Page 115 of Things I Overshared

I am deceased, yet again.

She asks me for a hug, and I oblige. Then when I am bending down, she whispers loudly, “Are you going to go to a church and get a big white dress and marry Uncle Emmy?”

“Oh, I don’t know, sweetie,” I whisper back, freezing in what feels like a giant spotlight.

“If you do, he’ll blame you for his farts. They’re awful, and he always said I did it!”

“Abigail!” Emerson’s eyes go wide, and I fight the giggles.

“You should marry him anyway, though.” She stares at me with so much hope, my throat starts to close. I quickly turn the conversation around. “Doyouwant to wear a big white dress someday?”

“Oh yes, the biggest, with sparkles on it. Like I saw on the telly.”

“That sounds perfect. You will be the prettiest bride ever,” I say. “Now go to sleep and dream all about it.”

“Okay,” she yawns, then turns over.

I join Emerson in his quiet retreat out of the room. He pulls the door behind him, and I look up to see a strange expression on his face. It went too far, obviously, the wedding talk. Although it wasn’t my fault! I didn’t bring it up! Still, things got awkward fast, and now I’m not sure how to salvage what was a very fun, sweet moment. Luckily, his brothers save the day.

“Ben says we gotta drag you out one last time before you go, eh?” Byron says to us when we reach the living room.

Emerson’s shoulders sag at the idea.

“C’moooon!” Ben piles on.

“Now?”

“No, let’s meet tonight at Flip’s—dinner and drinks, casual, k?”

Emerson sighs.

“That one was a concession,” I tease.

He pulls me into him hard and fast. “And this one?” He sighs an exaggerated sigh in my face.

“Um, that you’re crazy about me, obviously.” He laughs an actual laugh, and I notice the surprise on his brothers’ faces.

“She’s got that bloody right,” Ben says.

We give warm goodbyes to his parents and promise Layla and the boys that we’ll meet them in a couple hours. In the car, Emerson seems to deflate, which is expected, but I feel like something is bothering him.

“So, what did your dad say?”

“Hm?” He turns to me, and I link my fingers in his. “Oh, nothing I haven’t heard a hundred times.”

“Ah.” I search my brain for something to cheer him up. “Your niece is possibly the cutest five-year-old on the entire planet.” He smiles and nods. “You were totally holding out on me. I bet there are adorable Uncle Emmy and Abby selfies on your phone.”

He chuckles but doesn’t comment. And he seems to grow more distant after that. Crap, maybe the whole Abigail comment was a mistake, since she asked if we were going to get married and all. I decide to stick with silence for the rest of the ride. Dinner with his siblings will turn things around.

Chapter 35

“Do you even own jeans?” Layla teases.

“That’s what I said!” I agree too loudly, and she and I both laugh. Emerson grins, but he still hasn’t shaken off whatever got under his skin at his parents’ house.

Flip’s is a dingy hole-in-the-wall pub that has only beer, liquor, a plate of fish and chips, and one burger on the menu. It has such a perfectly untouched old England vibe that I had to send pics to my girls. My selfie with the wood-carved pirate statue, Flip, was a big hit. The waitresses are wearing what I’d consider Hooters attire, the bartenders look like they may or may not live under a bridge, and yet next to me sits perfection, in his white shirt and navy slacks and gray jacket.

“Leave the savant alone. He likes his fancy threads.” Byron tries to come to the rescue.