“Calm down, Erina! I was just asking because I wanted Emily to meet my boy Ronaldo. They’ll look so good together,” she said, clapping and rubbing her hands. “Hold on,” she said and left everyone hanging, probably looking for her ‘boy’.
“That’s not a bad idea, actually,” her mother said excitedly, watching Martha walk towards a man who was definitely not a boy.
“Mom!” Emily said, scandalized. So, she wouldn’talwaysback her up.
“Emily, Ronaldo isn’t a bad man. I think I talked to him once, didn’t I, Erina?” Her father looked at her mother.
“No, honey, I think that was Martha’s gardener,” her mom corrected.
“Oh, then maybe Emily can meet him. He was a nice young man who knew just what to do to keep the grass thick enough to walk on barefoot,” her father nodded.
“Sure, honey. SEBASTIAN!” her mother suddenly shouted, looking behind Emily, her eyes lighting up.
Emily closed her eyes. This can’t be happening. Her mother, her sweet, sometimes backstabbing mother who was supposed to be on her side, was hugging the man she couldn’t stand.
When they were done, Seb came around and stood between her and her father, smiling at him. Suck-up!
“Son,” her father said, patting his back. “How’re you settling in at work?”
“Splendidly, sir. Emily has been a big help,” he said, wrapping his hand around Emily’s shoulder and squeezing once before dropping it.
Emily was mid-internal eyeroll when Martha joined the group, her boy in tow. “Ronaldo, this is Emily,” Martha introduced.
“Hey,” Ronaldo said with a distinct lack of embarrassment that the situation required.
Emily smiled at him. “Hi—”
“Hey, Ronaldo,” Sebastian interrupted her mid-awkward hey. “Sebastian,” he said, offering up his hand. “You can call me Seb,” he offered, shaking Ronaldo’s hand.
“Sebastian? Why does that sound familiar?” Martha asked Erina.
“Oh, Emily and Sebastian were inseparable in high school. You may have met him then,” Erina said, looking between Emily and Sebastian with a huge grin.
After an awkward minute where everyone was looking at everyone with expressions ranging from confusion to betrayal, Emily’s parents excused themselves to meet other guests, and Martha followed their lead.
“So, Sebastian, what do you do?” Ronaldo asked.
“Oh, I’m in marketing,” Sebastian said.
“That’s something, I guess,” Ronaldo said and smirked, looking at Emily as if they were in on a joke. Emily just raised an eyebrow. “I just took over Dad’s company. So, as a CEO, I appreciate the marketing people,” he said, patting Sebastian’s arm.
“That’s great, man!” Sebastian said. “Hey Em, you were going to give me that book I asked for, right?” He looked at Emily.
Emily wanted to say no. She really did. And she was going to. Sebastian’s attempt was so transparent, probablycoming from the right place too, even though he was a horrible, arrogant ass. But taking his out meant playing along and spending at least some time with him, and that wasn’t acceptable to her.
So, she was refusing his help, she decided. Until Ronaldo turned to Sebastian and said, “Maybe she could give it to you later? Right now, she’s going to give me a tour of the house.”
Did he just decide what she was going to do and convey that to someone on her behalf? Yup, that made the choice for her. “No, we need to deal with the book situation right now. I’ll see you, Ronaldo,” she said and walked away, knowing Seb would follow her but hoping against all odds he’d be diverted.
She climbed the stairs quickly to avoid meeting any more well-meaning people. She was all peopled out for the day. Once up, her steps quickened into an all-out run, Seb following closely behind. When they reached her room, she looked back to make sure Ronaldo hadn’t invited himself up. She ushered Seb in quickly before anyone saw them and closed the door behind her.
When she turned, Seb was looking at her, barely holding in his laughter. He let go as soon as their eyes met. Emily joined him after a second because this was absurd. Did they really make the most half-ass excuse to escape a guy, then make a run for it like they were being chased?
“You still attract the finest gentlemen,” Seb said between laughs.
“Technically, I didn’t attract this one,” she retorted.
“No, just his mother,” he said and laughed at his joke.
