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Emma got to The Dot early, hoping that Spinner wasn't going to be in today. How funny it seemed that Spinner was actually the new owner of the small diner where everyone still chose to hang out after all these years. But Spinner had beaten his bout with cancer, graduated high school, went to college for his business degree, and purchased The Dot all before the age of twenty four! Even Emma was impressed.

But he was not the person she wanted to run into today. Luckily, there was no sign of Spinner. The last thing she needed was a third party to witness this whole mess! She bit into her right index finger's nail, nervously checking the time on the clock on the wall. Jay wasn't late, but Emma just wanted to get this over with.

She wasn't prepared to see Jay walking through the door when he did. He was dressed rather nicely, in a pair of slacks and a button-up shirt. No hat, no jeans. No smirk. Emma cringed inwardly.

He smiled when he saw her, approaching the table only to bend over, offering her a small kiss. It was probably the sweetest thing Jay had ever done to her; a casual greeting between lovers. Little did he know...

"These are for you, beautiful," he said, presenting her with a bouquet of lollipops.

Emma looked up at him, unable to hide her smile. "How did you? What?"

Jay took his seat across from her and smiled. He shrugged absently before explaining, "Flowers have been done."

"But I go through, like, a ton of these at work," she stated. "How did you know?"

"I pay attention when you talk," he said, licking his lips. When she continued to stare at him in disbelief, he groaned. "A few weeks ago you said that your mom gave you a box of Laura Secord lollipops. You said that since then you've been addicted to them and that you suck on them a lot at work, especially just before deadlines."

Emma stared at the small bouquet of treats and smiled. "No one would remember something that offhand," she whispered.

Jay reached across the table, taking hold of her hands. "No one, except someone who cares about you. Like me!"

Emma pulled her hands out of Jay's, placing them in her lap. "We should have met somewhere else," she commented, scanning the small restaurant. "Someone might see us here."

Jay looked around at the half-empty diner. "I take that as a not-so-good sign."

"I want you to know that I thought about it. I really did. But when it comes right down to it, you and I are just not going to work."

"Why?" Jay asked.

"Why?"

He cocked an eyebrow. "Did you think I wouldn't expect an explanation?"

"No, but I just thought you'd understand."

Jay sighed heavily. He leaned back in his chair. "I do understand. You're scared. Even after all of this time, you're still scared. I can respect that. I can wait."

"Wait?" Emma asked, dumbfounded.

"Yeah. I can wait until you're ready."

Emma's eyes grew large. She shook her head. "You don't understand. I'm saying no, Jay. I don't want to marry you."

"Why not?" he pushed.

"Because it's not logical."

"Love isn't supposed to be logical, Emma. It comes out of the blue sometimes, but that doesn't mean it can't work or that it's wrong," Jay proclaimed. He pointed at Emma across the table. "You need to stop thinking so much, Nelson. You're giving me a headache."

"This isn't a joke!" she exclaimed. "I don't want to marry you. I'm not...I'm not...I'm not..."

"Will you just spit it out?" he groaned, annoyance in his voice.

"I'm not in love with you!" Emma yelled.

As soon as it came out, Emma regretted the words. Every head in the place turned to look at Jay and Emma. Her cheeks coloured immediately, embarrassment written all over her face. Jay continued to stare straight ahead, his face registering no distinguishable emotion. Emma felt horrible.

"Jay, I..."

He raised a hand to stop her from saying more. He finally broke his stare, gazing around the restaurant. When his eyes finally met with Emma's, his glare was icy. "I think that's bullshit!" he muttered. "But I guess if my buying a ring, getting down on one knee, and asking you to marry me isn't enough to convince you that this is a good idea, then fine. Mark my words, Emma Nelson, you will regret this."

He leaned back in his chair, staring at Emma. The looks he was shooting her way were a mixture between a challenge and heartbreak. Emma suddenly wished she could take her words back. But it was too late.

Jay licked his lips and straightened the collar of his shirt. "I know that Sean Cameron did a number on you. I know that getting dumped really sucks. I know that watching Sean get married all of six months after your breakup, after he led you on for eight years, had to be hard. But it's been two years, Emma! It's time to get over it and move on. 'Cause if you don't, I think you may turn into one of those little old ladies with fifteen cats or something!"

Emma sniffed, not finding Jay's words at all humorous. "You know nothing about it. You know nothing about me!"

Jay leaned forward, forearms resting on the top of the table. "I know more than you think. I know what it feels like to pick you up off the floor, because that's what I did, ME, when he left you. I know what it's like to hold you while you cry like a baby, because I did that so many times. I know that you like to sleep on the right side of the bed, because it's closer to the door. That way if someone breaks into your place, through the window, you can get away. I know that you always lay out your clothes for the next day before you go to bed. I know that you like to watch Good Morning America while you eat your cereal, because you think Chris Cuomo is cute."

He suddenly leaned closer, lowering his voice. "I know that face that you make when you're on your back, looking up at me, and I've just taken you to Mars and back again. And I love seeing you like that, because it's the only time when you're completely undone. You don't even know it, but it's when you look the most beautiful I've ever seen you look."

Emma knew she was blushing. Maybe it was because of Jay's intimate words, or maybe it was something else. Emma had spent the last two years building a wall around herself, not wanting anyone to get too close. So how had Jay managed to break through that wall and see the real her? How had she, someone so guarded and on alert, allowed it to happen?

"Marry me, Emma. Marry me and I'll spend the rest of my life giving you that look," he begged.

Tears formed in Emma's eyes as she realized how easy it would be to say yes to Jay. Maybe he could make her happy. But hadn't Sean made the same promises to her? Sean, who had taken her heart and played a game of kickball with it, had told her he loved her too. Look where that got you. NO. Jay could make all the promises he wanted to. Emma wasn't buying any of them.

She put her hand into her purse and grabbed the ring. Placing it on the table in front of Jay, she got to her feet. "I'm sorry," she whispered before leaving the restaurant.

Sorry Jay! How will Jay react to Emma turning him down? Keep reading!