Escape Route

Nine

The taxi drive home was filled with hand-holding, quick neck kisses from Emerson (which got a lot of 'stop it's' from me) and silent glances at each other. I was sure the driver was annoyed or quietly chuckling to himself, but Emerson would resolve the issue in his own way. He would sometimes stare directly into the rearview mirror until the driver would look away in guilt or embarrassment.

"You want some left over pancakes?" Emerson asked staring at the open microwave. My eyes trailed around his bare arms. Tank tops really suited the man.

"Sure, without fruit this time." I replied from the couch in my pajamas. My back leaned back into the couch and felt the corners of my mouth curl before quickly covering it with my hand. My eyes looked up towards the ceiling and shook my head slightly.

What is happening to me?

"Here you go, an Emerson specialty." he winked as I took the plate from his hands and he plopped next to me on the couch. Continuing the movie on the TV that we were streaming from his cellphone.

Emerson was devouring his pancakes and was too distracted to see the notifications on his phone.

He must really be popular.

"You have quite a few messages. You're greatly missed, I'm sure."

He quickly swallowed with a shrug. "Probably one of my friends."

"Will I get to meet them sometime?"

Emerson slowly dropped his fork to meet my eyes. "Is it bad that I want you for myself for now?" He rubbed the back of his neck with a tight lipped smile. "When the time is right, yes. I'm sure they'll adore you."

I nodded pleased. "Thank you again for the evening." I said, playing with a piece of slightly burnt pancake with my fork. "I genuinely enjoyed myself."

"It was a pleasure. Something special for a special woman." he unexpectedly gave me a quick kiss on my head. "...Does this mean we can share the bed now? It's my turn anyway."

I knit my eyebrows together before teasing: "Oh...that was your plan along, huh? Bribe me and I'll become soft."

"Never. Only if you're comfortable with it."

I playfully tapped my index finger on my chin in thought. "Yes, it's fine with me." My hand touched his cheek, which tickled my palms. "I trust you."

Emerson's shoulders slacked only slightly and his eyes fell to his hands in his lap, before looking back at me with a small smile. "Wha-" suddenly there was a knock on the door. We both gave each other frowned expressions. I just gave a shrug.

"Do they have any idea what time it is?" his tone quite agitated as he answered the door. Emerson stood in the open door, his face expressionless. 

"Who is it?' My eyebrows knitted together.

"It's okay, I'll be right back." He announced before closing the door, leaving me curious as ever.

My eyes were glued to the door for what felt like sometime. I barely noticed my thoughts drifting to our kiss. I never thought that Emerson and I would end up where we were. I was too focused on making this trip end that I didn't even think of all the adventures and good times we would have together. Maybe Aunt Maggie was right, I needed the trip. 

The sounds of an argument brought me back to reality.

My feet quickly shoved it's way into my flip flops and I grabbed one of Emerson's jackets from the chair. The door welcomed in a cool breeze, I made it to halfway down the steps only to stop when my eyes narrowed to Emerson and an older looking man arguing in the street. His attire more business than casual with his button-up shirt and dark denim jean.

"Why do you think I ran away, dad?" he shouted clearly frustrated.

 Dad? I gasped. Emerson's father found us! 

 "I'm not going to marry, Fay. You're just not getting that through your head!" he proclaimed.

My eyes immediately widened and it got a little more harder to breathe. My racing mind was trying to make sense of what was just said. I shook my head in disbelief, not liking the answer in my head.

"Does this Riley girl have you at the palm of her hand, hey son? You had your chance to mess around. It's time to fulfill your duties." The dark-haired man commanded sternly.

My hands immediately went over my mouth before I turned back on my heels and shut the door. I found my way to my duffel bag and began grabbing everything I could in my cupboard, throwing it on top of the bag. My hands trembled as I kept throwing things on the bed.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid! I thought I was smart, what was I thinking? I couldn't even pass one of my exams, what difference did this make? 

"Riley?" I heard Emerson call from the living room. I ignored his calls and continued packing. His footsteps became louder. "Riley, what are you-?" His footsteps stopped at the door.

"Riley, no... shit, wait. Listen to me." He tried to reach out to me before I shrugged off his hand. "Allow me to explain." 

"No Emerson!" I exploded walking to the bathroom to fetch the rest of my things. "What do you want to tell me exactly? Hm?" I stopped abruptly and turned, looking directly into his glossy eyes. "Answer this, are you engaged?"

Emerson stood in silence. His mouth opened before it closed again, eyes looking away. 

I nodded knowing the bitter truth. "I was just some escape from your responsibilities, like many other girls probably. Was all of this a game to you, Emerson?

"I beg of you... Don't say-" He whispered as his voice began to crack. His eyes shone with unshed tears. My own eyes burned while my chest gathered enough strength to lift an invisible weight above it.

I went back to the bedroom, him following suite. "Were you ever going to tell me?"

"Riley, please. I didn't know that this would happen between us." he tried to block from putting the rest of my things in my bag. "But it did."

"Going on this trip with you meant everything okay. Everything! I thought it was the traveling, the money, the freedom. But that's not it." He closed his eyes, shaking his head. "I don't want any of those things if it's not with you. You make everything in my life an adventure. Don't you understand that?"

I pushed him aside and zipped up my bag. His sympathetic eyes stared back at me. I wasn't going to fall for them again.

"I will not be the reason you break a promise to someone." I cried out, holding the bag in my hand.

"Please, just let me explain." He pleaded, inching nearer.

"I want to go home Emerson." I concluded, feeling drained and disgusted by his face. "And when I get off that plane, I never want to see you again."

He sighed deeply and nodded taking a few steps back. "Okay...We're leaving." 

Author's Note:

Hello everyone,

Sure hope this chapter made you feel something and if it did please do let me know with a vote or comment. Would be lovely to hear from you.

Much love.