Shattered Ties(70)

“Oh my god, my mom can’t be home yet,” she squealed as she pushed me off of her and ran to the window. “Shit! It is her! We have to hide you!”

I dropped my head onto her comforter and groaned. Her mother had the worst timing ever. “Where do you plan to hide me exactly?”

Her eyes searched the room frantically. “There—in my closet. Hurry!”

“You’ve got to be kidding me. I’m not hiding in your closet!”

“Please, Jesse! I can’t let her catch you here. She’ll never let me see you again.”

“Fine,” I growled.

I was pissed, really pissed. Not only did I have the worst case of blue balls on record, but I also had to hide in a cramped space for God knew how long. I stood and buttoned my pants back up as I walked to her closet and opened the door. Holy shit. I’d expected a regular closet, but Emma’s was bigger than my room at home.

She shoved me inside just as we heard a knock on the door, and I searched for someplace to hide in case her mom decided to search in here. I didn’t think she would, but Emma was the most transparent person on the planet, and I was sure her mom would know something was up. I noticed a small gap between where her clothing was hanging and a dresser next to the door. Figuring it was the safest spot, I walked over and crouched in my makeshift hiding spot. I could hear Emma and her mother talking, but the words were a bit muffled. I strained my ears, trying to hear what was being said. I caught the end of the sentence as her mom spoke.

“...you so nervous?”

“I’m not,” Emma said.

From in here, I could even tell that there was a nervous edge to her voice.

I need to teach her how to lie better.

“Todd here?”

“No!”

“If he is, I don’t care.”

“I swear, he isn’t.”

I held my breath as the doorknob turned. Shit. If her mom caught me in here, we were done.

The door opened, and I could hear the panic in Emma’s voice as she spoke.

“Seriously, do you not trust me? Todd is not in there!”

The door was wide open now, but her mother didn’t come inside. I breathed a sigh of relief as her voice came from farther inside Emma’s room.

“Of course I trust you. I know you’re not going to hide someone in your room. I’m sorry. I just thought you were trying to hide something.”

“Well, I’m not.”

“Okay. I talked to Todd’s mom again today, and she said he told her that you were upset with him. I thought you two might be together by now.”

I was so sick of her mother’s obsession with Todd. As far as I was concerned, the guy was an ass. She’d just stated flat-out that she was okay with him being in her daughter’s room, but I knew I’d never have the same offer. Just because his family had money, he was automatically the golden boy while I was the nasty kid from across town.

“No, we’re not together, and we’re not going to be. Todd is an ass.”

“I don’t understand why you won’t give the boy a chance. Is there someone else who you’re interested in?”

“Of course not. I’m not interested in Todd or any of the other trust fund guys at school.”

“And why not?”

“I don’t know. Does it matter?” Emma asked.

This was a train wreck that I couldn’t tear my ears away from.

“Of course it matters! You need to learn your place in life, Emma.”

“Are you even listening to yourself? Maybe I don’t want to take my place with all of those people who you try to force on me. Maybe I want to choose my own life.”

“I’m not even arguing with you about this. I don’t know what’s gotten into you lately, but it stops now. Get your act together, or you’re grounded.”

With that, her mom slammed the door behind her as she left. I stayed where I was just in case she was still in the room. I didn’t want to get Emma in any more trouble than she already was.

“You can come out now,” Emma said as she stepped into the closet.

I stood and walked out of my hiding spot.

“I assume you heard all of that?”

“Kind of hard not to,” I replied.

She went back into her bedroom and sat down on the bed. I followed, but I didn’t sit on the bed with her. I was so pissed with the entire situation. All the emotions I’d been feeling these last few weeks bubbled up to the surface, and I couldn’t ignore them any longer.

“I don’t even know what to say. I will never understand her,” she said.

“I’m not sure what there is to understand. She’ll never accept me, and we both know it. I’m so tired of hiding us from everyone in your world. It’s like you’re ashamed of me.”

Her head snapped up to stare at me. “Are you kidding me? Of course I’m not ashamed of you! I want to shout that you are mine from the rooftops, but I can’t. If anyone found out, she’d force us apart.”

“You’re almost eighteen. What can she really do about it? You won’t have to stay here anymore soon.”

“You want me to move out of my mom’s house right now? Where would I go? I’d have nothing, Jesse, and my dad can’t help me until I turn eighteen.”