Emma #2
“Would you believe if I told you Emma’s done the same thing to me?” Matt says, signature grin back on his face.
“Can’t blame a girl for liking things hot,” I shoot back.
Matt’s eyes flick to mine, slow and deliberate. I lined it up for him. It’s too late now. I know there’s no way he’s going to pass this chance up.
“No,” he says evenly. “You certainly can’t.”
Conversation flows easily, bouncing between honeymoon stories, work drama, and heated arguments about what we should play at the next game night. Matt offers to host to take the load off the Harrisons. We always have it at theirs. I have a feeling he does it for me.
My heart aches, but in a good way. It’s almost like Matt and I together make our friend group even stronger. Maybe… maybe this is worth risking after all.
While we’re waiting for dessert, Julia suddenly stands. We’re all stuffed, but apparently dignity means nothing when it comes to our sweet tooth.
“Excuse us, boys,” she says smoothly. “Emma and I need a quick bathroom break.”
Well.
I’m impressed she’s held out the entire meal without interrogating me, so that’s fair.
I trail after her, watching as she clears every stall to make sure no one’s in here. Once she’s satisfied we’re alone, she turns slowly, arms crossed.
“Last I checked,” she begins, “you were in New York. Tonight, he walked in with his hand hovering behind you like your personal bodyguard ready to fend off any man who lingers on you too long.”
“He was not.”
Julia stares at me.
“Did you take my suggestion?”
“You mean kissing him?”
She nods. After a beat, so do I.
Julia squeals so loud I instinctively look toward the door. “Emma Miller! Why didn’t you tell me earlier?!”
“I didn’t have the chance,” I groan. Every time I started typing a message, Matt would say or do something charming that sent me spiral even more. “It wasn’t a big deal.”
“It was for him. It’s all over his face. He’s happy—like genuinely. Harrison said he’s never seen him like this before.”
I roll my eyes automatically. “No, he didn’t.”
“Yes. He did. Right after you two spent ten minutes flirting disguised as bickering about the surfing date.”
“Outing,” I correct.
“Right. Outing.” She grins. “You’re safe here, Em. Talk to me.”
“It started as work. That part’s true. I didn’t realize the person waiting for me on set was the real version of him,” I mutter. “With every outing he shared a little more of himself. There was still bickering—”
“Excellent foreplay,” Julia interrupts with a wink.
“I hate you.”
“You love me. Continue.”
I ignore the sudden image of Matt pinning me against my apartment door. Barely.
“I didn’t mean for this to become something real,” I admit quietly. “He doesn’t know anything about what I actually do for a living, or the deal I made with Martha. The guilt’s starting to eat at me.”
Julia’s expression softens.
“At this point,” I add, “I don’t even know what we are.”
Her eyebrow lifts. “Sounds like there’s been more than one kiss.”
“A kiss, a taco date, another kiss, impromptu take-out delivery that ended with more kissing…” I list off. “Nothing else, I swear. He’s being ridiculously respectful.”
“Probably because he’s been in love with you for years and doesn’t want to screw it up.”
My jaw drops so fast it hurts.
“Not that serious,” I argue.
“For you,” Julia says calmly.
“For him.”
Her eyes narrow dangerously. “Should I take that to mean you are in love with him?”
“I wish I knew,” I groan, dropping my face into my hands. “All I know is I’m tired of being temporary. It’s happened too many times before. I don’t want something that ends the second it gets complicated. This thing with Matt. It’s bound to get messy.”
“Messy isn’t always bad,” she says with a shrug. “Life’s a shitshow most of the time, don’t I know it.”
I laugh despite myself. She’s right.
Then, quieter. “I don’t want to be disposable.”
“Then don’t treat yourself like you are.”
She steps closer and takes my hands.
“I could sit here and list every great thing about him. Convince you this a good idea,” she begins.
“But I have a feeling you know that already. The way he looks at you, Em…it was a dead giveaway before. Now, it’s out of this planet.
You’ve given him a taste and that man is ready to do anything it takes to keep you. ”
“What about my job? He’ll hate me for it,” I counter. “I’m already in deeper than I’d like to admit.”
Julia’s expression doesn’t even flicker.
“Matt could never hate you,” she says simply. “If you love him, you should tell him.”
“Right.” I tap a finger against my lips. “Hypothetically speaking… how would I know in the case that I do?”
“Did you forget how long it took me to figure that out myself?”
“Wonderful.”
“You don’t need to know the ending yet. You need to decide whether he’s worth the risk,” she says.
“That’s deep,” I mutter.
“Thanks. Harrison taught me that.” She beams proudly. “Now come on before the boys storm in here. We both know they’re suckers for juicy details.”
In the short walk back to the table, something inside me settles. I’ve spent so long surrounded by disappointment I started to feel like I wasn’t allowed more. That stops now.
Matt looks up the second we’re back in view. I let myself enjoy the weight of his attention. His hand brushes against my lower back as I slide back down into the chair. No flinching. No overthinking, either.