Walleye Junction by Karin Salvalaggio Page A

house.
    â€œNathan,” she said, noticing her whitening fingertips. “Could you please not hold on so tight? I’m starting to lose circulation.”
    Nathan slid his hands into his pockets and watched as Emma gathered their cups.
    â€œIs that all you’ve got to say for yourself?” he asked.
    â€œI am sorry,” she stuttered. “A lot of things … I mean I should have handled things differently. I was young. If I could do it all over again, I would.”
    Nathan pushed his chair back with such force it nearly toppled. “You never said a word when Caleb said all that stuff about you. You just took it.”
    â€œThat’s because I blamed myself. Lucy spoke to me the day she died. She begged me to come up to the house that same night.” Never taking her eyes off Nathan, she carefully placed the cups in the sink. “I took my time and she took her life.”
    â€œYou couldn’t have known that would happen.”
    She folded her arms across her chest. “I knew she was capable.”
    Nathan walked to the back door and stared out into the night.
    â€œIt was a long time ago. Maybe we should all try to move on.”
    â€œWhat do you think I’ve been doing all these years?”
    He placed his hand on the doorframe. “Running away isn’t the same thing. You could have stayed and helped clean up the mess Lucy left behind. Everyone found out what was in her diary. I ended up looking like a fool.”
    â€œYou were at Lucy’s funeral. You saw what happened. And talk about not saying a word. You should have stuck up for me then and there, but you didn’t.”
    â€œA funeral isn’t the time or the place for that sort of talk.” He stood over her. “I think you were looking for an excuse to leave for good and Caleb gave you one.”
    â€œYour uncle humiliated me in front of the whole town and you make it sound like I had a choice.”
    â€œThere’s always a choice. You just made the wrong one.”
    She turned away. “I’m going to bed. You can let yourself out.”
    Nathan grabbed her by the arm and swung her around to face him.
    â€œDon’t speak to me like that,” he said.
    â€œNathan,” she said, pulling away. “I’m not eighteen. I’m not going to put up with this shit.”
    â€œYou have no idea how much you hurt me.”
    â€œNathan, I understand you’re upset, but this isn’t the way to deal with it.”
    â€œI’m sorry,” he said, holding his hands up in defeat. “I don’t understand what gets into me sometimes.”
    â€œWe were close for a long time. I know it’s hard to let go, but you have to. It isn’t healthy that you’re still hung up on what happened between us all those years ago.”
    Nathan pulled her into a deep hug and pressed his lips to the top of her head. His words were muffled.
    â€œI replay what happened at Lucy’s funeral in my head sometimes. I should have said something. Now it’s too late.”
    â€œIt may have always been too late,” she said, closing her eyes and letting him hold her.
    Feeling more trapped than loved, Emma stood perfectly still. She feared he’d try to kiss her if she didn’t make a move soon. She didn’t know what she’d do if that happened. There was always doubt lingering inside her. She’d left him and Walleye far behind, but she couldn’t put her hand to her heart and swear she was happier for going. She felt so worn through with sadness that she couldn’t think straight. It would be easy to vanish into their past together, but she knew that she’d only end up leaving him all over again. Nathan hadn’t changed and neither had she. She could still string him along and he was still willing to follow her lead. He really had every right to hate her. She pulled away.
    â€œNathan,” she said. “You should go before we do