Page 306 of Small Town Firsts

I can’t even begin to imagine what Sterling thinks of me. He’s being so nice right now, comforting even, but who knows what’s going to happen when I pull away from this little pocket of safety I’ve found in his arms, of all places.

He’s whispering all kinds of things to me, but I can’t make any of them out over the sound of my own thoughts.

I legit just had a full-on meltdown in front of a man who has bullied me relentlessly for the past month. He says he’s a changed man, but how am I supposed to believe that? I certainly can’t think of anything that would’ve inspired a change in him.

Maybe it was you...the stupid voice in my head whispers, but that’s ridiculous. The mere notion of Sterling changing his shirt for me, much less his entire personality, is absurd.

At this point, all I can do is pray he doesn’t find a way to turn this back on me.

“Emmalyn.” His voice is somehow deep and soft all at once as his fingers weave through my hair to press against my scalp. He massages gently, before gently lifting my head away from his chest. “Are you okay?”

“Um.” I honestly don’t know how to reply. I’m still a little drunk and a lot embarrassed and kind of feel like maybe I’m dreaming.

“Fuck! That was a stupid question.” He pulls me back against his chest. I get the strangest feeling that he needs the comfort just as much as I do.

How bizarre.

“I’m so sorry, Emmy.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“Not directly, but I still feel like I failed you. We all failed you.”

“It’s...” I can’t seem to get my thoughts to connect. “You didn’t...”

“I’m going to make up for it.”

“What?”

“Just trust me, baby. I’m going to fix this. He was my best friend. I should have known something was off. My dad is the reason he got off scot-free. I’m. Going. To. Fix. This.”

I honestly don’t know what to make of him right now. It’s like a switch has flipped. My bully is now my champion. What a weird night.

“If you say so, Sterling.” I’m honestly too exhausted to argue with him over it.

“I do.” He speaks those two words in such a way, they weave themselves around my heart like a vow.

“Do you want me to go home?” I ask, pulling away from him.

“I was hoping you’d stay. Here. Tonight.”

I want so badly to say yes, but fear keeps me from doing so.

“Please. I just... I’ll sleep on the couch if you want.” He once again directs my gaze to his. “It’s just that what you said fucked me up and I... I’d feel better knowing you were here. Knowing you were safe. But I’m not going to take your choice away. If you want to go home, I’ll take you.”

It’s like his mouth has a direct line to my reasoning abilities, because suddenly, I find myself nodding. “Okay, Sterling, I’ll stay.”

He places me on the cushion beside him, as if I weigh nothing, before standing. “Let me get you something to sleep in.”

The entire time he’s gone, I rethink my decision to stay. At this point, the only thing keeping me here is the fact that I have no way home and the utter sense of calm I felt with his arms wrapped around me.

It’s a slippery slope I’m walking along, and like the foolish girl I am, I make no move to seek solid ground.

“I hope this’ll do,” Sterling mumbles as he steps back into the living room, clutching a shirt in his outstretched hand.

“I’m sure it’s fine.” I take the garment from him. “Where’s the bathroom?”

“You can use mine. It’s the door at the end of the hall.”

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