The Party (The Proposition 0.5)(8)

Nate’s dark eyes widened. “Holy shit. What did he do?”

Connor’s lips curved into a wide smile. “He goes, ‘Conman, that’s nice of you to want to unburden yourself to me when we’re both stark ass naked, but I’ve known you were batting for the other team for a long, long time. And I could give a shit less. You’re my buddy, and that’s all that matters’.”

Casey glanced over at Emma. “Had you told Travis about Connor coming out?”

Emma furiously shook her head. “No, of course not. It wasn’t my story to tell.”

With a laugh, Connor said, “You could have knocked me over with a feather at his reaction. But that was Trav. On the one hand, he was this typical, rough and tumble, manly man jock. But then he also had a hell of a tender side.” Connor sighed. “He was the sweetest, most accepting guy I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. And one of the best friends I’ve ever had.”

Tears stung Emma’s eyes. “That’s true.”

Casey held up her wine glass. “To Travis. One hell of a stand-up guy who was taken from us far too soon.”

Emma leaned forward and clinked her glass with the others. “To Travis.”

***

At a little before midnight, Casey and Nate started to leave. As Nate helped Casey slide on her coat, she asked, “So we’re still on for the office party tomorrow night, right?”

Emma wrinkled her nose. “I don’t know, Case.”

“And why not?” Casey asked.

“After tonight, the last thing I want to do is get dressed up for a bunch of meaningless conversations over cocktails and hors d’ouvers.”

Casey wagged her finger at her. “With Nate working, you promised you would be my date. Besides, you haven’t been at the company that long. You need to make an appearance.”

Emma exhaled a defeated breath. As much as she hated to admit it, Casey was right. After four years at her old job, she had transferred to Burke and Company back in October at the request of one of her former work colleagues. Her boss, Therese, had pulled a lot of strings to get her the job and the sizeable pay increase. Emma knew couldn’t let Therese down.

“Fine, fine. I’ll be your date.”

Casey grinned. “Good. I’m glad to hear it. And wear something super sexy. Since it’s the building Christmas party, there will be more than just the eligible, single guys at our company.”

Rolling her eyes, Emma asked, “Let me guess. You would advocate the green dress you picked out for me to wear when I sang at that corporate party last year?”

“Ooh, the one that’s practically backless, has a plunging neckline, and shows off that fabulous rack of yours?”

“Yes, that one.”

Casey bobbed her head. “Oh yeah, you’ll have the men eating out of the palm of your hand.”

“Fabulous,” Emma muttered.

After giving Nate and Casey both lingering hugs, they headed out onto the porch. “Bye guys. Love you lots,” Emma said, waving one last time before she closed the door. She walked back into the living room and then flopped down on the couch beside Connor. Letting out a long, drawn out sigh, she gripped one of the pillows to her chest.

“It’s no good, Em.”

“What?” she asked.

“The act you’ve got going on.”

Emma cocked her eyebrows at Connor. “What act? I think it’s time to cut off your wine, especially if you won’t crash here for the night.” When she reached to take his glass, he smacked her hand away causing them both to laugh.

“You’re unhappy. I can tell.”

“Of course I am. Today always makes me sad,” she argued.

Connor shook his head. “There’s more than that.” He leaned closer to her to where their thighs and shoulders bumped together. “Tell me.”

Nibbling her lip, Emma stared down at her lap. “You know what it is.”

“The baby thing?”

She nodded.

“Is it because of mine and Travis’s last phone call?” When Emma shrugged, Connor gave her a sad smile. “I’ll never forget the way he sounded that day. I don’t think I had ever heard him happier in all my life—well, except for the night of your engagement party. ‘Conman, you’re never going to believe it. I’m going to be a daddy!’ he said.”

Tears stung Emma’s eyes as the painful memory seared into her soul began to fester and burn. She’d been a week late for her period. She was an emotional wreck thinking she was pregnant, but Travis was ecstatic. Although they had been engaged for over a year, Emma still didn’t want to consent to them getting married. There was Travis’s medical school to think of and her starting her career. But Travis didn’t care about any of that—he just wanted Emma to be his wife.

Sniffling, Emma wiped the back of her hand across her nose. “He kept saying, ‘Yeah, now you’ll have to go ahead and marry me like I’ve been beggin’ you to’!” she said, her voice choked with emotion. She didn’t stop to wipe the tears rolling down her cheeks. “He never knew any different. I got my period after he left for work the day he was killed.”

Connor reached over and drew her into his arms. Hard, guttural sobs wracked her body as Connor rocked her back and forth. “Emmie Lou, he died one of the happiest men in the world. Be thankful for that.”