Page 51 of The Heir

“Yes,safe. That’s important, Emma,” she said, uncrossing her arms and placing her hands on her hips.

“I am surprised Ryker said he was safe. Ryker hates Shad,” I said, once my throat was cleared.

“He did say he disliked him, but it was all personal,” she shrugged.

Safe, what is that about? Is Mary worried she will lose me, too, in a car crash or something, like my parents?He was a safe driver. He was pretty much the most put together and responsible person I knew. Mary filled up a glass of water and handed it to me. I took a few large gulps.

“He is a safe driver, Mary. You don’t need to worry,” I said, not looking at her, but the last few bites left of my uneaten bagel.

“Well, good. I am glad Ryker was right,” she said.

I rolled my eyes and tried not to groan. Ryker was really on my last nerve.

“Ryker said Homecoming is coming up. You two plan on going?” Mary asked. I looked up as she pulled her blond hair up into a messy bun. “We need to get you a dress if so.”

I twisted a piece of bagel in my fingers, as I looked at her, with my cheeks heating up. “I actually have a date. I’m not going with Ryker.”

“You have a date!” she said, smiling as she finished her bun and sat down on the stool beside me..

“I mean, Shad asked me last night. I, of course, said ‘yes’; I really like him, Mary.”

Her smile vanished.

“Really, Mary. I like him. Can you try?” I begged.

She smiled and nodded, “anything for you, sweetheart.”

“Thanks.”

“How about we go dress shopping this week? You can even bring that girl, what was her name—“

“Ash?”

“Yes, Ash, you can bring Ash along. Does she have a date?”

“Not sure, but this guy named Sam is always flirting with her. I bet he asks.” I took another sip of my water.

“Okay, wonderful! Okay, I have to head into the shop. I will see you tonight.” She smiled, kissed the top of my head, and walked out of the kitchen. I finished my bagel in silence.

I headed towards Ash’s locker with pep in my step. The halls were mostly quiet as it was still early. While I walked through the hallways, I kept thinking back to Shad and to our date, or whatever it was. I wanted to do that again. Ash was standing with her back against the tan lockers, talking to some boy with dark brown hair whose face I could not see. He towered over Ash. He wore a black leather Jacket, black shirt, and blackpants. Ash had her arms crossed, and even with her small body, attitude and annoyance radiated from her.

“So, Ashlyn?” the boy asked as I approached.

Ash looked at me, embarrassment written all over her face. “Emma!” she shouted and smiled. “Glass, this is Emma. Emma, this is Glass.”

He looked at me, and I stood back in shock. He was handsome, but what surprised me was the large scar across the right side of his face.

“We will talk later,” the guy said; then he strode off with an angry growl. Ash stuck out her tongue at him and stomped her foot.

“What wasthatall about?” I asked, motioning to the guy, with a chuckle at her behavior.

“He doesn’t go to this school,” was all she said.

“Okay, so why is he so mad at you, and why is he here at school?”

“He just thinks he can control me, like everyone else in my life. But I am my own person, and I make the calls, or I mean, call the shots.” She fumbled around inside her locker for her hot pink backpack and faced me after she slammed the locker shut. She wore a hot pink crop top and high waisted black flared leggings, with a pair of high-top, black Converse shoes.

“Sorry. Your brother?” I asked.