A NEW EMILIA

For a moment, it was quiet between them as he stared at her.

“I can’t believe that you’re here,” he said, not responding to what she had just said.

“I can’t believe that I’m here either,” she said as she offered a very fake smile.

“When you left I thought that you were never going to come back.”

Emilia hated that his eyes were still boring into her as she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Still, she would not let him see how uncomfortable he made her.

“Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but it’s not as if I came back because I wanted to,” she said, ignoring the frown that deepened his already frowning lips.

“What do you mean?” he asked her. “I’m not trying to fight with you. I’m simply saying that it’s good to have you back.”

Emilia ignored him as the waitress brought her a pitcher of beer, bringing King his too. She took a small sip, ready to begin her journey into drunkenness but also cautious of the company in front of her.

“You drink beer now? Since when?” he asked her.

Emilia gl