The Rise of Emery James by Shae Scott Read Free Book Online Page B

engaged I was shocked. But she seemed happy. I was planning a trip up to see her and meet him, but they ended up eloping before I got there. And then she just kept pushing my visit back, saying they were busy with moving and trips they were taking. I probably should have pushed to go up there. I just didn't. Before I knew it time had passed and I was making the trip up for the guy's funeral."
    I blow out a breath and shake my head. It blows my mind to think that Emery hadn't seen her dad in so long. Not when they've always been so close.
    "Henry, I'm going to ask you something and I'm sorry if it steps over some kind of line, but do you think Gabe was hurting her in any way?" I hate asking the question. I hate the idea of him agreeing with me more.
    Henry seems to think about it for a minute before answering. "No, not physically," he says. His confidence in his answer breaks the tension in my shoulders and I breathe a little easier.
    "But, I don't think she was happy there," he continues. When I got up there it was like looking at a broken bird. Hardest damn thing I've ever seen. She was just sitting there on the kitchen floor. Had been all damn day. My little girl was sitting there all alone with not a single person to comfort her. Broke my heart." His voice cracks with the memory and he clears his throat before continuing.
    "I think she just married into a family that was completely different than anything that she knew. They weren’t like her and I don't think she ever fit in. I think after so long of trying to live up to what they all expected she lost herself a little. At least that's what I've gathered from what she’s told me."
    What he says makes sense. As sad as that makes me, I'm relieved. "I hate seeing her hurt this way," I admit.
    "Me too. But she'll work through it. I know she will. I think you've been good for her. Just having people around that care about her is going to help her more than anything," he says.
    I settle back into my seat. "Yeah," I agree, lost in my own thoughts, replaying all of my time with her these past few weeks. I hope Henry is right. I hope that with time, and people that care about her, she'll make her way back. The idea of not seeing that fire in her eyes again is too hard to accept. I make myself a promise right then to make sure that she finds it again.

 
    Emery
     
     
    I LOOK FORWARD TO THE nights when Cole comes over, which he does almost every night. I'm pretty sure that it's less about fixing something and more about checking in on me. If it were anyone else it would probably annoy me, but I like that he checks in on me. His presence calms me. It's the one time of day when I stop thinking about everything else and just relax.
    He hasn't pushed me to talk about Gabe or anything about my life back in Connecticut. We don't talk about the history between us either. It's a safe zone and I like it.
    He has to have questions. He has to have some sort of opinion about how I've changed since he last saw me. I'm not the same girl he knew and I guess part of me figured that he'd run off when he realized that. But he's still here.
    Being around him again, I realize that in a lot of ways he’s the same guy. He's just older and smarter. And a hell of a lot sexier, if I'm being honest. But at his core, he's still the same Cole. I guess that's where the calm comes from. I'm comfortable with him. I'm safe with him and everything inside me remembers it.
    I try to have some sort of treat for him on nights he stops by. Or dinner since the idea of him going home to eat cereal is too much for me to handle. Besides, it makes me feel useful. I like having someone to take care of.
    It's nearly seven when he shows up at my house. It's Thursday and I can tell that the long week has gotten the best of him. He looks exhausted. I point it out as he takes a seat in my kitchen.
    "Why didn't you just go home? You don't have to worry about coming over here. You work all the time. This house isn't going to