The Morning After - Open Novella Contest 2019

Chapter 8

"Emmett is attempting to contact you from Spokane County Jail. If you would like to accept this call, please press one."

Marina resisted the urge to press one over and over until Emmett answered. His distressed tone only served to quicken her own heartbeat.

"Hey..." Emmett said, anxiety oozing from his voice.

"What is going on?" Marina's anxiety seeped into her voice.

"Is it not already extremely clear what is going on?" Emmett seared.

"Emmett, I'm not the one you should be angry with. What is going on?"

"Well, I got arrested. Obviously."

"Obviously." Marina rolled her eyes.

"I think they are going to hold me until tonight." Emmett started rambling. Marina could hear the way his mind spun in hopeless circles. "My lawyer got here and he said something about using my house as collateral for bail. But that they thought I might be a flight risk and they might not let me leave at all and-"

"Emmett!" Marina had to be strong now for the both of them. "Pull it together."

"Sorry." He mumbled.

"You think they will let you out tonight?"

"Yeah, hopefully." His tone shifted to a whisper. "I heard they would've kept me longer if a crucial piece of evidence hadn't disappeared."

Marina's back stiffened. She prayed that no one would check the security cameras, or at least that Carl had thought to disable them.

"Marina, do what you have to do. I trust you. I've got your back. But," He paused allowing the weight of his words to fall heavy on Marina's conscious. "Don't do anything stupid. Please."

"Okay, I won't." Before Marina could say the words goodbye, Emmett interrupted her.

"Hey, Marina?"

"Yes?"

"Can you do me a favor? It might sound strange." There was a disappointed edge to Emmett's voice now.

Marina laughed in response. "I mean, all this is pretty strange. I'd say I'm in too deep now."

"Can you tell me everything is going to be okay?"

Marina paused. He had caught her off guard.

"But, I don't know if everything will be okay." She hesitated.

"Lie to me. Please."

A lump grew in Marina's throat. She struggled to swallow as she said the next words.

"Everything is going to be okay."

There was a pause on the other line.

"You're not very good at this, you know." Emmett exasperated.

"Good at what?"

"Lying. Seems like I've been asking you to do a lot of that today. It's too much."

"But I want to help!"

"Why? Why are you helping me?" Emmett responded with defiance in his voice. As if he didn't deserve helping.

Maybe she helped because of her issues with men. Her daddy issues. Her crippling sense of justice. Her inability to leave a story without an ending.

"I don't know, Emmett."

Another pause. Marina pressed forward despite the silence.

"I like you, okay? And I know it's so messed up for me to have feelings for you. Last night was easy in a way I'd never experienced. I think we might have something here." Marina laughed at herself. "Is that crazy or what?"