falling for you

chapter 10

Emma pov.

things have been good, busy but good. classes started back but thankfully my course load isn't bad considering I'm almost done. I'm still not sure what I'll do with the degree because I enjoy the bakery. I've hung out with Casey and Miley but case seems to be a little withdrawn, at first I thought it was because I'd started being friends with Corbin again but after talking with her she seemed to understand that I can't just drop him. but she also thinks it's going to cause problems with Dylan and me.

speaking of us we've spent some time together and it's going well, he's still been a gentleman other than absolutely not being comfortable with Corbin hanging around but he never did say anything much on the subject I can just tell Everytime he's brought up he tenses a little.

we still haven't taken the next step in our relationship, and we haven't spent the night together. Casey thinks it's because I'm holding out hope for Corbin but honestly I'm kind of waiting for the spark, we got into a make out session one evening but my dad ended up calling and we just didn't really pick it back up and I'm kind of glad we didn't, he's a good kisser I just don't feel the need to rip his clothes off. I just don't want to settle again, I want what every girl wants I want some to make me forget the outside world and bring me to new heights. but I'm starting to think that isn't real, he's such a great guy that it's got to be me.

I've seen Corbin a few times as he's come in for a snack or coffee and we've made small talk and he's checked in on me through text. he seems to be doing good and I'm proud of him.

sage for fired not long after their break up and she tried to come at me saying it was my fault and I'd never have Corbin, I'm not even sure how I ended up on her bad list it isn't like I told him to break up with her or like it was my fault she was fired. after weeks of hardly coming in and then she came in extremely high Mrs Jane finally had enough.

today we've having a get together at my place. daddy says its a house warming but I've been here for a few weeks so I don't think it is I'm just happy to have all my people together.

daddy seems happy, he's even talking of retiring and traveling a little and I think it'd be good for him.

Casey, Miley, my brother and dad are already here just hanging out and helping me with the food.

I noticed case and mark are kind of tense together so I'm not sure if they got into some argument or if I'm just imagining things, I'm gonna ask her later.

Dylan and Corbin and corbins mom should all be coming soon.

as I put the snacks out and finishing wrapping my stuffed chicken in bacon I through it in the oven as the doorbell rings. I smile opening it and Dylan is standing there with a gift bag and more roses.

I know I should really tell him they aren't my favorite but I don't want to be rude.

he kisses my cheek

" hey beautiful. these are for you"

he says nodding to the bag and flowers

" you really didn't have to. thank you for coming"

" always beautiful. just wish you'd let us order in or cook for you I know you are exhausted"

I give him a smile leading him in. see he's absolutely the sweetest.

he sets his bag next to the ones from Casey, my dad and mark. as I fix the flowers he goes to find the others.

not long after the bell rings again

" I got it"

mark hollers and I chuckle both of us knowing it's probably Corbin.

they make their way through and it's Corbin and his mama smiling. I give her a big hug which she returns and Corbin gives me a side hug handing me a bag.

" the place is looking wonderful sweet girl"

corbins mama gushes and I give her a proud smile

" thank you. it's definitely coming together"

she puts down a pan of her famous potatoes

" oh my goodness! you didn't have to but I'm so happy you did"

everyone chuckles at me

" it's good to cook for someone since Corbin only comes every now and then"

she says playful sending him a glare and I laugh

" I'm not sure how he stays away. you can always call me and I'll be more than happy to eat his plate"

not long after Dylan comes over wrapping an arm around my shoulders

" wanna open gifts?"

I smile

" you guys didn't have to but since you did . yes!"

Casey got me a beautiful throw blanket I'd had my eye on. mark of course went the safe way with a gift card and daddy said he's gonna get me a patio set which makes my heart happy. I love my people and they know me so well.

Dylan hands me his and I give him a smile opening the bag.

I find a gift card and two ticket. I pull them out and I know I've got a large smile.

" the game next week?"

he winks at me

" told ya I'd be taking you. so make no plans next weekend, I'm gonna get us a room and we will make a weekend of it"

out of the corner of my eye I feel like I see Corbin tense but I could be wrong

" thank you so much! I'm so excited"

I say giggling and holding the tickets up.

he pulls me in for a hug and mark pulls the tickets from my hand.

" man these are good seats! I've gotta see if I can get some! we can all go what do you say Corbin?"

my brother in overly excited and I can tell when Dylan releases me he wasn't expecting mark to invite himself on this little trip but he doesn't say anything.

Corbin rubs the back of he's neck looking around

" uh I mean yeah it'd be a great time but you may want to talk to your sister"

he nods towards me but doesn't make eye contact.

mark just waves him off laughing

" okay okay Corbin give her ours"

his mama says changing the subject thankfully. I guess Dylan mark and me will be having a conversation and I'm not sure how it'll go, I won't mind then coming but I don't think it was Dylan's plan. oh God is he trying to make this romantic? am I ready to go all the way with him? what if it's bad??

I'm brought out of my spiral as Corbin hands me his bag it's light and I smile at him as he nods smiling lightly.

I open it to find a card addressed from.his mama as I read it she tells me how proud she is if me and it brings tears to my eyes. of course there's a gift card I pull her in for another hug

" thank you so much you have no idea how greatful I am you've always been in my life"

I whisper to her and I hear her sniff as well.

after mama passed she really helped guide me so I didn't go off the rails

pulling away she pats my cheek loving

" okay what else did ya get"

she says trying to clean her face.

I look in and find a single Daisey and I pull it out smiling at Corbin.

he remembers?

I blush a little and Dylan clears his throat so I set it down and look at the rest of the bag pulling out a single small blue collar

I look at him confused

and he raises a brow at me

" I don't have a dog corb"

I say in a duh tone.

but he takes my hand without saying a word and I can't help but squeeze his enjoying his rough hands as he walks me out my front door towards the backseat of his truck, the windows are down and I hear small whimper. as he opens the door he motions for me to look as I do I see the cutest little hound dog in a small cage

I pull him out cuddle him and he licks my face before calming down

" oh my goodness Corbin! I love him!!"

he laughs

" I thought you would sunshine. you said you were having trouble deciding so I figured I'd help you out"

I squeal hugging him and he tenses slightly but I don't care. once I finally pull from him he kisses my temple lightly

" he needs a name though"

I smile at him and I notice everyone is watching us

I don't know how to actually feel on this moment, I'm extremely happy that he remembers all these random things about me but he's confusing me. I know it isn't fair to Dylan but Corbin hasn't actually tried to make a move so maybe I'm just reading to much into it. I see everyone laughing and joking

so I set the little guy down and he slowly walks around smelling his way around then he lets out the cutest smallest little hound dog bark

" looks like you will need to get him some food too"

dad says

" oh yeah knew I forgot something."

Corbin responded then takes back off towards his truck returning with bags of puppy food and a small bed.

" think I'm gonna call him duke"

as I say that his little head turns to me and he was his tail.

grabbing him in my arms again I cuddle him Miley is super excited so we make our way through the house and check on dinner before going out to the back yard where she and Duke start bonding and playing in the grass. I notice Casey and mark aren't here so I go to find them rounding the corner of the house I here mark

" I know you want to tell her but I don't want her to think the worst"

I hear Casey sigh

" but I can't keep keeping things from her mark"

she sounds irritated. I think I know where this is going so I fully round the corner and I find mark holding her just as I thought her eyes go wide once she sees me and she pushes mark away stuttering

" I um I he was just he was"

I hold back a giggle keeping a straight face, my brothers face has paled and I raise a brow at him

" care to finish her sentence?"

he looks at her and then back at me running his hands through his hair

" look em. we both love you and we both didn't mean to start this it just sort of happened and I really care for her and Miley "

he shrugs lightly taking her hand I see him smile at her

they both look at me waiting and I take a moment to let them suffer since they've been keeping things from me

" how long?"

Casey blushes and shakes her head

" really only two months and it hasn't gotten as far as all that and I know you might not be completely on board but I do really care for him em"

she looks up at him giving him a small smile

I can't help but laugh

" seriously guys?! like y'all thought I'd hate you or be against it? I want you both to be happy. and if that is together so be it."

Casey looks at me with wide eyes mark just smiles real big wrapping his arms around her

" but no s*x talk."

I shiver

" ever "

Casey finally laughs leaving mark to hug me

" God this has killed me keeping this secret "

we laugh together

" well no more secrets. does dad know?"

mark nods his head and I roll my eyes of course he does.

at that moment Dylan comes around the corner

" Emma?"

he calls

" over here busting my brother and my best friend making out"

I say with a laugh and he walks up looking confused.

" really?" he looks at mark who blushes slightly before wrapping his arm around her again kissing her head

" yes we're together no we aren't making out"

we share a laugh.

Dylan has his phone in his hand

" can we talk for a minute?"

he sounds a little irritated so I nod and case and mark part from us giving us space

I look him over

" everything okay?"

he sighs

" I'm trying real hard here Emma. I really am. but I keep getting these messages and it's rather annoying "

okay now I'm confused

" what messages?"

he shows me his phone. an unknown number sending him pictures of me and Corbin on the bakery having coffee one morning.

me leaving his house the other day after I helped him with some decor

I look at them and I know I shouldn't smile but I do. we look happy. but I look at Dylan and he's anything but

" okay but what's wrong? I mean you know we're friends"

he sighs again

" the messages I'm getting are basically saying I need to watch y'all and I'm honestly not sure if I like how much y'all hang out."

I gasp shocked

" look Dylan Corbin has been in my life and he hasn't made any kind of pass at me so I can't help what some unknown number is telling you"

he looks me over

" and the dog? and the random flower?"

I sigh

" he knew I'd been looking so he got me a gift. the flower we'll be knows it's my favorite"

I shrug

" he and his mom both got my that gift so she could've done it also"

I know it wasn't his mama but that doesn't matter

he does to say someone but Corbin now comes around the corner

" sunshine your dad said the chicken is done and we're starved"

he eyes us both as he comes before smiling

" uh yeah we're coming"

Dylan rolls his eyes are Corbin walks away

" yeah sunshine"

he mumbles and now I roll my eyes.

corbins pov.

I'd been feeling a lot better lately. my leg still gives me trouble and the nightmares are back but I don't seem to have them every night, oddly enough if I get to spend some time around sunshine or talking with her about basically nothing or listening to her complain about how she doesn't understand why she's in college because she doesn't think she will ever want to leave the bakery are the days I don't have any.

Mr Jim was nice enough to keep me own even after I was flakey and f*****g up, therapist thought it'd be a good idea to try out boxing to get my mind off the pain in my leg and let out my frustrations.

I've been going about two times a week and it's been good. I'm enjoying it.

Caleb one of the other guys there is real cool, seems he has problems of his own so he never asks about mine. we just box or work out.

he wants to hang out outside of the ring and I'm thinking we might do that.

today has been better than I imagined, I know giving sunshine the flower was a little overstep but I couldn't help myself. mama knows she doesn't know for sure but she has her own idea of things in her head and I just haven't told her anything other than Emma has a boyfriend to which my mama being sassy as she is rolled her eyes at me.

I'm glad she likes the dog, I also know she could've picked one on her own but I know she would've ended up with like 4 from the shelter because she wouldn't have the heart to choose and she's always loved hound dogs so whynt. I had told Caleb I was looking for one and he just happened to no someone who had some ready.

we were all enjoying the day when I watched mark and Casey come back holding hands and Emma and Dylan still gone so I'm assuming he finally maned up and told his little sister he was seeing her best friend. yes I knew because one night after he'd taken her own a date he couldn't stop the word vomit coming over the phone he was so happy and I'm happy for him. do I wish I could do the same? yes but it's different.

I'm not food enough for sunshine and I know it.

Mr Marshall had checked in the food and said it was ready when I came around the corner I saw them before they saw me, he was clearly upset about something while she didn't seem to be on the same page about whatever it is.

probably the little get away next weekend that mark invited us on without actually talking to the dude. I'm a guy I can smell he's trying to get a laid a mile away but this is mark with his sister he probably doesn't think she does those things. I hate to break his bubble but I don't think he is gonna want us going. I'll make mark talk to him later he already doesn't like me I can tell by the little looks I get.

once we had all found us a place to sit outside

I looked over my food happy. stuffed chicken, Mama's potatoes said and rolls. Emma is gonna have me watching my weight If I'm not careful between her cooking and me going into that bakery all the time to see her.

I noticed she was a little down and I didn't want to call her out in front of everyone because I know she hates that so I pulled my phone out and sent a message

me-sunshine?

it took her a minute and I started to Wonder if she even had her phone until he pulled it out looking over the message then at me raising a brow

sunshine - yes?

I couldn't help the smile on my face

me- you okay over there?

sunshine - I will be

I watched her for a moment and she looked at me I nodded slightly letting her know I was her then another message came

sunshine - he's been getting updates when we hang out together from an unknown number and is jealous

okay I'm a little taken back by the fact someone is basically following us but then again it's a small town

but I'm not as shocked to know he's finally voiced his jealousy over me. I can't say I blame the guy if she was my girl I'd be jealous of every guy in the same room as her , but I also know her beyond my jealousy I'd have to suck it up and enjoy her because I know she's never cheat.

me - is it just me or does he have problems with anyone else?

she looks at me with a raised brow and a smirk

sunshine - he's made comments asking if any costumers or classmates have flirted but I shrugged it off as a joke. but you he's definitely not comfortable with the friendship.

I sigh running my hands through my hair mark looks at me.

" you alright man? you haven't said much since we sat down"

" yeah man just uh enjoying the food"

I say looking down at the plate of basically untouched food. he doesn't say anything

me- noted I will back off. I'm sorry I never meant to be a problem in your relationship.

sunshine - don't you dare say that we were friends before he came along

me-he's a good guy Emma. you can't throw that away as much as I'd like you too over me. I'm far to messed up.

I promise we will be okay. just taking a step back.

I sent the message then stood up

" sorry guys I've gotta run something has come up"

everyone looks at me worried but I kiss mama and shake the guys hands

" take care of him"

I say sending a playful wink to Casey who giggles.

Miley gave me a hug and Dylan just nodded my way. I leaned down giving a speechless Emma a small hug and a kiss by the ear, I heard her in take a breath but that could've been in my mind.

I can feel her eyes on me as I make my way towards the house.

mark calls out to holler if I need him to which I nod.

I've just gotta get outta here. I can't f**k this up for her. I want nothing more but to be than man she needs but I know that I can't.

fuck!

I look at my phone and see a message

sunshine - I can't believe you left! we were done talking and I don't see how it's far for me to have to give up my friends because he's jealous. don't do this again Corbin.

me- because he's not wrong Emma. I like you and it's easily seen but I also know I'm not good enough for you that's the reason I walked away after that kiss. that amazing works stopping kiss.

do you really think your dad and brother would be okay with you being mine? no they wouldn't.

I'm in therapy. I have to box or punch a bag to get myself right. I can't be the man you need so please. we will still be friends but I need to take a step back

that was probably the hardest message I'd ever sent I sat in my truck for a minute waiting for her reply but one never came.

I hit my steering wheel screaming in anger.

then I take off towards the gym. I need to hit something. now!