Page 105 of Things I Overshared

“If it’s meant to be, you can’t screw it up. Like Suze would say, we can’t mess up God’s plan no matter how hard we sometimes try.”

“I know that should be comforting, but right now, it’s really not.”

“Well, then just watch some trash TV and go to sleep. On the couch.”

“Okay. Thanks, Sadie.”

“Of course.”

“You know, someday we’re going to actually talk about you and—”

“No, we’re not. Good night.”

“Night.”

I make up the couch for myself, which is easy because the throw blankets in the room are like butter. I watch some Netflix and check everyone else’s Instagrams using the Canton corporate account. I scroll through emails about tomorrow. I give up and try to sleep. I toss and turn for at least an hour, unable to get comfortable. Really, I just lie there hoping and praying that the bedroom door will open. But it doesn’t.

________

I am only half conscious of being picked up and carried to bed. I hear a whimper from myself and a sigh from Emerson when the cool sheets meet my skin. Then I feel Emerson’s lips on my forehead and his arms around me. I don’t toss and turn at all after that.

_________

The second my eyes flutter open, I see him lean over me.

“I’m so sorry.” His face is earnest.

“I’m sorry too. I should’ve given you space.”

“No, Angel, you don’t have anything to be sorry for. I’m . . .” He pauses to think, looking away. “I’m not usually with anyone. When the headaches come on. And I . . . I get angry. I’ve just never had anyone there to lash out at before, but I should’ve guessed how I’d be. It’s . . . miserable.”

“I understand, it’s okay.”

“It isn’t.” He looks back at me. “I’ll work on it.”

I’ll work on it.As in, in the future, with me. I try to clamp down my excitement and just nod, rubbing my hands up and down his strong arms on either side of me.

“Now I think we have maybe ten minutes before the alarm goes off.” He leans down and kisses my chest.

“Ten minutes, huh? That’s not very long.” I tease. He glares up at me and raises an eyebrow.

Challenge accepted.

_________

“Do you have a quiet office we could use for a quick Zoom meeting?” Emerson asks as we stand and shake hands around the table. I glance up at him, confused. An office assistant ushers us to a small office and closes the door behind her as she leaves us. As soon as the door shuts, Emerson is on me, picking me up and wrapping my legs around his waist.

“What are you—”

“I’ve news,” he says into my neck, pinning me up against the wall. My brain registers that there are no windows in this little office.

“What?”

“This dress drives me insane,” he says, pushing the stretchy navy fabric up my thighs. He licks, actually licks, my cleavage, which is somewhat on display since it’s a V-shaped neckline.

“Th-That’s your news?” I say breathlessly. I can’t get over how hot this is that he asked our buyers for a room just to have his way with me.

“No, first, I wanted to do this.” His fingers slam inside me without warning. I cry out in both surprise and pleasure. “Shhh.” He kisses my noises out of my throat. “Second, I just got an email, while you were talking with that mouth . . .” He licks my lips—just licks his flat tongue across my entire mouth, causing me to shudder. “Dan canceled dinner tonight.”