11

An hour later, Emily and Kian found themselves naked and standing furniture back upright. The sofa, coffee table, and end table had fallen victim to Emily and Kian’s rough, wild sex. The shower curtain, towel bar, and showerhead were near victims when Kian joined Emily in her shower. Both of their hormones were raging and any chance they had to have sex they took.

“Kian,” Emily mused as she swatted his hand away from her ass as she was brushing her hair.

“It’s not my fault you’re so attractive sweetheart,” Kian chuckled then grabbed her ass. “Let me grab my wallet then we can go get something to eat. Sound good?”

“So good.” Emily didn’t know when the last time she ate was but she was ready for food.

“Be right back.” He left the bathroom. Emily finished tying her hair up then stared at herself in the mirror. She was practically glowing from how happy she was. 

“Ready,” Kian asked standing in the doorway. Emily quickly hid her big smile and nodded. “Let’s go get you some food then.” He held Emily’s hand and lead her to the door. He grabbed his keys off the key hook and soon they were on their way to the diner in his truck

During their short drive, Emily looked out the window at the town as it passed by. It seemed like someone had frozen the town of Camden in time; the buildings, cars, clothing — all of it was frozen in the ‘50s. That wasn’t the only weird part about Camden that she noticed. Emily could have sworn she saw a centaur walking into the barbershop, a few sprites flying outside her window, and a moose carrying a paper bag into the flower shop. She knew she wasn’t crazy. Hell. She wrote paranormal romance, so she knew a thing or two about weird creatures and the unknown. 

Something gnawed at her. Nikki and her glowing bracelet were somehow the ones to blame for all the weirdness. Gabby seemed to be the only one willing to talk and be honest. Emily’s plan was to find Selma, find a vehicle then book it out of Camden. If she could, before she and Selma hit the road, she would pull Gabby aside away from Kian and the others and get the answers to all of her questions.

There went her emotions again. She didn‘t know if she was coming or going lately. One minute she wanted to stay with Kian and the next she wanted to hightail it out of town. 

“We’re here, sweetheart,” Kian said squeezing Emily’s hand. She looked down at their intertwined fingers. Yet another intimate touch shared between them. “I’ll get the door.” He smiled then hopped out of the truck. Soon he was at her door, opening it and helping her out. He smiled the whole time. 

“What’s wrong with you?” She asked with a chuckle. 

“I’m just happy to spend time with you, sweetheart.” He kissed her hand.

Her heart sped up and pounded in her chest. No. No. Don’t fall for it again. You have to leave Camden. You and him are just sex. It was too late; she was swooning at his words. And melting when he shut the door then wrapped his arms around her. His lips gently brushed the top of her forehead. 

“I’m the happiest man alive, sweetheart,” he whispered into her ear. “I could stay like this forever.” 

“Do you mean that?” She whispered against his chest. 

“With all of my heart.”

Emily felt like she had butterflies fluttering around in her stomach. She giggled with happiness against him. Again, her heart was wrapped around the idea of staying in Camden to be with him. The thought of leaving him was out of the question. Or so her emotions were telling her in that moment.

“Are you happy, sweetheart?” He asked rubbing her back. She said nothing in fear of sounding like an idiot. She simply nodded her head. “Good. I want you to always be happy.” 

“Kian! Darling,” a woman’s voice called out. Emily felt Kian tense up then he groaned.

The butterflies Emily felt turned to knots. She felt foolish for falling for Kian and his words. She knew better, yet; she wanted to believe his words. The woman calling out his name reminded Emily that men weren’t to be trusted.

Emily squirmed free out of Kian’s arms. She looked up at him with glaring eyes. 

“Go, ladies’ man. Another one of your women needs you,” she snapped at him. She headed towards the diner but not before bumping her shoulder against Kian forcefully. 

“Emily,” Kian called out following her to the diner.

“Kian,” the woman shouted.

“Go away, Penelope,” Kian growled. He now stood behind Emily with his arms around her waist. Emily froze at his touch. Her heart broke. She desperately wanted to feel the warmth of him. Her mind wouldn’t allow it. He was all about women. She wasn’t anyone special. She was just another notch on his belt. She needed to stick to her original plan of leaving Camden.

“If you don’t want your arms broken, you should move them. Now,” Emily growled.

“Emily. Sweetheart, please? Let me explain.” 

“Explain what,” she asked whipping around to face him. “How you can’t keep your dick in your pants?” She pushed him away from her then opened the door to the diner and walked in. 

Emily wanted to thank the gods when the first thing she saw was Selma, who was sitting in a booth next to Jughead. Emily frowned at the sight of him but was happy to see Selma alive and well.

“Emily,” Kian whispered as he stepped inside the diner. “Please, let’s talk.”

“Selma,” Emily called out as she made her way past the waitress with the oversized breasts, beehive hairstyle, and flirty eyes. There was no doubt who her flirty eyes were directed at. The retro waitress was eyeing Kian. 

When Emily finally reached Selma’s booth, she slid into the other side of the booth. She glanced at Casper, then leaned across the table and whispered to Selma, “We need to talk... alone.”

Emily growled when Kian slid in beside her in the booth. She didn’t want him anywhere near her. 

“Marilyn, just bring us whatever these two ordered,” Kian said waving the waitress away. I’ll be damned. Maybe there is someone in this town he hasn’t slept with, after all, Emily thought sarcastically.

Selma smiled at Kian’s words. That wasn’t the only thing Emily noticed. She noticed Casper’s eyes lock onto Kian’s with an intense, raging fire burning in them. He clearly didn’t like Kian’s presence around Selma.

“Why are you here, pretty boy?” Casper snarled across the table. 

“I’m here with Emily. Doing what Nikki asked of me and keeping an eye on her, just like you are for our sweet Selma here.” Kian gave her a wink then grinned over at Emily. Emily wanted to throat punch him for winking at Selma. She knew he was doing it to get under Casper’s skin; however, it had also gotten under her skin too.

Selma and I need to get the hell out of this town.

Emily turned her attention to Selma. Even though Emily was upset with Kian, she couldn’t help letting out a sigh of relief. Looking over the other author, Emily could tell that Selma was alive, well, and happy. She looked like a love-struck puppy. 

Oh. Not you too, Emily screamed in her head. 

As though Kian read her mind, he slid closer to her. 

“Bus... Um, Marilyn,” Selma yelled at the large-breasted waitress one table over. “I need a hot chocolate, please.” 

“Coming right up, doll,” the waitress replied.

“She’s about to spill out of her damn shirt,” Emily said with a disgusted look. She hadn’t meant to say it out loud, but it came out loud and clear. Kian turned his attention to the waitress. Emily’s hands balled into fists as she saw him looking the waitress over to see what all the talk was about.

“It’s damn distracting,” Selma added in an attempt to save Kian from Emily’s wrath but he didn’t bat an eyelash.

“Apparently some men like looking,” Emily snapped at Kian. He looked at her, shook his head and grinned.

“They’re nowhere near as nice as yours, sweetheart.” Emily’s cheeks flushed from embarrassment. Not that she was a prude when it came to talking about her sex life. It’s that she preferred to not do it in front of strangers.

“Whatever. You say that to all of your women,” she stated rolling her eyes trying to distract her mind away from any positive emotions towards him. 

“Sweetling,” Casper looked down at Selma. “Are you okay?”

Selma no longer had the happy look in her eyes, which made Emily frown. In fact, Selma looked like she was ready to be sick. Emily couldn’t help wonder if Kian, Casper, and Nikki gave her and Selma something, after the car accident other than the elixir. Only Selma had supposedly drunk it. But how were they both sick?

“I think it’s the fact that I haven’t ate in over twenty-four hours.” 

“What the hell, woman?” Casper groaned then flagged down Marilyn. “How long on the food?”

“Work your magic a little faster,” Kian called out before Marilyn had a chance to reply.

“Right here,” she purred as she set down several plates. Both Selma and Emily were caught off guard by Marilyn popping up out of thin air. Or at least that’s how it seemed to Emily.

“Thanks. We will call you if we need something,” Kian replied then turned to Emily. 

“You sure you don’t need anything else?” Marilyn stood next to Casper and leaned over the table towards Kian. Emily felt him tense up, and she felt her blood boiling. The waitress needed to hightail it away from the table before Emily lost her mind.

Selma and Emily growled at Marilyn who ignored both women. She dramatically fell against Kian and reached out to hold on to Kian’s arm for support. Emily was going to the count to three to give Marilyn a chance to get her claws off of Kian or Emily would dig her own claws into him. 

“Enjoying yourself, Mr. Yours-Are-Better,” she snapped at Kian. “Move the hell out of my way. I’m leaving.”

“Casper?” Selma snarled.

Marilyn turned a shocked gaze on first Emily and then Selma. 

“Oh... Oh... I’m, uh, so clumsy.” The waitress stated as she stood tall. “I’m so sorry,” she blurted then rushed off to another table.  

“Hmmph. Clumsy, my ass,” Emily muttered.

“Emily. Sweetheart, there was no need to be rude towards Marilyn. She was just catching her fall...” Kian stated softly. Emily’s head snapped in Kian’s direction. The look of murderous thoughts on her face.

“If you say another word to me, I’m going to stab you,” she snarled. She slid a plate in front of Selma and then pulled one in front of herself. She hoped that once she had food in her stomach that she would be more pleasant to be around. 

Emily looked across the table at Selma. Selma looked how she had earlier. Selma looked like she was ready to toss her cookies at any moment.

Being concerned for Selma, Emily gave Selma a sympathetic look then said softly, “You need to eat, chica. You don’t look so good.”

Emily watched as the other woman played with the food on her plate before Selma stabbed a chunk of scrambled eggs and ate it. Selma’s body relaxed, she let out a happy sigh and then ate more of her eggs. 

Those must be damn good eggs, Emily mused to herself. 

Glancing at Selma’s plate she noticed the heavy-topped waitress, Marilyn still hadn’t brought Selma her drink. 

“Hey, can she get her hot chocolate?” She yelled to Marilyn, who was busy flaunting what God gave her to a group of four men. 

“It’s okay,” Kian whispered into Emily’s ear. His warm breath against her ear and neck made her yearn for him. He slid his hand on top of Emily’s under the table. 

No. Be strong, Emily, she demanded to herself. 

She yanked her hand from under Kian’s. Her mind needed a distraction, so she looked around. The area around her plate caught her attention. She frowned then glared in Marilyn’s direction.

“Hell, I don’t even have a drink!” Emily’s tolerance for Camden had just run out. She sighed. “I just want the hell out of this town. It’s making me nuts.”

“It’s definitely something,” Selma murmured in agreement. As though she came out of thin air, again, Marilyn appeared with a tray full of glasses and mugs.

“No talking. No face full of boobs. Just set them down and go,” Emily growled to Marilyn before Marilyn had set down the first glass. Marilyn grimaced, put the glasses and mugs in front of their owner then scurried off away from the table. Casper and Selma stared at Emily while Kian looked mortified by Emily’s comment to the waitress. 

“What’s the matter? Afraid I hurt your girlfriend’s feelings,” Emily asked sweetly then stabbed her fork into her eggs.

“Sweetheart, it...” Kian began but Emily glared at him. She didn’t have the patience for Kian and his charm for all the ladies of Camden. He had a habit of making Emily feel special, but now Emily realized Kian was just a ladies’ man and nothing more. 

“Don’t talk to me. Only Selma and Jughead can talk to me,” she muttered then began eating her food. She was almost positive Selma and Casper thought she was being a real bitch, but she didn’t care. They had no idea how Kian had made her feel only to have him pull the rug from under her. 

Throughout the meal, he attempted to scoot closer to her or hold her hand. Each time she slapped his hand away or pushed him back over to his area of the booth. Selma and Casper seemed to be on romantic terms. Emily admired the way Casper looked at Selma. Maybe Jughead is better than I thought. Wait! No! He ran away from me instead of getting my car for me! Time to get the hell out of Dodge.

Emily tried to get Selma’s attention nonchalantly, but the other woman was busy out in her own world. After several failed attempts, Emily tapped Selma’s hand and said, “Ahem.” 

When Selma looked up at Emily, Emily looked back and forth between Casper and Kian a few times then she gestured to the corner where the bathroom sign hung. Selma nonchalantly looked where Emily was looking and nodded as she picked up her hot chocolate and took a sip. Now that Emily had Selma on the same page as her, she needed to get them both away from the guys.

“Feeling any better?” Emily asked in a motherly tone before setting her fork down on her plate.

“Much,” Selma said smiling.

“Did you have enough, sweetling?” Casper asked then pulled Selma into his side making Emily jealous of the way he treated Selma so good. Selma snuggled up against him, but suddenly she got a look in her eyes. She looked like she wanted to run away from Casper. She was looking at Emily with ‘help me’ eyes. Emily tapped Selma’s foot as a cue she’d get Selma out of the situation. 

“I need to use the restroom. Selma, want to come with?” Emily looked at Kian gesturing for him to move. He was practically sitting on top of her. 

“Together?” he asked her with one eyebrow raised. 

“Is that against the law here in Mayberry?” She challenged Kian to rebut against her. He just sat there looking confused.

“Nikki wants me to keep a close eye on you, sweetheart,” he finally replied. 

“Then do it from over here.” Emily tapped her finger on the table. “I’m going to the bathroom... without you. Come on, Selma. We need to chat anyway.” Emily shoved at Kian’s arm to get him to move. He glanced at Casper looking for help then back at Emily. Casper didn’t argue with Selma when she wanted out. He simply shrugged at Kian then slid out of the booth allowing Selma room to get out.

“I’m still not sure you’re one hundred percent,” Casper grumbled. There’s the Jughead I know, Emily mused. “So, if you aren’t out in fifteen minutes I’m coming in after you.” 

“Casper,” Selma sighed, “Emily will be with me and I’m seriously feeling fine.”

“Fifteen minutes.” Casper kissed Selma gently on the lips, then motioned for her to pass by. She slid out of the booth, stood up then made her way past him. Emily noticed how both Casper and Selma’s bodies tensed when their arms brushed against one another. A few feet from the table, Selma turned and looked at Emily.

“Move, ladies’ man,” Emily growled at Kian, who was still sitting steadfast in the booth. She pushed at his arm. Reluctantly he slid out of the booth allowing her to get out. 

“Emily, how long are you going to stay mad at me?” Kian huffed running his hands through his hair. 

“I don’t know. How long is this town going to be stuck in the ‘50s?” He looked at her confused. “That’s about how long I’m going to stay mad.” 

“Emily, that doesn’t even make sense.” He dropped his hands down to his sides.

“Then maybe Nikki can explain it to you.” Emily turned to Selma. “Shall we?”