Unexpected

27

ETHAN POV

"How did the meeting go?" I asked, standing up from the uncomfortable chair I had been sitting in for the past hour and a half. My butt was numb and my legs were shaky, making me that much happier to see Emma.

"Good and bad." She rubbed her hands over her face trying to compose herself. She looked a bit shaken and very flustered, I instantly knew something was wrong.

"You can tell me all about it on the walk back to your apartment." I pulled her in for a hug and rubbed her back for a few seconds trying to do what I could to console her. She gave me a weak smile and tossed her bag over her shoulder, leading the way towards the door.

"It was good, don't get me wrong. I just don't know what it means for us." She admitted, chewing on her bottom lip.

I wasn't used to seeing her this worried and unsure. I had seen excited Emma, shy Emma, even sad Emma; something I never wanted to see again, but this was something completely new to me and I wasn't sure how to react. Whatever she had to tell me, I hoped it wasn't something that would drive us apart so soon after making up.

"When I decided to come to New York I was in such a bad place, you already know that. I want to pretend like I calculated things and really digested the idea before saying yes, but honestly I did it to get away from you. I thought my only chance of happiness was being as far away from you as possible, but after yesterday I realized that my ultimate happiness is with you."

"Emma, what are you trying to say?" I asked, deathly afraid of her response. I grabbed her wrist and forced her to stop and look at me. I wouldn't have this conversation while speed walking. We stopped in front of an abandoned building. My face hurt from being out in the cold, but I wanted answers and they couldn't wait until we got home.

She dug her doc martens into the pavement, further scuffing them. Her eyes refused to meet mine, looking anywhere but up. I could tell she was searching for an escape, she never liked to be the bearer of bad news. Although I didn't want to demand answers if she wasn't ready to tell me, the suspense was killing me.

"Rebecca and my team think it's best I stay in New York long term. I thought I could just hit the backspace button and move back to LA in a few months when I cleared my head, but I just don't think that's a decision they'll let me make."

Was she saying that she regretted moving to New York? My heart skipped a beat, only moments before I had been selfishly planning on dragging her back to LA. The thought seemed childish now, she was flourishing here already. I could see it in her face, this is where she belonged. If she was trying to tell me she was uncertain, I would take it upon myself to show her that she could make it here.

"I don't know what I'm trying to say really. Seeing you just confused everything. I feel like if I want to give this a real shot I need to be back in LA. I've only been here a day and half, but I'm stuck between being homesick and being in love with this city. If being with you means leaving all of this and ending my career, I'll do it." She finished her rant with a long sigh and choking tears. Her face was burning red from the whipping winds and the heat of her tears. I couldn't help but bust out in laughter.

She balled her fists up by her sides, her face contorting into a harsh frown. "If you were just gonna sit here and laugh I would have kept this all to myself."

"I'm sorry" I said, catching my breath. "Hey, look I'm sorry for laughing." I cupped her face with my hand, forcing her to look up at me. "I wasn't laughing at you in a way to make fun of you. I'm laughing because I think it's hilarious that A: you think I would let you end your career over me and B: that you think you're coming back to LA."

"What are you trying to say?" She asked, her face riddled with confusion.

"Emma, you're not leaving New York. You have a sick ass apartment and an entire team that supports you fully. You'll be happy here if you let yourself be. If you're having doubts about being here because you think we won't last, you're fucking wrong."

—

EMMA POV

If you're having doubts about being here because you think we won't last, you're fucking wrong.

There was a pressure on my chest that felt like a ton of bricks was resting on my body. Leaving my meeting, I felt like I had been slapped in the face. My decision to move away from my family and everyone who loved me made me feel like a reckless idiot. I thought if I'd only realized how much I cared about Ethan sooner, I wouldn't be in this mess. Sure, the new scene was exciting. I had been bursting at the seams with dreams of the possibilities and the what if's, but I'd take it all back if I meant I could be with the person I loved.

"Distance can't keep us apart. I spent a year without you, I won't do it again because you're in another state. You're only looking at the negatives. We'll be closer to my family, so you'll be able to meet them. Gray misses you so fucking much he'll be ecstatic that he can see you again. Granted, he won't be too happy that you moved across the country without telling him, but we'll be able to use our frequent flyer miles and visit you all the fucking time." He pulled me into a hug before I could respond, pressing my body tightly against his.

I realized home wasn't a place, but a person that made you feel safe and comforted. I had left my apartment in LA, but I had found my home in Ethan.

"You want me to meet your family?" I asked, my voice muffled from speaking into his chest.

I could feel Ethan's laugh vibrating though his body. "Yes you goof, I want you to meet them. I can't believe that's all you got from me pouring my heart out to you." He said, continuing to laugh.

"Can we go home?" I asked, not wanting to pull away from him.

"Let's go home." He grabbed my hand and les the way, not knowing I was already home just being with him.

(Hi loves! My next chapter will be the last. I don't want to drag the story out and fill it with chapters that are boring or I feel forced to write. I want to end it here because I felt so passionate about this story. It may sound silly but I really loved writing it and I loved seeing you guys enjoy it so much more. If you liked my writing style and my story, I will be working on a Grayson fanfic next. Who knows maybe even a sequel to this. Stay tuned and follow my page so you can know when I upload a new story! Thank you all so much for getting this far and for loving my story xx)