Page 20 of Right Where You Left Me
“This isn’t the place or the time to get into that, Emma.” I say, motioning to the customers dining in the cafe. They don’t need to be privy to this conversation.
“Fine. But we need to talk this out, Sage. This isn’t a healthy work environment. I don’t want to have to walk on eggshells around you, while I’m supposed to be focusing on my job. And, believe it or not, I really do love this place. This job is important to me, and I don’t want to risk it over something that we can resolve if you’d just let me say my piece.”
“That’s fair, I guess.” I take a deep breath and nod. “Fine.” I say a little firmer than I probably need to. “If you really think we need to talk this out, then you can meet me later this evening at the tattoo shop and we’ll talk there.”
“Okay. Great. Thank you.” She smiles softly, and some of the tension that was on her face melts away. She turns back to the register, and we both work in silence the rest of the day. But, things don’t feel as awkward as they did before. I won’t call it pleasant by any means, but it’s… It’s just… different.
“Sage. You’re giving me a headache. Will you please just sit the fuck down and relax?” River says without looking up from the tablet he’s sketching on.
“You can’t even see me, asshole.”
“I can, in my peripheral.” He says waving a hand at me. “What’s your deal? Your pacing is giving me second hand stress.”
“Emma is coming.” I say, chewing on my cuticles. It’s a disgusting habit, but I’ve done it for so long it’s too hard to quit. Thankfully I only do it when I’m stressed the fuck out, like right now. “She wants to talk about what happened.”
“And you’re scared of the tiny baker?” He chuckles, as if my life isn’t about to implode.
“Fuck off, River. You know why I’m freaking out.”
He sighs, setting his tablet down. He gets up and stops my pacing with a hand to my shoulder. “You’re right. I’m sorry, c’mere” His strong arms wrap around me and I lean into his big body. “I shouldn’t be teasing you, I’m a dick.”
I nod against him. “You are. You’re the biggest asshole I know.” I say, but look up to smile at him so he knows I’m kidding.
“You know, I am Team Sage. Always. I have your back no matter what and if the little baker makes you upset I’ll—” He scrunches his nose as he thinks. “I’ll ask her to leave. Won’t even say please about it.”
I snort. “Real scary there, Riv.”
“I’m terrifying!” He says with a deep belly laugh that shakes me along with him.
We’re giggling like children, tears in our eyes, when the bell above our shop door chimes. I turn my head toward the noise and meet Emma’s stare. A hesitant smile on her face.
“Hey.” She says softly. “Still okay that I’m here to talk?”
I stare at her for a beat longer and nod my head. It’s odd, seeing someone so soft and gentle in here. Not that that means anything about who can get a tattoo; It’s just,Emma’sgentleness that feels uncentering in here. It’s doing things to me. My stomach swoops and I swear I’m getting a stomach bug, because there is no fucking way that Emma Newton is giving me butterflies right now.
Emma’s eyes are glued to my tattoo chair as she slowly makes her way over to my station. Her lower lip caught in her teeth, and it’s taking all my control to not run my thumb along the abused skin there. What would that lip taste like on my tongue? What sounds would she make if I coaxed hers out to play?Stop.I cannot think about that kind of shit where she is concerned. For fucks sake, she’s straight.
“Thinking about getting a tattoo?” I ask lightly, trying to ease some of this anxiety swirling around all of us. Because who doesn’t love small talk when you’re already feeling on edge.
“What?” She turns her attention to where River and I are standing. “Oh, no.” She says with a nervous chuckle. “I don’t actually have any.”
“I could’ve guessed that.”
She frowns at that. “I mean, I’ve thought about getting one. I’m not that vanilla. I just never got around to actually getting it done.”
“What have you thought about getting?” River asks.
“Don’t laugh.” She says, pointing at me and I scoff.
“I won’t.”
“Promise?”
“Oh my God, Emma. Just fucking tell us. You’re killing us here with the anticipation of it all.”
“I wanted to get a little croissant right here.” She says, pointing at the side of her wrist.
I blink at her slowly, my lips twitching, and she huffs out an annoyed breath.
