Darkness Follows by J.L. Drake Page B

teaching, Mother,” I hissed. “There’s nothing wrong with that.”
    She tossed her hair over her shoulder. “No, I guess not, even though you’ll only make peanuts for a living. That’s not an attractive quality in a woman, honey.” She motioned her head toward Seth.
    My chest started to feel tight, and I took a big sip of my martini. Vanessa reached over the table and touched my hand gently. She was such a sweetheart. I swallowed hard. “Thanks,” I mouthed.
    Seth came back to the table. He sat next to me, but barely made eye contact.
    “I would rather live in a shack and be happy, Mother, than live in a mansion and hate what I do every day. If a man doesn’t like that quality in me, then I don’t want him.” I paused. “I do quite fine on my own, anyway.” I sensed Seth tense, but I pretended not to notice.
    “Lord, you’re one stubborn young woman, Emily,” she rubbed her temples as if she were annoyed. I caught Garrett’s smirk to Seth. “How do you deal with her?” she asked the table. I rolled my eyes.
    “Heart of gold,” Campbell said in my defense. “She’s part of our family here.” He winked at me and gave Vanessa a kiss on her head.
    “Thank you,” I mouthed to them both.
    “Well, better you than me,” Mother tried to joke. I let out a puff of air. Man, this woman couldn’t say anything nice about her own daughter! “So, Johnnie, do tell me more about your day.”
    Between my mother’s constant jabs and Seth’s coldness, I didn’t think I was going to make it through the night. I excused myself and went to the bathroom, pretending not to hear the protests to take someone with me. I pulled out my phone and called Pete.
    “Hello, love,” he answered on the second ring.
    I paused to hold it together. “Mom’s back,” I blurted out.
    “Where are you?”
    “I’m at the Triangle with the guys and her. Pete, she just showed up after how many months? Between her and Seth, I can’t…” I started to sob.
    “Be outside in ten minutes.” He hung up.
    I slipped past a bunch of girls who entered the pub. I managed to get out the doors without being seen and moved over to the corner of the building. Pete’s Mercedes soon pulled up. I opened the door and hopped in. Before I could say a word, he gave me a huge hug.
    “Thank you,” I whispered through the tears.
    “Okay.” He held up a hand. “What’s the Queen Bee doing here?”
    I let out a long sigh. “There’s a fundraiser for her organization, a gala dinner Sunday, and I have to attend.”
    He nodded. “Of course.” He knew Jenny all too well. “Now, what’s going on with Seth?”
    I shifted in my seat to turn to face him better, and wiped my constant tears. “It’s odd. He was great, loving, and so attentive ever since I got back. Then three days ago something changed, and now he’s all Officer Connors with me and not my boyfriend. He’s pulling away again.” I ran my fingers along my cheek to clear my steady stream of tears. “I don’t think I can handle this. Between him pulling at my heart strings, and this psychopath, I think I may lose it. I’m barely holding it together. I—”
    He grabbed my hand to stop my rant. “We all know Seth keeps everything balled up. Maybe he just needs some time to sort it out? Have you tried asking Garrett?”
    I nodded through a shaky breath. “He and Seth are born from the same egg. He wouldn’t ever share something with me if Seth told him not to. Garrett gives me hints, but not much more. They have such a strong friendship.” I ran my hands through my hair and flopped my head back. “I’m emotionally drained.”
    “I bet.” He squeezed my hand. “Em, I know you get asked this a hundred times a day, but I’m your oldest friend. How are you really doing?”
    I looked him right in his eyes and felt like I was dangling on the edge. I couldn’t do it anymore. I burst into tears.
    Quickly he leaned over and held me. “Oh, love. Just let it out. No one’s here