Chapter 144.

Emilia shook her head.

Kylie lowered the pillow. "So?"

"So what?"

"Was it good?"

Emilia stared at her. "Kylie."

"What?"

"You cannot ask me that."

"Why?"

"Because."

"Because what?"

Emilia’s cheeks became warmer.

Kylie grinned. "Oh."

"Stop."

"That was a good kiss."

"Stop."

Kylie laughed. "Okay, okay."

Emilia looked down at the necklace again.

Kylie watched her, grinning. Then she spoke more quietly. "Did you two fix things?"

Emilia’s smile faded slightly. "Not completely."

Kylie nodded.

"He apologized, and told me he was afraid. That’s why he said what he said."

Kylie was quiet.

"He was afraid of losing me."

Kylie’s face softened.

Emilia took Kylie’s hands in hers. Her lashes flickered twice, and then, her grip on Kylie’s hand tightened. "He said he loved me."

Kylie stared at her. She was taken aback. "He said it?"

Emilia nodded. "More than once."

Kylie smiled. "Wow."

Emilia laughed quietly. "I know."

"How did you respond?"

Emilia looked at her. "I simply hugged him."

Kylie nodded. "Reasonable."

"And then..." She stopped.

Kylie’s eyes widened. "And then?"

Emilia smiled. "I kissed him."

Kylie fell backward onto the bed,and threw her hands in the air. "I knew it!" She laughed.

Emilia burst out laughing.

Kylie covered her face with both hands. "I’m happy for you."

"You don’t sound happy." Emilia’s laughter faded. "Are you sure?"

Kylie sat up again. "Look, I’m not going to pretend I don’t have concerns. It’s love, and it’s all messed up..." she trailed off. "I don’t like the way he handled the hearing."

"Neither do I."

"And I definitely don’t like that he decided what was best for you without telling you." Kylie sighed. "But if you want to take this step, I believe you. I’ll always be here, no matter what happens. I’ll forever be a part of you and if you want to be in love again, then I’ll stand beside you with open arms."

Emilia’s lips trembled. She lurched forward, and threw herself into Kylie’s arms. "I love you so much, Kylie."

Kylie caught her in her arms, and returned the hug. "Right back at you, babe."

Emilia sniffed into Kylie’s shoulder.

Kylie smiled. "You better not be crying."

Emilia sniffed again. "I’m not."

"Okay, babe." She parted the hug, and searched Emilia’s eyes. "Then I guess you two have something to figure out."

Emilia nodded. "We do."

Kylie reached over and gently squeezed her hand. "I’m glad you’re smiling."

Emilia looked at her.

Kylie smiled. "You haven’t smiled like this in weeks."

Emilia’s eyes became glossy. "I missed him, and I was so angry." She laughed softly through the tears threatening her eyes.

Kylie smiled, and then her eyes drifted back to the necklace. She picked it up carefully. "He really did a good job."

"He did."

"It’s personal, and not obnoxiously expensive."

Emilia smiled.

Kylie turned it over. She sighed. "Okay."

"What?"

"I hate to admit this."

Emilia waited.

"But that’s actually really sweet."

A smile spread across Emilia’s face.

Kylie handed the necklace back. Then her expression changed.

"Still..."

Emilia raised an eyebrow.

"Still what?"

"I need to give him a blow on his jaw first."

Emilia burst out laughing. "Kylie!"

"I’m serious."

"For what?"

"For making you cry for three weeks."

"He didn’t make me cry."

Kylie gave her a look. "Emilia. You cried." She reminded. "You barely ate."

"Okay, fine."

"And you spent Christmas looking like someone had cancelled the entire holiday."

Emilia’s smile softened. "I was hurt."

Kylie leaned closer. "That’s why I’m still going to punch him."

Emilia shook her head. "You are not punching Adrian."

Kylie sighed dramatically. "You’re no fun."

Emilia laughed again. Then her expression softened. "Thank you."

Kylie looked at her. "For what?"

"For knowing."

"Knowing what?" Kylie asked softly.

"That I was going to see him."

Kylie smiled. "I didn’t know. I suspected."

"You knew."

Kylie shrugged. "Your eyes told me."

Emilia looked down. "I was scared. I thought maybe he wouldn’t be there."

Kylie nodded. "And?"

"He was."

The smile returned to Emilia’s face. "He waited three hours."

Kylie’s eyebrows lifted.

"We bumped into each other three hours before I found the note." She smiled. "Remember when I stopped walking?"

Kylie shook her head. Her eyes widened. "Wait. That was him?"

"It was."

Kylie reached for the necklace again. "Put it on."

Emilia opened the clasp, and turned around. Kylie carefully fastened the necklace around her neck.

The pendant settled against her collarbone.

Emilia turned back toward the mirror. She looked at herself. The silver caught the light, and her fingers touched it.

A quiet smile spread across her face.

Kylie stood behind her. "It suits you."

Emilia nodded.

Kylie became quiet.

Emilia touched the pendant. "Kylie?"

"Yes, baby."

"When would you visit your mum again?"

Kylie became quiet. For a moment, she didn’t answer.

Emilia noticed immediately. She turned away from the mirror and looked at her.

"Kylie?"

Kylie lowered her eyes. "Two days from now."

Emilia’s smile faded slightly. "Two days?"

Kylie nodded. "That’s when I’ll go again."

Emilia watched her carefully. Then she said softly, "I want to go with you."

Kylie looked up.

Emilia smiled faintly. "I’d like to meet her."

Kylie didn’t answer. The silence stretched.

Emilia’s expression softened. "Only if you’re okay with it." She added.

Kylie swallowed. "It’s not that I don’t want you to meet her."

"Then what is it?"

Kylie looked down at her hands. She took a slow breath. "I’m not ready."

Emilia’s eyes immediately became sad. "Kylie..."

Kylie forced a small smile. "I know you love me. I know you care about her because she’s my mum."

Emilia reached for her hand.

Kylie held it.

"But..." Her voice became quieter. "I’m not ready to show someone else how much my mum has changed."

Emilia’s face fell. She squeezed her hand.

"Today was perfect for you." Kylie smiled. "And I want to keep today exactly the way it was."

Kylie looked at her. "Just for a little while."

Emilia nodded slowly. "Okay."

Kylie’s lips trembled.

"I’m scared that if you see her on a day when she doesn’t remember me..." She paused, swallowing hard. "You’ll see what I see on the bad days."

Emilia’s eyes filled.

Kylie quickly looked away. "I don’t want you to look at her and feel sorry for me."

"I wouldn’t." Emilia promised.

Kylie gave her a small smile. "But I would."

Emilia’s expression softened.

Kylie squeezed her hand. "I’ll take you." She took a breath. "Just...not yet."

Emilia nodded. "Whenever you’re ready."

Kylie looked at her. "Thank you."

Emilia smiled.

Kylie leaned forward and pulled her into a hug. Emilia immediately wrapped her arms around her.

Kylie rested her cheek against her shoulder. She whispered, "Today was really good."

Emilia smiled against her hair. "It was."

Kylie held her a little tighter. "And I want to remember it."

Emilia pulled back and wiped beneath her eyes.

"Now stop making me emotional." Kylie pointed at her. "Don’t make me regret supporting your relationship."

"Too late." Emilia giggled.

Kylie rolled her eyes.