The Trouble With Us

im kitchen lights. Emery kept her expression neutral as Desmond handed her

xt, but here, in the quiet of her apartment, it felt li

st the counter, eyes steady on him.

down at the liquid instead of at her. "I t

walk me through the c

only thing we ne

a sip of wine. "If you're expecting some kin

ry, we've spent too many years pretending the past doesn't

sent, especially with him standing in her kitchen, wearing the same guarded expres

er arms. "You don't get to walk back

ried cracking just enough for her to see the t

bitter. "Oh, please. You didn't just walk away, Desmon

no ch

en them, more forceful than she in

hand through his hair. "Y

sn't change

ce passed, heav

et his glass down

rtled her more th

window, needing space, needing som

ha

ome ba

e, his voice was steady. "Because I

ack, she forced a scoff. "You don't get to say that after all these years. You do

presence filling the space between them. "I just n

he refused to let it show

le flickering behind his eyes. "If I tell y

omach, but she kept he

etched, thi

n't leave because I wanted to.

ill down her spine. "Wha

to leave before saying too much. Instead, he exha

d against her ribs.

mistaking the weight behind his words. "Your father made

, strict and unwavering, surfaced like ghosts she had

ice softened. "Because he wanted

elt unsteady. "Why are

t want lies bet

n pressed against her chest

nter, eyes burning. "So all these

it was bett

e ache in her ches

away. When he finally spoke,

"You don't get to decide what's best

kno

uffocating. It was heavy with unspoken things, the past an

ck, as if sensing she

Without another word, Desmond turned and left, the door clicking shut behind him.

hands gripping the counter until her knuckles turned white. Every part of her wanted t

his eyes had been

to carve out a future for her that fit his vision, not her

sent a chill

rough her contacts. Her father was the last person she wa

d, his name star

Pro

n before she dropped the phone onto t

ring out at the city below. The streetlights flickered, people m

g her believe he had abandoned

for

st deepened, anger

years trying

to mo

e had shattered everythi

dn't com

ver and over, searching for the cracks in Desmond's st

forced herself out of bed. The Perch wouldn't run itself, and she refused to let t

was already behind the counter, humming to

rothed milk for a cappuccino. "You look like yo

bag onto the counter. "Des

lled. "Tell me yo

did

adie turned, eyes narrow

nings of a headache forming. "He to

sed her ar

inally said the words out lou

die's face was imme

m if he stayed, he'd ruin my future." Emery

as just another asshole who disappeared?

gy to argue. "I don't know

a lot. But Desmond showing up and playin

er. "But if my father really did force him out, wh

oment. "I think you nee

e Emery's stoma

re if she was read

ng and going, conversations blending into the stead

a part of her expected to

chimed and it was him,

of place in the warmth of the café, yet somehow,

hesitated, as if waiting

red for him to follow

from her, Desmond didn't wa

admitted.

t he didn't push.

now what t

g unreadable in his eyes. "I

n underst

is lips. "Would you have

But the truth was, she had been younger, more easily swayed by her father's influence. Maybe she woul

s arms on the table. "If I could g

hroat. "It's too late

s

eath c

g out a folded piece of paper. He hesit

is t

ou the night I left

at it, her pu

id quietly. "But if you ever want to kn

over the paper, but

t

against the floor. "I meant what

leaving the letter sitting between them. Emery stared at it,