Page 81 of Student Seduction

24

Emersyn

4Years Later

Drew hugged me so tightly it was hard to breathe.

“God, I’m so sorry, Em,” his muffled voice said into my ear.

“You’re cutting off her oxygen, dear.”

I smiled over his shoulder at his fiancé James who stood behind him. I’d attended their engagement party last month but didn’t know James all that well yet. He was a finance manager of some sort from New York and reminded me of a more muscular version of Anderson Cooper.

He leaned in to hug me next. “Sorry for your loss, sweetheart,” he said kindly.

“Thank you.” I gave him a quick squeeze in return.

Nearly a decade older than us, James had bought my Love is Love sculpture from a LGBTQ+ Community Coalition fundraiser right after I graduated from art school. Drew had been my date, but he’d gone home with James. Something we still joked about and I planned to include in my best woman speech in their wedding next month.

“Did Camille make it?” Drew asked, looking at he small gathering that had shown up to my mother’s funeral, or rather the celebration of life ceremony as Kat called it.

I shook my head. “Haven’t seen her. And I think I’ve hugged or shaken hands with everyone here.”

“She probably couldn’t find a sitter,” he said.

I didn’t know Camille had a baby. We hadn’t kept in touch after I left.

“She has a child?”

“Little boy. He’s two.”

“Derek’s?” I asked, hoping the answer was no.

Drew nodded. “Unfortunately. But he’s in prison for like seven to ten for assault and battery so he doesn’t bother them.”

I should’ve known, even from New York, Drew would be up to date on the hometown gossip.

“Devon actually helps raise him.”

Before I could open my mouth, Drew put his hands up to silence me.

“He got help, Emersyn. After what happened. He’s still in therapy and he’s a counselor now that helps teenagers like himself before they lose control like he did. Believe it or not, he turned out to be a decent man.”

I wanted to be the kind of person to forgive and forget, but I would never forget the beating he’d given my best friend. Maybe I could forgive though. Partially. Some day.

“I’m glad to hear that.” There was no denying that my voice was strained.

James leaned down and spoke in my ear. “I’m not starting his fan club anytime soon either,” he muttered.

I smiled and our eyes met. The kindness I saw there mingled with a fierce protector vibe told me we’d get along just fine.

Kat hugged both of them then stepped over to tell me the community center was about to close us down for the evening.

The guests had dwindled to less than a dozen people. Only me, Drew, James, an attorney from mom’s law practice, and a few of Kat’s friends remained.

Kat thanked everyone for coming and they said their final goodbyes. Drew lingered beside me until everyone was gone.

We helped Kat retrieve all the pictures in frames from the display tables while James collected the flowers to be taken to where my mother’s ashes were being spread tomorrow morning.