Love Within (Complete First Book)

Chapter 10 - Emmalin

I am on my bed trying to sleep but I am unable to sleep. I tried tossing and turning, but that didn't work and now it's 2 a.m. I don't know what had gotten into me, and I hate that I lost my control over him. He is like a pure seduction and so tempting that I am not able to perform around him. The other day when we returned from the beach everything was going great, but then he said those things which made me pull away. It's like something is telling me to stop all this, but it's easier said than done and yesterday, he kissed me in his office and I couldn't do anything besides leaning into him. I got an orgasm with just a kiss. How embarrassing is that? But it wasn't just a kiss, it's like we had sex with our mouth. Sex, where the hell did that come from? And I have said yes to go with him. It's not like we will be alone, there will be Riley and Rachel with their dates.

I have to keep Derek away from my mind so that I could sleep.

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"Emma, wake up." Who the hell is pulling my sheet?

"I just slept, let me sleep more. It's Saturday anyway." I pulled the sheet to cover my face and tried to sleep, but no such luck.

“What the hell?” Someone pulled the sheets off of me. I opened my eyes and found Maya standing with the sheet. “Give me the sheet back Maya.” I shouted at her but she is standing there like a statue.

“Get up, Rachel is on the way.”

“What? Why is she coming over?” I asked, and she just shook her head.

“Because it’s our girls day out and it’s 10 a.m. already” She answered annoyingly. But I sat up immediately.

“10? But I thought it’s still 7 or 8 a.m.”

“Well time isn’t lazy like you.” She mocked me.

“I am not lazy and I wake up early every day smartass.” I shout her.

“That is because you have to go to work, but when it is weekend, if you are left then you can sleep for the whole day.”

“So, what? I love to sleep.” She laughed.

“Yeah everyone knows that. Now get your ass out of this bed already.” She ordered.

“Fine,” I said and got up from the bed.

“I hate you all for ruining my sleep.” She laughed and I walked into the bathroom. Riley was in the kitchen and saw me. Maya came out of my room laughing.

“What’s with her?” Riley asked Maya.

“She is just cranky because we woke her up from her nap.” They both started laughing and I glared them and closed the bathroom door.

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We got ready and Maya got the message from Rachel saying she is here. We went outside the apartment and found Rachel in her convertible.

“Hello girls. Let’s go I am hungry.” She cried. Maya and I sat in the backseat and Riley sat in the front. After that she started driving don’t know to where.

“You are always hungry. Where are we going?” Riley said mocking her. We three eat lunch together and Rachel eats more than us, yet she is in good shape.

“There’s this cafe in Manhattan that serves the best pancakes.” She said excitedly and we rolled our eyes.

We are sitting in a cafe called Melissa’s. The cafe is neither too big nor too noisy and has light casual environment. I love that about Rachel. She is so down-to-earth.

“I like this place.” Maya said and we all agreed. A waitress came and we gave her our orders.

“Your orders.” She set our orders on the table. We started digging into our pancakes.

“Oh God, it’s so delicious. How come I never heard about this place before.” Maya said with mouth full of pancakes. She is foodie too but not like Rachel.

“What are you guys wearing for tomorrow?” Rachel asked. Actually we don’t know so we just smiled nervously.

“Seriously you guys don’t know? You know the event is tomorrow right?” Rachel asked again.

“We'll find something don’t worry.” Riley assured her and changed the topic.

“You tell me about Lucas.” Riley asked her and she blushed.

“He is so cute and sweet. He is a perfect gentleman.” Rachel told us blissfully.

“We talking about a man or a puppy,” Maya teased her and we laughed.

“Don’t tease her Maya, let her talk.” Riley said smiling.

“Ok continue.” Maya said. Rachel told everything about her date which we have already heard like 5 times over lunch but Maya didn’t know about him.

“Hello beautiful ladies.” Someone shouted. I turned and found Drew in his casual outfit. He was looking good.

“Hey.” We all said in unison except Maya, she doesn’t know him yet. He came and stood near Riley.

“What brings you here Drew?” I asked smiling at him.

“Pancakes.” He said and we all started laughing.

“Why are you all laughing?” He asked as if we have lost our mind.

“Nothing. We also came for the same.” Rachel told him.

“Yeah I know it’s Rachel’s favourite too.”

“We used to fight over these pancakes.” Rachel and Drew smiled at each other. I always thought there is something between them but she said they are just friends may be they are. I am just an over thinker. Drew took an empty chair from nearby table and sat with us. We introduced him to Maya, then he called the waitress and asked for the pancakes.

“Sorry sir, but we are out of pancakes but we can get you something else.” She told him with a sorry smile.

“What do you mean you are out of it. Please check there might be some left.” He said but she said sorry and left.

“I don’t think there is Drew. Rachel ate everyone’s share of pancakes.” I told him and Rachel laughed.

“You know you can go and have it at another place.” Rachel teased him taking a bite from her pancake.

“You know it’s not funny Rach.” He became irritated.

“You can have mine.” Riley offered and he smiled like a child.

“You sure?” He asked her and she nods. He took her last 2 pancakes and started eating. I smiled and saw Riley blushing like a teenager and then it hit me. She likes him, that’s why she always behaves weird around him.

“You are my saviour Riley. Thank you so much. I owe you a big time.” He kissed her on the cheek and she turned like an apple. I just keep smiling. She always teases me about Derek, now I know something too.

“It’s ok.” Riley said trying to control her emotions. After his breakfast Drew left and she took a breath of relief.

“That’s so sweet of you Riley. You made a man happy.” Rachel told her.

“I thought he was going to marry you right now.” I said and she chocked on her coffee. “Someone has got a crush.” I said and everyone looked at me and she turned red.

“Oh my god you are so right. You remember Chase from school?” Maya asked me.

“Yes, I do. It’s just like that.” I told Maya and Rachel cleared her throat.

“You guys care to fill me in?” Rachel doesn’t like being left out.

“It’s nothing they are just assuming things.” Riley said glaring at us and we just smirked.

“Chase was a guy from the school and Riles was so into him, when she is into someone, she blows everything up.” Maya explained but Rachel narrowed her eyes.

“Chase was into her too so he asked her out but she got scared and didn’t show up.” I detailed her and we started laughing.

“Oh poor boy. I feel sorry for him. What happened after that?”

“He didn’t talk to her and his dad got transferred so they left town after the semester.” I said.

“And she cried her heart out for him.” Maya said and we all laughed.

“So Riley likes Drew?” Rachel asked us and we nod.

“No, I don’t and we were going to have some fun so let’s go.” Riley tried to change the topic but we didn’t let that happen.

“We are having fun. Now tell us.” Maya told her in a serious tone. Riley took a deep breath then started.

“What’s not to like about him? He is smart and handsome. He makes me laugh and I feel comfortable with him.” She Sighed. “But he sees me only as a friend.” She became sad.

“It’s a good start. Lucas and I are friends but see we are going as a date tomorrow. You just have to act upon it.” Rachel tried to explain her.

“I don’t know. He sees me only as a friend, that’s why he asked me to go with him because he couldn’t find a date.” Riley said sadly. I don’t know what to say and I can’t see her like this. She is sweet and always thinks about others.

“You won’t know until you ask Riles and you have to do it before it’s too late.” I said and everyone agreed but her.

“I don’t want to lose him and I am happy being his friend. If something is bond to happen, it will happen and trust me I am fine with it.” Riley is everything but fine. We know she is good at hiding her feelings. I just hope she doesn’t have to go through the heartbreak.

We left after a while then went to the mall for a movie and some shopping. Now they are lingering in the shoes department. I came down to the 2nd floor to find something for me, I didn’t know what though. But I found a book store in there and walked into it. I love reading romance novels, it’s like my obsession. I found some interesting books and went to the billing counter. There’s the man on the next counter who is getting my favourite book.

I love this book. I mumbled to myself but he heard and turned to me. He was a handsome, tall and dark-haired man. He looked at me like I am some stalker.

“Mine too,” He smiled at me. He has a beautiful smile.

“I am sorry I didn’t mean to interrupt up. It’s just that I love this book so much that I couldn’t control myself.” He smiled and I paid for my books and we walked outside the store.

“Please don’t be and it’s my favourite too.”

“It’s a beautiful book.”

“Indeed it is.” He said and I smiled. I can’t seem to stop my smile. His smile is just like Rachel’s. A contagious smile.

“I am William Lewis. Please call me Will.”

“I am Emmalin Grey. Please call me Emma.” We both laughed. I got a message from Maya saying they are done.

“I have to go, but it was nice meeting you Will.”

“Same here Emma,” he waved at me and I left to find the girls. They were outside waiting for me.

“What took you so long.” Maya asked and I showed them my books.

“I don’t understand your need to buy them.” Maya said and I rolled my eyes.

“Like I don’t understand your need to buys those shoes."

“We can wear them out and show them off.” I don’t like when someone says anything about my books even if she is my best friend.

“Whatever.” I walked ahead of them. Maya came and put her arm around my shoulders.

“You know I love you, but you look like a grumpy old woman when you get angry.” I hit her with my books and she acted like it hurt her. We then had lunch and roamed around a little, then Rachel dropped us home. It was already night and we were so tired that we went directly to our room.

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I am panicking and so is Riley. Maya is trying to calm us down but it’s more like yelling at us.

“I told you both yesterday to find the dress but you said that you will find it easily and now you two are panicking. Stop doing that and let’s find something.” Maya yelled at us.

“Stop yelling at us we are already worried and you obviously are not helping.” I said and started searching in my closet but found nothing. What will I wear today and the worst part is I don’t even know what to wear to such big event. Will it be ok if I make up some excuse? I don’t think so and Derek will come here to pick me up.

“We have all day we could buy something.” I told Riley and she smiled slightly.

“Yes we could. Let’s go.” Riley said and Maya shook her head.

“You do know those dresses are way to expensive.” Maya said and we shook our head.

“Then what do we do?” I said now starting to panic again.

“I will help you guys.” Maya suggested. Maya is not too rich but she got her trust fund when she turned 21 which her grandmother had saved for her.

“No, we can’t take your money Maya.” Riley said and I agreed.

“Do you guys have any other idea.” We looked at each other.

“It’s no big deal. You guys aren’t taking it, just borrowing it.” Maya said and we were going to say something but the door bell saved us. I went to open the door and found a woman who looked just like a model.

“Emmalin Grey?” She asked. How did she know my name and who is she?

“Yes, but I am sorry I don’t know you.” I said. She typed something on her phone and 2 girls came out of nowhere with some dresses covered in fancy bags.

“I am Nancy and I design clothes for Derek and his friends along with his sisters and he sent me here so can we come in.” She explained. So that’s what it is when he said he will handle everything. I let them in and Riley and Maya looked at me with wide eyes. I explained them everything and I came to my room and called Derek. It’s too much I can’t take it.

“Hello it’s Derek Black,” he said and I smiled. Stop smiling like an idiot.

“Derek, what is all this? I can’t take it. It’s too much.” He chuckled.

“Emma relax. It’s on the company. It’s for both you and Riley. You two are going with us and it’s the least we could do.” I am really an over thinker. Why would he do something for me? I was happy but there’s some part in me that’s sad too.

“Oh. Thank you,”

“See you tonight Emma.” He hung up. I went outside and found Riley trying the dresses. After 7th dress I found the right one. It’s a black off-shoulder thigh split fishtail maxi dress paired with strappy heels and Riley found a red satin boat-neck long gown paired with red heels. After they left, the make-up artists came and did our makeup. He gave me smoky eyes with nude lipstick look and gave Riley simple yet elegant look as per our dresses. It took 3 hours and I was already tired by then.

We got ready in the mean time. I looked myself in the mirror and it’s like I am looking at someone else. I really liked the make-up and dress. Riley was looking stunning in that dress and I smiled at her.

“Drew is going to fall for you today. You look beautiful Riley.” Maya said and she blushed. “And you are looking hot Emma. Derek won’t be able to keep his hands off of you.” Maya said to me and I blushed even more than Riley . The door bell rang and Maya went to open it.

I don’t know about that, but I started thinking about his hands all over my body and it made me hot and bothered. I have to stop thinking about him or his anything and why would he be interested in a girl like me. Maybe there’s an attraction and all but that’s it, there won’t be anything between us.

I won't let anyone in my life ever again.