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Chapter 5
Emily wandered the semi-empty house that Tony owned in Mooresville. Practically everything had been moved back to Indiana after they had bought a house in his hometown. He had said that he wanted to be closer to his family and his race teams. Emily wasn’t thrilled with moving from North Carolina to Indiana, but didn’t put up much of a fuss. After all, she was following her husband, so it was a no-win situation.
Tony wanted to still keep his house in North Carolina for when he needed to be there for one reason or another. He had said it would be easier than imposing on a friend and more comfortable then sleeping at a hotel.
“I’m going to the shop to meet Zippy and then to Charlotte.” Tony had said when he kissed her good bye that morning. “Call me if you need anything, I should be back by six and then we’ll go grab something to eat.”
“Ok.” She smiled at him and then snuggled back underneath the blankets. For some reason, she liked the bed that was in North Carolina better than the one back home in Indiana. Maybe because it was the bed that they spent the night in after they got married, since they had never gone on a honeymoon. It had been in the middle of race season and they had a wedding at Junior’s house in the backyard with all their friends and family. She smiled as she remembered the reception that Junior had planned. He was always one for a party and didn’t hold back.
Emily had just sat down in the living room to watch a movie on Lifetime when the doorbell rang. She groaned and got up, trying not to trip over Tony’s dog Kaylie as she ran for the door. Emily bent down and scooped her up so she wouldn’t run when Emily opened the door.
“What are you doing here?” she asked surprised when she saw Junior standing on the porch.
“I wanted to talk to you.” He stepped inside and Emily quickly looked out front to see if anyone was coming down the road. Why she as paranoid, she had no clue. Tony had a ton of acres and the house was set far enough back, that no one driving by could see them.
“Make yourself comfortable, I guess.” Emily put the dog down and followed Junior into the living room where she turned off the TV.
There was an uncomfortable silence that filled the living room as Junior and Emily sat looking at anything but each other.
“I wanted to talk to you about what’s going on.” Junior finally looked at her. “When were you planning on telling me? After you started showing? After the baby was born? When?”
“I don’t know. I hadn’t even really thought about telling Tony when I did tell him.” Emily played with the end of a blanket that was fraying. “Everytime he brought up the subject of having a baby, we’d fight.”
“It’s not like it was going to disappear, Emmy. You’re having a baby.”
“No shit, really? Is that why for a good three weeks, if not longer, I was puking my guts out if even smelled food?” She asked. Junior frowned at her. “Listen, I’m 95% sure it’s Tony’s. So you’re off the hook.”
“When did you get pregnant?”
“Daytona.” She said with a sigh. They both looked at each other long and hard, knowing that had been a week that they had also been together. Emily was the first to look away. “Like I said, you’re off the hook.” Junior shook his head and got up from the chair he was sitting in and moved next to her on the couch. He reached out and stroked the side of her face, sending chills throughout her body. “Junior, don’t.”
“You know we won’t be able to stay away from each other.” He leaned in and gently kissed her cheek, the moved to her ear. His breath was hot against her skin as she closed her eyes and fought the urge to turn her head and kiss him. “We clicked and that’s why we started seeing each other.”
“It was because I was lonely and you hit on me.” She murmured as his hand moved to her leg. “Tony was gone all the time.” She pushed his hand off her leg and moved so he’d stop kissing her ear and neck. “Sometimes I wonder how you can go day to day seeing Tony and not let it slip that you were sleeping with his wife.”
“The same way you went on without telling him you were sleeping with his best friend.” Junior moved toward her again, this time pushing her down on the couch. He pressed his lips to hers and after a few seconds, she relaxed and gave into his persistence. He deepened the kiss, letting his tongue once again explore her mouth like it had so many times before. When he moved to slide her shirt up, Emily stopped him. “What?”
“No, not here.” She sat up quickly, straightening her shirt in the process. “I can’t.”
“Why not?” “Tony will be home any minute.” She glanced at the clock. IT was only two-thirty. He wasn’t going to be home for awhile yet. Junior groaned and stood up. “I’m sorry.”
“Is it going to be this difficult with you from now on?” He looked down at her. “Should we just end it?”
“I don’t know.” Emily sighed. “Maybe. Yeah, probably.” Junior looked at her stunned by her unexpected answer. “I have a family to think about now. I shouldn’t be doing this. Not with you or anyone. I’m sorry Junior.”
“Family.” Junior laughed. “It’ll be interesting to see if it’s mine and how you’re going to explain that one to your husband if it is.” Junior stormed out of the living room and out the front door. A moment later, she heard him peel out of the driveway, the gravel flying up against he garage doors.
Emily sat on the couch and pulled a pillow against her and cried. She had a feeling she had just lost a friend and perhaps made an enemy out of Junior. But only time would tell. Maybe he’d get over it quickly and move on and find a woman he could settle down with. Not his best friend’s wife.
******** Tony came home that evening to find Emily making dinner in the kitchen. He stopped at the stove where she was pulling a pan of chicken out of the oven and gave her a kiss.
“I thought we were going out to dinner tonight.”
“I don’t feel like it.” She checked the chicken and then put it back. “Let’s go eat at that one place we go to in Darlington. You know the one with the good steaks?” That put a smile on Tony’s face. “Plus it’s nasty outside and I didn’t’ feel like going out in it.”
“That’s fine. A few of the guys wanted to come over to play poker tonight before they left for testing tomorrow, anyway.” Tony wandered into the garage to check his beer stash.
“Oh really, who?” Emily followed him and leaned against the door frame and watched as Tony restocked the fridge with a few cases of beer, that she could only guess came from Junior’s never ending supply of Budweiser and Bud Lite.
“Kevin, Ryan, Junior and Elliot.” Tony looked up at her as he crushed the box and started unloading another case. “The usual.” Emily nodded. Silently she was cussing Tony out for telling them okay before asking her. The last person she wanted to see right then was Junior. And she knew that he was only coming over to annoy her.
Around eight that night, the guys showed up with beer and munchies. Emily stayed in the kitchen, finishing up the dinner dishes, but wasn’t able to avoid Kevin who came looking for her.
“So I hear I’m going to be an uncle.” He hugged her from behind and patted her stomach. “Still feels pretty flat to me.” He winked at her as she turned around and smacked him with the washcloth that was in her hand. “Tony’s really excited.”
“I can tell.” Emily glanced in the living room where she could see Tony talking to Elliot and Ryan as they set up the poker table. “He mentioned tonight at dinner about having someone come start the nursery back home.”
“Yeah, gotta love having Home Depot as your sponsor. You get all your stuff for free or nearly free.” Kevin grabbed a handful of peanuts that Emily had sat out and shoved them in his mouth. “You playing tonight or are you afraid we’ll take all the money you won from us the last time?”
“No, I’m going upstairs and relaxing.” Emily put the last dish in the drainer and then wiped off the counter. “You boys can play your little game.”
“Who’s playing what game?” Junior interrupted as he walked into the kitchen. He set yet another case of Bud on the counter along with a bag of chips.
“Poker. Emily’s not playing tonight.” Kevin laughed as he started in on the peanuts again.
“Aww…that’s too bad.” Junior said with enough sarcasm in his voice that it made Kevin raise an eyebrow at him. “Guess you can’t play with the big boys.”
“It’s not that I can’t, it’s I don’t want to.” Emily glared at him.
“Well then, since you two seem to be getting along great tonight, I’m taking Junior out to play.” Kevin pushed Junior toward the living room. “See ya later, Em.”
“Maybe.” Emily walked to the fridge and wondered how bad it would hurt to repeatedly slam the door into her head.
Tony caught a glimpse of Emily as she tried to sneak up the stairs without being noticed a few minutes later and called for her. With a groan, she reluctantly went over to him.
“Where ya goin?” he asked pulling her down on his lap as Ryan shuffled and dealt the first hand.
“Upstairs where it’s quiet.” She glanced down at the cards in Tony’s hand. “I was going to relax and maybe read.”
“Hey Junior, how’s that new girlfriend of yours doing?” Elliot asked. “You gonna actually bring into the garage so we can meet her instead of hiding her? You were the talk of Dega last weekend.” Everyone laughed except for Junior and Emily.
“No, we split up today. She decided she wanted something else.” Junior looked right at Emily who looked away.
“So that’s why you’re being an ass.” Kevin laughed. “You’re not gettin’ laid anymore.” Junior glared at Kevin, who shut up immediately.
“I’m going up to bed. I’m getting tired.” Emily said suddenly. Tony nodded and gave her a kiss. “See you boys this weekend.” |