Say Your Line

Chapter 16

She was falling and she was falling fast. Emma knew she had strong feelings for Ethan, but up until now she was unable to accept that she was in love. It's easy to be complacent of who you're meant to end up with, but Ethan had properly swooned her. Regardless of the "soulmate" label Emma had truly and irrevocably fallen for him.

Despite all the walls she put up and how hard she tried to delay the inevitable... she had fallen and luckily Ethan was there to catch her. He was patient and let her set the pace which made her believe she was in control. She fooled herself into thinking she could keep herself on the path she made for herself since she was seven. The day she swore that she would never let anyone derail her from her goals... but then she did exactly that.

She was loosing control.

From the moment she met him, Emma was weak to his advances. Even just thinking about him had her smiling in her sleep.

These past few days they spent apart she realized she didn't loose control. You can't loose anything that you never had in the first place. It's always been Ethan. He's always been in her heart, but she was too stubborn to see it. Too scared to admit it.

Standing here all alone she realized that Ethan was right from the beginning. It's not about giving up on your dreams. It's about adapting to the change that comes your way and accepting to include your significant other in your plans. She thought Ethan was silly for wanting her approval about the movie offer, but it all made sense. He was already making the effort to include her in his life. Doing the thing she has been denying him by placing her business degree above anything else.

She owed him a huge apology.

oOoOo

"You're in the wrong here Emma." Olivia said.

"I know." Emma groaned, "And I don't know how to fix it."

"An apology will do the trick." Olivia suggested.

"I'm not stupid." Emma said.

"No, you're not stupid, but you are emotionally inept when it comes to other people." Olivia said.

"I feel like there's no way to apologize for what I've done. I was such an asshole." Emma said.

"You know, you never did make a romantic surprise for him. It's a great way to show him you're all in."

"You mean like a grand romantic gesture?" Emma raised an eyebrow.

"Guys like that sort of thing too. They're just scared to admit it." Olivia said.

"Really?" Emma asked.

"They like the physical type of love too don't get me wrong, but a romantic gesture here and then can be healthy for relationships. You're showing him that he's equally worthy of getting swooned. " Olivia explained.

"I could gift wrap myself naked." Emma nonchalantly shrugged.

"Slow down buckaroo, maybe try that when he's not pissed off. Right now it's about making up with your words. You guys have to be on the same page." Olivia said.

Emma sighed, "This is hopeless. I'm hopeless."

"Just relax and think. What comes to mind when you think of Ethan?" Olivia asked.

Emma closed her eyes and allowed her mind to wander towards Ethan. His sharp features and piercing hazel eyes coming to mind, but with that came flooding every single emotion she felt with him. 

"I think I know what to do." Emma murmured to herself.

oOoOo

Ethan was eating when he heard a timid knock on his door. He looked slightly confused since he wasn't expecting anyone.

"Emma, what are you doing here?" He asked.

"I came here to apologize. Can I come in?" Emma asked.

Ethan bit his lip and moved aside to give her enough room to come in.

"I know saying I'm sorry isn't enough. It doesn't take away the pain I caused you or the memory of the awful words I said, but it conveys how much I was in the wrong. I shouldn't have blamed you. In all honesty, I'm the one to blame in all of this. If I wasn't so insecure about what everyone else thought than I'd be here with you. Reminiscing about our vacation and jokingly planning another getaway because I miss you. I miss living a few feet away from you and I know I'm ranting, but I should do it more often. You need the reassurance you've always given me. Making me feel like I'm the most important person in you life. If you can ever find it within yourself to forgive me I can promise you now that you won't ever be able to shut me up. I'll remind you everyday how lucky I am to have you and we'll talk through every doubt we have until it no longer exists. I've never been the best at expressing my feelings. It's always been easier for you to tell me you love me, you said it first and I think I should put you first by showing it to you everyday. How I have no idea because you're the romantic one, but you can bet your sweet ass that I'll try with every fiber of my being." Emma said. She was panting by the end of her explosive speech.

"I forgive you." Ethan said.

"What?" Emma asked. It couldn't be that simple?

"I can't be mad at you Emma, I haven't been mad for a few days now. I knew that if I gave you your space you'd figure it out." Ethan said.

"Figure what out?" Emma asked in shock.

"That the key to our problems was communication.  All I ever wanted was for you to be open and honest about your feelings. For you to stop shutting me out when you felt yourself get too vulnerable." Ethan said.

"It shouldn't be this easy. I was terrible to you." Emma said.

"And I shouldn't have lied to you." Ethan shrugged, "We all make mistakes. It doesn't mean I should spend the rest of my life hating you, but you did hurt me Em and that will take some time to heal."

"Do you need space?" Emma asked.

"No, actually the opposite. I need to feel like you won't run away every time we hit a rough patch. I would give everything for you, but sometimes I feel like you wouldn't do the same for me. I'd never ask you to give up your dreams, but I want to hold an irreplaceable place in your life. Does that makes sense?"

"It does." Emma said, "It's the security of knowing that no matter what we'll always be a team."

Emma reached down in her pocket and pulled out a box, "I know it's tradition for the man to present the ring first, but given the circumstances.." Emma shyly opened the box to display a black and gold ring band.

"Is this-?" Ethan trailed off.

"A promise ring." Emma said. "I want you to know that I'm 100% in this with you." 

Ethan chuckled, "You weren't suppose to beat me to it."

"Yeah well I had to beat you at being first at something eventually." Emma chuckled with him. " I even had a speech prepared. I apologize in advance for not bringing props." She exaggeratedly cleared her throat and dramatically dropped down on one knee. "With this hand, I will lift your sorrows. Your cup will never empty, for I will be your wine. With this candle, I will light your way in darkness. With this ring, I will ask you to be mine." She said lifting up the ring and sliding it onto his finger.

"You remembered?" Ethan whispered.

"How could I forget." Emma said. "You could play me a song and you can bet I will know every line by the end of the night. The movie was important to you and your brother when you were kids which makes the movie extra special for me." Emma said.

"Is this the part where we kiss and make up?" Ethan teasingly asked.

"It would be if I didn't have one more surprise..." Emma smirked.

AN: I've decided this is the last chapter, the epilogue is what's left of this book. Can't express how relieved and happy I am that this book is finally coming to a close. It's been a stressful, beautiful and a chaotic ride. Imma miss these soft characters. I going to make a reflection note of what I've learned in the next chapter so stay tuned if you're interested.