Chain Reaction 2.66: Good Evening

     Alex is sitting watching television when I get home. He sees my expression, turns off the television, and walks over. I throw my arms around him, squeezing him to me.
     "Is something wrong?" he asks carefully.
     "Just hold me for a minute, okay?"
     "Gladly." He kisses the side of my head through my hair.
     I'm so mad at Daddy! How could he do that to me! How could he think that would work?! Why can't he just accept the fact that I love Alex? I squeeze Alex even harder.
     "Emily, my love, I'm not going anywhere. You're going to hurt your arms if you keep that up."
     I whisper, "I'm...so...mad!"
     "After going out to lunch with your father?" He pauses. Then, in a suspicious voice, he asks, "What happened?"

     I tell him everything of my afternoon nightmare. Alex's face drops and drops. Worry knots up in my stomach.
     "I am socially inept, Alex! Drake was right! Why couldn't I just stop it as soon as I guessed what was going on? What's wrong with me?!" Oh, plum, I don't want to cry. I bite my lip.
     "Drake is not right, Emily. I don't want to hear you say that about anything. That little spawn of mine is nothing but evil, understand?"
     "But he's still right."
     "You're not socially inept. You're sweet and kind and willing to hope for the best in people, even when there isn't a 'best' anything. The entire time, you were trying to think of a way to let him down nicely. Not everyone would do that. Don't you understand?"
     Something occurs to me. What if Alex thinks I wasn't telling Braydon fast enough that I had a boyfriend because I was actually interested in him? "Are you mad at me?"
     "Plum, Emily."

     He kisses me hard. I'm too mad to kiss right now! Doesn't he know that? I try to pull back, but he grunts and holds me tighter, getting fiercer with the kiss. I stop worrying if he's mad at me and start getting mad at him. I loosen one of my arms and punch his chest with the side of my hand. He doesn't stop, which just makes me madder. I want to rip him limb from limb. Bringing out the claws now, I put everything I have into pushing back, and I succeed.
     We stand apart, panting and staring at each other. He has that wild look in his eyes that's so plumbing hot.
     I don't know. I can't figure it out. I can't explain it, but right now, I don't care. Instead of clawing at and punching him, I attack him just like he did me a minute ago, ramming myself into his chest and devouring his talented lips. The force I do it makes him have to take a few steps backwards. I follow him. That's when he gets the idea to carry me upstairs.

     He takes me inside the observatory, and we woohoo like I never thought possible. We don't say much, but we don't need to. Now, I understand. I needed to reaffirm how much he loves me and I him, how much we're crazy about each other, how we've found everything we've ever wanted in each other.
     Afterwards, I tell him I'm going to go take a long bubble bath, and he smiles and agrees that's a good idea.
     "I'll join you in a minute," he says and kisses my nose.
     "Okay."

Alex

     That rat! That sneaky little...

     I pull out my phone.

     "Good evening, Graham!" I say, reminding myself of a villain in a James Bond film. I don't care. This man has pissed me off. Again.

     "Hello, Alex. The only reason I answered is to find out what the plum you want. Make it fast. I don't have much time for pond scum."

     "Oh, I won't take too much of your time. I just had to call you and tell you your little scheme didn't work." I grin. This is going to be good.

     "What 'little scheme'?" he asks, but he knows what I mean.

     "Why, inviting that young man to lunch today with your daughter. Did you really think that would work?"

     "Looked to me like they were getting along just fine." He sounds way too pleased with himself.

     "Well, it didn't work. Emily came home" I love reminding him that my house is her home "really shaken up."

     "Shaken up? Well, that's interesting, Alex. Why would she be shaken up? Doubts?"

     "Furious anger, Graham. At you." I pause for effect then deliver my killing blow. "Oh, but don't worry. I made her feel oh so much better." I force out a chuckle. "Your daughter is quite the little firecracker." I pause again to let that sink in. "You did know we're sleeping together, right? I mean, I'd hope you'd just assume-"

     "Stop it!" he gasps out. "You horrible monster!"

     "Do you remember when I tried to start this out in a friendly, peaceful manner, Graham? Do you remember that?"

     "F--- you." He's really lost his calm, collected facade.

     I laugh, enjoying that fact immensely. "Sorry. I'm a bit... busy ...in that department, old pal. She's amazing. Begs for more, and I'm all-too-happy to give it to her."

     "I hate you! I will always hate you!"

     "Yes. I'm well aware of that. I just want to point out that I was ready to reconcile our differences, but this latest stunt, Graham..." I make a tsk-tsk sound. "You tried to set her up with someone else?"

     "Braydon is a nice young man. Anyone would be better than you!" He sounds like he's shaking.

     "But I'm the one she wants." I pause again before I continue. "What you've done today is tantamount to throwing down the gauntlet, Graham. Have you forgotten what I'm capable of?" Deep down, I hate this. I don't like being this way, but this man, the father of the woman I adore, has an impeccable talent for bringing out this side of me.

     "You have nothing, Alex. I'm retired, remember?" he sneers.

     I laugh meanly. "Yes, so you are. Retired from a very interesting career if I do say so myself. I'm amazed at how you could hide it from your family, even your son-"

     "Leave Ethan out of this!" he yells through the phone.

     "Careful, Graham. You wouldn't want to wake up...Bella." I chuckle. That hasn't gotten old yet. "I wonder what your police officer son would have to say about his dear old dad's real career." Nice. I've mentioned all three of his children in under two minutes, reminding him I have the power to destroy his relationship with at least two of them. I'm glad I've always kept this knowledge of his true career to myself all these years.

      I think I broke him. At least his voice sounds like it when he says, "What do you want, Alex."

      "Wow, Graham. That was a little too easy. I'm disappointed." And surprised.

      "These are my children you're talking about, you rotten sonofab*tch. Tell me what the plum you want."

      Here it is. My chance. "It's really quite simple, actually. It's only something I tried to get the nice way before you shoved into my face my father's past misdealings." I really did want to play nice. I did!

      "You remind me so much of him. Only worse. And you want my daughter?!"

      That hurt. I can't believe how much that hurt. My father was true pond scum for what he did, but he was still my dad. But for Graham to compare me to him... I can't let him know he hurt me, though. I say in a stern voice, "Back off, Graham. Stop trying to interfere. I mean it when I say I love Emily. It's unreal how much I love her. I don't want to have to be constantly worrying what you're going to do next. I just want to be happy. I want what everyone wants: peace. By some miracle, Emily loves me too. Let us have our happiness without trying to sabotage it."

      I listen while Graham takes several breaths. Then, he finally speaks. "I swear on all that's holy that if you hurt her, I will kill you slowly in the most painful way I can come up with! Do you understand me?"

      "Then I have nothing to worry about. It's been a pleasure talking with you tonight, Graham. Have a pleasant rest of your evening." I hang up.

     I take in and let out a shaky breath.

     I won! I can't believe it! I won! At last! I'm going to be happy, and there's nothing Graham can do about it! His little stunt backfired heavily in my favor. And I have...Emily, a woman ten times more wonderful than her mother could ever dream of being.

     Then what are you doing wasting time up here on the roof, Alex? I ask myself with a small chuckle, and I decide to go teach Emily the joys of woohoo in a bubble bath.

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