Page 39 of Worth the Risk

After finishing up the dishes, I head upstairs to shower and get ready for movie night, another Thanksgiving tradition. We all breakout an old set of matching pajamas and get on the couch to watch Home Alone and start the Christmas season off right. Mom loves celebrating each holiday for as long as possible so Christmas starts before Thanksgiving even ends. Tomorrow, we’ll put up the tree and decorate the rest of the house, turning it into a winter wonderland.

I hop in the shower quickly rinsing off the savory smells that feel like they’ve soaked into my hair and clothing. One of the best parts of movie night is eating the pies mom was making yesterday and earlier today, the apple pie she made for me is calling my name. Before heading back downstairs I pick my phone up from the nightstand to check if there’s any missed texts. There’s a few from the group chat with guys on the team, one from Vanessa that has me rolling my eyes, I don’t know how she got my number and I only know it's her because she signed it off with her name, but that’s it. My heart sinks a little with no texts from Emilia in sight.

I mean I did tell her I couldn’t talk today but I still had hoped to come back to my phone with at least one text from her. Maybe she’s still enjoying time with her mom. Even if they don’t have the best relationship I hope that maybe just for today it’s a good one. I reassure myself that, that’s why I haven’t heard from her while pulling a sweatshirt over my head and going back downstairs, the scent of apples and cinnamon hard to resist.

Chapter 25

Emilia

I startle awake, groggily checking the time on my phone, it’s now six in the evening. Clearly my body needed some sleep. Sitting up on the bed I stretch my arms above my head and then I hear the yelling, which is probably what woke me up in the first place. I was right though, nothing has changed with Arthur and of course him and my mom are now fighting.

Sighing, I collect myself and head to the living room, hoping to persuade Arthur into leaving. Something I did many times in high school. Somehow convincing him to go elsewhere after he’d gotten plastered and was screaming at my mom. When the living room comes into sight, I see the coffee table is littered with at least a dozen cans of beer and a half empty handle of vodka. I wince, that’s not good news. I knew Arthur hadn’t changed and it appears my mom would never either.

Coming around the corner of the short hallway, my mom and Arthur are standing in the kitchen yelling at one another. The dirty dishes and leftovers are still flooding the counters. My mom’s back is to me but Arthur is facing her and now me as I come up beside my mom.

“Arthur, you should leave.” I state, hoping to diffuse the situation, the last thing we need is neighbors calling the police on them.

He scoffs. “You always think you know what’s best!” He shouts at me. “Tell your bitch daughter to shut up Cathy!”

“Just leave Emilia.” My mom cries, the tears aren’t for me, I know that much, but ignoring her tears is impossible.

“No. If anyone’s going it’s you.” I point to Arthur. “You’re not welcome here.”

“Says the girl who hasn’t been home in months!” Arthur scoffs, my mom turns around to face me.

“He’s right Emilia. You haven’t visited me in months.”

“Oh, geez I wonder why mom? This place was a mess, you were drunk when you came home and are now, again.” I throw my hands up, fed up with her antics.

“Don’t you talk to our mother that way!” Arthur snaps. How they went from yelling at one another to yelling at me is beyond me but unable to deal with this exhausting scene I turn on my heels to head back to my room. Maybe there will be one more train back to campus tonight if not I’m taking the first one in the morning.

Before I even make it across the kitchen Arthur grabs my wrist, yanking me back to them. The movement has my whole body turning around to face him and that’s when his hand comes up and I feel the hard slap against my cheek. My head swivels to the side, my hand instinctively going up to feel the stinging side of my face. I gape at Arthur, then look at my mom, hoping she’ll speak up. Shock colors her face for a brief moment before her expression goes blank. I stare at her, no she has never been the best mother but I never thought she would let someone physically assault her own daughter in front of her and not have something to say about it.

Arthur now stands back a foot, grinning at me smugly with his arms crossed over his chest. Looking back at my mom, my eyes plead for her to do something but she can’t even hold eye contact with me, she just looks at the ground like her shoes are the most interesting thing in the room. I turn on my feet quickly, locking myself in my room and packing up the few belongings I brought with me.

It’s pure luck that when I get to the train station and check the train times on my phone that one will be here in twenty minutes. The train station is abandoned, most people probably staying home with their loving families. Tears sting my eyes but I blink them away. I’ve cried many tears over my mom but she doesn’t deserve them, not anymore. I plop myself and my small duffle on one of the cold metal benches, tucking my knees up to my chest and keeping my hands in my sleeves to keep them from freezing.

The train is thankfully rather empty, allowing me to sit alone and zone out listening to my music through my headphones. When I finally arrive in Watertown, across town from campus, it’s completely dark out. Walking home with it being this dark probably wouldn’t be my greatest idea but calling an Uber and having no one know where I am, probably not ideal either. I sigh, exiting the train door, debating texting Rosie so she would at least know where I was in case anything sketchy happens to me. I call the Uber, staring at my screen, ready to suck it up and text Rosie when an incoming call with Liam’s name flashes across my screen. Somehow this man always knows exactly what I need.

I feel instant relief at seeing his name but wince at the same time, unsure how I'm going to explain to him that I'm headed back to campus already, and alone. Deciding I’ll just figure it out as I go, I answer the call.

∞∞∞

Liam

“Hi.” Emilia’s soft and sweet voice fills my speaker.

“Hey.” I smile to myself, it’s only been just over twenty-four hours since I’ve seen her, but I missed talking to her and hearing her voice. Yep, I’m definitely screwed when it comes to this girl. “How was your thanksgiving?” The line is suspiciously quiet as I wait for her answer, so quiet for too long that I have to check my screen and make sure the call is still connected. “Emilia?” I ask, slightly panicking but doing my best to keep my voice even.

“Sorry. Yeah, um…” She trails off and I can almost see her shaking her head like she does when she tries to clear any unwanted thought from her mind. “Thanksgiving was interesting. I’m actually back in Watertown…”

“You’re back at your apartment?” I shoot up from my lying position on my bed. How did she get there? Why is she there?

“Well, almost. I’m about to get in an Uber. I’m at the train station.” I think I’m going to have a heart attack. Emilia alone. Alone at night on a train and then in an Uber? Why wouldn’t she call me? Of course she wouldn’t call you, you’re not her boyfriend. Yet. Yet, I think to myself. I have to show her how I feel about her. This moment almost solidifies it for me. If I don’t take that risk what could happen to her without me even knowing?

“Liam?” Her delicate voice brings me back to the present.

“Shit. Emilia. Are you okay?”

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