Chapter 18: A Smooth Apology

"Hey, Aria," a small timid voice said. I looked up to see Emma, cute as a button, just standing in front of me looking sad.

Before I went back to school, I was hoping to come to Susie's Smoothies and enjoy the peace. The small smoothie shop had a few seats outside. One of my romance books was in front of me.

"Hi Emma, are you okay?" I asked her, knowing she was probably going to bring up her brother's foolishness from the previous night.

"I'm okay. Are you?" she asked. I motioned for her to sit down, and she did.

"Your brother infuriates me," I said, not wanting to press my luck. Emma was a sweetheart who loved her brother. I didn’t want to talk bad about him in front of her.

Emma nodded and took a sip of her smoothie.

"What he did was stupid. Sometimes he just can't control himself," she said with a sad smile.