Stay Close✔️

14: Moving in on Date Night?

Beautiful cover designed by @auburnair

14: Moving in on Date Night?

After school, I found myself walking towards Selena's house alone. Work had been cancelled due to a bad storm on the way; we didn't want the kids unsafe and they'd be crying. It would be a huge mess, so we just cancelled that stuff now.

Selena caught up when I was a few minutes away. "Hey! I thought you were staying at Emmett's, now," she said in confusion.

"Emmett thought so, too," I said, my top lip curling.

"Well, he's going to be kind of upset," she said. "He told me what happened."

"Did he tell you anything else?"

"Just that you were caught and he helped you out by saying you could live in the guest house. It's a good idea and you could have your own space," she explained. "I think it's his way of apologizing."

"Emmett's not stupid. If he wanted to apologize, he would have done it," I said certainly. "It was more his way of saying things aren't over and I needed a place to stay."

"Well, he's not going to be happy that you ignored his help," Selena warned.

"Just tell me if I'm being a bother, then. I'll leave," I said, shrugging.

"Well..." She looked at the sidewalk. "My grandpa was hospitalized today. He had a stroke," she explained. "I'm not planning on being home tonight. The doctors say he will, you know, go, at anytime, now."

"Wouldn't they let him be at home?" I asked, no longer concerned about finding a place to live. "If they know what will happen, shouldn't their concern be to make him as comfortable as possible?"

"They're trying to do that. He's pumped on pain meds so he won't hurt. They want him to have a more peaceful passing, not one filled with headaches and stomach aches," she said quietly.

"Okay," I said. "Well sure, I'll stay over at Emmett's guest house," I said reluctantly. I didn't want to overstay my welcome, and she needed to be with her grandfather. "I'm really sorry about your grandpa."

She sniffed and quickly shook her head. "It's fine. Like you've said, I've had time to grieve. When it happens, I think I'll be able to handle it."

I had said that, but she still clearly looked devastated. I guessed her grandfather was like her dad, now that the latter wasn't in the picture.

"I'll just get my stuff from your house and go on over," I said. She nodded as we arrived and I grabbed my suitcases and duffle bag.

Out on the street after she'd left for the hospital, I sat on a bench and pulled my phone out. My fingers hovered over the keyboard, debating on whether I should text him or just find his house.

I was sure he'd given me a small piece of paper with his address on it, but I didn't know where that was. Glaring at the phone, I finally swallowed my pride and sent a text asking where he lived.

After a moment, he called me. "What?" I snapped.

"Where are you?" he sighed.

"On the street leading from Selena's house. Sitting on a bench. I'm hard to miss with all my suitcases," I said dryly.

"On my way," he said.

It was only about five minutes until his car rolled up and I got up to put my stuff in the trunk. It popped open and I dropped it all in and shut it, climbing into the front passenger seat and not giving Emmett a single glance.

"You can't just ignore me. As far as I'm concerned, I have more to be angry about than you do," he stated.

"I'm not ignoring you," I snapped. "I'm just afraid to start a conversation. I never know if you'll just corner me again to ask me personal questions," I added, throwing him a glare.