Page 36 of Right Where You Left Me
And that’s when two things happen: the oven timer goes off. And River bounds into the kitchen at the sound.
“I heard the timer, are they done— OH MY GOD!”
“River!” Sage snaps. “Get the fuck out of here!”
“I’m sorry!!!” He says frantically, covering his eyes with his hands. “How was I supposed to know the two of you were groping each other in thekitchen! This is a public space,Sage!”
“Fucking Christ.” She mutters, her forehead resting on my shoulder. “We’ll pick this up again later, okay?” She says softly.
My cheeks are cherry red, I just know it. I can feel them burning with both unfulfilled lust and a little bit of embarrassment that we were caught. “Okay.” I whisper and hope that she means it.
CHAPTER 14
Sage
Istare down at the text on my phone screen and I know I’m smiling like a fucking idiot, but I couldn’t care less. Emma has been texting me all day on and off. She’s off today and has been running errands around town, while I’m stuck here all day. I wish I could be spending it with her though. Holding all her bags while she goes thrifting and ‘ingredient hunting,’ whatever the fuck that means. She’d pretend to be exasperated while I pretended to be annoyed. But we’d both know I’d do whatever she asked me to do. I look down at her last text again and feel my stomach flip.
Emma: Can I see you soon?
The emoji is what I can’t stop staring at. That little red heart. It’s doing things to me…
Me: I’m off at 4. Want to meet up tonight?
I blink at the screen, now realizing I too used that fucking heart. I’m not an emoji person. I don’t ever use them, but here I am, sending Emmahearts. I shove my phone back in my pocket and force myself to get back to work. I have a client coming in in a half hour and I haven’t finished the sketch for his tattoo yet. She has me rattled. I wish I hated that, but I really, really don’t.
“Why is everyone in this town either crazy or ‘looking for a unicorn’?!” I hear Peyton lament from the front counter.
“Where the fuck are you looking for dates, Peyton?” River responds, looking up from the tablet he’s sketching on. The look on his face can only be described as ‘concerned fatherly figure’ and I stifle a laugh.
“Apps…” She mumbles, swiping through her phone. “It’s like anyone local either is a walking red flag, or they just want a bisexual hottie to have a threesome with. I hate it here. I should have moved to the city when Amelie and Colette asked me to.”
“That… sucks.” River says sympathetically. “I’ll take you out this weekend. I’ll drive you into the city, take you to a club or something, so you can drink and I’ll be your wingman. We’ll have the girls meet us there and the three of you can let loose and I’ll make sure you guys are safe from weirdos.”
“Okay…” She says with a pout. “Thanks, Riv.”
“Sorry about the apps being a bust.” I say, but smile to myself. I wasn’t really trying to date before Emma. At least, I wasn’t actively searching for a girlfriend. Sure I hooked up every once in a while, but it was never anything serious. This thing with Emma, it feels different. It feels like it could turn into something real, and that thought scares me almost as much as it excites me. I just hope she feels the same way. I’m worried that I’m putting my heart on the line again, only to get ripped apart by the same person that broke it in the first place. But I can’t think like that anymore. If this is going to work out I have to trust her. Trust that she won’t hurt me like that a second time.
My phone vibrates and I push that thought aside when I read her response.
Emma: Your place or mine? Or do you want to go out somewhere?
I smirk at my phone.
Me: My place, because the things I want to do to you tonight shouldn’t happen at your mother’s house.
She sends back a string of blushing emojis followed by a ‘see you tonight’ and I can’t help but laugh. She’s so fucking perfect. River gives me a curious look and I grin. “Can you help me cook Emma dinner tonight? Please?”
“Oof, I don’t know Sagey. My schedule is pretty full tonight.” He says with a maniacal grin. This mother fucker, acting like I don’t know his stupid ‘schedule’.
“Please, River.” I beg. “I’ll do your laundry? I’ll feed Pistachio that nasty wet food you hate dealing with!”
“Alright, alright.” He says. “I do hate that fucking food… but she loves it so much! I’ll take you shopping after work tonight and I’ll help you cook it all before she shows up at the apartment.”
“Thank you so much.” I say sincerely.
“You’re welcome, cheri.” He says. “And Sage?”
“Hm?”
