Page 76 of The Fake Script
Speaking of, where did she disappear to? I’m not seeing her in the party area, so I take a walk around the store, scanning the aisles.
Finally, I see her. She’s sitting down against a shelf in the Children’s section. Slowly, I saunter toward her. “There you are.”
She jumps in surprise, glancing up at me. Her eyes are red and glassy, and the melancholy I always see in them has increased threefold. Just when I thought she was happy.
“Emma, what’s wrong?” I fall to my knees next to her.
She shakes her head. “Nothing. Just nostalgia.” Sheepishly, she turns her phone up and shows me the screen. At first, I think it’s a blurry picture. But she moves her finger on the screen, and I notice it’s a Google Street View image. I recognize this place. It’s her childhood home, and her parents are frozen in front of it. My heart shatters into pieces at the sight.
“Oh, Emma.”
She chokes out a soft laugh. “It’s silly. It’s not even a good picture. But it’s so random, you know? Normal. As if it could be real and happening right now. I miss them so much it hurts. All of this,” she says, looking around. “This birthday celebration, it makes me think of them. The last party I had was the one they threw for my sweet sixteen.”
I take her into my arms. “I know. I’m so sorry, Emma.”
I don’t know how long I stay there, holding her, but I’m glad I can comfort her. Be there for her, finally. Just like I should have been from the beginning. She’s still in so much pain over her loss, and I wish I could make it all go away.
“I think about them every day,” she murmurs into my shoulder. “It’s so unfair.”
I brush my fingers through her hair. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that.” I didn’t know her parents very well, but I met them a few times when we studied at their house. They always welcomed me with open arms. “I shouldn’t have just abandoned you the way I did. You needed me. I should have come back for you.”
Frowning, she glances up at me. “You’re here now. That's all that matters. And you’re making me happy.”
Her words go straight to my heart, but the guilt remains. Because even if I’m the one making her happy now, I know I’m responsible for some of the pain she endured in the past.
“I hate myself for leaving that day,” I breathe out. “I always have. I even fought my mom on it, but—”
She caresses my cheek, and I close my eyes, savoring the touch of her delicate fingers over the stubble coating my jaw. “You shouldn’t.Idon’t. It was your career. You did what you had to do.”
I open my eyes. “No. I should have stayed for you. If my career was meant to take off, it would have still happened later on. We could have built this together.” I lean forward, cupping her chin in my hand. “Leaving that day was the biggest mistake of my life. Please, Emma, forgive me.”
She’s so close, I can feel her breath on my lips. “I already have.”
And with that, my heart bursts. How could this woman be so perfect? She has every right to hate me, yet she’s letting me in again. Letting me see past her walls, and just like I imagined, it’s even more beautiful here. I lean forward, pulling her nearer and—
“Emma, where are you?” Hayley calls from a few rows away. “A horde of hungry hockey players are demanding cake.”
Emma bubbles out a laugh, and even if I’m frustrated by the interruption, I can’t help but laugh along. I’ll get Emma to myself again. I’ve waited ten years. I think I can wait a bit longer.
We both stand up and walk back to the party area.
“I think you’re going to love this cake,” I tell Emma as we’re gathering around a table.
“Oh my,” she chirps, all giddy. “Now I’m even more excited. You went all in, didn’t you?”
I smile.All in. I think it’s the only mode I know when it comes to Emma. Now that we’ve reconnected, I’m never going to let go.
The caterers bring out the cake,and a general gasp rises from the small crowd. I saw it earlier today, but my jaw still drops.
It’s a three-layer hazelnut chocolate cake. The icing is white chocolate, with hand-drawn book spines standing upright and stacked to give the illusion of three bookshelves. Alice and Hayley helped me pick out the book titles, and of course,Velvet Kissesis one of them. On top of the cake, an edible book lies open with the words “Happy Birthday, Emma” written next to a single candle.
“Wow. This is amazing,” she says, stepping around the table to look at the cake from every angle. The way her eyes glimmer with surprise and awe makes my heart beat just a little faster.
Everyone sings “Happy Birthday,” and she blows out her candle amidst a round of applause.
I grab the microphone from the DJ and clear my throat. “I just wanted to say a few quick words before we slice up this fabulous cake. Please, bear with me for just a second.”
A wave of chuckles ripples around the room.