My Own Best Enemy (Apple Valley Love Stories #2)

by Julie Christianson

Of course, Emi was always beautiful. She was also the youngest, smartest kid in our grade—always with the right answer, forever busting the curve. The harder Emi worked, the more intimidating she became. To everyone. Guys. Girls. She was untouchable. Stop thinking about touching her, man.

As soon as class started, I was … shocked. I had no idea someone could be that bad at kickboxing. So bad. Adorably bad. Since we were kids, Emi always worked harder, studied more, and did whatever it took to be successful. I don’t think she ever attempted anything she might fail at. But man was she failing at this. She bounced around, with both arms flailing, her legs kicking out in every direction. She looked like a misdirected pinwheel. A Ferris wheel out of control.

“Nice to see you too, Em.” He takes a step closer, and I smell evergreens with a side of ocean. His scent is all the best things in nature.

“HI, THERE!” I blurt with my volume set to weird.

But I didn’t choose this path. It chose me.

Each absence was a tectonic shift. Instability became my kryptonite. Now I avoid it on construction sites and in my personal life.

It drives me crazy how that woman runs hot and cold. One minute she’s throwing sass my way, eyes sparkling like she’s enjoying the game. The next minute, she’s mad at me. Even tearful. I’m not saying her emotions are unjustified. I am suggesting it’s hard to predict which emotions are on deck. Emi’s a rollercoaster, and I’m a guy who’s spent most his life aiming for an even keel. She makes my keel decidedly uneven.

If we could see the disasters waiting for us around every corner, we’d be too scared to go anywhere.

I’ve been holding her close for only a moment, but time is already ripped into the before and the after. Before: I’d never been kissed by Emi Jones. After: I never want to stop kissing her.

Emi’s cheeks go hollow, like my words sucked all the air from inside her, and man, I hate seeing that. I want to breathe life into this woman, not empty her out. Which is exactly why we need to stay away from each other.

Huh. Is this a jab or a joke? With Emi, it’s hard to tell. One minute she’s hot, the next she’s cold. Fire and ice. How do I even deal with that?

Why do you want to be with a woman who wants you nowhere near her? Maybe it’s because as timid as Emi always seemed to be, she sure is trying to be fearless now. She straightens her shoulders and lifts her chin to whatever obstacle is in front of her. And whether it’s a crazy patron or a bragging businessman like Doug, Emi takes on the challenge. At least she tries to.

The truth is, the more I see Emi Jones, the more I see Emi Jones.

I need someone who’s the best to me when I am at my worst.

Sometimes the hardest lessons are the ones you end up having to teach yourself.

“I’m pretty confident you’ll still like me a lot. And that I’ll be able to convince you to let me come with you. But if you say no, I’ll be happy to chase you. And I’ll keep chasing until you stop running.”