Just Hold Me

Chapter: 5

Mom and Jonathan were waiting for me on the porch.

She stands up and gives me a tight hug. "I want you to tell me what happened," she says softly.

I pull away. "I'm fine," I tell her.

She looks at me. "Are you hungry?

I shake my head. "Can I just go upstairs for a while? When are we leaving?"

She takes my hand. "Emily, let's just sit here and talk," she insists. "It will make you feel so much better. Just come on, okay?"

After a while, I nod. "Okay."

We sit on the porch and they listen to me tell the whole story.

"Why would Adam call you a city slick?" Jonathan asks after I'm done.

I shrug and stand up. "I don't know. But I just want to be alone for a while."

Mom, who was quiet throughout the whole thing, nods. "That's fine. We'll tell you when we're ready to go."

Upstairs, the girls were taking a nap in their rooms.

When I go into my room, I lay in bed.

I have never been so afraid.

Of losing.

What I'm losing, I have no idea.

My friends don't call me, my dad definitely won't call me, and I'm stuck here.

With Adam and my mother.

Both of which I hate.
• • •
By the time Thursday finally came along, I was confident I knew how to make a pizza.

Oliver was prepared as well. With a really tall chefs hat, a long white robe, and gloves.

According to Carol, Adam's friends are coming over today.

But they won't bother us.

I had told her Oliver and I would probably just stay in the kitchen.

But now that they're all here, at least eight kids not counting Adam, I realize that they probably are a bother.

"Dude," says one of the guys, "what are we supposed to drink?"

Adam doesn't respond.

"Never mind," the guy says. "I'll go get them."
A tall, tan, gorgeous guy appears at the kitchen door.

Oliver waves at him. "Hi. We're making pizza."

I probably look horrible considering I'm covered in pizza dough.

His lips curl up in a smile. "Hey. I'm looking for some drinks."

I look around. "Maybe you should check the fridge? I haven't seen anything."

Laughing quietly, he walks over to me. "Excuse me."

"What?"

He pushes me a little and opens the drawer I was blocking.

"Oh," I say, my cheeks flushing.

"I'm Conner," he says before he walks out of the kitchen.

"Emily," I tell him.

He nods as if thinking about it. "Well, Emily. I'll see you around."

Oliver looks at me. "I think this one is ready."

I look at his pizza and nod. "I'll put it in the oven. You make this one."

"Okay," he says cheerfully.