Page 10 of Quarantine Crush
“Now? Wait, I thought you were staying with Embry.”
“I’m changing my plans.”
He’s silent for so long I have to check to make sure our connection hasn’t been lost.
“Dad?”
He lets out a long sigh, and I can picture him pinching the bridge of his nose the way he always does when he’s stressed.
“What happened?”
“Why do you assume something has happened?” I hedge, not willing to admit how much Embry kissing me has thrown me for a loop.
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe the fact that you’ve been talking about how much you were looking forward to finally seeing Embry in person for the last six months, and even though you’ve been there for less than six hours, you’re asking me to come pick you up in the middle of the night. A trip that would take five hours one way, mind you.” He lets out another long sigh, and I decide it’s best not to point out the only one who’s internal clock thinks it’s the middle of the night is me. “Why don’t you cut the crap and tell me what’s really going on?”
I blow out a frustrated breath as I realize that I’m not getting out of here with anything less than the truth. “She kissed me, okay?”
The silence on the other end of the phone is too loud, and I find myself pacing the length of the balcony.
“So I take it you didn’t want her to kiss you?”
“What? No! Why the hell would I want that?” My words are harsh, and I run a hand roughly through my hair.
“I don’t know. Maybe because she's a girl. And you’re a guy. And–”
“She’s not a girl. She’s Embry.”
My dad’s deep chuckle sounds through the line.
“Hate to break it to you son, but she’s also a girl. A woman now, actually.”
I grit my teeth in frustration. “I know that. I’m not blind. I mean she’s notjusta girl. She’s my best friend. I don’t think about her like that. It would screw everything up.”
“What did she say when you told her that?”
Frustration wells within me. “I didn’t. I mean, I tried to, but she claimed it was a joke and ran off to bed. Help me out here, Dad. What am I supposed to do? Embry’s too important to lose over this.”
“So you think sneaking off in the middle of the night is the correct way to handle this?”
I lean against the railing and rest my head against the ledge, feeling a hopelessness I’ve never experienced before.
“I’m going to take your silence as confirmation that you know better than that. You want my advice? Here it is. You said that Embry is too important to lose over this. If you leave, that’s exactly what you’ll do. You’ll humiliate her, and your friendship will never recover. Is that what you want?”
My heart seizes with panic at the thought of losing my best friend.
“Fuck. No.”
“Then, you stay.”
I slump down next to the wall, exhaustion weighing on me. “Okay,” I whisper gruffly.
“Things always look different in the light of day. Get some rest, and call me in the morning if you change your mind.”
I nod and tell him goodbye, already knowing that I won’t leave. No matter how painful the next two days are, I’ll suffer through them. Because I need Embry’s friendship more than she’s ever needed mine.
4
Embry
