“What’s your point?”
“You’re doing the same thing,” Elise said. “Only now it’s with Miranda’s fucking fiancé.”
“Ex…”
“I can’t believe this,” Elise said.
She walked back to her book.
I took a deep breath. “This was a nice visit.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“How about just be happy for me,” I said. “I’m done being a doormat, Elise. That includes for you too. I know what you want for me in life, but that’s not your call. It’s my life. I found music again. I’m really good at singing. I’m not going to become rich and famous, but why can’t I enjoy it? This thing with Liam… sure, on the surface it looks weird, but I promise you, the way we feel is real. I’m going to get going. I have plans.”
“With Liam?”
“Yes.”
Elise stared at me. She swallowed hard. “I just hate seeing you hurting.”
“I’ve made mistakes in my life, Elise. But you have to realize you were lucky when you met Dan. I’m so happy for you two. And all you have. I love Dan. I love Henley. I love you. My path is different but that doesn’t mean you have to push me away.”
“I would never push you away.”
“You are.”
“I’m sorry,” Elise said. “I sometimes get overbearing. Overprotective. I get scared for you. I shouldn’t. You’re stronger than me, Emily. To take on the bakery. To look yourself in the mirror and want something and go for it. I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks,” I said. “I just can’t be a doormat anymore. That’s my fault. I have to make sure I raise my voice.”
“Hey. Maybe we can come see you sing one of these nights.”
“Yes,” I said. “I’m really good.”
“I know you are,” Elise said. “You used to sing all the time when we were kids.”
“You said I sucked.”
“That’s so you’d shut up.”
“You know you can never shut me up, right?”
Elise laughed. “True.”
“I really do have to get going. Oh, really quick… phone sex isn’t a thing anymore. It’s called sexting.”
Elise stood up and pointed to me. “I knew it!”
I winked and hurried out of the house.
Dan was getting out of his car as I walked down the sidewalk.
“Leaving so soon?” he called out.
“Well, I knew you were home,” I said.
“Ouch.”
“Sorry.”
“No, you’re not.” He nodded to the house. “Everything good in there?”
“Your wife is cleaning the upstairs bathroom,” I said.
“Why?”
I laughed. “Don’t ask. Inside joke.”
“Okay…” He slowly walked to the sidewalk with his bag over his shoulder. “You were walking with purpose there. Everything good with you and Elise?”
“We’re good,” I said. “And… hey… I need to talk to you.”
“Ut-oh.”
“Yeah. Listen. Jeff…”
Dan smiled. “How much of an asshole am I?”
“A big one.”
“Too far?”
“Way too far, Dan.”
“Got it. Not that I need a defense or should have one…”
“You don’t.”
“I just hate to see you miserable in that bakery.”
“Fucking Jeff isn’t going to fix that.”
“Right,” Dan said. “Do you forgive me?”
“I’ll think about it. I have something for you.”
I walked to my car and gave him a box of cupcakes I had on the front seat.
“Where do you park this thing in the city?” Dan asked.
“The back of the bakery,” I said. “I only ever drive it here.”
Dan opened the lid to the box and smiled. “You put an extra one on top.”
“That’s right. Elise will never know you ate it.”
“You’re the best, Emily,” Dan said.
“I know. So stop trying to get me to sleep with your weird, douchey co-worker.”
Dan stuffed half a cupcake into his mouth and said, “You got it!”
That launched crumbs at me.
“Wow. No wonder Elise can’t keep her hands off you.”
Dan lifted his middle finger.
I laughed and got into my car.
I had to get back to the city.
To get back home.
To get that cock from the picture on my phone inside me for real.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Liam
When I got word that the patent case went in our favor, I grabbed my phone and texted Emily.
It was like second nature to me.
Was it a big deal?
It kind of was.
The patent case was directly on my shoulders and we did it. We proved the case and won. Did it matter for my career? I had no idea, and I frankly didn’t give a shit. I was sick of living my life worrying about the next rung of the ladder to climb up when it came to corporate bullshit.
I rattled off a bunch of legal jargon nonsense when I texted Emily.
It was a mild slip of my mind since I was used to texting Miranda, which was always proper and dryer than a desert.
But Emily being Emily…
I have no idea what the hell you just said, but you won a case, and that’s bitching. Good job. ;)
I laughed and wished she was in my office with me so I could hug her. Kiss her.
Fuck her on my desk.
Eat her out on the leather couch.
Put her bare ass against the high-rise window as I fucked her again.
The woman made me rage with sexual need I completely forgot could exist.
The only bad part of it… Jackson had been right all along.
I would never tell him that. He’d never let it go if I did.
Then again, he had Callie.
I had Emily.
For the first time in a really long time, I felt comfortable.
“Get in the office,” I said to the interns.
I slammed the door after they entered.
“You three worked on that patent case with me,” I said. “Right?”
The three nodded.
“I just got word about the case,” I said.
“Oh, no,” Maria said.
“What do you think happened?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” she said.
“We fucking blew it,” David said.
“Whatever,” Jacob said. “I worked my ass off. If that’s not good enough then fuck it. Fuck this.”
Jacob stood up.
“Are you quitting?” I asked.
“What’s the point?” he asked.
“Wow, you three need to grow some
