Chapter 77
Spencer pulled up to Emma’s building and saw that Will was leaving.
“What is he doing here?” Spencer mused. Will sat in his car for a long time before finally driving away. Spencer waited until he was sure Will wasn’t coming back. He ran out of his car and up to Emma’s apartment. He knocked on the door, and it flew opened. Her puffy, swollen, red eyes were wide and expectant. Words seemed stuck in her throat.
When she looked at Spencer she seemed to deflate and dissolved into a new wave of tears. *She wanted him to come back,* Spencer thought.
“I’m sorry,” she blubbered, furiously wiping away at her tears. “Come in.” Her voice was thick with sorrow, and it broke his heart. Spencer walked into the apartment and Emma led him to the same couch she was just sitting on with Will. She couldn’t help but think of the irony. The two men that sat in that spot couldn’t be more different. Spencer was nice and good. He cared for her and was always looking out for her. But he didn’t set her soul alight like Will did. Will fired her up in all of the best and worst ways.
“I saw him,” Spencer said, once Emma had calmed down.
“Yeah. He was here,” Emma sniffled.
“What happened? Did he hurt you?”
“No, it was nothing like that. He’d never physically harm me. I just… I just didn’t expect him to find me.”
“You’re really trying to leave him.”
“Yeah.” Emma was still teary. “He signed the divorce papers I gave him. I didn’t expect it would hurt so much. But it’s what I wanted.”
“I’m sorry, Emma. Is there anything I can do?”
“Can you make it so he can never find me again?” Emma joked.
“Actually… I’m opening another studio over in Lyncrest. I was recruiting staff there, but I could reassign to that office instead.”
“Lyncrest? That’s about an hour or so away from here, right?”
“Yes. But he’d never find you. He’d never think to look for you there.”
“No, he wouldn’t,” Emma pondered. “Can I have some time to think about it? It’s a really big decision.”
“Of course. I completely understand. The move to the new office would include a company apartment, so you wouldn’t have to worry about a place to go. It would be all set up for you.”
“Wow, that’s really generous.”
“It’s not what you think, I promise. It’s standard practice. It’s one of the company buildings, so I offer apartments in it for new employees who are also new graduates. It’s not free. You still have to pay rent of course.”
“Right,” she sounded far away.
“I’m going to go so you can think about it.”
“Thank you, Spencer,” Emma said as he walked himself out.
“You’re welcome.” He left.
Emma went into her room and let herself fall into her bed. She was thankful that her father’s medications were so strong. Otherwise, she would have a lot to explain. And she didn’t have it in her to tell him just yet. Leaving the city would provide a fresh start for both of them. That could only be a good thing.
It wasn’t so much that she was running from Will, but in way she was. Seeing him again wouldn’t do either of them any good. He would seduce her, and she would give in to him and their dance would start all over again.
“Pros and cons, Emma,” she spoke to herself. The list to all night to compile itself in her mind. The sun had risen, and she realized she didn’t sleep at all. The sooner she made her decision, the better. On the pros list, there wasn’t much. She had Sabrina, which was a big pro, her university, and the memories of her childhood. The cons list was much longer. She didn’t have that great of a life. There was a great new job opportunity waiting for her if she left. Helping to open a new design studio was something that intrigued her. And there were so many people she never wanted to see again: Jane, Anna, Vivian, Matt, Grace… and Will. *That’s a lie. I do want to see him. It’s more that I shouldn’t want to see him.*
By the time morning had fully bloomed, she had made up her mind to leave. She called the one person who needed to know.
“Girl, I feel like I haven’t heard from you in forever!” Sabrina scolded her. “I thought you forgot about me!”
“I’m sorry. Things have been super crazy.” Emma filled Sabrina in on everything that had happened since they last spoke.
“That piece of shit!” Sabrina spat. “I never thought… sweetie, are you okay?”
“I’m okay. I need to tell you something else.”
“What the hell else did that bastard do?”
“No, not him. It’s Spencer.”
“You hooked up with him?” Sabrina squealed. “Please tell me you hooked up with him!”
“No!” Emma sighed. “I swear, you’re so bad.”
“Listen, all I’m saying is that if Alex was a horrible, two-timing, hung-up-on-his-evil-ex dumbass… and fine ass Spencer was hanging around me all that time… I’d be all up and down on that.”
“Oh my God!” Emma laughed. “Stop that! He’s just my friend! And now he’s my boss. He gave me a job.”
“That’s awesome! So you’re going to have sex with your boss?” Sabrina teased.
“I swear, I can *hear* you wiggling your eyebrows from here. No, I will not be having sex with my boss. He offered me a position in his studio. In Lyncrest. And I’ve decided to accept.”
The line went silent for a moment.
“You’re leaving?” Sabrina’s teasing and playful tone had vanished. “I don’t want you to leave.”
“I don’t really want to leave, but it’s for the best. Nothing is keeping me here. Except you, of course.”
“I know. It’s a great opportunity. I don’t want you to go, but you’re right. It’s for the best. You and your dad deserve a fresh start. I can help you pack up and move.”
“No, it’s okay. But once I’m settled, I let you know what my new address is. Please, just don’t tell anyone. Especially not Alex. If he finds out, he’ll tell Will for sure.”
“I’d kill him if he did. But I won’t say anything. I promise.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m worried for you. This is a lot to take on your own.”
“I’ll be okay. I really will.”
“You better call me the second you’re settled. The very second, you hear me?” Sabrina threatened. She cared about her friend and wanted to be sure she’d be okay no matter where she was.
“You know I will. Take care of yourself, okay? We’ll talk soon.”
“We better. Bye.”
Emma hung up. Leaving Sabrina was terrible, but she felt lighter knowing that she had her best friend’s support. New paths were opening before her. A muted excitement took over of her body and warmed her blood. It had been a long time since she felt excited about anything. A hushed thrill seemed to heighten her senses. The idea of moving to Lyncrest didn’t seem as scary as it had before. Maybe this was the right decision after all.
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