Page 103 of Pretty Little Fears

“Hey,Mr.Daniels!”Isay, trying to keep my voice cheery, despite the doubt swirling in my gut.Myintuition is trying to brace me for whatIknow is coming.

“Hey, kiddo.I'vebeen meaning to catch you or your mom.Whydon’t you sit down so we can have a little chat, yeah?”

Inod while following him to a nearby booth.Emmettsqueezes my hand andIgive him a reaffirming look.Mr.Danielsis not a threat, he’s far from it.Ofcourse, that means nothing toEmmettas he shoots daggers at the guy when he slides in next to me instead of across.Mr.Danielsfirst leased this building to my father when he was only twenty years old.Dadbuilt the restaurant from the ground up.Puthis blood, sweat, and tears into it.Hewas always super grateful forMr.Danielsfor seeing a boy with a dream and giving him a chance.

Helooks at me with so much sympathy andIfeel likeI’mgoing to be sick.That’show everyone seems to look at me these days.Lettingout a sigh, he reaches into his bag and brings out a stack of papers, placing them on the table to face me soIcan read them.

Ifeel my heart sink to my feet whenIlook at the words reflected back at me.Thatcan’t be right.

“Whatdo you mean, final notice?”Thewords sound like they’re coming from someone else and not me.

“Iam really sorry to do this to you,Blair.Truly,Iam.Butthere’s been no one here to run the restaurant and it’s not bringing in enough money.”

Hepauses and goes into his bag to grab some more papers.Ican’t focus asEmmettleans in and whispers in my ear, “I'llkill him right now.Justsay the word and he’s gone.”

Mr.Daniel’shead shoots up and stares at us as he clears his throat.Iguess from the sound of my heart beating,IfiguredEmmetthad been whispering.Hewasn’t, though.Hesaid it loud and clear forMr.Danielsto hear.

Shakingmy head,Iput my hand on his thigh, “No.No,Emmett.Don’tdo that, please.”Ilook over toMr.Danielsas he places more papers in front of me, anxiously eyeingEmmett.Izone out as he starts to explain the process and what will have to happen moving forward.

Mybarely stitched-up heart severs the flimsy strings that were holding it together.Ashe wraps up and gives me one final look, sadness shining in his eyes, he turns to leave.Ifeel a tear escape from my lashes and trail down my cheek.

Emmettseems to notice it too because he’s standing up and grabbing a knife from a nearby table set.Hestarts to go in the direction thatMr.Danielswent whenIfinally realize he’s about to kill him.Iswipe away the lone tear and quickly scramble out of the booth to go after him.

Grabbinghis arm, he looks down at me.Ragecovers his features and his eyes look cold and dead. “Justlet it go.Please.Ijust want to go home.”

Hiseyes harden on me, “Buthe made you cry?Noone but me makes you cry.Eventhen, it's only in pleasure.Forthat, he’s done.”Heshrugs like it's a simple solution butItug on his arm again.

“Please,Emmett.It’snot his fault.Please, just take me home.”Hiseyes bounce between mine, searching for a reason to not go kill the landlord.Hemust see it because he leans over and sets the knife on a nearby table, taking my hand.Heleads me out of the restaurant and to our car, opening the door for me to climb inside.

Idon’t speak on the drive home.Isit quietly, staring out the window, thinking about the way life continues to deal me the shittest hand possible.

WhenamIgoing to catch a fucking break?

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

EMMETT

Mymind is made up.Fromthe momentIsawBlairin my economics class and how her eyes would light up at the topic of business,Iknew she had a dream in that world, unlike me.

Whenshe finally told me about her father and the restaurant,Isaw how desperately she wanted it, even as heartbreak covered her features with the knowledge that she was going to lose it.

Atleast she thought she was going to.WhatBlairdoesn't realize is that when my father…passed, being his only child,Igot everything.Inever need to work another day in my life, so naturally neither does she.That'sbeside the point though.I'vethought about this plan since she first looked at me with those sad eyes, a lookIneeded off her face immediately, at the realization she was going to lose the place she loved.

Peelingmy eyes open,Ilook over at her sleeping form.Herchest rises and falls with her steady breathing, letting me know she’s in a deep sleep.Ilean forward and press a light kiss to herforehead, then slip from beneath her, getting out of the bed.Grabbingmy discarded sweatpants off the floor,Ipull them up and throw a hoodie on.Makingmy way towards the door,Ispare a glance back at her before exiting the room.

Icreep down the stairs towards the living room whereIsee her mother is awake.Thesmell of coffee hits my nose and she looks over as she hears me enter the room.

“Goodmorning,Emmett, '' she says with a soft smile.

“Goodmorning,Mrs.Stirling,”Ireply, giving her back a smile asIgo towards the coffee pot to pour myself a cup.

“Pleasehunny, call meElizabeth.Isee the way you look at her, we’ll be family soon enough.”Shesays.Mysmile spreads as my heart swells.Ican see whereBlairgot her loving nature from.Withmy coffee in hand,Ihead over to the couch she's sitting on and take a seat in the neighboring chair.

“Iwas actually hopingIcould talk to you about something beforeBlairwakes up.It’spretty important.”Isay, clearing my throat. “Iknow last nightBlairspoke to you about having to sell the restaurant, butIalso know it’s her dream to run it, take over forMr.Stirling, and honor his hard work.”Ilook into her eyes and see the understanding reflected back in them, she knows whatI'mgoing to do.

“Iwant to buy it for her.Iamgoing to buy it for her.Shedeserves it more than anyone, andIhave the money to spare.Respectfully,I'mnot asking for permission becauseIwill giveBlaireverything she deserves, butIwould love to have your support.”

Sheassesses me as she lifts her coffee to her lips, taking a sip while eyeing me.Whenshe brings the cup down she speaks.

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