Just Hold Me

Chapter: 9

Adam and Conner were sitting in the patio while I played with Oliver.

I was playing with Oliver by the pool. He was actually wearing floats this time. And I was in my bikini.

I had come over to Adam's after Carol called saying she needed me to watch Oliver for her. While he ate, I finished three online lessons, with seven more lessons to go.

Now, Adam and Conner watch us as Oliver splashes me in the face with pool water.

Adam laughs at something Conner says and looks my way. When he meets my eyes, he smiles.

I keep thinking he's going to break up with me soon. And I really don't want him to. I'm just not really that great of a person. He makes me feel great. And I guess we're trying to tell each other everything.

But I kind of want it to stop.

If something bad does happen, it will be my fault.

And I just don't want that to happen.

The wrong guy can ruin everything.

Or worse, the right love at the wrong time can ruin everything.

I gasp out loud.

I would literally die.

"Emily?" Conner says. "Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

I don't say anything.

My hands tentatively go up to my face.

"Emily?" Oliver says quietly. "Is something wrong?"

I shake my head. "I'm fine. Maybe we should get out now."

He nods and follows me out of the pool.

Adam looks at me. "What happened?"

I shake my head. "Nothing happened. I guess I just got dizzy or something."

He looks at me uncertainly before nodding. "Okay. You getting ready?"

I nod. "I'm helping Oliver first, though."

We go in before he could say anything else.

Oliver and I head up the stairs.

"You can take a shower, right?" I ask him once we're up the stairs.

He nods. "I do it by myself now."

I smile. "That's good."

After a few minutes, we were both showered and downstairs.

Adam and Conner had made smoothies.

"Yay," Oliver says happily. "Which ones mine?"

I sit beside Adam. His hand reaches for mine under the table.

Conner looks over at us and his smile fades a little. "Do you not want one, Emily?"

I nod. "Sure. They look good."

I notice Adam scowl at him.

After grabbing a smoothie, I sit back down next to Adam.

"Are you coming to the bonfire tonight?" Adam asks me.

"I'm not sure," I tell him.

He smiles. "It's after my mom arrives. You'll be fine."

Maybe a bonfire isn't as bad as it sounds.

Maybe there's nothing wrong with a bonfire.

But I shake my head anyways. "I don't want to go. But you can go without me. I'll probably watch a movie with Kaitlin or something."