Page 99 of The Love We Deny
“What do you want?” he grumbles, a frown deeper than his usual stony face tugging at his lips.
“I was wondering if we could talk.”
He doesn’t say yes immediately, glaring at me until he sighs, yelling back to his sister. “I’m going outside for a sec! Don’t do anything to get hurt!”
A higher voice answers from inside the house, and he steps out onto the porch, leaving the door open an inch behind him. He sits down on the porch steps, looking down at his feet, and I take that as an invitation to sit beside him.
We look at the street, watching as two cars pass by and the neighbor’s dog barks. I wait for Emmett to talk first. The kid’s always been quiet, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have anything to say.
“Did Addie send you?”
“She doesn’t know I’m here.” He looks at me sideways, like he doesn’t believe me, so I continue. “I came because I wanted to. You’re like another son to me.” I give him a pat on the back. “I’d hate it if you two couldn’t work things out.”
He looks back at the dog, his jaw clenched. “She really hurt me.”
“I know she did.”
“Do you have any idea how long I’ve waited to tell her how I felt? It wasn’t easy. I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t think she felt the same way—” He shakes his head with a pitiful laugh. “But she rejected me hardcore. She didn’t even have to think about it.”
“I’m sure she has her reasons.”
“Well, I don’t gotta be happy about it.”
“What are you doing, Emmett?” I push back lightly. “She’s heartbroken. You’ve been her best friend since forever.”
“She made her choice.”
“I don’t think she knew her choice meant losing you.”
He doesn’t answer that, dragging his foot over the gravel sidewalk.
“I’m not here to tell you not to have your feelings about it,” I say. “You put yourself out there, and it didn’t go the way you hoped. Believe me, I understand how it feels. It hurts. But she needs you right now.”
He looks at me then, and I’m careful with my words. This isn’t his fault, and I don’t want him to think it is. “She’s been struggling. More than she’s let on to anyone.”
His brow furrows. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, she’s been carrying a lot since her mom left, and she’s been doing it alone because she didn’t want to be a burden to anyone.” I hold his gaze. “I’m not telling you this to guilt trip you into seeing her if you’re not ready. But I know you still care about her, and if you have it in you—”
“Is she okay?” he interrupts, the anger leaving his voice, replaced by the protectiveness he’s always had for Addie.
“She’s going to be,” I say. “She has an appointment tomorrow to get some help. But I think it would help even more if she had her best friend.”
He goes quiet, staring out at the road again, and I get his attention with a nudge of my elbow. “You know,” I say, “when things aren’t so complicated, and you’re not teenagers trying to figure everything out, I think she’ll come to her senses.”
He looks at his hands. “I doubt it. She made it pretty clear how she felt.”
I put my hand on his shoulder, the way I would with Addie, and he doesn’t shrug it off, so I take that as a good sign. “You’re a good kid, Emmett,” I say. “She’s lucky to have you, even when you’re both being idiots.”
Chapter 25
Addie is quiet on the drive back home.
Jess and I try to ask about her appointment, and beside her, Ollie tries to show her a game he’s playing. But she brushes us off. I can’t help the twinge of worry that sinks back in at her silence. She seemed a little better the last few days with her mom being back.
She seemed okay before, and she took her mom’s pills.
Dr. Baker warned me it might be difficult after sessions, especially the first ones. Picking at things that might be hard to talk about.
