Page 3 of Merrick
Chapter 2
JEMMA
It’s been three days since Ember decided to take up matchmaking, and now here I am, trying to get ready for the Fireman's Ball.
I still shudder at the memory of the uncomfortable look on Merrick’s face when Ember suggested he take me to the ball, but my brother’s expression was another story. He clearly knew exactly what his girlfriend was planning, but like me, he could only stand there and watch in horror as his worst nightmare played out in front of us. But despite my embarrassment, Aaron’s horror, and Merrick’s inability to not be impolite, it was agreed upon that I would go with Merrick as his date.
“But I want to go with you tonight," Mattie whines from the doorway of my bathroom. The look of childish frustration on his face would be almost comical if I didn’t know a tantrum was on the horizon.
“I know you want to go. You've made that very clear over the last few days, but this isn't a party for children." I cap the lipstick and turn to my son. "Mrs. Finkle will be here any moment to stay with you tonight, and I want you to be on your best behavior. Do you understand me?"
Mattie looks down at his feet. I can see the urge to argue with me on my choice of his babysitter warring in his head, but he doesn’t say anything. I already took away his video game privileges this morning when he didn’t clean his room when I asked him. He doesn’t want to lose TV privileges as well.
The doorbell rings downstairs.
“That will be Mrs. Finkle. Please let her in and tell her I will be down in one minute.”
Mattie nods and turns to run downstairs and answer the door. I take a look at myself in the mirror. Hair pulled up—check. Makeup done—check. Now it’s time to put on the dress that Ember helped me pick out.
It's a burgundy off-the-shoulder mermaid style dress that hugs my curves. The style of the dress seemed like a good idea at the time in the dressing room. But looking at myself in the mirror, I'm suddenly wondering if the dress doesn't hug my curves but accentuates them in an unflattering way.
I’m about ready to take it off and see if there is something in my closet that could work as a substitute, but the doorbell rings again.
“Mom! Merrick’s here.”
It’s too late now.
“I’ll be right there!”
I do one more quick look in the mirror and sigh. I really hope I’m not about to embarrass myself or Merrick wearing this thing tonight.
MERRICK
I nearly swallow my tongue when I look up from my spot near the front door and see Jemma walking down the steps. The deep red of her dress looks fantastic against her smooth tan skin. The low cut of her dress leaves little to the imagination, and my dick twitches at the sight of her cleavage. I can’t keep my mind from wandering. I imagine holding Jemma in my arms, slowly pulling the zipper down, and allowing the dress to fall to the floor in a puddle.
“Should we get going?” Jemma smiles at me.
“Yes.” My voice breaks slightly, and I clear my throat. “I’m ready whenever you are.”
I wait while Jemma talks with the babysitter, an older woman in her late sixties, giving her a rundown of the evening and all the numbers she can be reached at tonight. Jemma kisses Mattie goodnight, and we head out to the parking lot.
I’m not sure what the protocol is when you find yourself on a date with your best friend’s sister, who you’ve been in love with forever, and she’s only going with you because she was forced into it by her own best friend.
Without hesitation, Jemma loops her arm in the crook of mine and holds on as we walk out to my truck. The side of her full breast brushes against my arm, and my dick jumps to life again. I’m not sure how I’m going to keep from embarrassing myself when we dance.
“Are you okay?” Jemma asks.
I stop and open the passenger door for her.
“I’m fine,” I say, but she doesn’t look convinced.
“It’s just I feel bad that Ember put you on the spot, pushing you to ask me to come with you tonight.”
Is that what she thinks?
I could tell her that I nearly grabbed Ember up in my arms to spin her around when I finally realized what she was doing. She's known about my feelings for Jemma from almost the first day Aaron introduced us. She was quick to see what my best friend has been turning a blind eye to when it comes to my feelings for Jemma. I could tell her all that, but I don't want to scare her away. For the first time in my life, my fantasies about Jemma are closer than just my imagination. I can't take that risk.
“Are you kidding?” I smile reassuringly at her. “It’s you that is doing me the favor tonight. I was cutting it close to the wire, and if I didn't find someone, we both know that Ember would have let me have it."
The smile on her face falters a bit, and I wonder what it is, I've said as I offer my hand to her and help her into the truck. We drive with only the soft hum of the radio playing between us.
