Read Online Embracing Emma (Companion to Brisé) by Leigh Ann Lunsford - Free Book Online
Authors: Leigh Ann Lunsford
Ads: Link
“It’s inevitable.” I hear the sarcasm in her voice, and it’s like walking a tightrope without a net. One misstep and everything ends. Football or Emma . . . there isn’t a choice there, but I want both. “Did you hear, QB? The scouts from UGA and GSU are here. They are watching us tomorrow.”
“Really?” The nerves take root in my stomach. This is what I want.
“Most of us can get a spot with the team at GSU. It’d be great to keep playing as a team.” Seth’s tone holds a hint of warning.
“Yeah, but UGA would be a dream,” I remind him. Who wouldn’t want to play for an SEC team? GSU is nothing to snub your nose at, but I know Emma will end up at UGA.
“You’d probably get the minority scholarship, huh?” Brian’s comment makes everyone laugh.
“Excuse me?” Emma is worked up.
“You know…he isn’t American…and his dads.”
“You’re a dipshit. He’s as American as you and I. He was born in a different country, big deal. Having ‘ dads’ doesn’t make you a minority. Just lucky.” She turns back to me. “I’m ready.” I know if we don’t make an escape, it will get pretty ugly.
“See y’all later.” I high five them and follow her path to the door.
She spins on me by the truck. “See y’all later? That’s what you say as they just hurled insults at you? You’re unbelievable.”
“Anyone different is a threat to them, Ems. It’s just the way they are.”
“If you say that one more time as a way to excuse their behavior, I’m going to knock you on your ass.” I try to hide my smirk because that visual is hilarious. “Knock it off, this isn’t funny. What makes someone different? The girls they fuck sure don’t have the same hair color as them. Their eyes are different. Oh, and they have vaginas. That’s a big difference.”
“You know what they’re referencing.”
“Do you know how stupid that sounds? What constitutes a difference? We all bleed the same color, get dressed the same way. We are all human. Hair color, religion, race, gender, sexual orientation…those aren’t the same as different.”
“You’re preaching to the choir.”
“Am I? Why doesn’t this bother you?”
“It does. We just deal with it differently. Nothing I say will make a difference.”
“Not to them but for someone it may. To me it will.”
“You go into confrontation head-first, battle-ready. I avoid it. That makes us different.”
“You’re a dipshit, too. Our personalities are different. WE.ARE.NOT.” Her breath is releasing in staccato pants, and I know this conversation needs to end.
“This gets us nowhere. Let’s go.” I open the door for her.
“That’s your solution to everything. Don’t deal with it. Pretty soon all the shit you sweep under the rug is going to trip you, and when you fall flat on your face, who do you think is going to pick you up? Them? Doubtful. I sure hope you don’t push everyone that cares about you away before then.”
Terror. Sheer fear freezes me. Would she leave me over this? It doesn’t concern her or me for that matter. They’re words. Plain and simple. And they only have as much power as you give them. “You give them too much power.”
“You don’t give yourself enough.” She reaches for the door, and I have to jump out of the way so my head doesn’t get slammed in it. I’m back walking that tightrope, and it’s quite shaky. Each step shakes us more and more.
Chapter Nine
Emma
Watching him play today made me fall in love with his sport. Brett and James beam with pride, smiles spread wide as his teammates hoist their QB up and the crowd erupts in cheers. State Champions. They had an undefeated season, and more scouts were here today watching.
“His skills single-handedly won this game,” James tells anyone listening to him.
“That’s my man.” I’m just as boastful.
I watch the men descend on him, the different college shirts announcing who is approaching him—Purdue, UGA, GSU,
“Really?” The nerves take root in my stomach. This is what I want.
“Most of us can get a spot with the team at GSU. It’d be great to keep playing as a team.” Seth’s tone holds a hint of warning.
“Yeah, but UGA would be a dream,” I remind him. Who wouldn’t want to play for an SEC team? GSU is nothing to snub your nose at, but I know Emma will end up at UGA.
“You’d probably get the minority scholarship, huh?” Brian’s comment makes everyone laugh.
“Excuse me?” Emma is worked up.
“You know…he isn’t American…and his dads.”
“You’re a dipshit. He’s as American as you and I. He was born in a different country, big deal. Having ‘ dads’ doesn’t make you a minority. Just lucky.” She turns back to me. “I’m ready.” I know if we don’t make an escape, it will get pretty ugly.
“See y’all later.” I high five them and follow her path to the door.
She spins on me by the truck. “See y’all later? That’s what you say as they just hurled insults at you? You’re unbelievable.”
“Anyone different is a threat to them, Ems. It’s just the way they are.”
“If you say that one more time as a way to excuse their behavior, I’m going to knock you on your ass.” I try to hide my smirk because that visual is hilarious. “Knock it off, this isn’t funny. What makes someone different? The girls they fuck sure don’t have the same hair color as them. Their eyes are different. Oh, and they have vaginas. That’s a big difference.”
“You know what they’re referencing.”
“Do you know how stupid that sounds? What constitutes a difference? We all bleed the same color, get dressed the same way. We are all human. Hair color, religion, race, gender, sexual orientation…those aren’t the same as different.”
“You’re preaching to the choir.”
“Am I? Why doesn’t this bother you?”
“It does. We just deal with it differently. Nothing I say will make a difference.”
“Not to them but for someone it may. To me it will.”
“You go into confrontation head-first, battle-ready. I avoid it. That makes us different.”
“You’re a dipshit, too. Our personalities are different. WE.ARE.NOT.” Her breath is releasing in staccato pants, and I know this conversation needs to end.
“This gets us nowhere. Let’s go.” I open the door for her.
“That’s your solution to everything. Don’t deal with it. Pretty soon all the shit you sweep under the rug is going to trip you, and when you fall flat on your face, who do you think is going to pick you up? Them? Doubtful. I sure hope you don’t push everyone that cares about you away before then.”
Terror. Sheer fear freezes me. Would she leave me over this? It doesn’t concern her or me for that matter. They’re words. Plain and simple. And they only have as much power as you give them. “You give them too much power.”
“You don’t give yourself enough.” She reaches for the door, and I have to jump out of the way so my head doesn’t get slammed in it. I’m back walking that tightrope, and it’s quite shaky. Each step shakes us more and more.
Chapter Nine
Emma
Watching him play today made me fall in love with his sport. Brett and James beam with pride, smiles spread wide as his teammates hoist their QB up and the crowd erupts in cheers. State Champions. They had an undefeated season, and more scouts were here today watching.
“His skills single-handedly won this game,” James tells anyone listening to him.
“That’s my man.” I’m just as boastful.
I watch the men descend on him, the different college shirts announcing who is approaching him—Purdue, UGA, GSU,
Similar Books
