Chapter 81: Tables Turn


    EMMA’s POV :


    One Month Later


    "This is so great, Emmie! We pretty much can drive to New Jersey together!"


    Sophie eximed happily as I told her the news.


    Yes,n and I were nning to spend Thanksgiving in New Jersey this year.


    Last year we wanted to do that butn’s mom had a small heart attack and she ended up being


    hospitalized.


    This year, we wanted to make up forst year’s dingy hospital food and tasteless Jell-O.


    Kristen was so excited to have us over, she had started nning and prepping since Monday.


    "So, is that a yes? I can carpool with you guys?"I asked her again to make sure.


    "Absolutely, you can totallye with us,"Tristan interjected as he took a seat in between us on the


    couch.


    "Sophie''s gonna hog the AUX cable the whole way, but other than that, it’s gonna be a fun ride,"


    "Hey!"Sophie yelled defensively.


    "I have great taste in music.I’m a good DJ for the car,"


    "Brace yourself.It''s gonna be BTS and Tik Tok music all the way,"


    Tristan rolled his eyes dramatically and Iughed.


    Since Sophie and Tristan were also from Jersey and they were driving there for Thanksgiving, I thought


    it would be efficient if I could carpool with them.


    Ian would drive from New York and meet me there.


    Everything was set and I was excited as Thanksgiving Day arrived.


    Tristan, Sophie, and I got up super early on Thursday morning because we wanted to beat the traffic.


    By 7.30 AM, I was all dressed and ready to go.My bags were packed and I even had time to make


    breakfast for everyone.


    Nothing fancy, just some pancakes, bacon, and coffee.


    "Ooh, someone''s eager to start the day,"Sophie teased as she grabbed a pancake from the te.


    "Very much,"I agreed.


    "Is Tristan ready?"


    "Yeah, he’s moving my bags to the car,"


    Thest time I sawn was two weeks ago when I came to visit him in the city.


    So, it was only natural that I was giddy to get on with this trip.


    Even though we talked on the phone a lot, and we did more than just talking on the phone, it still wasn’t


    the same as meeting him in person and letting him touch me for real.


    Maybe it was my time of the month or whatever, but I was missing his touch.


    I had been having dreams about him for the past few days.


    Shameless, I know, but I couldn''t wait to touch him and feel him inside me again.


    My happy thoughts were interrupted by the sudden buzzing of my phone.


    I checked the screen and saw that it was Ian calling me.It was like he could read my mind.


    I was smiling to myself as I answered the call.


    "Hey, I was just thinking about you,"I said.


    "Really? What about?"


    Oh, I don’t know about you and your gorgeous smile, your soft lips, and rock-hard body.I was thinking


    about how you would hold me in your arms and how we''d make love all night...


    "I''m just so excited to see you tonight.I can’t wait,"I said instead.


    I heard him taking in a deep breath and letting out a sigh.The smile on my face ttened instinctively.


    "Baby girl, you’re gonna hate me for this..."he started.


    "What is it? What’s wrong?"


    "I don''t think I can make it back tonight,"he sighed.


    My heart instantly sank to feet at his words.


    "Don''t tell me you have to work? It’s Thanksgiving!"I argued.


    "It''s not work per se..."


    "Then what is it? What could be more important than spending Thanksgiving with me and your family?"


    "Emma...something’s happened with Ally..she and Richard broke off the engagement.She’s in a really


    bad shape right now,"


    "Oh..."I mouthed, pausing for a moment before saying, "Just bring her to New Jersey then.We can all


    spend Thanksgiving together?"


    "No, that''s the thing.She doesn’t wanna go back there and face her parents and all her friends.She


    hasn''t told anyone about the break up,"


    "So what, she wants you to stay in New York with her?"


    "No, she didn’t ask me to.But I saw herst night and I...I feel bad.She’s drinking herself to sleep every


    night.She doesn’t have that many people that she trusts in the city.She could really use a friend,"


    That sounded familiar.


    In fact, that was pretty much what happened a month ago when I decided to stay with Tristan when he


    was going some rough time.


    Tristan got his heart broken by this girl named Monique.


    I ended up bailing on Ian and staying with him to cheer him up.I would say that it worked because since


    then, Tristan stopped moping around about Monique anymore.


    "So, does this mean you''re gonna spend all of Thanksgiving with Ally in the city?"I asked.


    "We''re also gonna do some work while we''re at it.We have some potential clients that would love to


    invest in the work we do...Anyway, I uh, I know it’s awful that I''m bailing on you on Thanksgiving but..."


    "Your friend needs you," I sighed.


    I knew the situation too well.


    "I understand,"


    "I will make this up to you, I promise,"he said quickly.


    "Yeah, yeah, I know you will,"I rolled my eyes even though he couldn''t see me.


    "You can still go to my house and spend Thanksgiving with my mom and Hailey?"he suggested.


    "Yeah, maybe,"I shrugged.


    "You don''t hate me, do you?"


    "Right now, a little bit.But I''ll get over it,"


    "I promise I’m gonna be all yours for Christmas.We can go wherever you want, and we can do


    whatever you want,"


    A naughty smile crept up my lips as I said, "What if all I want to do is in my bedroom?"


    "We can do that too,"he stifled augh.


    "Promise?"


    "All Christmas long, baby.I promise,"


    That made me smile real wide.I let out a sigh and said ,


    "Okay, gofort your friend,"


    "Thanks, baby girl.I love you.Have a safe trip,"


    "I love you too," I ended the call half-heartedly.


    Although I put up a good front, I was obviously disappointed that I wouldn''t get to see him tonight.I was


    looking forward to this all week long.


    "Is everything okay?"Sophie asked as she noticed the frown on my face.


    "Not really..."I started to speak, but Tristan’s sudden appearance cut me off.


    "You guys ready?"Tristan was beaming with excitement as he stepped inside the living room.


    He had just finished moving his and Sophie''s bags to the car.


    "Uh..."


    Sophie turned to look at me, waiting for me to exin.


    "What’s wrong?"


    Tristan noticed the awkwardness in the air and came closer to me.


    "Nothing...that wasn calling...he, uh, he said he can’te to Jersey for Thanksgiving," I shuffled


    weakly.


    "What? He''s bailing on you?" Sophie gasped.


    "That dude has serious issues with his timing," Tristan shook his head disapprovingly.


    "His friend’s in trouble and he needs to be with her," I shrugged.


    "So, he’s really noting to see you on Thanksgiving?" Sophie reiterated the point.


    "Yeah.I could still go and hang out with his family...or I could stay here," my eyes darted around the


    room as I weighed my options.


    Sure, I liked Kristen and Hailey, but I wondered if it would be awkward if I show up alone withoutn.


    I could take the safe option and just stay in the apartment, but that would be kinda sad and lonely since


    it was Thanksgiving break and everyone was with their families.


    I already told my mom and dad that I was spending Thanksgiving withn.


    If they knew that he bailed on me again for the second time in two years, they might not think too highly


    of him.


    "Or you can hang with us?" Tristan said suddenly, proposing a bold idea.


    "Yeah.You can totally stay with us.We don''t really eat turkey on Thanksgiving, but my dad can make a


    mean pork belly barbeque,"Sophie said in excitement.


    That did sound enticing.


    I always loved spending time with Sophie and Tristan, and their parents were the nicest people.


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    They always sent us food and snacks from time to time.


    Their dad was also really funny, he wanted to be a stand upedian when he was young.


    Perhaps spending Thanksgiving with the Parks would be really fun.


    "Are you sure I cane?"I asked again.


    "Yeah! You''re practically family," Sophie nodded her head ferociously.


    "Come on, let''s get this show on the road,"


    Tristan said as he picked up my bags, not waiting for me to respond.


    The next thing I knew, I was sitting on the backseat of his car, en route to New Jersey, listening to


    Sophie''s Spotify ylist on the stereo.


    I never expected this year’s Thanksgiving would turn out this way, but hey, life happens.


    IAN’s POV :


    "You''re seriously missing out on Thanksgiving for me?"


    Ally slurred as she downed her Cosmo.


    Mind you, it was only 1 PM in the afternoon and she was already drunk.


    Her whole apartment''s a mess.


    She hadn''t been cleaning and her shit was all over the ce.


    "It''s fine,"


    I sighed as pushed some dirty clothes away and took a seat on her living room couch.


    Ally was sitting on the other side, next to the window.


    The window was opened because she wanted to smoke.It was the end of November and it was


    freezing cold in here.


    "You''re the best guy in the world,n.Don’t let anyone tell you differently,"she said as she finished the


    last of her cigarette.


    "How much have you drank, Al?"I asked when I noticed she couldn''t even maintain eye contact with


    me.


    "Just a couple of shots...and some beer...and a little wine,"sheughed.


    "You know you''re not supposed to mix your alcohol.You''re asking for trouble,"


    "So what if I am?"she raised both arms in the air dramatically.


    Ally was just wearing her sleeping robe.


    When she moved fast like that, the flimsy fabric moved with her and it was revealing too much of her


    chest.


    "Ally,e on, get it together,"I got up and fixed her robe for her.


    "This is not you.Why are you like this?"


    She watched me intently as my hands fixed the belt tighter and I pulled a nket over her.


    She must be freezing cold at this temperature and in that thin fabric.


    n...you’re such a good person.Why can''t Richard be like you..."she said as she looked up at me.


    Her hand reached out to hold onto mine and that felt kinda strange.


    "Richard’s a great guy too, Al.I know he loves you.I bet if you two talk things out, you''ll get back


    together in no time,"I shuffled away awkwardly and sat back down.


    "No.He ended it.It was done,"she shook her head.


    "Why did he end the engagement, anyway? You never told me the full story,"


    "It''s not a great story.Let’s save it for another day,"she said as she took a bottle of white wine on the


    coffee table and poured it on her cup clumsily.


    "Ally..."I snarled.


    "Drink with me,n.I just wanna drink and forget about all of this,"


    she was pouring too much wine into the cup and it overflowed.


    "Ally, you''ve had enough,"I reached for her drink and pulled it away from her.


    She tried to fight me back, but she was too weak.


    I made sure the drink was way out of her reach and she gave up, muttering incoherent words as she


    slumped to her chair.


    "I''m twenty seven years old,n.I thought I’d have my life together by now.Thought I''d be married and


    have kids.But instead, here I am, alone on Thanksgiving, drinking in the daytime with you.It’s like high


    school all over again," she groaned.


    "You''re not alone, Al.I''m here, aren''t I?"


    Ally looked at me and tilted her head to the side.


    She let out a sad smile and said, "Those were some good old days, huh?"


    "Better days wille, Al.Trust me,"


    "Are you happy with her,n?" she said suddenly.


    "With Emma? Of course.She’s everything to me,"


    "You love her? Like, really, really love her?"


    "Yeah, I really, really love her,"


    Her eyes glistened and her voice cracked as she said, "I wish I have that...I wish I have what you two


    have,"


    "You''ll find it someday.If not with Richard, you''ll find it with someone else,"I said as I put a hand on her


    knee.


    "You think so?"


    "Absolutely.You''re an amazing girl.One day you''re gonna make a guy feel so lucky to have you and


    you''ll realize why it didn’t work out with anyone else,"


    A single tear trickled down her face and she wiped it away quickly.I gave her a reassuring smile and


    she leaned over to me, pulling me into a hug.


    "Thanks for staying with me,n,"she whispered.


    "You''re a great friend,"


    "Of course.No problem,"