"Emma, thank God you're home!" her father said before pulling her into a tight hug. The hug threw her off. She was expecting to get yelled at until morning about this, but here her father was, hugging her like she would disappear. She glanced over her shoulder at Blake. He sent her a little smile before waving a hand, pulling out of the parking spot.
Her father finally pulled away, pulling her bangs out of her face.
Looking up at him, he looked like he hadn't slept all night; his eyes were red with dried tears on his cheeks. "Your mother and I were beside ourselves with worry." He opened the door wider, and they walked inside. He looked back at her a moment, as if she would run out the door when his back was turned. "You showed up just in time," he whispered. She tilted her head slightly, not understanding what he meant.
Walking closer to the living room, she heard the faint voice of her mother along with someone else, a male. When she finally got into the living room, her eyes slightly widened, seeing her mother crying dramatically into her hands while the chief of police sat beside her, rubbing her back comfortably. Another woman with red hair sat on the other couch, also in a police uniform.
Her father smiled as her mother finally looked up from her hands towards them.
"Emma..." Her bottom lip quivered while standing up. She walked over towards them, pulling Emma into a hug. Emma froze on the spot. Her mother wasn't much of a hugger, so she was really shocked by this. Her arms slowly wrapped around her mother, rubbing her back.
"Well... well, well, it looks like the runaway has returned just in time," the chief said while standing up from the couch. She pulled away from her mother. She tilted her head to the side.
"What are you doing here?" She wasn't pleased to see the chief, not after what happened after she got caught street racing, after finding out her dad had to pay him off to keep her records clean. She was hoping to never see him again, but here he was, consoling her parents. It didn't sit well with her.
Her mother put a reassuring hand on her arm. "We were just about to put out a missing person's report on you, Emma." She rubbed Emma's arm softly. Emma looked at her wide-eyed.
"I'm 17, Mother, and I wasn't gone that long." She shook her head slightly as her mother's hand dropped from her arm.
She glared at her slightly. "You're still a child, Emma. You just left home, and we had no clue where you went." Her voice raised slightly, anger taking over her face. This was her mother. Emma was wondering when she would show her true colors.
"Where did you go, Emma?" the chief walked closer, hands on his hips.
She whipped her head towards him, pressing her lips slightly. "That's none of your concern." He let out a laugh, but it wasn't from finding this situation amusing. It was from arrogance and annoyance, and if he thought that she couldn't see what he was doing, he was dead wrong. She knew he wanted to throw Blake under the bus, but she refused to do it. "And since I'm home, I think it's fine for you to leave now," she said, crossing her arms. He glared at her slightly.
Her mother glanced at her a moment. "Emma, please show Mr. Gates out. I need to call my friend to let her know you're back home safe," she said while walking upstairs. Emma guessed to go call Ms. Prim, making her roll her eyes.
Emma looked at her father, who rubbed a hand down his face. "And I need a drink of wine, excuse me." He nodded, exhausted, towards the chief before walking into the kitchen.
Emma led the chief to the door in silence before opening it. "I know you're a crooked cop that my father paid off, and I want you to stay the hell away from my family," she whispered, making sure only he would hear her.
He stepped out the door, turning to look at her. "Don't go sticking your nose into things you don't understand, and you may just make it to 18." A chill ran down her body, her hand shaking on the door knob. She held his eye contact.
"Is that a threat, Mr. Gates?" They stared at each other in silence a moment, as if daring each other to look away.
He tilted his police hat towards her.
"Have a nice day, Miss Pear." He turned, walking across the street to his police car. So he parked across the street. That's why I didn't see him when Blake dropped me off, Emma thought as he gave her one last look before driving away.
She let out a shaky breath. "Emma," she jumped slightly, surprised, looking behind her at her mother. "Close the door and come inside," she said. Emma swallowed, looking down the road one last time, whispering, "Okay, Mother," before closing and locking the door tightly behind her.
YOU ARE READING
It Started With Hello
Romance***** Emma Pear knew she wasn't the most popular girl in high school. Her nose was usually buried in a textbook, and her grades were as spotless as her reputation for always following the rules. "Nerd" was a label she'd long since embraced. Her pare...
