Looking at the clock, I was still debating if I should go ahead with my decision or not.

“If you keep looking at the clock like that it’s going to fall to pieces. Why are you looking at it so intensely?Are you still deciding if you should go see your boyfriend? I told you, you should totally go. You have to be determined to get a boyfriend.” Michelle asked while she came to the counter to pick up an order.

Before I could say anything the sound of the bell ringing caught both of our attention.

“Really? It’s a live or death situation.” Emma said and kept walking to the counter while I just smiled at her.

“Yes, Emma,it is.” I said and waited for her to reach the counter.

“So you’re the famous best friend.” Michelle said and Emma looked at her confused.

“Famous?”

“Oh, Lily always talks about you and how she still hasn’t convinced you to take over the shop.I’m Michelle Anderson by the way.”

“I am Emma Rodriguez.” she smiled at Michelle and looked at me with her eyebrows raised,”Really?”

“Oh, I have to go take an order, nice meeting you, though.”

“Oh yes, nice meeting you too. You really need to stop insisting about the shop, I already told you I can’t take it because of my aunt and uncle.” she let out a sigh

“That is not fair though, so what if they wanna talk bad, you should have left that family years ago.”

“Family is everything, that’s what my parents told me, and I don’t wanna have a fight. It’s better that way, I keep working and help them, and they won’t talk bad about my parents as long as I keep doing everything myself. Now, what is live or death?”

Not wanting to argue with her, I decided to let it go but I was still not gonna give up. I have tried to make her work with me for two years since my dad bought the shop.Hoping that she would finally see that she has done enough,We are twenty-four now and it is time she worries about herself.

“I want you to go with me somewhere.”

“Somewhere?” she sounded skeptical.

“Yeah, just accompany me.”

“Where is this somewhere?”

“The office of my soon to be husband.”

Her eyes widened and her face became serious.

“No, this time I am not going with you.”

I walked around the counter and held my hands up to my chest in a prayer position.

“My answer is no, I’m sorry but this time I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“I...Just no...I won’t go.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“I will wait here.” Emma stopped walking before we even were inside the building.

“Just come in.” I pulled her arm and reluctantly she started to walk. Looking at her made me think it was weird that she kept not wanting to go with me. We would support each other no matter what,if one of us was nervous to do something.

After reaching the desk there was a lady and I summoned all my courage to talk to her,” Hi, I came to see Casey Anderson.”

“Do you have an appointment?” she didn’t even look at me once.

“No…”

“Then you can’t see him.” she said before I could finish my sentence.

“If you tell…”

“Again, you need an appointment to get in.”

“Hey, susan.”

“Good afternoon, sir. Mr. Anderson is waiting for you.” I looked at the man beside me, he had short brown hair with gray eyes that made contact with mine and he smiled.

“Hey, I know you, are you here to see casey?”

I nodded

“Come with me, then. Don’t tell him I am going in Susan, I will surprise him.”

“Yes, sir.”

“So how did the meeting with your in-law go?”

“It was good, they were mostly talking about the wedding.”

“I see, wait here for a minute, I will go in and then bring you in.”

I looked at Emma and she was way behind, almost as if she was not looking forward to going in with me. I moved my hand back and forth trying to tell her to walk faster.

“Hey, I have a surprise for you.”

“Surprise?” it was his voice but again I was not as excited like I thought I would be.

No, Lily, it’s only because you don’t know him.

“You guys can come in.” he peeked his head and I only nodded and started to walk once Emma was close to me.

When he saw me he was shocked and then made eye contact with the guy who had talked to us and his face became serious.

“Hi, I’m sorry if I’m bothering you.” Once I looked up I saw that he was looking right through me, towards Emma who had her head looking down at her feet.

Well, someone is an open book.

But again, I did not feel hurt or sad about it. Maybe it’s because I knew that Emma would never betray me at all.

“Oh, hi, no it’s fine, what brings you here.?Please,take a seat.” with his hand he signaled towards the two chairs that were in front of his desk.

“I thought it would be good if we got to know each other, I also brought some lunch of course. I hope you don’t mind but I also brought my friend.”

“No, not at all.” he answered fast and then cleared his throat.

“I am Casey Anderson.” he stretched his hand and Emma was caught off guard.

“I am Emma Rodriguez.” She stood up abruptly, shook his hand before sitting down and then sat down.

“I...I think it’s better that I go.”

“No.” he said and everyone looked at him with wide eyes,” I mean, Lily brought food so we could eat. I can also ask you questions about her.”

“Yeah, he is right, seat down, your cousin should also sit down.” I looked back at the man standing by the door.

“Oh no, thank you. I have another meeting to go to.” He looked back at his cousin and smiled before he was out of the door.

“I only have twenty minutes for lunch, so I hope you don’t mind if we eat fast.”

“No, not at all, I brought sandwiches, snacks, and juices, I am not sure what you like.” I was not used to talking to people or making friends easily so I took everything out to show him and Emma.

He chuckled,” I am not picky with my food, I pretty much eat anything that is not my cooking.”

“Are you not good at cooking?”

“No, not at all. One time I tried making my own food and I thought that if I put something in high heat, it would cook faster, that was not the case.”

Emma and I let out a small laugh and then everyone grabbed a sandwich and we started to make small conversation.

“Have you always been close?” he looked at Emma and then me.

“Yeah, she is like a sister to me. Do you have any siblings?” I asked and his face became serious. He cleared his throat.

“No, I’m an only child, always have been.” he smiled but it didn't show that he was happy at all.

“I see, oh I didn’t see that your moth…” before I could finish my sentence he stood up.

“I think I have to get back to work now.”

“Oh okay, we will go then.”

“Thank you for the food.”

“Yeah, you’re welcome. Can I also come tomorrow? I mean, so we can get to know each other.”

“...Yeah… That’s fine.” Emma and I started to walk out.

“Well, that went well.”I smiled at her

“Ye-Yeah.” she looked at me and gave me a small smile,” I’m glad for you, but I better go now.”

“Come with me to the shop.” I grabbed her hand and her eyes were teary.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I just received a text from my aunt, I better go.”

“Are you sure?" 

She nodded and started to walk away.