Much to my dismay, Kylie knelt over the table, baring her cleavage to Luke without shame. 

"Hi, handsome." She flirted. 

"What the hell are you doing here?" I demanded, staring loathingly at her.
 
To match her smooth black hair, she was dressed in a low cut lacy bralette complete with fishnets that looked like they were cutting off her circulation. 

It made me want to puke. 

Kylie flipped her hair over her shoulder dramatically, looking me in the eye. 

"Crashing your date. It was so nice of Hero to invite me. He was practically begging me on my doorstep." 

I glowered. "Oh, wow. How predictable. He has to beg someone like you?" 

Kylie snorted. "At least he came to me at all. Face it, Kristina. We've all always had a good time in bed. It was only a matter time before he-"

She didn't get to finish before Hero stole two chairs from another table and pushed her into one. 

As we all sat staring at each other the tension grew thick. 

"I need a menu." Kylie whined. "I'm famished." 

"There's really no need." I growled through clenched teeth. "If you want to be a whore, go do it somewhere else." 

She gasped, looking like she wanted to get up and leave but with one look at Hero, she spoke once again. 

"What does that make you?" She challenged. "You're literally dating Hero right now and you're on a date with someone you know gets on his nerves." 

My eyes widened. Wasn't that exactly what he was doing? Not to mention the fact that he was also betraying my trust with Diedre. 

"Why are you even here?" Kylie went on. "Are you that desperate for attention?" 

I cleared my throat awkwardly.

"I'm not the one whose desperate. Why don't you ask Hero what happened." 

He now slammed his hands on the table making it clatter. 

"What the fuck are you talking about? You're the one parading yourself around town with someone else!" 

I narrowed my eyes, feeling a different type of anger course through me. 

"What about Diedre? What about that special moment you two shared at the hospital? You know how I feel about her." 

Though we could hear conversation around us, our table went utterly silent. Luke seemed lost, but Kylie eyed Hero with realization in her eyes. 

Did she know who Diedre was? 

Hero formed his hands into fists. 

"Nothing happened," he hissed under his breath. "Like a friend, she was wishing me well."

I shook my head trying to keep my tears at bay. Why oh why was I so emotional?

"That's not what it looked like. Both of you are too close. Can you honestly look me in the eye and say you've spurned her advances? That you haven't allowed her to touch you since therapy?" 

Before anyone could say much else, Hero grabbed ahold of Kylie's tan face roughly and stuck his tongue down her throat. 

This was the last straw for me. The air was too polluted and the conversation was too serious for him to humiliate me like this. 

I stood up from my chair, earning worried looks from a few families, but I didn't give two fucks.

I rushed to where Hero was sitting, with swollen lips, and snapped my arm forward, hitting him with as much force as I could. 

When I saw the red mark on his chin, I knew I'd gone too far. 

"You hit my fucking lip ring!" He exclaimed, running a finger over the metal. 

"Serves you right!" I cried. "Just so we're clear, I didn't kiss Luke! I told him it wasn't serious! I was only doing this to make you realize what you did! You only fucking kissed her because you don't want to own up to your mistakes!" 

Seeing that I was fuming, Luke called for me. 

"Kristina? Hey, I'm glad you came. Don't worry about the check, okay? I meant what I said tonight." 

I wiped at a stray tear, sniffling. 

"Thank you Luke." 

Without saying much more, I rushed out of the restaurant heading straight for my Kia.

I wasn't sure what my plans were as I slammed my foot to the gas, but I wasn't at all shocked when I parked in front of Emma's house. 

As I sat in my car, I was reminded of the arrest that had occurred not too long ago and it was like seeing it clearly again.

I could see the cops littered on the pavement and Elouise and Charlie struggling like wild, rabid animals. 

I must have left my headlights on for too long because my mother exited the house, screaming in excitement as she made her way towards me. 

Shutting my car off and climbing out, I met her embrace.

"My baby girl!" She said. "What are you doing here?" 

I laughed, twirling my keys around a finger. 

"I needed to get away- Um, where's dad?" 

Emma grinned. "He had a late shift. He won't be here tonight but I'm free. Come on. Let's go sit and watch some comedy." 

As the door shut behind us, I shook my head adamantly.  

"No, mom. Please. I really need to talk to you. I'm having... relationship problems."

Emma rested her lips in a thin line.
 
"Very well. Let me make us some tea and we'll talk."

I sat silently on a nearby chair as I listened to the Keurig empty the contents in a cup.

Emma was feverish as she ran around her gigantic kitchen, grabbing plates and setting our beverages on top. 

When she finally made it to the living room, I picked up a cup, lifting it to my nose and smelling the lavender.  

"What's on your mind?" She asked, taking a long sip.

"It's Hero," I huffed. "I'm so... angry at him." 

Emma raised an eyebrow. "Why's that?" 

I set my tea down, trying to gather my thoughts. 

"Mom... you and dad seem so perfect. All the time. It's not like that with us. Most of the time, I don't know where Hero's mind is. He's like a constant roller coaster!" 

She began giggling. 

"And what exactly is wrong with that?"
 
I folded my arms annoyed she wasn't taking this seriously. 

"Because! I thought I was supposed to be the dramatic one! He tells me he loves me, but then he's doing the next dumbest thing, trying to get under my skin. It's like... we're always doing things to hurt each other, then making..." 

I trailed off, not quite sure I wanted my mother knowing what I did in my free time. 

Emma tipped up her chin. 

"Let me guess. You have amazing sex? You... for lack of a better word... do the humpty dumpty?" 

I blushed. "Oh my God! Mom!"

She grabbed ahold of both my hands. 
 
"Kristina, I'm going to tell you something as your mother. Most of the time, we all do and say things we don't mean. Sometimes in the harshest ways. Men are just like that; they're infuriating. Trust me. It wasn't all perfect in the beginning for me and Archie." 

I pursed my lips. "They weren't?" 

Emma laughed.

"No. Not at all. In fact, half the time he annoyed me. He and I said a few choice words to each other. I think hate and idiot were used. We were young and dumb, but in the end we ended up stronger than ever." 

I glanced down at my lap. 

"Did you ever try to make each other jealous?" 

Emma snorted.

"Oh, you bet. Though we didn't need to try. I wasn't very fond of this co-worker of your father's. She was always up his butt. He didn't like mine. In the end, however, none of it mattered. We learned to grow from it. You will too." 

Without warning, I enveloped Emma in a tight grasp.

"I love him, mom. I don't want to lose him." 

She squeezed me tightly. 

"I know hunny. Just keep fighting and let him know that." 

When we finally pulled away, I looked towards the giant flatscreen. 

"So... about that comedy?"

Sorry I know Hero's being a bit of an asshole 👺

I really am loving the relationship between Emma and Kristina though 💗💗

Do we trust Luke at all?