Drake tutted at her, but didn't say anything as he let go. "My, my, aren't we violent today?"
"Me?! I'm violent?!" she snapped, grabbing her forgotten drink and taking a big sip, relishing the burning in her throat.
Drake could feel her annoyance settling in him as he let out a heavy sigh. "For fuck's sake, Collins, how many times do I have to tell you? I'm sor-"
''Oh, shut up already. Stop repeating the same shit again! I know it was an accident." Emma said, taking her wine cup and swirling the liquid around idly. "Just stop talking."
She heard Drake let out a deep sigh, but she didn't bother looking up. So, it was going to be like that again? So much for this "civilized conversation" they were supposed to have.
After a few more awkward minutes, she could feel Drake's stare burning into her skin, giving her no choice but to look up.
He was looking at her with an almost painful stare.
His mouth was curved downwards and his eyebrows were furrowed as if in deep thought, but his eyes pierced her with an intense look, causing her to remain uncomfortable.
"Stop staring at me," Emma mumbled, throwing him a cold glare.
Drake merely blinked, as if only just realizing what he was doing.
Clearing his throat, he shook his head and stared at the table. "Collins, I'm surprised you haven't hit me yet -"
"Oh believe me, I am fighting the urge to." Emma muttered under her breath, interrupting him.
He ignored Emma and continued on, "But just think about it, will you?"
"How about you go to hell, how's that?" Emma said in a sweet tone, giving him a fake smile.
Cursing himself, Drake continued to glare at the tabletop and cleared his throat before speaking again. "Look, I know I'm not the prince charming every girl would want. I've proven that to you in high school."
He saw Emma stiffened, but he continued still. "We need to work this out, together. For Aidan."
Emma blinked, and looked away.
After a few seconds of hesitation, she sighed. "Drake... I understand what you're saying, and I'm so happy that you want to do with what you think is best for Aidan. But marriage isn't always the answer."
Drake groaned impatiently, "I don't want Aidan to grow up thinking I'm never there -"
"He will not!" Emma assured him, finally looking at him in the eye. "I'm not going to stop you from seeing Aidan. Like I said, we're starting over, so I'm giving you a third chance. The only thing I'm worried about is the media publicizing Aidan because you're the father. I mean c'mon, look at this!"
She grabbed the newspaper that contained the Rogers-Gordon canceled marriage, and waved it in front of him. "You're in a freaking newspaper just because you and Alona's marriage failed. Now loads of people in this city know that you're another rich bachelor. What's going to happen when they find out that you also have a baby? What will the people think?"
Drake shook his head, scooting himself closer to her as he murmured, "Emma, since when do you care what people think?"
For once, Emma gave him a real small smile. To say that it shocked him was an understatement. "Drake, to be honest, I don't care what people say about me... But I don't want Aidan's reputation to go to shit, you know?"
Drake furrowed his eyebrows in a confusion matter, "I don't think I quite understand, love."
Oh shit.