Emmalin
While Grayson was in the shower, I placed the gun in a bigger purse, deep inside. He wouldn't question my decision to change bags. I'm a woman. We do that. I still hadn't heard from Carson, and I was starting to get anxious. I was finally able to withdraw the money from my trust fund given to me by his father. If anything, he was right about that. He should have it. It was blood money. It probably wasn't enough to keep him quiet, but maybe it was enough to get him to go away. 7.25 million dollars. That's what I had. I laughed out loud. To think all these years, I could've easily used it. I was working multiple jobs. I could hardly afford to pay for insulin, there were days where I could barely eat, and skipped taking insulin because I was 'rationing' it because I adamantly refused to touch that money, which ultimately ended up making me sick. I shut my eyes, thinking back when Grayson found out I was still making hospital bill payments from two years ago.
"So, I think I've finally mastered making chicken pot pie. Third time’s a charm, and I didn't burn the crust this time."
Grayson chuckled as I set the dish on the table. "I love how domestic you've gotten. Makes me want to keep you barefoot and pregnant." He pulled me into his lap, and I cringed at the word pregnant, then quickly changed the subject.
"Well, you haven't tried it yet, so it may not even be any good. And you know I'm never barefoot. I hate it." I got off his lap and scooped his serving onto a plate, as he poured us each a glass of white wine. "This is Magda's recipe, so I hope I did her justice."
He smiled as he cooled his off then took a bite. "I love it."
I smiled, and I started eating mine. We ate in silence a few moments, with just the sounds of our forks against the plates.
"When do you start planning for your charity benefits?"
"Typically around the spring time, I start seeing what hospitals could benefit the most. Speaking of, I paid off the rest of your hospital balance, from two years ago. How would you feel about going on a mini weekend vacation next month? Take some time away from the city. Just me and you. Sans clothes." He gazed at me, with that half smile, and a glint in his eyes.
I was frozen mid-bite. He was so nonchalant about the hospital bill. I put my fork down and cleared my throat. "What did you say?"
"Weekend getaway. No clothes."
I waved my hand. "No. Not that. The hospital bill. You said, you paid off the rest of my hospital balance."
He casually took a sip of his wine. “Yeah. What about it?”
I stared at him in disbelief. “Why did you do that? How did you even know about that?” He leaned back in his chair. “Grayson, that was a $4,000 hospital bill I’ve been paying off, from an arranged payment plan.”
“I’m a little perturbed you didn’t tell me about it. I came across it by accident; it was mixed in with my mail.”
I shut my eyes. “You weren’t supposed to see that.”
“Well, I did. And since we’re being honest with each other, I then ran a report on you, and any other bills you owed, I made sure they were taken care of as well.” My head snapped up as he poured himself a glass of wine, like what he said was completely normal. “Haven’t I made it clear that you’ll always be taken care of? Jesus, Emmalin, you don’t even need to work.”
“So what? I do everything that you want me to do? You keep me under lock and key? You pay for everything, and I’ll have nothing of my own. And if this happens to go to shit, or you wake up one day and decide you no longer want me, you’ll throw me out, and I’ll have nothing but the sticks I came in with.”
He calmly placed his glass down and was quiet for a moment. Just when I thought he wouldn’t say anything, he placed his hand over mine. His warm hand calmed me almost instantly, and I knew I was becoming irrational. “Do you remember when I told you I loved you?” I sighed, because none of this had to do with what we were talking about. He began rubbing his hand on mine. “Do you?”
“Of course I do. Like it was yesterday.”
“And what did I say? What were we talking about that day?”
I looked down at our joining hands. “You sent me shopping. Alistair took me, and I was bothered by the prices in the store. So I walked out of there with nothing, except for the belt I bought, and handed you back your card. I was saving you money.” He quirked up the corner of his mouth in a slight grin. “Then I came home, and I was frustrated and overwhelmed about the whole thing.”
“What did you tell me?” He urged me on.
“I told you I was scared to be lost in you, and then you told me you loved me.” I smiled. “And you told me you wanted me lost in you, because you were lost in me.”
He nodded. “I meant all of that. I still do. I always will. I plan on…” he stopped talking. “You’re mine, so I take care of mine. You don’t have to work, but I support the fact that you want to. But I sure as hell don’t want you saying you’re doing it because it’s future planning for when you decide I’ve had enough of us, because it sounds to me like you’re preparing for it. If you want out, tell me now.”
I slowly stood up, and he watched my every moment. Shit. He was right. That’s exactly what I was doing. I was still using excuses. Even Tyler said the same thing, but I always felt like I needed that security. I thought back to lunch that previous day with Tyler and Chace. Grayson was running late.
“I feel like we’re having our own little special lunch club. I’m used to fucking on lunch, and now I’m reduced to having lunch with you guys.”
I watched as Chace took a sip of his scotch, then he winked at me. “You know you love it, don’t even deny it.”
“I’m pretty sure we all know who you’d rather be fucking.” Tyler didn’t miss a beat with his jab.
Chace rolled his eyes, and looked back at me. “Where’s your husband, did he say what time he was getting here?”
I laughed. “You guys are ridiculous with that. A girl moves in with her boyfriend, and society automatically labels them as husband and wife. People can’t live together anymore these days? Grayson and I are two different people. We’re far, far from that.” I laughed as I took a sip of my water. Chace and Tyler stared at me with amused grins on their faces and shared a look.
“You know he’s going to marry you, right? Ooh, can I walk you down the aisle?”
Tyler jabbed Chace in the side. “I’m her best friend. I get to walk her down the aisle. Besides, I’ve known her longer.” I sat there listening to both of these idiots talk as if I wasn’t even there.
“Emmalin?”
Grayson brought me back from my thoughts. “You’re right,” I whispered. “I’m so used to protecting myself, and preparing for the worst, that I didn’t think. You’ve told me time and time again that this was real.” My shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry.”
He stood up, walking toward me. “Maybe I haven’t proven enough to you that this is real.”
I shook my head. “You have. More than you know. It’s me. I just need to get over my relationship issues. I love you. I know that, and I want to be with you, but I also like some independency too.”
I glanced up as Grayson entered the kitchen, and he leaned down and kissed me on the top of my head. “How would you feel about Abby and Noah staying with us for a few days? Meredith and her husband were wanting to take a trip and were thinking of hiring someone, but I told them if you were okay with it, we would love to have them.”
I eyed him wearily as he watched me. I smiled, but I was also confused. “I would love that. I think it’s great, but I’m surprised you would agree to that. You barely let me go out, with everything going on, so you’re fine with them coming here?”
His expression grew serious as he turned me to face him. “He won’t be bothering you anymore.” I watched as he crouched down in front of me and moved my hair off my face. I wanted to say something, but waited for him to finish. “It’s been taken care of. He’s been taken care of, Emmalin. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
I bit my bottom lip, because if what he was saying without actually saying it was true, Carson was dead. Carson. Was. Dead. I felt the tears form in my eyes. “Nod if you understand, baby.” A tear slipped. “I know there’s a lot of emotions going through your mind right now. And this is a lot to take in.” He looked down at my hands gripping the edge of the table and began smoothing them. “Focus on me and my voice, alright? It’s over, Emmalin. It’s all over. I’m here right now with you.” My tears were freely falling as I stared into his eyes. “Whenever you’re ready, just nod that you understand.” I shut my eyes. I was free. I was finally free. I opened my eyes and barely managed a half nod before I lunged at him, wrapping my arms around his neck, knocking us to the floor.
“Thank you,” I whispered in his ear.