The Girl Next Door

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Angel pulls me to the couch and sits down, pulling me down into his lap. He wraps his arms around me and I am still quiet. "You okay mi amor?" he asks. "Yeah. Just processing I think." I tell him. He kisses me softly and says "I won't let him hurt you again." I put my forehead to his and say "I know baby." We sit there, our foreheads together, and hear Taza to the side "She's still scared." I look up at him and he says "I can see it. We won't let anything happen to you." he assures me. "Thank you." I say as I snuggle into Angel more.

Back at Case de Galindo, as soon as Miguel and Emily walk in she turns to him and he starts "Let me explain..." but she cuts him off. "I lost my best friend for ten years, Miguel. How could you possibly explain how you raped my best fucking friend? What were you thinking?" she asks. "I was young and stupid and let my father's power get to my head. I knew she had a boyfriend but I didn't care. Emily...please..." he says and she stops him. "No. You don't get to do that. You don't get to ask for my forgiveness. You need to ask her for that. Not me. But I don't think that's going to be so easy. Angel was always protective of her. I suspect he'll be more so now." she tells him. "I'll figure it out." She glares at him. "You better. I won't lose my best friend again." she says before walking away.

The next morning, I am at the clubhouse still and I see someone walk in. Looking up, I see Emily. She walks over to me and we hug each other. When we let go, she asks "Can we talk?" We walk to the side and she says "I spoke to Miguel. Told him I lost you for ten years and that I wasn't losing you again. If it comes down to choosing you or him, I'll choose you. You know that right?" she asks. "I know. I wouldn't ask you to though." I tell her. "I know. He said he was stupid and let his father's power go to his head but, hell, who knows if that's true. Not the first time he's kept things from me." she tells me. "I can't forgive him, Emily. I'm sorry. I lost you, Angel, and Zeek for ten years. I can't." I tell her. "I'm not asking you to. If you do, that's your choice. I just wanted you to know that no matter what, I'll stand by your side." she tells me. I hug her and she asks "Tell me how you've been? What have I missed?" she asks. "I left and moved to Oregon. I went to therapy, started working through shit. Mom died so I moved back and bought a house. Went by the shop and saw Papa and Zeek showed up. Saw Angel a couple of days later and we've been pretty much inseparable since. Got married a couple of days ago. What about you?" I ask. "After EZ went to Prison, we split up, I was pregnant. Aborted it. Met Miguel, got married and have a son. Ten months. Named Cristobal." she tells me and shows me pictures of him. "He's adorable." I tell her. We spend some time talking and catching up. Angel comes in from working in the yard with Zeek and they see us sitting there laughing. "Just like old times huh?" Zeek asks and Angel smiles and says "Yeah. Just like old times. Only now, I'm getting laid and you ain't." as he lightly smacks Zeek on the chest before walking over to us.

Angel walks up and kisses Emily's cheek and then kisses my lips softly. "Hola Mami." he says. "Hola baby." I say. He looks at Emily and then back at me and asks "You two seem to be catching up." he says. "We are. You're okay with this right?" I ask. "If you are, I am." he tells me and Emily smiles. "Just like old times." she says and Angel and Zeek start laughing. "What?" she asks. "I said the same thing when we walked in." Zeek says and they look at me and Angel and he kisses me softly. "Te amo mi amor." he says. "Te amo mi dulce." I say as I snuggle into him.