellington is the bane of my fucking existence.

I somehow managed to burn the puff pastry while simultaneously not cooking the fucking meat inside.

It’s still so raw that it’s mooing at me.

I have never really been a crier. I get upset and sad, sure, but I don’t cry.

This fucking dinner has the back of my eyes burning like a bitch though.

I just wanted to make tonight special and perfect.

I wanted Emma to arrive and have a nice meal waiting for her, so that I can show her that I’m in this.

That I want her for more than a few hot kisses here and there. And I’m fucking it all up.

There’s a soft knock on my door and I try to take a deep breath to compose myself before I answer it. Emma is there in a soft white t-shirt and skinny jeans looking fucking edible. I let out a shaky breath and try to smile. “Hi.”

“Hi.” She says. “You gonna let me in?”

“Oh, um.” I turn to look behind me at the mess in my kitchen. “Maybe we can just go out tonight.”

“Sage.” She chuckles. “What are you hiding in there?”

“What? Nothing!” I say and reluctantly step aside. She clocks the evidence of my failure immediately and slowly turns to look at me. “Sage?—”

“I fucking ruined dinner, okay?! Are you happy now!” I snap and try to get away from her, but she snatches my wrist and pulls me against her chest, wrapping me in a tight hug. I try to fight the affection, but I’m a soup sandwich and melt into her as her hands stroke down my spine.

“Hey.” She soothes. “You tried to cook me dinner?”

I nod against her. “Yeah.” I say weakly. “But I ruined everything. Nothing over there is edible.”

Her fingers stroke through my hair and I feel like putty in her hands.

“Oh, babe.” She hums. “We’ll order a pizza, okay?

” I can feel myself nod again against her hair and she starts rubbing those fingers against my scalp.

“You go grab a bottle of wine and two glasses and get settled on the couch and I’ll get the food ordered.

Sound good?” Another nod. “You precious thing.” She coos and I can feel those tears burning again.

I tried so hard, and I messed it all up and she’s still— Fuck she’s still so sweet and perfect and I just want to kiss her all over.

“Okay.” I manage to get out before I do what she told me to. She joins me soon, setting her phone down on the coffee table.

“Food will be here soon.” She says softly and runs her hand through my hair again. “You tried to cook for me.”

I roll my eyes. “I failed to cook for you.”

“But you tried .” Her eyes go misty and I find myself stroking her cheek with my thumb. “Thank you.” She whispers. “That means so much to me, Sage. I— just thank you for trying.” She shifts, turning to look straight into my eyes. “Sage,” she starts, “there’s tulips on the counter.”

I nod weakly. “I got them for you.”

“You remembered my favorite flower.” She says a little wetly and it makes me smile.

“Of course I did.” I say, smoothing my thumb across the red abused skin on her lower lip. “I remember all your favorite things, Emma.”

Her eyes rim with moisture and before she can respond I pull her in and kiss her slowly, softly.

Tenderly. I want to show her what she means to me.

Show her that she is worth everything, and I will do whatever I can to make her know how special she is.

I don’t have the words right now, but I do have this.

So I kiss her more, and I pull her close and I let us get lost in each other until our food finally arrives.

We eat, we laugh and talk, and just— Have so much fun.

The wine I poured for us is gone and before I realize it, our plates are discarded on the coffee table and we’re a tangled mess of limbs on my couch.

Emma is under me, her soft panting breaths against my mouth are killing me as she rubs herself against my thigh.

I can tell she needs more, that she wants more, but doesn’t know how to ask for it.

I find myself asking her the same thing I did yesterday. “What do you need, baby?”

Her eyes flash, heat searing my face as she pulls me down closer to her mouth. “You.” She breathes. “I need you .”