Chapter 2

Emily's POV

All the color drains from his face, then comes rushing back. He's blushing so hard. "What did you just say?"

"Friends with benefits. You know, we admit that dating is complicated, but we still..." I wave my hand between us. "Hook up sometimes. No drama. What's wrong with that?"

God, he's so cute when he's freaking out.

"What's wrong with that?" he says, jumping up from the bench. "Emily, I just told you we're done! I said our families hate each other! What do you mean friends with... with whatever you just said?"

"With benefits," I say again. "It's not rocket science, Louis."

"I don't know what you're talking about!" But he's still blushing, and I can see him looking at my mouth.

His body knows what it wants, even if his brain is fighting it.

I stand up and step closer to him, close enough to smell his scent. That smell that always made me feel safe. "Oh? You really don't get it? Want me to explain exactly what I mean?"

He backs up fast. "No! Don't explain anything!" His voice cracks. "Emily Parker, what is wrong with you? We're talking about my dead parents here! About revenge!"

"I get that," I say calmly, moving closer again. "But your body doesn't seem too worried about the revenge thing."

"My body?"

"Yeah." I nod, still smiling. "When I kissed you just now, you didn't push me away. Actually, you seemed pretty into it."

His face turns even redder. "That was... you surprised me! I wasn't ready!"

"Oh." I nod like I'm thinking about it. "So if you were ready, you would have pushed me away?"

"Yes!"

"Interesting." I step closer again, until we're almost touching. "Because it felt like you were kissing me back pretty hard for someone who was surprised."

This is working. I can see him breaking down.

"That's..." He can't find words. "That's not important!"

"Then what is important, Louis?" I ask quietly. "Are you going to let our dads' problems control our whole lives? Are you going to throw away everything we have because of something that happened ten years ago?"

Something changes in his eyes for a second, like maybe he's hoping I'm right. But then he gets that hard look again.

"There is no 'we' anymore, Emily. There can't be."

Time to go nuclear.

"Well, that works out," I say with a bitter laugh. "Because I don't have anywhere to go anyway."

He frowns. "What do you mean?"

"My dad kicked me out." The lie comes easy, because it's basically true. Robert Parker stopped being my father when he chose his illegitimate sons over me. "After I found out what he did to your family, I confronted him. We had a huge fight about it, about Marcus, about everything. He said I was ungrateful and disloyal." I shrug like it doesn't matter. "So I'm officially homeless as of this morning."

The anger in his eyes turns into worry immediately. "Emily, that's..."

"Don't." I hold up my hand. "Don't feel bad for me. I made my choice. I told him off, and this is what happened."

"Actually, this is perfect," I keep going, watching his frown get deeper. "See, I know what's going to happen, Louis. I'm from the future. I remember you kidnapping me and keeping me prisoner for months, using me to work through all your anger and pain."

His mouth drops open. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm from the future," I say simply, watching his eyes go wide. "In another timeline, we don't see each other for five years because of this exact fight. Then you find me again, and you're so messed up about revenge that you basically kidnap me. You keep me locked up in your apartment, using me whenever you want to deal with your feelings about love and hate."

"Emily, that's insane."

"Is it?" I tilt my head, looking at his face. "Or do you already know that's exactly what you want to do? Lock me up where I can't leave, where you can have me whenever you want without feeling guilty about it?"

The way his breathing changes tells me I'm right.

"Well," I say cheerfully, "since I'm homeless anyway, and since you're apparently going to imprison me eventually, why don't we just skip the five years of misery and start now? At least this way, I'll have somewhere to sleep. And you won't have to feel bad about it, because it's just punishment, right?"

Louis stares at me. "You're saying that I should..."

"Take me home with you. Do whatever you want with me. Work through all that anger." I shrug again. "I'm volunteering, Louis. Think of it as me paying for my dad's sins."

It's quiet for a long time, just the sound of water and people walking by. I can see him fighting with himself, wanting me but thinking he shouldn't.

Finally, he talks, his voice rough and unsure. "This is crazy."

"Maybe. But are you saying no?"

Another long pause. Then, so quiet I almost miss it: "You can stay. Just for now."

Got him.

I smiled. "Perfect."

"Just temporarily!" he says quickly, like that makes this whole thing less insane.

"Of course," I agree, even though we both know there's nothing temporary about this. "Just until we figure things out."

Or until I make you fall in love with me again.

As we walk back to his car, I catch him looking at me sideways, confused and wanting me at the same time.

This time is going to be different, I tell myself. This time, I'm not losing you.