I nodded my head. “Well, starting right now, I’m not hiding anymore.”
Michael laughed. “Me either.”
I giggled. “Then, get in there and go ask a girl to dance!”
He grabbed me and quickly hugged me. When we stepped back from each other, I glanced toward the door and saw Garrett standing there. My smile faded when I saw the hurt on his face. I guessed that Michael must have seen Garrett, too, as I noticed how he’d tensed up.
“Garrett, it’s not what you think,” I said.
Garrett gave us a weak smile and turned to walk back into the gym.
“Let me go talk to him,” Michael said.
I grabbed his arm. “No, I need to be the one to talk to him. Thank you though.”
I ran up the steps and made my way into the gym. I looked around until I found Garrett. He was leaning against the wall, trying to look like he was listening to Wayne talking about something. I took a deep breath as I walked right up to him.
I smiled. “Garrett…”
He smiled, and my heart melted. Only he could make me feel this way. It would always be only Garrett. My parents would probably tell me I was crazy and that I needed to live my life before making such a decision, but in this very moment, I knew that Garrett Mathews was the only man I’d ever love, and I was done fighting it.
“Hi, Emma.”
“Will you dance with me?” I bit down on my lower lip and looked up at him through my eyelashes.
My mother always told me that I had the most beautiful long lashes, and if used properly, I would be able to get any man to do anything I wanted.
He nodded his head and took my hand before leading me out to the dance floor. When he gently brought me into his arms, I felt like I was finally home. “Only You” by The Platters began playing, and I looked up into Garrett’s eyes. The way he was looking at me caused me to hold my breath. It felt like a million butterflies were flying around in my stomach, and all I wanted was for him to kiss me. I quickly looked around to see who was watching us. I looked back up into his eyes, and he started laughing.
“You must be thinking the same thing I am, Buttercup,” he said as he winked.
Every hair on my body stood up. I gave him a slight smile. “And what exactly are you thinking of, Mr. Mathews?”
“I wish you weren’t dating Michael because I’d really love to kiss you right now.”
My smile dropped, and I felt my eyes beginning to water. I licked my lips. “I’m not dating him. I told Michael that I had feelings for someone else, and he told me the same thing.”
The look on Garrett’s face was one I knew I would never forget for as long as I live. It almost appeared to be relief. As the song was beginning to end, Garrett looked down at my lips. I had never wanted something so badly in my entire life. I was practically willing him to kiss me. He began to lean down, but then someone started calling out his name.
“Garrett! Garrett, you have to come right away!”
We both instantly jumped back from each other. Garrett smiled that crooked smile, and I about dropped to the floor. I put my hand on my stomach to settle my nerves.
Garrett and I both turned and looked at the older gentleman running toward us. Billy, Wayne, and Raymond were running behind him.
“Uncle Pete? What’s wrong?” Garrett said.
The older gentleman was attempting to catch his breath. “You’ve got to get to Dr. Birk’s house. Your dad…he was holding his chest…fell…I drove here as fast as I could.”
Garrett just looked at his uncle. “What?”
Billy walked up and quickly glanced at me before looking at Garrett. “Garrett, you need to get over to Emma’s house. Uncle Pete took your dad there. Something is wrong. Um…your dad passed out while he and Pete were trying to shoe a horse.”
Garrett stood there. “What do you mean, something happened?”
I grabbed Garrett’s hand and began running out of the gym, pulling him behind me. I yelled back at Billy, “Who drove?”
“Garrett did.”
We ran to Garrett’s truck as Pete, Wayne, and Raymond ran over and jumped into what I guessed was Pete’s truck.
I turned to Garrett. “Garrett, Billy needs your keys.”
He looked back and forth between Billy and me. Garrett reached into his pocket and handed Billy the keys. I opened the passenger door and jumped in. Garrett followed behind me. Billy ran around and got into the driver’s seat. As Billy started driving to my house, I grabbed Garrett’s hand. He looked at me and gave me a weak smile.
He leaned down and said, “I’m going to give you that kiss…soon.”
I smiled and nodded my head. “I’m going to hold you to that.”
His smile faded, and he whispered, “Promise me.”
“I promise.”
Garrett looked out the window and didn’t say another word. I had the most terrible feeling in my stomach. As soon as his Uncle Pete had mentioned Mr. Mathews holding his chest, I knew he must have had a heart attack. I closed my eyes and silently prayed for him to be okay.
Billy pulled up to my house, and Garrett jumped out of the truck before Billy even came to a stop. I started crying when I saw my father stepping out onto the porch. He stopped Garrett from going any farther.
I threw my hands up to my mouth and started saying, “No. Oh, please, God, no.”
“Emma?” Billy grabbed my hand. “What’s going on?”
I knew from the look on my father’s face that something bad had happened.
“Billy…Garrett is going to need you. Go! Get out of the truck, and go!” I slid over and jumped out of the truck.
I quickly walked up to Garrett and my father. I looked through our front window and saw Mrs. Mathews. My mother was holding her while she cried.
“Garrett, your father had a heart attack,” my daddy said.
I tried not to, but I started crying.
“Is he okay, Dr. Birk? Is he going to be okay?” Garrett asked, his voice breaking up.
My heart was breaking for Garrett, and I felt so incredibly helpless.
My father stepped closer to Garrett. “Garrett, I need you to listen to me, okay?”
Garrett nodded his head as he looked at my father.
“I’m sorry, son, but your father passed away. I tried everything I could to bring him back, but I just couldn’t do it.”
I slowly felt my body falling, and then two arms wrapped around me. When I looked up, I saw Raymond was holding me.
“No,” Garrett whispered. “No. He can’t leave us, Dr. Birk. He can’t leave me alone like that.”