Page 82 of Pretty Lethal
“Give her time,” Kai says reassuringly, dragging Hawk’s chair beside me and wrapping his arm around my shoulders. “She’ll come around.”
I hope so, but only time will tell.
Chapter26
WILDER
Imake my way up the stairs to grab pillows for the cinema room. We’re hoping to distract Emilia from her less-than-stellar conversation with her mother with a movie night, and at least the cinema room gives us the privacy to discuss things without her mom overhearing us.
As I step onto mine and Hawk’s old floor, I falter, my gaze lingering on Hawk’s bedroom door. Emilia’s mom has been in her room since she excused herself from dinner.
I take a step toward the door before stopping.
I shouldn’t.
Emilia would probably tell me to leave her alone.
She’s said her piece. Clearly nothing any of us say is going to change her mind.
And yet, I find myself taking another step closer.
This undeniable pull to make things right. Not for myself, but for Emilia.
She loves her mom. Hates that she is disappointing her. That this—we—are a point of contention between them.
Just maybe, if I could make her mom realize that this isn’t a repeat of what happened to her.
That we aren’t Emilia’s dickhead dad.
Emilia is ours.
In the same way that we are unequivocally hers.
For now. For always. Forever.
In this life and the next, my Angel will never know an existence without me at her side.
As though a greater force is pulling my strings, my hand rises, my knuckles rapping on the door, and a moment later, I hear Emilia’s mom moving around inside before the door opens.
Her eyes widen in surprise at finding me there. I’m sure she expected Hawk or Kai instead. They were much more open and talkative during dinner. For the most part, I chose to remain silent, not wanting to adversely impact her impression of us or our situation by putting my foot in it.
I don’t give a shit what people think about me, but surprisingly, I do find myself caring what Emilia’s mom thinks. I want her to like me, not only because it would make things easier for Emilia.
I want her to like mefor me.For the bigger picture in all of this. For the future we’re creating.
“Can we talk?”
She hesitates, eyes narrowing in scrutiny before giving me a curt nod and opening the door wider to allow me into the room.
“Nothing you say will change my mind,” she blurts before I have the chance to say anything.
Admittedly, I respect her strong stance, even if it would be in our interests if she was easily swayed.
“I haven’t come here to change your mind.” My statement takes her by surprise, her brows lifting and her head tilting slightly as if trying to figure out my angle. The thing is, I don’t have one. Do I wish she’d be on board with our relationship and understand that what Emilia gave up in Springview wasn’t the sacrifice she believes it to be? Hell, yeah. But she’s not going to. Only time will make her see that we’re destined to be together.
“All I ask is that you form your opinions of us based on our words and actions, not those of Emilia’s father.” She freezes, her whole body going rigid as she stares at me. I’m not even sure that she breathes. “We’re not him, and this is not that,” I state flatly, almost viciously.
After a drawn-out moment where I begin to worry she’s going to pass out, she finally exhales. “I can agree to that.”
