Page 98 of Stolen Moments

“What?” I ask.

She points at me, glaring.

I flinch at the intensity of her attention. I don’t want her to see how broken I am. I’m supposed to be the rock. The unflappable co-worker who can handle it all with no distractions. No emotions or personal life. Just work.

“Nope, nice try. Rylann isn’t here to save you, missy. It’s time to spill, or so help me God, I’m going to kick your ass and fire you.”

“You can’t fire me,” I snap back. I bite my lips, shocked at my own snark. I’ve never spoken to Scarlett like this before.

A wicked grin spreads across her face. “Oh, getting sassy now, are we?”

“I’m sorry, I—”

“Oh save it. Sass all you want; it doesn’t bother me. I’m just glad you’re alive in there. Now, are we going to talk about why you have been a” — she waves her hand in my general area with a look of repulsion — “hot mess, with your sad eyes and horribly drab outfits? You look like you’re dressed for a funeral.”

I look down at my clothes to see that I’m wearing a silk blouse with a matching pencil skirt and pumps. I didn’t look at my clothes when I was putting them on this morning, but they definitely look like how my heart feels. Black.

This isn’t me. My outfits are always planned out and impeccably chic. I pride myself on looking and acting like a professional at all times. Over the years, I have used my look as a shield of armor.

Before Mason found me and tore down all my walls, making me fall in love with him. Before I lost him. Nothing matters anymore, but I can’t tell Scarlett that, so I stay quiet. Being vulnerable isn’t my strong suit.

In the upper echelons where I grew up, being vulnerable was tantamount to spilling blood in the water while swimming with sharks, who attacked and used your weaknesses against you. It’s how my father was able to trap me in an arranged marriage with a man who was in love with another woman. He used my love andneed to protect Chris against me, and in the end, it all backfired. Spectacularly.

I lost the love of my life because I was too slow to walk away. I’m all alone.

I can’t stop the flood of emotions that hit me with that thought, and the tears I have been keeping at bay spill over, the pit in my stomach growing and choking me.

“Oh shit. Emery, don’t cry. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I just thought this was about a guy.” She wraps her long arms around me, and her strawberry scent invades my nose.

Her affection feels both foreign and strangely comforting.

“It is. But…” I sob, tears streaming down my cheeks.

She pulls back, her arms on my shoulders, squeezing. “But what? You can talk to me, you know. No judgment.”

While it scares me to open up, I don’t think I can do this on my own. I’m exhausted. My self-imposed seclusion from forming relationships has made me lonely as hell. Having Mason in my life showed me that.

He was my safe space when the world felt heavy on my shoulders. If I had let him shoulder the weight with me, things might have ended differently between us. We might still be together.

I hate that it’s taken me so long to see that I have people here, people who care about me, who have been patient and kind. Rylann and Scarlett have always been on the sidelines, waiting for me to open up and let them in.

“It’s about more than just a guy—”

“Wait! Hold that thought. This calls for an emergency meeting.” She whips out her cell, taps the screen, and brings it to her ear. “Ry, it’s happening.” A scream on the other end has Scarlett pulling the phone away from her with a laugh. “Get your fine, just-had-a-baby ass to Blue Cantina. Stat.” Scarlett disconnects her call. “Rylann is going to meet us for lunch at our favorite restaurant.”

I look at the time on my phone. “Lunch? It’s three o’clock.”

“Fine, call it an early dinner.” She throws her hands in the air dramatically like I’m a moron for questioning her.

“We have work,” I say dumbly.

“Nope, we are done for the day.” She turns and shouts towards the reception, “Mandy, can you please watch the phones for another thirty minutes and then lock up? Tell everyone there was an emergency and either Em or I will get back to them tomorrow.”

“You got it, Boss.” Mandy salutes Scarlett with a grin.

I really like her. Rylann was right—she’s a good addition to the office. Not only is she a hard worker and quick at picking things up, but she is sweet as pie.

“What have I told you about calling me that?” Scarlett places a hand on her popped hip.

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