CHAPTER 35

Emma's Point-of-View

"Emma! Where are you going?" I heard Robert's voice and his feet trailing behind me. It didn't take him long to catch up to me. He grasped my shoulder and turned me around. "Why are you leaving?"

"I'm not going to stand here watching you with her and pretend like nothing is going on between the two of you." My words were fired with anger.

"Wait, what? Who are you talking about?" he asked puzzled.

"Robert! Don't stand here and act all innocent and ignorant. You know exactly who I'm talking about."

He stared at me, his expression blank.

"Forget it," I sighed and continued to walk back to the hotel.

Robert followed me but was stopped by the director. "Robert, we need you. Let's go!"

"Not now!" he shouted. "We'll finish it tomorrow. I have to go."

"Robert, we need to finish it now."

"What are you going to do if I leave?" he chuckled egotistically. "We'll finish it tomorrow."

When I arrived back at the hotel, I slammed the door and immediately went to the bathroom. My stomach pain was getting much worse. I felt the sudden need to throw up. I leaned over the toilet on my knees and held my hair back. I couldn't control my sobbing any longer.

"Emma!" the bathroom door swung open. I didn't even hear him get in the front door. I started choking on my tears. Robert fell to the floor next to me, cradling me against him. "Baby, what's wrong?"

"Everything," I cried.

"Shh," he tried to calm me. He ran his fingers up and down my arm, sending chills throughout my body.

The coughing became fiercer. I knew I was going to throw up. "Get out," I told him.

"Emma, I'm not leaving you." He pressed his lips to my shoulder. Just as he did, the vomit poured out of my mouth.

"Oh God," he murmured, sitting up and pulling my hair back from my face. He rubbed my back with his free hand, trying to soothe me. "You're going to be okay," he assured me.

* * *

I threw my hair up in a messy bun and put on some comfortable clothes that Robert laid out for me. When I got out of the bathroom, he was sitting on the loveseat, which was rearranged to be closer to the couch. The couch was covered with blankets and a pillow from the bedroom and there was a plastic bag beside it in case I got sick again.

When he saw me, he jumped up and helped me to the couch. He lifted up the blankets and covered me with them once I lay down.

"Tell me how you feel, love. I can't read your mind," he whispered softly.

"I'm fine."

He smiled and traced his fingers along my forehead. "Emma, please. I know that's not true. What's bothering you?"

"You can't love both of us," I murmured quietly.

"The only person I love is you, Emma. I know I tell you this all the time. It's exhausting. What do I have to do to prove to you that that's the truth?"

"I'm sorry," I apologized, sinking deeper under the blankets. "She just has this way of getting to me. She brought you a little gift today."

"What?" he asked anxiously. "Nikki was here?"

"Yes," I sighed. "It's on the counter."

He hesitated before getting up to see what she had brought. He rummaged through the bag, pulling out the CD's and then the Victoria's Secret box. I watched as he slid the top off and immediately slammed it closed.

Robert drifted back over to his seat next to me. He pressed his head into the palm of his hands. "I'm so sorry."

"Is there something you need to tell me?"