It was no surprise she grilled him about his relationship with Scarlet, one she had no idea about. Sydney had told her about meeting Scarlet and even having drinks with her way back, but he hadn’t mentioned anything more since. He explained about the drama going on with Scarlet’s mom’s tell-all book and how her coming along on this trip was not planned. Hell, his jumping on a plane to Flagstaff had barely been planned. But he’d told her the truth. Only instead of using the phrase hanging out because it’s how he usually described his time with Emi and this was different, he said he’d been seeing Scarlet.
What did surprise him was her line of questioning after they’d gotten done talking about Scarlet.
“What about Emi?” she asked in that singsong tone of hers when she was trying but failing to not seem obvious.
“What about her?”
Sydney had walked around the garage, pretending to continue to assess the damage. He knew better than to look his mom in the eyes when discussing anything he wasn’t being completely forthcoming about. He was as good as she was at covering up even the slightest of insincerities.
Since his trip to La Jolla where Lynni let him in on his mother’s thoughts about his relationship with Emi, he’d talked to his mom a few times about it. Each time she’d said Emi sounded like sweet girl, someone she’d like to meet. As much as he’d tried to cut down on mentioning Emi when he spoke to either his mom or Lynn, he somehow always let something slip. It was impossible not to. Up until a few weeks ago, she was who he spent most of his time with and spent most of his time thinking of; although, the latter hadn’t changed much.
“I’m just wondering what she thinks of your relationship with Ms. Brendon.”
“It’s Scarlet, Mom,” he said with a smirk but was mindful to not get caught in his mother’s prying eyes when saying the next part. “She thinks it’s cool.” He shrugged. “Like you, she was a little star struck when I first mentioned it”—way back when he’d first mentioned having had drinks with Scarlet. This time when he’d told Emi about seeing Scarlet, her reaction to the news seemed unpleasant, but Sydney knew better. She’d just finished telling him what she’d agree to with Sabian. The guy was her fucking boyfriend now. “But then she’s seeing someone pretty famous herself. Sly Sabian.”
He finally turned to his mom, and she’d stared at him blankly, so he laughed and explained who Sabian was. Thankfully, that seemed to do the trick, and they were back to the subject of insurance claims, appliance shopping the next day, and the cleaning crew he’d have to hire to come clean up the mess.
The week was full of surprises. First, he’d been surprised, though he shouldn’t have been, about Scarlet’s deciding to stay with him at his mom’s for the next two and a half days. In hindsight, he knew now she’d just been trying to stay out of the limelight.
Lynn had texted him a few times to check on his mom and ask how bad the fire had been while he’d been at his mom’s place. But when he got home, her call and blunt questioning had come as another surprise.
“Tell the truth” was the first thing she’d said when he answered.
“Okay.” Sydney smirked, thinking she was going to grill him about whether or not he’d slept with Scarlet or anything else related to her. She had, but it wasn’t what he’d expected. “Are you seeing that TV star because Emi is seeing Sly Sabian?”
“What?” He laughed more out of nervous tension than anything.
“Don’t you lie to me, Sydney Maricopa. Why hadn’t you mentioned your dating that woman to me before? I know you don’t tell me about every girl you date, but I know you would’ve told me about something this big. What are you hiding?”
“Nothing.” He laughed again. “I haven’t been seeing her very long is all, and her coming with me to Flagstaff was completely unplanned.”
Once again he found himself explaining about Scarlet’s family drama and how he’d run into her in the elevator on his way out to the airport.
“Hmm,” she said, sounding unconvinced.
He was almost afraid to ask, but he had to. “What do you think I’m hiding?”
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “It’s just that I know you and I are proof positive that it is possible to have a friend of the opposite sex with nothing more to it. But there’s something about you and Emi.”
Alright, she had his interest. The two women who knew him best in the world were onto something he thought he’d been doing a pretty good job of hiding. This was a worrisome thought because lately it’d begun to feel like Emi knew him as well as Lynn did, maybe even better now since she spent more time around him than Lynn had in well over a decade. He needed to know what they were seeing so he could make sure to tone the hell down whatever it was in front of Em.
“Different like how? She’s a good friend now, and we’ve gotten pretty close because I see her a lot. But that’s it. Aside from the fact that we have friends in common and live in the same building, Lynn, we have little else in common.”
“That’s not true,” she countered. “You said she liked sailing.”
He opened his fridge with a smile, remembering the last time they’d gone out on his sailboat. “She had a good time,” he admitted.
“You’re both single.”
“Not anymore,” he reminded her.
“That’s just it,” she said. “First, you’re both single, and suddenly you’re both in relationships with these high-profile people. Like the same week even. That’s so coinkydinky. How did that happen?”
“Technically,” he explained as he sat down on his sofa, “I’m not in a relationship with Scarlet. The tabloids came to that conclusion on their own, but I’ve only been hanging with her for a short while. Her Hollywood life is way too complicated. Not for me. I’ll enjoy her company while she’s around, but like she left before, she’ll be gone again soon, promoting her movie. I’m not the waiting-around type.”
His nose should’ve shot out like Pinocchio’s, straight through the television screen a couple of yards in front of him. For years back in high school, he’d waited around for Lynn, hoping for the perfect moment to present itself so he could let her know how he felt for her.
Emi was different. All the reasons he’d had before he could overlook now: the age difference, their worlds being too different. After a year of being around her, he knew none of that mattered. But there was still the matter of her not being ready for the kind of commitment he’d require—demand—if he’d ever consider trying to go there with her.
It was the one thing she’d made clear from the beginning. She just wasn’t ready for anything like that. The last thing he wanted was to pressure her into anything until he knew she was ready, and he wasn’t about to agree to a half-assed relationship with her. The fact that she wouldn’t even consider a serious relationship with Sabian—a guy he’d seen and heard her squeal about more than once—spoke volumes. No way would she be willing to commit to anything with Sydney.
“All I know, Sydney, is I watched her the day you were here and you hung out with Lucy.”
“God, don’t remind me.”
Lynni laughed suddenly, making him smile for the first time since the beginning of this conversation. “Seriously though,” she pressed on, “even before the day at the restaurant when it was so obvious she couldn’t keep her eyes off you and Lucy, she’d been weirdly quiet when Valerie and I told you about setting you up the day before.”
“She didn’t know anything about Lucy at the time,” Sydney countered. “What could she add?”
“Okay, fair enough, but can I just ask you something then?”
Bracing himself, Sydney took a deep breath. Clearly, Lynni’s call had not been without a purpose, and she wasn’t going to let this go until she got to it.
“Go ahead,” he said, closing his eyes.
“How do you feel about Emi?”
“I like her,” he said confidently. “She’s a very sweet girl, and she’s fun to hang with.”
“Sydney?” Normally, Lyn
n’s tone would’ve had him smirking; instead, it made him frown. “You know that’s not what I mean. Sweetie,” she added, her voice going sugary as it always did when she was trying to make a point about something she knew he disagreed with. “I just know you too well. I’ve noticed it. Your mom has too. You seem so chipper when you speak of Emi. You were so tense and stressed out for a while when you were still deciding if you’d made the right choice taking this job in Los Angeles. Like every other big decision you’ve ever made in your life, I thought for sure you’d be questioning this one for much longer than you did. Then suddenly it seemed to be the least of your worries. Your mom said the exact same thing. Instead of obsessing about every little aspect of your new position like you’d been doing for weeks, suddenly Emi was all you could talk about. I was happy for you. So was your mom. I kept waiting to hear you say it. Admit you’d fallen for Emi.”
She paused for a moment as he pondered what she’d just said. Had he really been that obvious? “I still get the stress headaches, you know. In fact, I think you’re giving me one now.”
Lynn giggled even though he was serious. He was massaging his temple now just thinking about everything she’d dumped on him. “What do you want me to say, Lynn? That I’m attracted to her? Okay, I can admit that. She’s a beautiful young girl. I’d be blind not to think so.”
“And you enjoy her company.”
Sydney could practically hear the self-satisfied smile Lynn was likely wearing at that moment, but he’d go along with this. He knew Lynn well enough to know she knew she’d hit the nail on the head. It was too late to back down now.
“I do. And you’re right. She has been a pleasant distraction, but that still doesn’t take from the fact that she’s a twenty-year old student—”
“Almost twenty-one,” Lynn chimed in before he could finish.
He pressed his lips together. He should’ve known this debate wouldn’t be an easy win for him. Still he kept on. “Yeah, the same week I turn thirty.”
“Oh my God, Sydney, what difference does a number make? You said it yourself you’re not just attracted to her. You like her and enjoy the time you spend with her.”
“Lynni, she’s said it over and over again. She’s too young and not ready for any kind of committed relationship.”
“Yet she’s with the baseball player now.”
“You know why?” Sydney stood up, unable to sit anymore and aware he was raising his voice. “She’s with him because he’s too busy to ask too much of her. She admitted the only reason she agreed to the exclusive relationship with him was because she could handle a long-distance romance where she wouldn’t have to put too much into—”
“Why are you raising your—?”
“We are too different, Lynni. Way different.”
“Sydney—”
“The guy’s a baseball superstar.” He paced the room now, aware he was getting hot and not understanding why. “A heartthrob for fuck’s sake, and she still doesn’t want to—”
“Now you’re cussing?”
“I’m just saying if a guy like that can’t make her think differently—”
“Oh, so he’s better than you because he’s a baseball player?”
“Have you seen the guy?” Sydney asked, holding his fingers to his now throbbing temple and squeezing his eyes shut.
“I had a feeling you’d say that, so allow me to throw your words back at you. Words you said to me once up on a time.” Lynn sounded almost as worked up as he felt. “I don’t have to see him because I’ve seen you, okay? Have you looked in the mirror lately? Does that sound familiar to you?”
He tried to put a memory to the words, but nothing was coming to him.
“When I first met Angel, I didn’t think he could be into me because of his popularity in school, and that made you angry. Do you remember that?”
Again it was vague. Mostly he remembered feeling jealous as hell hearing her talk about Angel but trying desperately not to show it and to be the supportive best friend she needed so much at the time.
“Look. All I’m saying is it’s obvious you two are feeling more for each other.”
“It doesn’t matter. Even if she is feeling what I am, she’s made it clear. Serious committed relationships are not in her near future.” He plopped back down, feeling a little calmer. Or drained. “You know me, Lynni. As long as I don’t have feelings for someone, the friends-with-benefits things can work. Emi just means too much to me now. I wouldn’t be able to put my feelings aside if I let anything more happen between us, and I like her too much to risk making things awkward if I suggest we do.”
He heard some loud laughter and screeching in the background then Lynn telling the kids to settle down before she spoke again. She took a deep breath. “I knew it wasn’t just me trying to romanticize this thing.” She no longer sounded self-satisfied as she did earlier. She sounded worried. “I guess that makes sense to not want to risk ruining your friendship with her if you really believe she means it when she says she’s in no way ready for the kind of relationship you’d consider with her. Just remember one thing. Remember that obstinate high-school senior so long ago that moved to La Jolla with only one goal in mind. She was determined to focus on one thing and one thing only: getting back home to Arizona. You know better than anyone when all that happened I was absolutely determined to get back home and that nothing was going to stop me. Then I met Angel.” She took another deep breath. “Just because she says she’s not ready to fall in love doesn’t mean she has a clue what she’s talking about. I know I didn’t. You don’t just schedule your heart to be ready for love, Sydney. When it happens, it happens whether you’re ready or not. I don’t profess to be a love guru or anything of the sort.” She laughed softly. “God knows I’ve made my share of mistakes. But all I can say is that I know what I saw in her eyes this last time you two came down. It’s the same thing I hear in your voice when you talk about her. Maybe, just maybe, it’s what’s keeping her from wanting to commit to anyone else. She might not even realize it herself.”
There was more screeching in the background and then Angel’s voice bellowed. Before Sydney could respond to her last statement that left him dazed, they were off the phone.
The unanticipated development that not only had he officially admitted to himself that he’d fallen hard for Emi but that someone else knew about it now too, should’ve been the biggest surprise that week. But nothing could’ve prepared him for the confusing-as-shit conversation he’d have next—with Emi.
Chapter Thirteen
Emilia
There were only two clips and a couple of stills of Sydney and Scarlet: the same photos that were taken of them leaving LAX, the short clip of them arriving in Flagstaff, and the even shorter clip of them arriving a few hours ago at LAX again. All of which Emi had fixated over for hours.
On the other hand, endless photos, videos and even interviews of Sly with women it’d been rumored he’d dated in the past surfaced. While Emi had skimmed through some of the most recent articles, not once had she scrutinized any of the articles about him as she had the few about Sydney. Many were about the drama going on in Scarlet’s family, but none of that interested Emi. She’d forced herself to stop refreshing the few articles that did mention Sydney and tried to stop thinking about it, but it was impossible.
The more she thought about it, the more irritated she got. Sydney had become one of her closest friends ever this past year. Emi thought he felt the same. No way could she be mad about his spending time with Scarlet or whatever the hell else he’d been doing with her these past few weeks. Emi just thought he might’ve called her first or even asked her to accompany him on what she knew was likely somewhat of a stressful and unexpected trip. It was what friends were for, right? If she got a distressful call about one of her family members, she knew who’d be the first person she’d reach out to.
Her best friend.
Not Sly who she’d only been seeing for a few weeks. It didn’t matter that S
ly was technically her boyfriend now. Sydney was who she’d want by her side.
She stared down at her phone at the only other exchange they’d had since his vague text the day he left where he said no more than he had to go to Arizona and he’d tell her about it when he got back. In two and a half days he hadn’t bothered to call her once, but he did have the graciousness to text her again the second day he’d been gone to explain a little more about what he was doing in Flagstaff, which only served to enrage her further. She reread the exchange again as she’d been doing ever since.
In case you hadn’t heard, my mom had a small fire in her garage the other night. She’s fine, but you know I worry about her, so as soon as I found out, I flew out to be with her.
Even now, reading this still irritated her. She hoped he hadn’t analyzed her response the way she’d been analyzing everything he’d sent her or the articles online.
So you took Scarlet with you?
Emi was only glad now she hadn’t responded in all caps as she’d originally wanted to. The way it read now didn’t quite have the punch it carried when she first wrote back to him, tapping away at her phone furiously as she’d swatted warm tears away. She realized now she’d probably overreacted, but everything at that point had just mounted, and she’d been feeling incredibly hurt.
Even his “in case you hadn’t heard” comment was irritating to no end. At first, she hadn’t thought much of it, but after much obsessing, she’d come to the conclusion that it could mean only one thing. While he hadn’t bothered to tell her about it until a day later and chose to ask Scarlet to be with him during his mini family crisis, he’d obviously told someone else the whole story, most likely his number-one best friend—Lynni.
It hurt that while she gave him such importance in her life he’d think so little of her that he hadn’t bothered to even tell her he was leaving. And it was only after she’d texted him first to ask where he was that he bothered with his vague-as-crap text.