Chapter 13: Going Public
885 Words
The drive back to Willow Creek felt completely different from the drive there.
Everything had changed.
Not dramatically.
Not loudly.
But undeniably.
Emma sat in the passenger seat smiling at her phone while pretending not to notice Alexander glancing at her every few minutes.
"What?"
Alexander looked innocent.
"What what?"
"You're staring."
"I am not."
"You are."
His grin appeared.
"Maybe a little."
Emma laughed.
The sound filled the car.
And somehow made Alexander smile even more.
Neither had stopped smiling much since the night before.
Back in Willow Creek, reality returned quickly.
The moment Emma stepped into her house, Lily took one look at her face and gasped.
"Oh my God."
Emma froze.
"What?"
Lily pointed dramatically.
"You kissed him."
Emma's eyes widened.
"How do you know that?"
"Look at your face."
Emma covered her cheeks.
Her sister looked far too pleased with herself.
Their mother emerged from the kitchen.
One glance at Emma.
One glance at Lily.
And immediately understood.
"Ah."
Emma groaned.
"This family is impossible."
Lily hugged her.
"You like him."
Emma smiled.
She couldn't even deny it anymore.
"I do."
For the first time, saying it out loud felt right.
Because it was true.
She liked Alexander.
A lot.
Maybe more than a lot.
But she wasn't ready to think about that yet.
The following week was surprisingly normal.
Emma worked.
Alexander worked.
They talked constantly.
Video calls.
Phone calls.
Text messages.
Every spare moment seemed to belong to each other.
The distance was frustrating.
But somehow they made it work.
One evening, Emma was finishing paperwork when her phone buzzed.
Alexander.
I miss you.
Her smile appeared instantly.
I saw you two days ago.
Three dots appeared.
Exactly. Too long.
Emma laughed.
You're dramatic.
Correct.
Another message arrived.
Come to dinner with me Friday.
Where?
The city.
Emma hesitated.
Alexander noticed immediately.
What?
She stared at the screen.
Then answered honestly.
People will see us.
The response took longer than usual.
Finally:
Only if you're okay with that.
Emma looked at the message for a long moment.
Because this was different.
Very different.
Until now, their relationship had existed mostly in private.
Away from cameras.
Away from gossip.
Away from public attention.
Going to dinner together would change that.
Alexander sent another message.
No pressure.
Seriously.
Emma smiled.
That was one thing she loved about him.
He never pushed.
Never demanded.
Never assumed.
Her fingers moved across the screen.
Let's do it.
Friday night arrived.
The restaurant overlooked the city skyline.
Elegant.
Sophisticated.
Busy.
Very busy.
The moment Emma entered, she realized just how public this evening would be.
People recognized Alexander instantly.
Some stared.
Others whispered.
A few openly watched.
Emma felt her nerves return.
Alexander noticed.
Immediately.
He gently touched her hand beneath the table.
"Hey."
She looked up.
"It's okay."
The simple reassurance helped.
More than she expected.
Because somehow, being with him made difficult things easier.
Halfway through dinner, a photographer appeared outside the restaurant window.
Then another.
Then another.
Emma's stomach tightened.
Alexander's expression darkened.
He hated this.
Not for himself.
For her.
"I'm sorry."
Emma looked surprised.
"For what?"
"This."
She followed his gaze toward the photographers.
Understanding immediately.
Then she smiled.
A real smile.
One meant only for him.
"You didn't invite them."
"No."
"You didn't call them."
"No."
"Then stop apologizing."
Alexander stared at her.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then he smiled.
Because once again, Emma had managed to calm him down.
Something very few people could do.
Unfortunately, not everyone was happy.
Across town, Victoria Sinclair sat inside a private lounge scrolling through photographs that had already begun appearing online.
Photographs of Emma and Alexander.
Together.
Happy.
Comfortable.
In love.
Victoria's jaw tightened.
She had spent months expecting Alexander to eventually choose her.
Not because he loved her.
Because it made sense.
Because their families approved.
Because their worlds matched.
Emma wasn't supposed to be part of the equation.
Yet somehow she had become the most important person in Alexander's life.
And Victoria wasn't ready to give up.
Not yet.
Later that evening, Alexander drove Emma back to her hotel.
Neither wanted the night to end.
Neither wanted to say goodbye.
The problem was that they always felt that way now.
Standing beside the car, Emma smiled.
"I had fun."
Alexander stepped closer.
"So did I."
Silence settled between them.
Comfortable.
Familiar.
Dangerous.
Because every day seemed to pull them closer together.
And every day made the possibility of losing each other more frightening.
Alexander brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
A gesture that had quickly become his favorite.
Emma's heart reacted immediately.
It always did.
"I'm seeing you next weekend."
His voice sounded almost like a promise.
She smiled.
"You'd better."
Alexander laughed.
Then kissed her softly.
Sweetly.
Like coming home.
When they finally pulled apart, neither moved very far.
Neither wanted to.
Eventually, Emma stepped back.
"Goodnight."
His smile softened.
"Goodnight, Emma."
As she walked toward the hotel entrance, she couldn't stop smiling.
For the first time, she truly believed they could make this work.
No matter how different their worlds were.
No matter what people said.
No matter who disapproved.
She believed in them.
Unfortunately, someone else was already making plans.
Plans designed to tear them apart.
And those plans were about to begin.
- Writer
