Free Emerson's Fury : L.B. Pavlov by L. B. Pavlov

Emerson, you have never been in love before. Have you told him?” she asked, a little misty-eyed.
    “No. Because what if he doesn’t feel the same?” I asked nervously.
    My mom laughed. “Sweetie, there is no doubt that he loves you. You can see it in his eyes when he looks at you.”
    “Really?” I said, and I felt my cheeks get hot just at the thought.
    We finished our run, and I went to shower. Cross would be on his way over soon, and I wanted to get dressed up and do my hair.
    The doorbell rang, and I heard Finn talking to Cross. He was actually bellowing out “Happy Birthday,” and he definitely didn’t have Indy’s singing voice. I started laughing, and I ran out to give Cross a birthday hug. He looked stunned when I came around the corner.
    “Wow. You look amazing,” he said, gazing at me with his beautiful blue eyes.
    “So do you!” I said. He was wearing black dress slacks with a black button-up dress shirt. I had chosen a black, strapless, A-line dress with a knee-length hemline. I had never worn heels around him, so I think it surprised him to see me this dressed up.
    I jumped in his arms and yelled, “Happy birthday!” He was laughing as we walked into the kitchen. My parents were there, and they both wished him happy birthday lit some candles on the cake. The cake my mom had made was so pretty, and Cross looked so surprised by the sentiment.
    “Now, I know you two are going out for dinner, but you can blow your candles out now and eat the cake later when you’re done with dinner,” my mom said, smiling.
    “Thank you so much, Mrs. Hollingsworth,” he said and hugged her.
    “You really have to stop calling me that, Cross. Please call me Charlotte,” she said sweetly.
    My dad handed him the gift-wrapped box. Cross was stunned that my parents had gotten him a gift. He unwrapped the package and was speechless when he opened the box.
    “There’s one for you and one for your grandfather,” my dad said proudly.
    “I don’t know what to say. This is beyond generous. Thank you so much, sir,” Cross said, and for a moment it looked like his eyes were watery. He was truly touched by the present.
    “It’s our pleasure, Cross. Happy birthday,” my dad said, smiling.
    Finn turned to Cross. “I gave you your gift last night, right?” he said, laughing. “When I let you have the state title?”
    We all burst out laughing. “Oh yeah, thanks so much!” Cross said, still laughing, and hugged Finn.
    We left for the restaurant, and I knew that I needed to make it clear that I was paying for dinner because Cross never let me pay for anything when we went out. I knew he didn’t have a lot of money, and so we didn’t go out for expensive meals, but that night was special.
    “So, I am paying for dinner for your birthday. If you try to pay, you will offend me,” I said, getting it out in the open.
    “Emerson, I don’t like you paying for me. I like to pay for our dates.”
    “I understand that, but tonight is your birthday. Please let me do this for you. Please?” I said, almost pleading.
    “You are very difficult to say no to, do you know that?” he said, laughing.
    “OK, good. It’s settled. Thank you,” I said happily.
    “You look really beautiful tonight. I’ve never seen your hair curled before,” he said, smiling at me.
    “Well, it’s my boyfriend’s birthday, so I thought I should fix it up a little,” I teased.
    “Oh, really? Is that so? Well, your boyfriend thinks you are very beautiful. Today and every day,” he said sweetly. My heart fluttered from the way he looked at me.
    We pulled in to the valet, and I grabbed my package, which was already in the back of the car before we left.
    “What’s that?” he asked apprehensively.
    “It’s your birthday present,” I said, smiling.
    “I’ve never gotten so many presents in my life,” he said, coming around to open my car door.
    We walked into the restaurant and were seated immediately at our table. It was a gorgeous