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Back The Companion Project Save as PDF
Chapters (89)
  1. Dedication
  2. AUTHOR’S NOTE
  3. ONE
  4. HENRY
  5. TWO
  6. EMMA
  7. THREE
  8. HENRY
  9. FOUR
  10. EMMA
  11. FIVE
  12. EMMA
  13. SIX
  14. SEVEN
  15. HENRY
  16. EIGHT
  17. NINE
  18. TEN
  19. HENRY
  20. ELEVEN
  21. TWELVE
  22. EMMA
  23. THIRTEEN
  24. HENRY
  25. FOURTEEN
  26. HENRY
  27. FIFTEEN
  28. SIXTEEN
  29. EMMA
  30. SEVENTEEN
  31. HENRY
  32. EIGHTEEN
  33. HENRY
  34. NINETEEN
  35. HENRY
  36. TWENTY
  37. TWENTY-ONE
  38. EMMA
  39. TWENTY-TWO
  40. EMMA
  41. TWENTY-THREE
  42. HENRY
  43. TWENTY-FOUR
  44. EMMA
  45. TWENTY-FIVE
  46. EMMA
  47. TWENTY-SIX
  48. EMMA
  49. TWENTY-SEVEN
  50. HENRY
  51. TWENTY-EIGHT
  52. EMMA
  53. TWENTY-NINE
  54. HENRY
  55. THIRTY
  56. HENRY
  57. THIRTY-ONE
  58. HENRY
  59. THIRTY-TWO
  60. EMMA
  61. THIRTY-THREE
  62. HENRY
  63. THIRTY-FOUR
  64. EMMA
  65. THIRTY-FIVE
  66. EMMA
  67. THIRTY-SIX
  68. HENRY
  69. THIRTY-SEVEN
  70. EMMA
  71. THIRTY-EIGHT
  72. HENRY
  73. THIRTY-NINE
  74. HENRY
  75. FORTY
  76. EMMA
  77. FORTY-ONE
  78. HENRY
  79. FORTY-TWO
  80. FORTY-THREE
  81. EMMA
  82. FORTY-FOUR
  83. EMMA
  84. FORTY-FIVE
  85. HENRY
  86. EPILOGUE
  87. ALSO BY CHELSEA CURTO
  88. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  89. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

“Emma, you wrote angsty LiveJournal entries about him. Don’t try to deny the poem titled ‘Broken Dreams by Your Hands’ isn’t referencing Henry Dawson. I remember you lamenting about him winning valedictorian after you got the only A- of your academic career. He snatched the accolade out from under your nose. This is another notch on your battle belt. Who will get hurt this time?”

“Okay, no one is going to die. I’m sure Henry will stoop to his usual immature antics: taking the paper I like from the printer, making sure the file folders are out of my reach on the top shelf, and covering my door with Post-It notes. Once Wallace realizes how unprofessional he’s acting, the position will be mine.”

I never retaliate to his pranks which drives him up a wall. It’s as if he wants me to engage with him, seeking out ways to get my attention. I’m not naive enough to think he’s attracted to me. He’s simply not used to someone rejecting him and is persistent as hell. I, meanwhile, get immense joy out of befuddling him. Someone needed to put him in his place, and I’m glad it can be me.

“You’re good,” she says slyly. “You’re going to let him self-implode.”

“He may charm some people, but that shit doesn’t work on me. It hasn’t for years. Two months of his stupidity will be worth it if it means becoming partner.”

“You’re so deserving of this, Emma!”

I blush bashfully. “Thanks, Nic. I’ve worked really hard. It’s important for girls and women to know we can do anything we set our minds to, and we’re equally qualified to do any job a man is. If not more so.”

She raises her drink in my direction. “To all the badass women out there. Anything men can do, we can do better!”

“Here, here,” I agree, clinking my glass against hers.

THREE

HENRY

“Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on?” My best friend, Neil, asks, taking a swig of his beer. “Rebecca and I had a fight this morning and I’ve already apologized a million times. The sex is going to be incredible when I get home.”

My group of friends and I are squished together in a booth at our favorite local restaurant, which is an arduous task given all but one of us over six feet tall.

After the news from Wallace today, I frantically messaged the gang asking if we could meet up tonight instead of our usual Friday night plans. The speculation started flooding in, and I’m on the edge of my seat, waiting to share the news.