Dear Emmett

Chapter Eleven - [The Truth.]

The world seemed to have stopped.

The only thing that mattered was Emmett and I, in this moment. It felt as if someone had an iron grip on my heart as I waited for his reply. I vaguely heard the rain thundering away outside, but it was distant to me now.

Closing my eyes, I leaned against the side of the truck. This was all too much…Running into him, the dinner we’d had together, Brooke…tonight. I was overwhelmed. Swallowing back the lump in my throat, I opened my eyes again and pushed away the tears.

I didn’t want him to see my cry right now.

Emmett had his back turned to me, looking out one of the small windows in the barn. His hands were on his hips, and the tension was clear in his back and shoulders. Oh, God. This was it. He was going to tell me to screw off. He didn’t want any part of my baby or me.

“Say something,” I whispered.

I could feel my heart falling apart. This is exactly what I was afraid of. Could I really blame him, though? We met in Panama City Beach, the world’s most popular spring break attraction. Of course he didn’t want anything serious. 

And a baby was serious.

“I’ll leave you alone now,” I muttered, turning around to open the trucks door. I couldn’t handle whatever rejection he was going to give out. 

The door was open just inches when Emmett appeared behind me, slamming it back shut. I turned around, startled and he placed his hands on either side of my head against the vehicle, effectively trapping me.

“You think I want you to leave?"

His voice was low. Angry. I swallowed again, more nervous than ever. He was pissed. I took in a deep breath, wishing the ground would open up and swallow me whole.

“Yes,” I answered. “You’re angry.”

His eyes whipped up to mine, and he narrowed them.

“Of course I’m angry,” He hissed.

“I’m sorry,” I choked back more tears. “I didn’t mean for this to happen…I didn’t mean to get pregnant.”

“I’m not angry you’re pregnant, you silly woman,” He snapped, clenching his fists as he stepped back from me. “I’m pissed you thought you came here and had the nerve to keep this from me!”

I was stunned.

This wasn’t what I expected him to say, but I was still unsure what he wanted. What he thought about it.

“You probably want nothing to do with us,” I muttered, looking down at the floor of the barn. I kicked at a rock wedged in the ground.

Us. Me and the baby.

“God damn it, Charlotte. What kind of fucking man do you think I am?” He shouted. I jumped a little bit, startled at the volume in his voice.

I looked back up at him.

“I..I didn’t mean..I just mean you met me and then we.. And then we didn’t talk. And then I just showed up here..I couldn’t expect you to to hel-"

He cut me off.

“It takes two to tango, Charlotte. I am a grown ass man and made a grown ass decision when I did that with you. You’re god damn right you can expect me to help.”

For the second time in less than two minutes, I was stunned. I ran my fingers  through my hair, pushing it out of my eyes. This was so emotionally overwhelming. Emmett spoke again, his voice softer this time.