Torn between worlds

istance as I got back to work on her car. Jake shot me a knowing smir

as ever. The late afternoon sun highlighted her flawless features, but there w

used, pulled it out, and glanced at the screen. Her confident demeanor faltered f

aid, her tone wa

ion as I worked under the hood, he

laced with a mix of affection

hen her smile faded, rep

ftly. "Work has been... well, you

d around the phone. Whatever her father was

said, her voice tinged with frustr

ather's voice, deeper and sterner,

aintly from where I stood. "You're not getting any younger. All I want is to see you marr

t as if trying to hide the strain on her face.

started, but h

t expect anything from me. Not a cent. If I die before you find someo

ers stiffening. "Dad,

freedom in the world, Emily. Now it's time to take responsibility.

. She stared at the phone in her h

seemed to hold its breath, the noise of the m

f course, it's not about me. It's never about me. It's about what h

st word, and she clenched her fist

," she said to herself, her tone filled with a mix

ression carefully composed again, though t

ing my hands on a rag. I didn't mean to interrupt her

back to its confident, no-nonsense

dge, whispering, "You go

head. "No

ng out at the parking lot, I couldn't shake

somethin

ows tinted so dark you couldn't see inside. It rol

tiffened, her hand instincti

ispered, his voice l

my eyes locked

ped out. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and exuded an a

here was something about the way he approached her

and calm, but with an undertone

er expression unreadable.

talk," he

es flickering with something I couldn't

she said,

t didn't reach his ey

as palpable now, thick e

ered. "Somethin

his hand tightening aroun

g her purse. "You don't get to dictate my life,

widened. "We'll

tting in without another word. The vehicle's engine roared t

here, frozen,

e asked, his voice

ad, she turned to me, he

he said softly. "I