Fortuitous {WLW}

Thirty-Two: Home

Emerson's POV:

I sigh as I lean against the bench top in the kitchen, taking a deep breath as my exhaustion washes over my body from another busy day at the restaurant.

I think about Saylor, her adorable face and remind myself I only have a little bit longer before I get to kiss her pillow soft lips and hold her body in my arms.

I feel a body lean against the bench followed by a deep sigh, causing me to open my eyes and snap out of my daydream to look to the left of me to see Nikki.

I chuckle as I observe her rub her eyes with the heels of her palms, "hosting that hard?"

She smirks before touching my neck, the very spot where hickeys line it, "no... I had to make sure I was seeing this right."

"Shit." I mumble as I look around for Keith before rubbing my neck.

Nikki chuckles as she crosses her arms and observes me, "can't let the future in law know you're railing his daughter?"

My eyes widen as my stomach drops at the question, "what?"

She waves her hand in front of me, "Saylor told me."

I cock my brow, "Saylor told you what exactly?"

Nikki's eyebrows furrow, "... that you're dating? You are dating, right?"

My eyes widen, "uh, yeah... yeah, we are. I just didn't know we were telling people."

Nikki eyes me curiously and I feel like I got caught saying or doing something I wasn't supposed to, but I truthfully didn't know Saylor had told anyone that we are an item. I don't mind... I just figured she'd be more fearful that word could get back to Hadley but maybe she doesn't care?

I check the clock on the wall, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the situation I found myself in and feeling the only relief I've felt all day by seeing it was finally time for me to clock out.

"I'm going to head out." I state, ending an ever so awkward conversation with Nikki as she watches me, probably more confused as to how the conversation went off the rails than I currently am.

I adjust my jacket as I clock out, turning around to head out the door, only to run into Keith.

He places his strong hands on my shoulders and inspects my face, "you okay, kid?"

I'm normally not a super anxious person but seeing my girlfriend's father standing in front of me while hickeys left on me by his daughter litter my skin... could make me throw up right about now.

"Yeah." I say softly, adjusting my hoodie to minimize the chance of him seeing my neck.

Keith nods and let's go of my shoulders, speaking softly as he says, "you should go out the other door."

I feel my anxiety spike, "what? Why?"

He's going to kill me for these hickeys... I just know it.

He looks over his shoulder, surveying the area before speaking again, "your mom is out front... asking for you."

My eyes widen and then narrow, "why?"

He shrugs his shoulders and shakes his head, "I don't know. I told her I'd check to see if you hadn't left yet... if you don't want to see her, just go out the back door. I don't want you to feel ambushed."

"My mom?" I ask softly, honestly taken by surprise.

I knew Saylor had mentioned that my mom was asking about me last she saw her and that she mentioned where I worked... I just didn't actually believe my mom would ever show up.