Clifford Arbor: Savouring Emily Read online

  They walked along the edge of the beach. The sea in the distance looked so beautiful with the sun shining down.

  It wouldn’t take long for her pale skin to become tanned.

  “Where did you go?”

  “I travelled from place to place. I went to Italy and France. They’re so beautiful and breath taking. I backpacked a little. Nothing was ever certain.”

  “I stayed and waited for you to call. Your parents were worried sick and I, I thought I’d done something wrong.”

  Emily cupped his cheeks and forced him to look at her. “Please, look at me, Chase.”

  He didn’t want to. After so long without being near her watching her and knowing she’d never be his was killing him.

  She kissed him. Chase was so shocked he opened his eyes. She gazed at him but the kiss deepened. No longer able to keep his hands away from her he cupped her cheek. Her skin as soft as ever.

  “You were the best thing that happened to me on that night.”

  “I know you’re not admitting to undying love,” he joked.

  “I fell in love with you a long time ago, Chase.”

  He stared at her with a blank expression. At least he thought it was a blank expression.

  “I don’t know what to say,” he told her.

  “You don’t have to say anything.”

  Her hands moved from his face and he missed her touch. “No. Don’t stop touching me,” he begged.

  Chase held her close and closed his eyes.

  “You look beautiful,” he whispered.

  “Thank you.”

  They walked along the beach for the remainder of the day. Chase took her hand and he dropped her off at home.

  “I could stay with you,” she whispered.

  Chase groaned and kissed her on the lips. Out of the corner of his eye her saw a curtain twitching from inside.

  “I would very much like to take you up on that offer but it has been over five years. I want to get to know the new you. Times have changed and your dad would kick my ass if on the first day back I ravaged you back at my apartment.”

  “I guess you’re right.”

  “I know I’m right.”

  “I also need to talk to, Lawrence. I owe him an explanation,” Emily said.

  “That you do.”

  Chase watched her go inside and then walked the short distance to his own apartment. Lawrence was sitting watching television. He didn’t move when he walked in. Not surprising. Chase didn’t offer an explanation. He grabbed a beer from the fridge and joined him watching some sort of horror flick. Horror or porno he couldn’t make out.

  “How is she?” he asked.

  “Good. Happy and certainly grown up.” Chase chuckled.

  “Is she staying for good?”

  “She said she was. She wants to have a talk with you. I think she feels all weird about everything,” Chase told him. He drank half a bottle of his beer shocked to see his hands shaking.

  Shit. He hadn’t really expected to see her again.

  “Why didn’t you bring her back here?”

  He watched a few minutes of the horror porn flick and thought about the question.

  “I don’t want to rush her into anything. What happened back at that motel was amazing. I don’t want to repeat it. Emily, deserve much more than that.”

  “You’re damned right she does. I guess here is my bit. I love, Emily. Always have and always will. You ever and I mean ever hurt her. I’ll cut your fucking dick off.”

  Chase smiled. He knew his friend was serious. What made him smile was he wouldn’t be stupid enough to hurt her. He wanted to love her and give her everything in the world.

  ****

  Emily took a waitress job at the local diner. Everyone stopped by to wish her well and she watched the door to see if, Lawrence would enter. Her parents were still a little off with her but it was getting better.

  Mavis had given her a job offer the moment she walked through the door. Molly looked grateful for the extra pair of hands.

  “When do the guys come in?” she asked. Molly had been a class beneath her at school but the other woman was still friendly.

  “Carl and Edward, tend to come in first and sit over in that booth over there. Chase and Lawrence, don’t spend a lot of time here. Maybe with you being the new hot waitress, they’ll find an excuse to come here more often.

  “I see, Jackson and Harley are still regulars,” Emily said and waved at the two men. They were lovers she could tell but no one talked much about them.

  “Yes.”

  “Ladies! The lunchtime regulars are coming,” Mavis said from behind them. Molly blushed when Edward and Carl walked in.

  “I guess I’d better go and serve my regulars as well. Good luck, you’ll be fine.”

  Emily watched the scene play out and she couldn’t help but be nosey. Molly was an adorable woman and she should have a guy who appreciated her. Picking up the wash cloths and spray she moved over, to where the guys were sitting and started washing down the table tops.

  They were already sparkling clean but she thought it wouldn’t do much harm to make sure.

  “Hi. What will you be having today?” Molly asked.

  Emily moved round the table so she could watch it as well.

  Carl glanced at his menu and Edward stared at Molly, a look of longing appeared on his face.

  Say something to her. Start a conversation.

  “I’ll have the lunch special,” he said. Emily shot a glare at him.

  “Okay. What do you want, Carl?”

  The other brother ignored her and Emily couldn’t believe what an asshole he was being.

  “I’ll have whatever he’s having,” he said after a long pause.

  “Two lunch specials coming up. I’ll bring your coffee out in a second.”

  Emily saw Edward, watch her as she moved up to the counter.

  “You know any wider and you’re going to start drooling,” Carl complained.

  “Sorry.”

  These two brothers were fucking useless. As she was about to start a conversation a hand wrapped around her waist and pulled her up against a firm hard body. She was shocked when her pussy melted and her nipples hardened. When she turned around she was even more surprised to see Lawrence and not Chase. She’d responded to Lawrence sexually. This couldn’t be good.

  “Hi, angel,” he said and kissed her lightly on the lips.

  “Hi.” She didn’t know what else to say. She was taken aback by his touch and her reaction to it.

  “You wanted to talk?”

  Her mind went blank.

  “Yes. I did. Erm...could you meet me after work. I’m now working here now and don’t get off until eight.”

  Lawrence nodded. “Sure thing. I look forward to catching up.”

  He left and took a seat in the back. Her heart racing. She forgot all about the brothers and moved on with her own business.

  With lunch hour in full swing she didn’t have time to think or talk to Molly. The place was hectic. Coffee, orders, refills. She didn’t know how stressful it could be for a waitress. A little after one the place started to cool down. Molly and Emily worked the tables to get them back up to standard.

  “I noticed, Edward watching you,” she said to start up a conversation.

  “Yes, I know. He comes in everyday and takes the same seat. I think he’s just waiting for coffee or something.” Molly placed the salt and sugar pots apart. Each layout looked ordered.

  “How long have you been doing all this by yourself?” Every table looked exactly the same. There was no way Mavis would employ anyone else.

  “Since I finished high school at eighteen. We didn’t have enough money for me to go to college and my grades weren’t all that great. I can do two things in this life. I can cook and be nice to customers. Working for my mum was the best course of action.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said.

  “Why be sorry? I love Clifford Arbor and wouldn’t dream of leaving a
place I loved so much.” Molly wiped the table she was working on and moved onto the next.

  “What about any guys?” she asked.

  “No. No men are interested in a girl with a thick waist and who constantly smells of fries when she gets home. I’m content to be on my own, Emily. I got used to the idea a long time ago.”

  Emily thought she was going to cry. Molly was a beautiful, full figured woman. She didn’t need to be stuck cooking and serving customers.

  “What do you do on the weekend?” she asked.

  “I serve at the bar. You know that one down near the coast? Well, they needed a person to work the night shift.”

  “So, when you’re not serving here or cooking, you’re down at a bar serving drinks?”

  “Yes. It keeps me busy.”

  Molly turned away and continued on with the rest of the tables.

  Emily went to the kitchen and saw Mavis flipping a couple of burgers. “It’s quiet out there,” she said.

  “I know. Quiet and I can hear everything happening.”

  Mavis was crying.

  “What’s the matter?” Emily took the other woman in her arms.

  “Nothing is that matter.” But the other woman held on and sobbed her heart out. Emily saw Molly still working outside.

  “Does this have to do with your, daughter?”

  She nodded.

  “You heard her. Molly, is wonderful. She never complains and listening to her now has made me realize what little life she’s had.” Mavis pulled away and wiped at her nose.

  “Why is she so sad?”

  “Her dad. Before the bastard decided to cut and run he left a lot of mental scars in his wake. Looks like, Molly got the worse end of the stick.”

  Emily didn’t press for more information. She didn’t need it. As the evening wore on she served customers and kept an eye on Molly.

  Edward came in again and she made a mental note to talk to him at some point. At closing Emily saw Lawrence waiting outside.

  “You can go if you want. It doesn’t take me long to finish up here.”

  She glanced outside and saw Mavis staring at her daughter.

  “No. That’s okay. I’m good. I’ll work to the end of my shift.”

  Twenty past eight, Lawrence was standing against a lamp post smoking a cigarette as she walked out of the diner.

  “You took your time,” he said.

  “I’ve got responsibilities now.

  “Besides, I feel, Molly needs a friend.” She linked arms with him and they walked through the town. A couple of shops were still open and a few tourists were walking around. Clifford Arbor was notorious to travellers.

  “I really did miss this place,” she said.

  “If you missed it so badly why didn’t you come back sooner?” he demanded.

  Emily smiled. “I guess I walked right into that one, huh?”

  “Why did you go, Emily? You left without saying goodbye and I know you had a thing with, Chase.”

  “Did he tell you about that?”

  “No. He wouldn’t hurt you like that. You’ve got to know how he feels about you.”

  Emily smiled and nodded her head. “I feel for him too.”

  Lawrence stopped walking.

  “What’s the matter?”

  “I wasn’t going to do this but I can’t accept it’s over between us.” Lawrence pulled away from her and gazed up at the moon.

  “What are you trying to say?” she asked.

  “I want you, Emily. I always wanted you. Even after you were with Chase and gone for so long that hasn’t changed how I feel. In fact I feel more for you.” He grabbed her hand and placed it over his chest. “Feel that? Feel how hard it beats. I want you, Emily and I’d do anything for you to want me back..”

  She suddenly realized how hard it would have been for her mother. Lawrence took it one step further and kissed her. His tongue plunging inside her mouth as she gasped. Emily responded. She couldn’t do anything else.

  “I’m a bastard. I want you so badly,” he growled. Lawrence tilted her head back and consumed her with a kiss.

  “Stop,” she muttered. Lawrence backed down immediately. “I love, Chase.”

  “There was a point where you loved me. Don’t you think we could get that back?” he asked.

  Emily was in shock. “I think I need to go home.”

  Lawrence walked her home and she dodged his kiss and shut the door. Her mum was waiting up for her.

  “I knew you’d find out what it was like sooner or later,” she said.

  “What do I do?” Emily asked.

  “Go with your heart and not your head.” Her mother kissed her goodnight and walked upstairs.

  Emily went to the window and gazed out at the night sky. Her life just got fucked up.

  Chapter Six

  Lawrence closed the door and sniffed the air. Chase had made dinner again. They usually shared the cooking but he wasn’t such a good cook.

  “That you, buddy?”

  Lawrence grunted. He was a shit best friend. Chase had stayed away from Emily when they were younger and here he was willing to fight him for her.

  “How did it go?” he asked coming out of the kitchen wearing an apron. one of those funny gowns with the fake tits.

  “Fine. We talked and I dropped her off at home.” He didn’t look at his best friend. He couldn’t not with the taste of Emily still on his lips.

  “I made lasagna. It’s fresh. Not from those rancid tasting sauces from jars. The pasta however is that cheap stuff we get. Didn’t want to start rolling it out and wait for it to stick to my pasta machine,” Chase said bringing in a tray. A large golden lasagna was placed in the center and salad at the side.

  Lawrence was a shithead.

  “You do know you’ve got tats and a bad attitude and you’re talking about food?” he said to try and distract his thoughts.

  “Nothing is wrong with liking good food. If I let you cook I’d be bloody ill with food poisoning.”

  He pulled a large portion onto his plate and began eating. Every bite made him more and more guilty.

  “I kissed Emily,” he said.

  Chase paused. The beer pressed to his lips. “What did you say?”

  “I kissed Emily,” he repeated.

  His friend didn’t do anything to begin with and then stormed off back into the kitchen.

  Lawrence hadn’t expected to be filled with a need to be with her. He thought he could deal with Emily and Chase being a couple.

  The sound of cutlery smashing brought him out of his thoughts.

  “Don’t do this,” Lawrence growled.

  Chase looked ready to do murder.

  “What did you do? What did you say?” Chase charged over to him and grabbed him by his shirt.

  “We talked a little. I’m sorry, man. When she was in my arms it felt like old times. I loved her then and I still do.”

  “I was the one she was with. Me.” He thumped his chest.

  Lawrence knew who was with Emily the first time. He’d had to live with the knowledge Chase had been there for her during her hour of need.

  “Don’t be a bastard about this,” he said.

  “You’re telling me not to have an issue with my best friend kissing, my woman?”

  He had to think fast.

  “Did she respond to you?” Chase asked.

  Shit. Lawrence didn’t want to go there.

  “Yes, she responded.”

  Chase smacked his fist against the wall.

  “I don’t want you to talk to me.”

  Lawrence watched his friend disappear. The front door slammed and he charged for the phone. Emily wasn’t picking up. He knew where he was going.

  Lawrence cursed and grabbed his car keys. The sound of Chase’s bike leaving the house charged him into action. Emily didn’t deserve this cock fighting.

  He drove the quick distance to her house. Chase was banging on the door and shouting for Emily to come out.

  “Chase
. Fucking stop this,” he yelled as he got out of the car.

  A curtain twitched upstairs and Lawrence saw Emily staring down at Chase.

  The front door opened. Tyler and Andrew stood at the door.

  “Where’s Emily?” Chase demanded.

  “None of your business, son. Get your attitude off my property,” Andrew pushed Chase away.

  Lawrence seeing the fight brewing grabbed Chase by the arm. “The only person you want to fight is me,” he said.

  Chase spun around with a crazy look on his face.

  “You want to do this now?”

  “I kissed your woman and I’m prepared to fight for her. This is the time and place.”

  ****

  “You think we should fight for her?” Chase couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He loved his friend and he would not fight him for a woman. But Lawrence had admitted to kissing Emily. He couldn’t control his rage any longer. For as long as he could remember he’d always been on the sidelines. watching his friend and Emily. No more. He wouldn’t back down, not from this fight.

  “Yes. I want, Emily.”

  He made it sound so simple. Lawrence wanted Emily and so he’d have her.

  “I’m not going to fight you for the woman I love.”

  “I remember when a woman was a piece of ass to you. What changed?” Lawrence asked.

  Chase stared at his friend and saw the rage blazing out of his eyes. “I was, Emily’s first. That’s what changed.”

  He knew he’d hit below the belt. He welcomed the coming attack.

  Lawrence lashed out hitting him square in the jaw. “You bastard. You don’t deserve her.”

  “You really want to do this, tough guy?”

  Since high school, Lawrence and Chase had never fought over anything. Their friendship meant more to them than any woman. Usually they shared a woman they crushed on. Emily was different. She wasn’t some woman to use and discard.

  Chase didn’t care that her parents watched. He knew how they saw him. They didn’t know how much Emily meant to him.

  The curtain twitched again and he saw Emily staring at him. Her eyes pleading with him over the distance that separated them.