Razorblade Kisses(83)

Tim dropped her hand and left her standing on the outside of the blanket. He embraced another man who looked vaguely familiar and Emery watched as they hugged and back slapped with huge grins. She couldn’t tell what they were saying, but she assumed these were Tim’s friends. She turned to look at the path they had taken in case she needed to escape, but it had been swallowed up with bodies.

She felt a hand pull her backwards and she put a fake smile on her face. Tim pulled her into him and yelled into her ear. “This is Chris and his girlfriend, Katie. I’ve known them forever.”

She smiled and waved at the couple. Katie was in a maxi dress with a cardigan and cowboy boots. She looked carefree and confident. Emery glanced down at her own long sleeves and was jealous. She wished she could be like Katie, who appeared to be without pain or fear that invaded everything.

“Emma, good to see you again,” Chris yelled over the guitar solo and that’s when she figured out who he was—Lucas’s occupational therapist.

Tim and Katie looked at them both, questions in their eyes.

Emma leaned into Tim. “He’s Lucas’s therapist.”

Tim nodded.

“I knew you looked familiar,” Chris said, pointing at her. “You’re Dance Club Girl.”

“Wait...is this the green dress?” Katie stage-whispered to Chris, who nodded. Katie’s mouth made an O and she smiled at Tim.

Tim grinned as if they were sharing a secret and squeezed Emery’s hand. When a raspy voice began to sing again, she faced the stage still clutching Tim’s hand. They were at a Brantley Gilbert concert. She’d never heard of him.

She felt Tim let go of her hand and then shivered as he pressed a cold beer to her neck. Still nervous about the crowd and meeting Tim’s friends, she plastered on a fake smile and took the beer from him. The uneasiness began to dissipate when he wrapped his arms around her and Emery closed her eyes and felt his nearness; she simmered in it and could almost believe that her biggest fear vanished with him. He calmed her. It was surprising and she felt herself wanting to be with him for that purpose alone.

The concert was fun and loud. As she helped clean up their area after the music ended, she couldn’t contain the smile on her lips.

“What are you smiling about?” Tim asked, bending over to pick up a few beer bottles at the edge of the blanket.

“I had fun.”

“I like seeing you smile, Em.” Tim leaned in and gave her a chaste kiss. She couldn’t help, but want more.

“Hey, you guys want to go grab something to eat?” Chris asked, holding open the trash bag.

Emery sidestepped a pile of beer cans. “What’s open this late?”

“Waffle House,” the three friends cried in unison.

“I’ve never eaten there,” she commented.

“What?” Tim asked, scandalized.

She shook her head.

“Well, this is a cultural experience everyone should try at least once,” Chris resolved.

“We’ll meet you guys there. The one on Abercorn?” Tim asked, taking Emery’s hand possessively.

“Yeah, it won’t be as busy,” Chris answered as the pair walked in the opposite direction in the parking lot.

“Well, that was fun,” Emery said, looking up at Tim in his baseball cap and tight sweater. It was a very good look on him and she had enjoyed his touch all night.

“Em, what do you do for fun?”

Emery’s brow furrowed. “Well, I...”

“Your smile tonight is going to be something I remember forever, because I don’t think I’ve ever seen something as exquisite. It’s a cautious, upturning of your lickable lips and a hesitant exposure of your teeth. It’s like you don’t know how to smile with abandon.”

“That was very poetic. But I smile,” she said defensively.

“I’m sure you do, Emma, but I mean the sort of smile that you can’t wipe off or that drops off your face when you think no one is looking.”

“I—”

“I want to make you smile even when you think I’m not looking. I want you to smile every time you see me. I want you to be incapable of anything other than smiling when I’m near you.”

“Tim…” she started.

“Emma.” He pushed her against the side of his truck and kissed her, filling her with such a burning sensation that she broke their connection and looked away, a smile playing on her lips.

“Like that one,” he whispered into her ear. He opened the door and helped her in the truck.

Emery closed her eyes and exhaled. Tim was a game changer. He wanted too much from her, made her feel too much. She bargained with herself to just enjoy him a few more times before making the break she knew was inevitable. She felt his fingertips on the inside of her thigh and her head automatically fell back at his touch.