Emerson's POV
TUESDAY AFTERNOON - THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS
The past few days had flown by as they were filled with many Christmas movies and lots of baking.
My dad and I were currently sitting on the couch, watching another movie.
My mind was focused on Dakota. I kept glancing at my phone, waiting for him to text me.
Dad's voice cut through my thoughts, pulling me back to the present. "You've got that faraway look again. Everything okay, kiddo?"
I blinked and turned to him, forcing a smile. "Yeah, just... thinking about stuff."
Dad raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "What stuff?"
I hesitated, trying to find a way to steer the conversation back to lighter territory. "You know, just... holiday stuff. Like what movie we're gonna watch next, or if we'll ever get through all the cookie dough we made."
He chuckled, looking at me with that dad expression—the one that always made me feel like he could see right through me. "Uh-huh. Sure. Well, if you want to talk about anything, I'm always here."
I swallowed hard, feeling the familiar ache of wanting to open up to him but still not quite sure how. I wasn't ready to dive into the whole Dakota thing yet, not with Dad. Not when I still wasn't sure what *this* was, what Dakota and I were becoming.
"Thanks, Dad. I know," I said, shifting slightly on the couch. "Let's just finish this movie first, yeah?"
Dad smiled, letting it drop, and we settled back into the movie. I tried my best to focus, but it was hard to ignore the pull of my phone on the coffee table beside me.
Every few minutes, my gaze would flicker toward it, hoping for a message from Dakota. It wasn't until the credits started rolling on Home Alone that I finally reached for it, feeling the urge to text him again.
I opened my messages, half-expecting something new from him. Sure enough, there was a new text.
Dakota🤭
Are you surviving the
holiday madness yet?
Tell me all the cookie
disasters you're having.
I smiled at the familiar banter, feeling a wave of warmth wash over me. It was funny how even just a few words from him could make everything feel a little more... normal. A little more right.
Surviving!
No disasters yet,
but we've got another
batch of cookies coming up.
The real challenge will be when
Dad forces me to watch A Christmas Story again for the fifth time this week.
You love it, admit it.
I bet you even have a
favorite scene by now.
Okay, okay, you caught me.
I can quote half the movie by heart.
But don't tell anyone, okay?
I need to maintain some street cred.
You better call me later tonight.
I want the full cookie report,
and I'll need updates on
the "holiday chaos."
YOU ARE READING
The Rude Awakening of Love
RomanceEmerson and Dakota were randomly assigned to live together in a small college apartment. From the moment they met, there was an instant clash of personalities. Emerson was organized and meticulous, while Dakota was care free and laid back. Their dif...
