CHAPTER ONE
Emma Green had been waiting her entire adult life to experience how it felt to be really and truly in love with someone. To love and be loved in return. To find out how it felt to be really connected to someone. To fall in love in a way that completely sweeps you off your feet.
She had always loved the idea of meeting someone, falling madly in love, getting married and living happily ever after. She had seen a lot of romantic movies and read a lot of romantic novels. It was always amazing when the actors in the movie found each other and were all lovey dovey at the end. And at the end of it all she always wondered if she could ever have something that beautiful.
One other thing she really wanted to experience – Great sex. Sex that included lots of slow, deep kisses and long, lingering touches. Sex that stole her breath away and zapped her common sense. Sex that made her toes tingle and her skin prickle and her body actually throb. Sex with someone who actually cared about her.
But people didn’t always get everything they wished for. Did they?. And Emma had given up on the whole idea. Some things just didn’t happened no matter how much you wanted them. Yeah.. Three bad breakups could do that to you. In her opinion, it just wasn’t worth the pain.
She had had her share of relationships and they hadn’t always ended the way she had hoped. She’d thought her boyfriend back in college was the love of her life and she had thought he was “the one”. But then he had graduated and moved to another state when she was still in her third year and everything got screwed up. They had fought almost on a daily basis about almost everything until they both realized that it just couldn’t work out between them anymore. That’s the part that hurts the most. When you realize that there’s nothing left to fight for.
She’d dated another guy she met on a dating app. It was all good between them but she always had this feeling in her gut that it wasn’t right. Her suspisions were confirmed when she found out that he was actually dating someone else. What actually hurt the more was that he hadn’t even bothered to lie about it when she asked. It just proved that she had not meant anything to him in the first place and that he had no respect for her or her feelings. Good thing it didn’t work out. At least it had prevented her from ending up with a jerk.
The fact that her father had left her mom when she was Thirteen didn’t help matters. Sometimes she wondered why she had even tried the relationship thing. Her mom was the sweetest person she knew. So full of love and ready to share that with everyone. She never quite understood how anyone could leave such an amazing person. Her mom had been so heart broken after the divorce. Yet she always bothered Emma about her single life. Which was something Emma didn’t understand. Men were jerks. She had nothing personal against all men, of course. It was just the combined wisdom of experiences with them. Her dad had been a jerk and she wondered when her mom wanted her to get one. She herself had never remarried.
“Hey mom” she would say anytime her mother brought up the topic “I’m fine with things this way. I don’t have to put up with anyone. Plus, I can be as messy as I want”
“Ah, Emma” her mom replied “you know it’s a pity you won’t be here next month. There would be a lot of nice young men coming in for the holiday. Could you not stay another week?”
Emma laughed. “Not even for a nice young man”
“Too bad” her mom had said.
She had wanted answers then. Answers about her father. But her mom had said she was too young to understand. And then her feelings gave way to anger. Anger at her dad for leaving. For leaving his wife and daughters and just disappearing. Without even bothering to stay in touch. Her failed relationships might even be a sign. She sometimes told herself. Some kind of premonition, preventing her from making a mistake. Preventing her from having a kid with the same family issues she had growing up.
Now she wasn’t a college girl in love with some guy who wasn’t giving her attention anymore. She was 25 and worked as an Accountant for Reddings Plc. She earned enough money to take care of herself and her mother who lived 6 hours away. She had her best friend Karen, they had met in college and had been her close every since. Emma actually couldn’t wish for a better friend. And apart from the relationships from hell her life was really great. Life was good. She had everything she needed to be happy. Although Karen didn’t think so. She kept insisting Emma needed a man and she found every opportunity to bring up the topic.
Emma stowed her purse on the passenger seat and her hand paused to on the side pocket where she had tucked her phone. She slid it free and noted the flashing message light before powering it off. She had six messages. Probably three from her mom and three from Karen. Or maybe they were all from Karen. It was valentines day and Karen had set her up with a guy she worked with. Karen had found her “Mr right” and she was very convinced Emma had to do the same. She never stopped trying to set Emma up on a date and this time she had worn Emma down and succeeded. Karen was unbeatable when it came to arguing about anything.
She ignored the small spiral of guilt, dropped the phone and drove out of the office parking lot. She knew Karen loved her and just wanted the best for her. But she’d tried that and it hadn’t worked out. All she needed to do now was to get home, have a quick shower, rest, then get this date over with.
She began to undress immediately she walked through the front door. She turned her phone on and went into the bathroom. Nothing a nap could fix. She said to herself. A nap and a long soak in the bath tub.
She hadn’t stayed long in the tub when her phone rang again. Emma groaned. This time she answered it. She knew it was Karen.
“Hi Karen” she grumbled.
Karen hissed at the other end of the line. “Have you been ignoring my calls Emma Rachel Green?”
“What the hell are you middle naming me for? … I’m not ignoring your calls.. I just got back from work I needed a little rest. Can’t we just do this some other time, I’ve got a terrible headache”
Karen hissed again. “No you don’t. We both know that’s not true”.
Emma smiled. Sometimes it was annoying how Karen knew her so well. “Yeah it’s not”. She admitted. “But seriously, do I have to go to this date thingy?”.
“Come on girl. You haven’t had a real relationship since God knows when. I think Ben is really gonna be good for you”
Emma groaned.
“Plus it’s valentine’s day”. Karen continued. “It’s literally world sex day and sex is something I’m sure you definitely need”
“It’s just a day” Emma said “I honestly think it’s a little over done. And depressing. People shouldn’t have to buy candy or flowers or jewelry to prove their love”
“Says you” Karen replied. “You should start getting dressed because I’m coming over to your apartment and you better be ready when I get there”
“Yeah yeah” Emma grumbled.
“Are you rolling your eyes at me right now?”
“Yes I am. See ya later Karen” Emma sighed as she hung up the phone.
Relationships were hard. She just hadn’t had the time and all the guys she had met were just not worth the trouble. If she was being honest with herself the reason why she didn’t want to get into a relationship was because she didn’t want to hurt anymore. Life was so much better when you didn’t have to worry about anyone else’s feelings but yours. And more importantly, It was easier when you didn’t have to worry about anyone hurting you.
Valentines day was the worst day of the year. She thought to herself. It wasn’t supposed to be such a big deal. Why couldn’t people in relationships just celebrate their love without rubbing it in other people’s faces. Duh… Some of us are single and we like it.
She stepped out of the tub. Turned off the water and walked into her room and to her wardrobe. She hadn’t even decided what to put on. This was gonna be a long long night. She finally selected something although she didn’t give much thought to it. It was a long black gown with a long slit on the left side. She stood in front of the mirror and pulled her hair into a ponytail. Put on a little make up and she was ready. Gotta get this over with. She said to herself.
The door bell rang.