Page 120 of Blitzing Emily

“It’s not an option. It’s not enough.” Emily got to her feet. She knew she was in the wrong, but admitting it to another person was a completely different story.

“You’re leaving?”

Grabbing her handbag, her car keys, and the cup of coffee, Emily hurried out of Starbucks. She didn’t want to talk about Brandon right then, especially since any thought on what an idiot she’d been brought inappropriate-in-public emotions.

The rain picked up just in time for her to get drenched while she walked to her car.

Amy emerged from the coffee shop and headed toward Emily’s Escape. She tapped on the driver’s side window. “What if you’re making the worst mistake of your life, Em?”

It would come as a real news flash to her sister, but Emily already knew that. She hit the button to lower the car window.

“Everything’s going great with my career. That’s what I care about. Everything’s fine.”

“I suppose that career keeps you warm when you wake up alone at threeAM, right?”

Emily must have looked shocked, because Amy smirked.

“We’re not discussing this,” she sputtered.

“Brandon still loves you, and I know you love him.”

“I have to go. I’m going to be late.”

“Give me a hug,” Amy said. Emily reached through the car window to fling her arms around her sister. Amy drove her crazy, but there wasn’t a minute of Emily’s life she could imagine without her. Emily backed out of the parking space, waving to her once more.

“Think about it,” she mouthed.

It became the “think of anything but a pink elephant” game. The harder Emily tried to distract herself with other things, the more she attempted to think about anything other than Brandon, the more he was all she could think about.

The voice teacher was pissed she wasn’t paying attention. Emily apologized to her, resolved to work harder, and escaped to her car as quickly as possible when the lesson was over. Luckily she managed to pull it together for the rehearsal that afternoon.

Amy was right. Even more than Emily’s list of appointments and things to do, she needed to gather her courage and call Brandon. There was nobody else she dreamed of and longed for.

She arrived home, threw her stuff onto the table in the hallway, and picked up the cordless. It was only a phone call. Emily had made many in her lifetime. There wouldn’t be another as important as this, though.

Cold sweat trickled down her back. Her hands shook. Her heart pounded. Stage fright was nothing compared to this. She missed him, she wanted him back, and she had to find the words to persuade him. She made a horrible mistake, and she needed to beg his forgiveness. If there was ever a time in her life when she needed to admit that she really,reallyscrewed up, this was it. She scrolled through the caller ID and hit his number.

The phone rang four times. She waited to leave a message. She heard Brandon’s voice instead. “Emily?”

The rush of emotion stunned her. She swallowed hard. “It’s me. How are you?”

“Fine. How are you doing?”

Where was the smile in his voice she loved so much? A knot formed in the pit of her stomach, right on top of the butterflies that were already there. She took a breath.

“I’m fine. I was wondering if we could get together for a cup of coffee.”

He was silent for so long she thought the phone had disconnected. “Brandon?” she said.

“I’m still here. Sugar, that’s not a good idea.” His voice was empty, defeated. The air instantly sucked out of her lungs.

“Why not?” she forced out.

“I’m pretty busy. Maybe another time.” She heard him let out a breath. “I’ve got to go. Thanks for calling—”

“Please,” was all she said.

More silence ensued. She waited.

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