Logan
As soon as my father left, my chin fell to my chest. There was never a moment of peace so long as my father was around.
I had hoped our efforts had been enough to prove that Emily was fit for the role of Luna, but he was insistent that I eventually reject her.
I had originally intended to do that, but as more time passed, I found that I was reluctant.
Emily was a valuable asset and more interesting than any other woman I had met. Starting
all over again would not only be troublesome, but it may not work as well.
I only told my father what he wanted to hear in order to get him off my back. I didn’t want
to tell him my mixed feelings about the situation.
He didn’t need to know. Besides, he’d only see me as weak for thinking like this.
I loosened my tie, and I was reminded of the time that Emily had tied my bowtie for me. She
had not done a terrible job, and it was only a little bit crooked.
But it was fun to tease her.
I enjoyed the way she held her breath when she was close to me. The way her fingers shook as she moved the material was all too amusing. I wasn’t sure if it was nerves or something else, but no matter what it was, it was my favorite moment of the night.
I sighed heavily and rose from my chair. I had better go find Emily.
When I found her, she was in the dressing room. Her back was to me as she sat on a stool,
and she looked into a mirror.
From the threshold, I saw her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes and nose were red, and it
was easy to see she had been crying.
After the day we had, it must have been overwhelming and exciting. They had to be tears of
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joy. The idea that she was so happy, she’d cried, made my heart leap in happiness.
I went up behind her and with a big smile wrapped my arms around her.
“Were you waiting for me?” I asked, voice low.
I had expected that she might hug me or maybe even give me another little kiss. Instead, she pulled away from me and stepped several feet away.
“We don’t need to pretend to be intimate when no one is watching,” she said. Her voice was empty, and when she looked at me, I saw something in her eyes I’d never seen before. Was that disappointment?
My face fell. “What happened?” There had to be a reason for her sudden change in attitude.
“Nothing happened. We should remember that we are a contract couple, and we don’t have
to like it’s something more when we don’t have to.”
I was at a loss for words. Emily took that opportunity to turn and leave, and I stood alone with nothing but my confusion.
I collected myself, a new determination rising. If I’ve done something wrong, I’d fix it. I
won’t let Emily walk away.
I hurried out into the hallway and made my way towards the door. I wasn’t even a minute
behind Emily, so I should be able to catch up to her before she leaves.
When I threw open the doors, I glanced up and down the street. It didn’t take long to find Emily, but she was already in a conversation with someone else.
Michael.
I scowled. Even thinking his name made my blood boil.
To my surprise, Emily got into his car with him.
Was this why she had suddenly changed so much? If Michael had come crawling back for her, maybe she thought she didn’t need me anymore. Or she could be creating a distance
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between us to not interfere with her relationship with Michael.