Eminence (Wattpad Edition)

Note 10 - High Tides; Late Nights

When Emanon woke up, voices filtered in from another room. The light outside fading into amber shadows across the window told her the sun was setting. She stretched her arms, rolled her shoulders, and rose from bed.

The voices led her to the kitchen. Warren was at the stove, sleeves rolled up, tending to a pan. Jack sat at the breakfast bar, half-slouched over a glass of what looked like red wine.

"What's going on in this neck of the woods?" Emanon asked, her voice silently hoarse from sleep.

Jack spun around quickly, a little too quickly that he nearly fell off the stool.

"G-Good evening, Em! I've missed you!" he blurted, overly cheerful.

She narrowed her eyes. "Are you drunk?"

"...A little," Jack admitted, offering a sheepish smile.

Warren stepped away from the stove just long enough to rinse his hands and walk over to her. He pressed a soft kiss to her temple.

"Good evening, my love. How was your nap?"

Emanon's hand gripped the hem of his shirt. "What happened while I was asleep?"

"Nothing, really," Warren said. "You were on the couch when we got home. I carried you to bed. Jack and I had a couple of drinks, talked a bit, and now it's time for dinner."

She looked up at him. "What did you talk about?"

Warren hesitated a little. "Nothing important."

She stared into his eyes. The warmth of his body was reassuring, but something about his voice didn't sit right. He wasn't being cruel. He wasn't being distant. But there was something off.

"What about me?" she asked.

Warren tilted his head, brows raised. "Oh, are you hungry too?"

"No," she said more firmly. "Did you talk about me?"

He paused, and when he did answer, it was careful.

"We talked about living arrangements, that's all. Jack said he wanted you to live with him in the city. I told him you're comfortable here, with me."

"That's all?"

"That's all."

"You're not lying to me?" she asked, her grip still anchored in his shirt.

Warren had no malice in his expression but the distance she felt from it made her uncomfortable. "I would never purposely say something I know would cause you harm."

It wasn't the answer she wanted, but maybe it was the best he could give. Still, it stung.

"Okay," she said, and wrapped her arms around him.

She had to trust him if this was going to work. Right now, she had only him and Jack. And Jack, who sat nearby with wine-flushed cheeks and a bratty expression, wasn't making a strong case for himself.

"You don—like me anymore?" Jack mumbled.

"You reek of alcohol," Emanon replied, tightening her hold on Warren.

Warren smiled faintly but pulled away. "Sorry, can't let this burn," he said, and returned to the stove.

Emanon turned to face Jack, her arms crossed. She didn't want to talk to him, not like this.

"Why're you acting like this?" Jack slurred.

She looked away. "You don't know why I'm upset with you?"

Jack looked panicked now. "It wasn't what you thought. I wasn't running from you, Em... I was just trying to-"

"THEN WHAT WERE YOU RUNNING FROM?" she demanded, her voice distorting as she gripped his face in her hands. Jack didn't even have time to process how quickly she had run up to him and he stared back at her with wide, fearful eyes.