CONRAD FISHER HADN'T HEARD FROM EMMILYN WILSON IN THREE MONTHS.

It scared the shit out of him. He had confessed to her he was in falling in love her with her, and she had admitted the same. Not even twenty four hours later, she had booked it back to New York, left the ring he got her, and hadn't contacted him since.

Conrad honestly felt a little bit of heartbreak about it.

And what was worse was both Susannah and Jeremiah utterly refused to give him any updates on how Emmilyn was doing. When he brought her up to Steven on the phone, Steven swiftly changed the subject.

The only updates he got was from stalking Emmi's spam account on tiktok, where she loved posting about how much she hated men. He was guessing she finally broke up with Scott.

"Connie," Jeremiah spoke, knocking on his brother's bedroom door. He peeked his head in. "The Wilson's are going to be here soon, and the Conklin's later."

Conrad perked up immediately. "Emmi's coming?"

Jeremiah's face immediately lost the smile. "I don't know. I asked her last night and she told me she wasn't completely sure."

Conrad's face fell. He had no idea why Emmi would have nothing to do with him after all this time. When they were younger, they were inseparable. They would look for each other immediately at family gatherings, refusing to leave the other's side.

He had no idea what had went so wrong.

"Mom," Conrad spoke, walking into the kitchen of their Boston house. He refused to call it home. Home was at Cousins beach.

Home was where Emmi was, as cheesy as it sounded.

"Yes, Connie?" Susannah spoke, busying herself with trying (and failing) not to burn the turkey. Conrad almost felt bad disturbing her.

"Do you know why Emmilyn's acted like I haven't existed since her birthday?" Conrad questioned, noticing the short lived panicked look on Susannah's face.

"Emmi hasn't talk to you since her birthday?" Susannah repeated. She knew Emmi had been mad, but not that mad. Out of all the kids, Conrad and Emmilyn usually talked the most outside of Cousins beach.

"I know you know why, mom," Conrad continued, crossing his arms over his chest. He knew Nicole had talked to Emmilyn, but he didn't know what she had said to make Emmilyn this upset. "You made a face."

Susannah sighed, slumping forward. "It's not my place to tell you, Conrad." She spoke, making the boy's eyebrows furrow. "It's only Emmi's place, and she doesn't seem too keen on the idea."

"I seriously don't understand what I did," Conrad mumbled, sitting down at the table. They fucked, and then she disappeared. Conrad had never told Nicole he was for sure taking her. He had even planned on telling her no, until Emmi booked it.

"It will all come out in time, my darling," Susannah sighed, bringing the too brown turkey out of the oven. Conrad's nose crinkled immediately disgust as Susannah sighed in defeat.

Susannah looked at Conrad, and then at Jeremiah who had just entered the room. "Does Bob Evan's still make thanksgiving food?"

Jeremiah and Conrad exchanged an amused look, letting out a small laugh. "I think so,"
Jeremiah confirmed.

Susannah grumbled something about needing to find her phone to call the stupid resturant, walking out. "This happens every year," Jeremiah grinned at his brother in amusement.

"Without fail," Conrad laughed in amusement. The pair lapsed into silence, until the doorbell rang. The brothers shared a look.

"Con, listen, if Emmi did come, you can't give her a hard time," Jeremiah warned quickly. "Elijah told me she still won't forgive him for Lottie, and that she's fighting with her dad more. I dunno, I just don't think she's doing very good."

Conrad's lips parted. He knew Emmi had struggled with her mental health since she was twelve, because Amy had called Susannah in tears trying to get the redhead on the same medicine Conrad was on, but he had no idea it had gotten this bad. For Emmi to be fighting with James?

James was the most level headed of all the dad's. Steven's middle name was after him, and Emmilyn had been the light of James' life since the day she was born. He had no idea what would have happened for it to escalate like that.

Susannah walked into the room, glaring harshly at both of her boys. "The doorbell rang and neither of you got off your lazy butt's to let our guests inside?"

The brothers mumbled apologies as Susannah swung the door open to reveal Amy, both her children, and to Conrad's surprise Charlotte.

He supposed Elijah and Charlotte were getting serious. Part of him wondered how Emmi was taking it, but considering she was standing on the opposite side of the porch step from him he thought he got his answer.

"Come in, come in," Susannah greeted with a warm smile, hugging all of them. Emmi gave her a short hug, nodding at Conrad in greeting.

Conrad frowned as Jeremiah swept Emmi into a hug, a small smile coming onto the redhead's face. He really didn't understand what he had done.

The Conklin's arrived shortly after. Conrad watched as Emmi practically sprinted in from the living room, throwing herself onto Steven.

Steven almost fell over as he hugged Emmi back, swaying her back and forth. Emmi seemed to be happier in his presence.

Conrad glanced over to Charlotte, finding the dark-haired girl staring at the duo with a frown. Conrad realized that after Emmi and Lottie stopped being friends, Emmi had replaced Charlotte with Steven. Based off the look on her face, he was guessing Lottie was not happy about it.

Steven finally pulled away from Emmi, walking into the dining room with her as Laurel laid the Bob Evan's food out on the table.

Conrad noticed Emmi gave an uneasy look at the food as she sat down. Immediately, Conrad sat across from her, causing the redhead's face to screw up.

Once everyone had sat down, Susannah said a quick prayer before they dug in. Conrad kept
glancing at Emmilyn, until the redhead seemed to snap.

"Conrad, can I talk to you in the kitchen?" She requested. Immediately, everybody besides Belly and Elijah, shared a knowing look.

Emmilyn crossed her arms over her chest, leaning against the sink as she raised an eyebrow at Conrad. "Talk."

Conrad was confused. "You're the one who led me in here, Em. I don't know what you want to talk about. I honestly have no idea why you're so mad at me."

"Because I lost my fucking virginity to you, and you decided you wanted to fuck Nicole not even twelve hours later!" Emmilyn shouted in frustration.

Conrad's entire body stilled. He had no idea that was Emmi's first time. "I didn't decide I wanted to sleep with Nicole, Emmi. I told her I couldn't take her to the deb ball because I was in love with you."

Emmilyn scoffed in disbelief. "Don't you dare lie to me, Conrad Fisher. Nicole told me you decided to take her."

"Nicole is full of bullshit!" Conrad exclaimed. Emmilyn shook her head again, this time in frustration. "I'm serious, Emmilyn."

Emmi seemed to not know what to think. She sent one last hesitant glance at Conrad before she walked back into the dining room, where everyone was completely silent.

Belly was glaring at Emmi, tears filling her eyes as Conrad came up behind the redhead. "You slept with Conrad?" The girl questioned.

"Belly, I'm so sorry," Emmi breathed out. Belly Conklin was having none of it, shaking her head and sprinting out of the room.

"My baby sister?" Elijah questioned, standing up from the table. "I can't believe you, man." He shook his head in disappointment, walking out of the room. If this was anyone else besides Conrad Fisher, he would have killed him.

Emmi and Conrad glanced around the table at everyone's disappointed faces, sighing heavily.

Once again, Emmilyn Wilson and Conrad Fisher had fucked everything up.