Read Online Embracing Emma (Companion to Brisé) by Leigh Ann Lunsford - Free Book Online Page B

sweat covering his face, soaking his hair. The white of his teeth stands out against his tanned complexion. The muscles bunch in his arms as he suspends me in the air over him. It’s all mesmerizing. I close my eyes, committing it to memory. “Ems, open your eyes.”
    “Give me a minute.”
    “What are you doing?”
    “Memorizing this memory. This is the way you should always look.”
    “How’s that?”
    “Happy. Carefree. In love with life.”
    “As long as you’re in my arms, that’s how I’ll look.”
    “I love you.” His eyes bulge. He places my feet on the ground and immediately sweeps me up, spinning me in circles. His head is thrown back, and the smile still hasn’t disappeared.
    All of a sudden he stops and his mouth dips to my ear. “I love you, Emma. I wish I could tell you how much.” I clutch his face hard, bring his lips to my mouth, and show the entire fucking school staring at us that he is mine. I call dibs on him, and I will embrace every touchdown pass, field goal, interception, fumble . . . that’s all I know. I will handle everything life throws at us for this feeling. I don’t care that I’m a teenager, I don’t care I said the three words first. Rules be damned because in love there are no rules. No expectations. No right or wrong when you find it.
    There is a roadmap to follow, and I intend to take every highway, backstreet, bridge, and tunnel to reach our destination. “I see you decided to take my advice.” Nana and her damn blue hair.
    “I said what was important,” I tell her but never take my eyes off Will.
    “You get your brains from my side of the family.” My shoulders shake, finally I can’t hold it in, and in the comfort and strength of his arms, I let go and laugh.
    “Thanks for the DNA, Nana.”
    “That’s not all I gave you. Beauty, brains, attitude. But your driving skills, those are from your mom’s side of the family.”
    “Not a word about my driving skills.”
    “I know dear, that garage corner must have shifted in the middle of the night and damaged your bumper. And the mailbox. When did they put those in the middle of the road?”
    Will can’t help his laughter; my driving is a huge point of contention with us. He won’t get in the car with me behind the wheel. “Nana, I do know where she got her smart mouth.”
    “Young man, that’s a gift not to be taken lightly. Don’t make fun.”
    “Never. I use to think it was uniquely her, but I’m guessing I was wrong.”
    I squirm in his arms until my feet are planted firmly on the ground. Mocking an aggravated stance, hands fisted on my hips, toe pointed out, I say, “I’m right here. Quit talking about me like I can’t hear you.”
    We all laugh because this is the normal. Nana, Will, me, causing havoc with our parents a short distance behind us, shaking their heads clueless as to what is being said but knowing we are up to no good. I look past Will and see my dad is holding my mom close, or she is holding him back . . . I didn’t take him into consideration with my PDA a few minutes ago. Brett and James holding hands, looking at their son like he hung the moon.
    Will surprises me and jogs over to them, wraps them both in a hug, his huge arms holding them both at the same time. “Thank you.” Their faces are a mirror of one another. Dazed look, mouth falling open, I notice their grip on one another’s hands tighten.
    “We love you, son.” I have to struggle to hear Brett’s voice—the tone and shakiness of making it unrecognizable.
    “Love you, too. Both of you.” I look at my mom, and she winks.
    “Hey QB, time to hit the locker room,” the coach calls to Will, and as he hustles off I notice the group of assholes off to the side staring over at our group in disgust. I can’t help myself but to flip off the ringleader, Brian, who is flanked by his brother Seth. What a waste of space. Seth narrows his eyes and heads into the locker room. Brian stares for a few moments before breaking