Chapter 42: Secret Keeper


    EMMA’s POV :


    Hailey was basically hyperventting.


    I put my hands on her arms and kept shushing her, hoping she would calm down.


    AJ,n, and his mom were still in the kitchen.


    n and I are just waiting for the right time to tell everyone.So, please, can you not say anything,


    especially to Kristen?"


    I whispered to her with pleading eyes.  "Wow...like...wow,"


    "Hailey, please, promise me.This stays between us," Hailey was quiet for a while.


    Her eyes darted to the direction of the kitchen, and when she saw that no one wasing out, she


    finally nodded her head and said, "I promise I won''t tell anyone. Only if you''ll do one thing for me,"


    "What is it?"


    "Don''t say anything ton about what you saw earlier,"


    "What do you mean?"


    "I know you saw us.AJ and I," she stated simply.


    She was referring to that moment when I entered the dining room and saw him kissing her hand.


    "So you and AJ are..."


    "AJ and I started hanging out at the end of summer break and we''re just trying to see how things go,"


    she paused and let out a sigh


    "We haven''t toldn or anyone else yetn can be a bit overprotective at times, I don’t know how he''ll


    handle his little sister dating his friend.So, we''re just waiting for the right time.Kinda like what you guys


    are doing,"


    "Wow..." was all that I could say in response.


    "Yeah, so please don''t telln anything, and I promise I''m not gonna tell a soul about you two


    being...you know,"


    "Right...yeah..."


    I was about to say something else, but then we heard footsteps.


    "Turkey''s ready!"


    AJ announced as he brought over the big tray of turkey and ced it in the middle of the long table.


    "What are you girls chatting here about?"n followed with tes of side dishes.


    "Oh, I was just telling Emma all your dirty little secret.Did you know he used to be in the school’s


    Christmas production back in the sixth grade?" Hailey was quick to answer.


    n was in a school y?" I gaped at him and he just shrugged.


    "Don''t listen to anything she says," he warned me and Hailey stuck her tongue out at him.


    "Grab a seat everyone. I know you all must be starving,"


    Kristen came in with the bow of mash and gravy.


    We all took a seat around the table and AJ started pouring drinks for everyone. People had wine in


    their sses, but not me.


    "She''s not drinking,"n said simply and that was that.


    "Before we start, why don’t we go around the room and say what we''re grateful for this Thanksgiving?"


    Kristen said to everyone, "I''ll start. I''m grateful that we''re all healthy and happy, and all my children are


    here.Plus Emma and AJ.You two are always wee,"


    "Hear, hear," Hailey raised her wine ss and cheered.


    "I''m grateful for the Giants, they''re doing really well in the yoffs," AJ followed as he sat next to


    Kristen.


    "That''s right,"n nodded at him.


    "Also grateful that business was good this year. And that I can spend Thanksgiving with all you guys,"


    AJ continued.


    AJ was smiling to everyone on the table as he spoke, but his smile for Haileysted a second longer


    than everyone else.


    "Ok, my turn," Hailey chirped.


    "I’m grateful for my family.I''m grateful for all this delicious food, shout out to my _ beautiful momma _


    for preparing everything.And also...I''m grateful for AJ and Emma that are joining us tonight,"


    Everyone smiled and nodded along.


    But I noticed the way Hailey said AJ’s name, it was as if there was some weight in that.


    "I''m definitely grateful for the food and for my mom and for all you guys, but I’m especially grateful for


    this girl right here,"


    "Aw, of course," I said as I took his hand.


    "I''m grateful for Kristen and the delicious food.Grateful to be a part of this wonderful night with these


    wonderful people.And of course, I’m absolutely head over heels grateful for you,"


    I kept my gaze onn and I gripped his hand tighter.


    "Uh, get a room you two," AJ joked.


    We might have forgotten that there were other people in that room.


    "Let''s eat!" Hailey eximed before things could escte further.


    Dinner was amazing.


    After stuffing our faces with turkey and stuffing, Kristen brought out pies for dessert and they were


    fabulous.


    By 11 PM, Kristen decided to head to bed, while the four of us were still chilling in the living room.


    We decided to watch a horror movie, The Shining by Stanley Kubrick, because why not? The four of us


    sat on the long couch, Hailey and I were in the middle and next to me wasn and next to her was AJ.


    Everyone had a beer bottle in their hands, everyone except me.


    AJ offered to get me one earlier andn insisted no.


    Gosh, I feel like such a child.


    Hailey noticed it too, but she remained quiet.


    She was kind of helpful, actually.


    Whenever the topic of my age or college came up, she would distract AJ with another topic entirely.


    She and I would exchange a knowing look and smiled meaningfully.


    So, we were on the couch watching this movie.The movie was a lot terrifying than I thought it’d be.


    There was this one scene where the kid was riding his tricycle around the hotel and he came across


    two very creepy twin girls in Victorian dresses talking in unison.


    Hailey and I jumped in our seats and yelped, I buried my face inton’s chest and she turned for AJ.


    Hailey quickly corrected herself though, not wantingn to notice she was being so cozy with AJ.


    I decided to help Hailey and return the favor.


    I snuggled closer ton that I was basically half sitting on hisp.


    This causedn’s attention to be focused on me.


    "Are you okay there?" he chuckled


    "This is not even the worst scene,"


    "Why are we watching this on thanksgiving, it’s not even Halloween,"


    "I never knew you were such a scaredy-cat,"


    "Whatever,"


    I sighed into his chest and turn my face towards the TV again.


    For a while there, I was enjoying myself.


    My head was lying on his chest and his arm was around my shoulder.


    I was mindlessly watching the movie when suddenlyn jerked my body with his two hands and yelled,


    "Boo!"


    "Aaahh!"


    I screamed like a baby and it caused Hailey to scream as well.


    "What the hell?"


    Hailey and I snapped atn who wasughing uncontrobly.


    AJ joined in on theughter as they high fived each other.


    "You suck!"


    I shoved him away and sat straighten my own.


    "Hey,e on," he cooed and tried to get me toy my head on his chest again, but I refused.


    "Go away," I shoved him again and I kept my gaze on the TV in front of me.


    He held me tight in his arms and ced a sweet kiss on my cheek.


    "I''m sorry, you were just too cute," he whispered to my ears.


    I blushed and flushed my head deeper into his neck.


    On the corner of my eye, I noticed AJ was holding onto Hailey’s hand under the nket.


    The nket was slightly pushed away, so their hands were somewhat visible.


    It wouldn''t be good ifn sees this.


    I thought quickly on my feet and I decided to do the only thing I knew how to do.Lifting my face up to


    his, I found his lips with mine and I kissed him slow and gentle.He tasted like cherry pie and alcohol,


    and somehow they worked together.


    "Baby girl, you''re missing the best part," he murmured lowly, referring to the movie.


    "No," I smirked yfully and said,


    "You''re the best part," Damn, I was smooth.


    "What''s gotten into you?" a smile escaped his lips.


    I don''t know, I just want to cover for your sister.But also, you look delicious.I couldn''t say those words


    out loud, obviously.So I stayed quiet and bit my lip.


    His hand reached up and he pulled my bottom lip down with his thumb.Then he leaned in and he


    kissed me, deep and hard.


    "Seriously, get a room," My eyes were closed but I could hear AJ''s remark.


    "Maybe we will,"n let out an annoyed growl.


    "What about the movie?" I looked up at his darkening eyes.


    "It''s on Netflix. Watch it whenever," he said simply and quickly stood up.


    He lent his hand out to me and I took it almost immediately.


    As I was making my way up the stairs, Hailey and I locked eyes for a moment.She gave me a wink and


    I smiled at hern was too focused on getting up the stairs that he didn’t see AJ putting his arm around


    Hailey as we went.  K


    On Saturday, we decided to go on a little outing withn and his friends.


    His friend, Tommy, had a cabin by theke and the guys wanted to go fishing.


    Tommy''s wife, Lisa, Hailey, and I would just chill and hang out in the cabin.


    Lisa had three kids, two twin boys and a girl.


    They were all under the age of six and they could be a handful, but they were also very adorable.  At


    around 2 PM, the guys were out fishing by theke and the toddlers were asleep.


    Lisa, Hailey, and I were just chatting by the firece when we heard the front door open.


    There was this beautiful brte girl that looked like Nina Dobrev and a guy walking behind her.


    "Hey, sorry we''rete!" the girl eximed.


    "Ally!"


    Hailey jumped from the couch and went to hug her.


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    "Richard had ast minute surgery to attend to. Please forgive us,"


    Ally said as she touched the guy''s arm.


    "It''s definitely okay. We''re d you two cane,"


    Lisa followed and hugged the two people.


    Ally’s eyes scanned the room and theynded on me.


    I just smiled and stood awkwardly on my spot, not knowing what to do.


    "Who''s this?" Ally asked.


    "This is Emma. My brother''s girlfriend,"


    Hailey said as she gestured for me toe closer.


    "Hi, I''m Emma," I said and I lent my hand out to her.


    "Nice to finally meet you. I''ve heard so much about you,"


    She didn''t bother taking my hand, she pulled me in for a hug and a kiss on the cheek.


    "Oh?"


    "I''m Ally, this is my fiancée, Richard,"


    "Hey, nice to meet you," Richard lent out his hand and I shook it politely.


    "So this is Emma," Ally turned to Hailey and Lisa, before turning back to study me from head to toe ,


    "Honestly, I didn’t think you''d ben’s type,"


    What was that supposed to mean?


    "Does he even have one?" Hailey rolled her eyes.


    "But she’s pretty, right?" Lisa added.


    "Definitely," Ally nodded,


    n likes pretty girls,"


    Ally spoke as if he knewn best and maybe it was my jealousy talking, but I didn’t like it.


    The way she stared me up and down, it was like she was sizing me up.


    "So, where’s everyone?"


    Richard asked as he looked around the empty house.


    "The guys are out fishing and the kids are taking a nap,"


    Lisa answered him.


    " I''ll go out and join them then,"


    Richard gave Ally a quick kiss on the cheek before turning for the door.


    Ally didn’t even bother looking back at him, she had her eyes stuck on me, which was sort of


    intimidating.


    "So, Emma, tell me about yourself," she said as she linked her arm around mine and pulled us towards


    the couch,


    "The girl that finally gotn Hayes to buckle down.Tell me how you two met.I wanna know everything,"