~E~

"Have a good week, Lucy." I walk my last patient out, grateful that Monday is over. I shut my office door behind me and sink onto the couch. My mind drifts to the past weekend; the events play on repeat, over and over all day long.

His mouth on me... our hot bodies pressed together...

I hurried home early this morning, after we passed out in his bed. It felt like the walk of shame at five am this morning, as I crawled into my own bed for a couple of hours of precious sleep.

I tried catching him around the office today but he was nowhere to be found. Butterflies swirl in my belly at the thought of him only wanting sex.

Don't have sex before the first five dates... shit, we didn't even get past two dates.

It's like a spell, almost as if I'm drugged. Something comes over me and all rational thought is thrown out the window.

My phone rings, breaking my concentration. I peel myself off the couch and fetch my phone off my desk. My stomach sinks when I see the name. Mom.

I drop the phone back on my desk and sigh. She's been calling me all day. If I don't answer her soon, she'll show up here.

I haven't spoken to her or Melissa since I kicked them out of my house. It's hard to get past the spying on me, but even worse, the dating profile they created for me. I threatened to never speak to them again if they didn't take it down.

She's going to act like nothing happened and everything is fine. No apology necessary, according to her. It irks me.

Who knows what else they could be up to behind my back?

My phone rings again. I won't be able to ignore her much longer.

"Hello?"

"Emma, darling. Where have you been? Under a rock?"

"No, more like working." I bite my lip to hold back my attitude.

"All weekend, too? I tried calling you a few times."

"I went out with the girls and did lots of laundry and cleaning. I barely sat all weekend." I lie. She'd kill me if she knew where I really was or who I was with, for that matter.

"I see." I hear rustling and whispers. My stomach clenches. One of those whispers is definitely Melissa. I can tell. Are those two always together?

"Who're you talking to?"

"What? No one, Emma. Can we have dinner tomorrow night?"

Fuck. Of course she wants to have dinner. I'm sure she has a new suitor already lined up for me.

"Umm, let me see... How about an apology first?"

"I don't need to apologize. You’re the one who kicked me and your sister out."

I blow out a breath. "I'll let you know, okay? I've had a packed schedule lately."

I hear my sister snort and my face flushes. I bite my tongue and hold my words. Otherwise, I'll deliver a tongue lashing she won't see coming.

"What have you been up to? Have you been getting yourself into trouble?" Mom asks.

I roll my eyes. What am I, five years old?

"We don't need any repeats of... what's his name again?" I hear a whisper and more rustling. "Oh right, Brant."

"You know I was young back then. I got swept away. Shit happens. Can we forget him? Unlike you, I don't like to dwell on it."

"Excuse me, young lady. Watch that feisty tongue of yours. You will meet us for dinner or else your student loan payments stop getting paid."

She loves to throw that dig in there. It's her favorite one.

The agreement was if I finished school and got my doctorate in psychology then my father would pay my student loan payments. It had been his idea, their graduation gift to me, and I accepted.

But now, when times get rough and I need space from my mother and sister, she loves to hang it over my head like a forbidden fruit.

I want to rip the Goddamned fruit off the tree and drop it on her foot. Nothing to hold over my head then.

"Why do you insist on using that against me?"

"I don't insist. I speak the truth."

"I'll call you later, my work phone is ringing."

I hang up before I hear another word.

~K~

"How was your visit with Ethan over the weekend?" I ask my mom over dinner Tuesday night. He treats her like shit but she still drives the hour to see him.

My mom shrugs and looks away. I wish I could take all of her sadness. I hate seeing her upset.

"Is he having withdrawal symptoms still?"

"Yeah. Not as bad, but he's antsy; kept asking when he's getting out."

"When's court again?"

"It was supposed to be tomorrow but they postponed it. I'm worried he's not getting the help he needs."

"I know, ma, I know. Want me to look for a sober house for him?"

"Yes, that'd be wonderful. How're you doing? Jane said you took off with a girl Saturday night."

That little weasel.

I nod. "Work's been crazy, but I'm holding up."

"Hey now, boy, don't you change the subject on your mama. I want to hear about this girl."

"There's nothing to hear, ma. We went out for drinks after the event. Speaking of which, I meant to text Jane today. Did she end up meeting anyone?"

"Yes, actually, she did. She has a date this coming Saturday."

"Good. She needs to move past Andy."

My mother chuckles.

"What?" I ask her.

"Aren't you calling the kettle black?"

I scrunch up my face. I'd stick my tongue out at her, but I'm not ten anymore. Instead, I toss a scrunched up napkin at her face.

She laughs, her face lighting up. Exactly what I like to see.

"I want to see you happy, Knox. You deserve it and so much more."

"I know you do, ma, and I appreciate it. You and Jane are something special. If only Bella and Lynn were as close."

"Eh, they're just wrapped up in their busy lives right now. Besides, sometimes I wonder if those two are from the milk man."

I choke on my sip of water. "What?" I laugh when I see her wink at me.

"I'm kidding, love. I'd know if I'd had sex with the milk man."

I hold my hand up. "Whoa, whoa, ma. Too much information."

"Maybe it's the age difference. You know, I had Bella and Lynn close together when I was young. Then we waited until we had you. Then Jane and Ethan came so quickly after, the three of you are Irish twins, or should I say Irish triplets. You three were thick as thieves while your older sisters sort of branched off."

She's right; our ages are far apart. My sister Bella is thirty-seven and Lynn is thirty-five. I'm twenty-nine so there's a six-year gap there. Then, Jane and Ethan come. It's as if she raised two different sets of kids.

"I'm happy you and Jane remained so close. I'm sure you would be with Ethan if…"

I nod. "Things could change, ma. You never know."

* * *

I open the door to my favorite local Chinese place. The scent of fried rice fills the air and my mouth waters.

The guys are heading over to my house as I speak. Our Sunday plans were cancelled by me after I spent the day wrapped inside Emma. My cock twitches at the memory.

Hell, those memories have followed me all week. I can't shake them. Everywhere I go, everything I do, she's with me, filling my head.

Quite frankly, it's scaring the shit out of me.

I've decided I need to reel it in. It was only sex, nothing more.

So, why can't I convince myself of that?

I grab the food and turn for the door. Before I can reach for the handle, the door swings open and a woman whose scent smells very familiar slams into my chest. I stumble back and grab onto a nearby table for support.

"Oh, my God. Knox? Is that you?"

My stomach swirls and I break out into a cold sweat. That voice, that smell. The room spins and I gulp down air.

"Knox? Are you okay?"

"Sharon? What are you doing here?"

Jim told me he saw her, but now seeing her here in the flesh confirms it. Fuck.

"I'm back in town. How're you doing? I've missed you." She wraps her arms around my waist and I peel her off me.

"We're not doing this."

"Doing what?" She looks up at me as if she does no wrong. "I'm only saying hello."

"I gotta get going." I don't wait for her to say another word before I grab my food and move around her. She grabs my hand, her fingernails digging into my skin.

I yank my hand away. "We have nothing to talk about. Please, leave me alone."

"Okay, Knox. Whatever you say." She holds her hands up. She plants a kiss on my lips before she backs away. "Enjoy your dinner."

Without saying a word, I'm outside and in my truck in less than a minute. I toss the food onto the passenger side as I lock the doors and start the engine.

Shit.

My head spins. I lay it down on the steering wheel as the air conditioning blows over me.

I'm pissed. Absolutely livid. Why does she have to be back up here? It took me so long to get over her and now she's here again.

I know she must have a plan. I'm sure she's spying on me as we speak. She could've waited outside for me at work then followed me here. I bet she knows where my office is. She has connections. I wouldn't put anything past her.

Unless she's taking a pill for her psychotic bitchiness, the shit's only going to get worse.

She broke my heart when I found her cheating on me with her best friend's brother. In our bed. The one we shared together every night in the house we bought together.

The huge rock on her finger that I'd saved every penny for flashed in front of me as the guy drilled her into the headboard. I lost my shit.

All I saw was red and when Jim pulled me off him, his face was swollen and bruised. He ended up dropping any charges but I still had to take anger management classes and I almost didn't get to complete my doctorate.

It wasn't the guy's fault; he didn't deserve my wrath. I felt horrible.

I broke up with her and my life became a living hell. While I was trying to get over my broken heart, she kept trampling on it more.

Weaving her way back into my heart, we'd sleep together as she worked her magic over me. It went on that way for a few months before I found out she was still seeing other people on the side.

That's when I cut all ties.

And, Sharon went psycho.

Stalking me, harassing me, bothering my family.

When I graduated and got my first job, she crashed my grad party and kept showing up at my job. My boss threatened to fire me.

I'd had enough. I got a restraining order but it only made her sneakier. The harassing, the stalking…it all continued.

Finally, after another restraining order and many more mistakes on her part, I threatened to press charges and she fled.

Not before destroying my entire apartment and stealing my cash and her ring back. I'm sure she's sold that by now.

I lift my head and slam my hands on the steering wheel.

This is why love sucks. You end up hurt and fucked over.

The sex with Emma was just that—sex. It can't happen again.

I'll keep my distance, and hopefully, I'll stop fucking thinking about her all the Goddamned time.

~E~

It's Friday afternoon and I've managed to avoid my mother all week. I can't any longer. She called me last night and demanded to see me today for lunch or the payments would be cut off by tomorrow.

I caved and said she could come by but I made a hair appointment for two o'clock so she won't be staying for long. I'm sure my sister will tag along. I brace myself. Tension is in the air and we're on edge. A storm is brewing; one I can only hope to fight off.

I'm not in the mood to hear their shit. Especially, because I don't want to admit they may be right.

I had sex with Knox and now he's avoiding me like the plague. I haven't seen him at work all week. It stings, to be honest. Was I only sex to him? Nothing else?

The doorbell rings and my mother stands there, a platter of food in her hands. "Emma, it's been too long, darling." She air kisses the sides of my cheeks before breezing by me. I peer outside for Melissa when I see her pacing in front of her car, her words flying out of her mouth a mile a minute.

I shut the door. She can see herself in.

I follow my mother into the kitchen as she turns on the oven and gets out glasses and plates.

Sliding into a chair, I sit and watch her fuss around.

"Melissa will be right in. Something with a charity she runs, a big event coming up. Are you going to join us?"

"What event?"

"The country club is running a fundraiser for kids with cancer. It's a good cause. You should be there Emma, supporting your family."

"It'd be nice if you'd tell me when it is."

The front door slams and the sound shakes my small house. Shit, here we go.

Melissa rushes in, her face red. "Fuck, fuck, fuck!"

"What's wrong, sweetie?" Mom asks, as she dishes us some salad along with tea sandwiches. How dainty are they? I hold back my eye roll.

"The florist messed up the entire flower order. I sent Libby down there to check on it and she said every sample was wrong. Every single sample."

"Oh no, that's terrible Melissa. Are they fixing it?"

"You bet your ass they are. I didn't pay them big bucks for the entire order to be wrong."

Melissa sits across from me, her heavy perfume swirling in the air. Her makeup looks extra heavy today. Must be hiding some fierce wrinkles under all that caked on makeup.

"Maybe all of that money you spent on the flowers should go to the actual fundraiser? Just a thought?"

Melissa glares at me. I can't help my smirk.

"Well, maybe you shouldn't comment on shit you know nothing about."

"It's common sense, really."

"Girls, girls." Our mother says as she brings over our plates.

"So, Emma, anything to say about Knox?" Melissa picks up her fork and raises her eyebrow.

"No. I've been focusing on work. Not dating."

Melissa snorts. This is going downhill fast.

"Time keeps ticking away and I'd like to plan a wedding before I'm ancient." Our mother sips her lemonade.

I shrug. "When I meet the right one, I'll let you know."

"If you'd follow the rules correctly, you would've met the right one already.”

"Yep." Melissa nods.

"I do follow the rules. Can we not talk about this right now?"

"No, Emma. Mom and I have done so much work to find you someone and you're still single. It's pathetic."

"I don't want you guys helping me. Don't you understand that? I know how to follow the stupid rules. Whether I chose to follow them or not is my choice. I'd wish you two would butt out."

Melissa stands abruptly, her chair sliding back. "Butt out? We're trying to help you."

"I don't want your help." I slam my fork down, my appetite gone.

"Melissa, sit down."

"No, she doesn't appreciate anything we do for her."

Melissa paces the kitchen, her high heels clicking on the tiled floor.

"It has nothing to do with appreciation. I don't want the help. I'm perfectly capable of finding love on my own."

"I don't think that's true, Em. Don't you think you would've found it already if that was the case?" My mother bites into her sandwich.

I've had enough. They’re impossible.

"Let's change the subject, please." I puff out a breath, my hands twisting in my lap. Enough is enough.

"We know you were with Knox last weekend." Melissa crosses her arms and stands next to our mother.

"What?" I blurt out.

"Yeah, we saw you with him. So, don't sit there and lie. He's not good for you, Emma. You're setting yourself up for a world of hurt." Melissa grits her teeth.

"Get out. Lunch is over." I say as I stand. I point to the door. "Get out of my house, both of you."

"Emma, let us explain." Mom stands and tries to reach out but I slap her hand away. I don't want to hear anything they have to say. I'm done with their bullshit. Their lies. I'm done with them spying on me.

"No, Mom. I don't want to hear another word. Spying on me? It's fucking uncalled for. Get out now."

Melissa's halfway to the door, muttering words under her breath. I don't care what she has to say. I'm done hearing it all.

"Emma, listen. We're doing this because we care about you," my mother says.

"Spying on people, lying to them—you don't do those things when you care about someone."

"If we leave, I'm having your father cut off all payments."

I cross my arms. "Go ahead. I don't care." I'm tired of her hanging that over my head. She won't be anymore.

"You'll regret this young lady. And, you will sit down with me and your father this weekend for dinner." She jabs her finger into my chest before she leaves. "I raised you better than this, Emma. Something's corrupting you and I'll get to the bottom of it."

The door slams and I sink into my chair as the tears begin to fall.