When I Was Theirs

48. Emmy

48

Emmy

I search for Jared through the crowd, my brow furrowing when I don’t see him.

Throat tightening, I force air into my lungs. The confined space suddenly feels too loud, too overpowering.

I’m becoming too reliant on Jared Bennett.

My heart hammers beneath my ribcage as I turn and smile at another customer. “What can I get you?”

I’m leaning in to listen when my eyes land on him. Jared shoulders his way through the packed floor, his eyes down and a frown tugging at his lips.

He doesn’t look at me as he slides onto the stool in the corner.

The polite cough jerks my attention away. “Sorry. Can you repeat that?”

I keep Jared in the corner of my eye as I work. He catches Carla’s attention, saying something that makes her eyebrows draw together. But she nods, pouring him a glass of golden liquid.

He throws it back, swallowing it in one and placing the glass down on the bar.

Gesturing for another.

And he still doesn’t look over.

The glass in my hand trembles as I pass it over to another customer. “There you go.”

I can’t approach him for another hour, the flow of customers not stopping. My feet are beginning to ache by the time I can edge my way over.

He hasn’t looked at me once. And I’ve been paying attention. “Jared?”

There’s a tension in his posture as he looks up. His lips move, lifting up. “Hey.”

The churning in my stomach doesn’t ease. It grows.

It’s not his usual smile. It’s not crooked, and small, and genuine.

It’s not my smile.

“What happened?” My hand lands on my stomach, trying to calm the sudden crest of unease. “What’s wrong?”

He searches my face. There’s a slight glaze to his eyes that makes my stomach roil before he focuses on the drink in front of him. “Nothing, Em. Everything is fine.”

No, it’s not. He picks up the glass, draining it.

“Something is clearly bothering you.”

Jared blows out a breath. His face softens, but the lines around his eyes are still bracketed when he faces me again. “Don’t worry. Arron… he was outside for a minute. But he’s gone, Em. He’s going to Oregon, okay? I watched him leave.”

The noise around me fades, and I sway.

“Here?” It’s a whisper. I force my voice louder. “He was here?”

Jared’s face is so careful. Watchful. He looks the way he did the first night we met. Suspicious. “He’s gone. He’s not going to hurt you.”

But his words don’t sound right. They sound almost strained, a hollowness behind them that makes my stomach twist painfully. “And what did he say? Did you speak to him?”

Because he said something . It’s obvious from the way Jared jerks back. “Why would you think that?”

“Because you won’t look at me properly.” My tone is pleading. “That’s why, Jared.”

My breaths come faster, small, panicked inhales. “Whatever Arron said, he’s lying. That’s what he does. I told you that.”

You promised me.

You promised.

“Ask,” I force out around the phantom hand wrapped around my throat. “Whatever it is, Jared. Just say it.”

Jared’s body is rigid, his lips a thin line. “I do believe you, Em. I do .”

We both know it’s not true. Or not completely. Because that’s doubt , written all over his face.

Jared’s hands grip the bar. “I… I only have one question, okay? Just one.”

“Okay.” My mouth feels dry.

“Did you… did you take money from his father? And other people?”