Page 26 of Right Where You Left Me

Sage

Emma: Good morning, babe. Hope you slept well, I can’t wait to see you later.

W aking up to Emma’s good morning texts is becoming part of my morning routine.

Seeing them time stamped for three thirty a.m. when she gets up for work is even better knowing that she’s thinking about me that early in the morning.

It’s comforting, knowing that I’m not the only one consumed in this.

She’s all I fucking think about anymore, and you won’t find me complaining about that fact one bit.

It’s been three weeks since our first night together, and things have only gotten better.

She doesn’t spend the night often if she’s working the next day.

Mostly because she said she’d feel bad having an alarm set so early when I’m asleep beside her.

But, I honestly wouldn’t care. I’d wake up at the crack ass of dawn every single day if it meant she was the first thing I saw every time I woke up.

I text her back a good morning of my own, along with something a little spicy to get her flustered. She always snaps at me about it when I come into the cafe and I live to see her eyes ignite. It’s so fucking hot. She’s so fucking hot.

I pull myself out of bed, shower quickly, and throw on some clothes. I’m in the cafe this morning so it’s just a cafe branded hoodie and some boot cut jeans. I grab an extra shirt to throw in my bag to change into before I go into the shop after I’m done helping out this morning.

River is eating breakfast when I meander out into the living room. He’s scrolling through his phone, muttering under his breath in French, while he shovels cereal in his mouth and he doesn’t notice me right away.

“Who ya texting?” I ask, and laugh when he jumps.

“None of your business.” He snipes.

“Okay, bitch.” I say and shove him. “It’s Levi?”

“No.” He says defensively, but sighs. “Yes. I um, I asked if he wanted to get together again, and he has very politely declined.”

I grimace. “I’m sorry, love.”

He shrugs, but I can tell this is hurting him more than he’s trying to let it. “It happens. I come on strong, I know I’m— I’m a lot.”

“Riv, you have such a big heart. Someone is going to be so fucking lucky to have it one day. You’ll see. Real talk, real heart?”

“I don’t really want to talk about me, Sagey.” He says quietly.

“Oh, Riv.” I wrap my arms around his shoulders and hug him as tightly as I can. “I’m sorry.” He doesn’t say anything, but he leans into me so I just hold him for a while. “It’ll all work out.”

He clears his throat and shrugs me off. “So, how’s Emma?”

“Good.” I say. “Things are really, really good.”

These feelings I’m developing for her are big.

So terrifyingly, capital letters, B I G.

It’s different this time around. I was so in love with her when we were younger.

She has always been this bright and loud presence, it’s hard not to love her.

But now, things are bigger and brighter and although it’s scary and I’m still trying not to worry that I’ll get hurt again, it’s also the best feeling in the world.

Because that gorgeous girl is mine. And I get to be the one to show her just how amazing she is.

“Really good.” I say again, almost to myself.

“I’m so happy for you, Sage.” River says squeezing me into one more hug.

“I’m happy for me too.”

And I am. So. Fucking. Happy.

Emma is a mess when I walk into the cafe a couple hours later. Her hair is in a disheveled knot on top of her head. Her apron and face are covered in what looks like chocolate frosting. She’s holding herself so stiffly, I can almost feel her stress from the door.

“Baby.” I croon, walking up behind her and pulling her into a hug. “What’s the matter?”

“It was a very frustrating morning.” She says, leaning into my touch. I kiss her temple softly and reluctantly pull away to go and grab my own apron. When I join her back on the floor she’s making a latte.

“What happened to get you so stressed out?” I ask as I start helping her make the drinks lined up on the bar. Piper is at the register, side eyeing us while we work and I flick her off. She can mind her own business.

“Ugh. We had a mishap with the oven this morning so we didn’t get as many of the pastries out as we normally do, and people were so rude about it, Sage. I got yelled at by a customer. I’ve never been yelled at like that before.”

I stiffen. “Who yelled at you? Was it Arthur? I swear to fuck I will fight that old man for you. Is he still here?” I stare out at the cafe, trying to sense who could’ve been mean to my girl.

Emma laughs. “It wasn’t Arthur.” Her hand squeezes mine softly. “But I’m glad you’re willing to fight for my honor, babe.”

I scowl. “I don’t like knowing someone was mean to you, baby.”

“It’s really okay. I’m fine and they left and hopefully won’t come back.” Her eyes widen. “Not that I hope you lose business, Piper!”

Piper just laughs and waves her off. “Please, I don’t want assholes in here either.”

“See? We’ve got your back. No one is allowed to be mean to you.”

Emma rolls her eyes. “It was one person… Oh!” She goes back to making drinks, but smiles at me. “I do have good news to share.”

“Do tell.”

“Liam is coming to visit in a couple weeks.”

“Liam.” I say stiffly. I can feel a chill crawling down my neck. Why the fuck is her ex -husband coming to visit her?

“Mhm. He has a weekend free and wanted to see how my mom is doing and how everything here is going.” Her hands still when she notices my reaction. “What’s wrong?”

“What’s wrong?” I ask, and even to my ears my voice is shrill. “Why is your EX-husband coming here, Emma?

“Babe.” She says soothingly, and I recoil when she tries to touch me. Hurt flashes in her eyes, but she nods her head and doesn’t try to touch me again.

I can’t understand why she’s okay with this? This man who has seen her naked, who knows her probably better than I do. I can’t deal with this. I can’t?—

“Sage.” She says firmly. I meet her gaze and I find only understanding there now.

“Babe, Liam and I ended things on good terms. He’s my best friend, just like River is yours.

He isn’t some villain trying to steal me away from you.

He knows I don’t like men, seeing as that is the entire reason he and I are no longer married. Okay?”

I nod, but it’s rigid and my stomach hurts. And fuck, I do not like this. “I just don’t like the idea of my girlfriend and her ex-husband being all buddy buddy.” I grumble. And Emma grins . Which I don’t know why she would be because this is not a ‘grinning’ type of situation.

“Your girlfriend, huh?” She says closing the distance between us.

“Yes, my fucking girlfriend.” I say, cupping her face in my hands. “What else would you be?”

She gets up on her tiptoes and kisses me, her tongue licking the seam of my lips. It’s hot, and it’s sweet, and it’s over way too quickly. “Sage. I promise you don’t have anything to worry about, okay?”

“Okay.” I murmur.

“You trust me?”

“Of course, Emma.”

And I do. I just can’t help that little green monster clawing at my chest. But I’ll try. Fuck, will I try.

“Good.” She says, planting a soft kiss on my cheek. “Now, I want to talk about your birthday.”

I groan dramatically, causing a few heads to turn toward us. I scowl at a few of them. “What about it?” I huff.

“Our big birdie told me that you don’t usually do anything fun to celebrate.”

I shrug. “It’s just a day. Thirty-four isn’t going to be any different than thirty-three.”

“Well,” Emma says primly. “I disagree, which is why River and I have planned to take you out to a club in the city this weekend.”

“Emma.” I whine. “I would so much rather spend my birthday, with you. Naked preferably.”

“ Sage! ” Emma gasps, looking around the cafe to see if anyone heard me. I chuckle and pull her in for another soft kiss.

“Relax, baby.” I murmur against her mouth. “No one cares.”

She melts into me a little before she pushes me away. “We’re at work.” She scolds half-heartedly.

I smirk and shrug. “Can’t help it that my girlfriend is so hot.”

Her cheeks scorch and she huffs a breath before turning her attention back to the cups in front of her. “Birthday. This weekend.” She says. “It’s happening.”

“Alright.” I relent, bumping her hip with my own.

Emma’s shift ends before I’m done helping out, and I watch her leave with a soft smile on my face and a wave as she walks past the window toward her car. I let out a breath. A fucking birthday party, at a club . The things I’d do for this woman…

“So.” Piper says, cutting through the thoughts swirling in my head. “Things seem to be going well.”

“Yeah.” I say, my smile growing. “Really, really well.”

“It’s good to see you happy.” Piper says softly. “Now, move your butt and make those coffees.”

“You ready baby?” I call out from my living room.

Emma spent the night last night. She said she wanted to watch me wake up on my birthday and be the first person to tell me in person.

The little freak. Fuck, she’s so sweet. My chest feels too tight to feel everything inside of it as I look toward the door to my bathroom where she’s primping.

I’ve been ready for a while, wearing a dark pair of jeans with a cream, silk button up tucked into them, but Emma always takes a little longer to get herself ready.

“Almost!” She chimes back. “I can’t get my dress zipped.”

“Would you like some help?”

She’s quiet for a moment, not even grumbling to herself while she tries again, before she says, “I wanted to come out and surprise you with what I’m wearing.”

“Oh, baby.” I coo. “It’s still a surprise. Let me help?” I slowly walk to the bathroom doorway, a hand covering my eyes so that I don’t ruin her surprise if she tells me she really doesn’t want my help.