Chapter Ten #2
“Oh, you’re not bothering me,” she assured, but she twirled her chair back toward her desk anyhow, beginning to work as Luna dipped out of the room.
An hour passed without Em noticing. She glanced up at the clock above the door, startled by the time, and gathered her things in a rush, making her way out.
Luna was still in the common room, talking with two other employees—Jake and Madison, if Em remembered correctly—when Em wandered over.
“You headed out?” Luna asked casually.
“Yep. My work here is done.”
“Mine too, actually. I’ll head out with you.”
Luna gave a quick goodbye, and they exited the doors side by side.
“So when’s your next shift?” Luna inquired as they descended the steps together.
“I’m on call on Thursday. How about you?”
“Friday.”
“Ahh. Friday is kinda a busy night for calls, surprisingly.”
“Don’t I know it. Been working ‘em for the past six months.” They paused in the parking lot for a minute. “Where’s your car?” Luna scanned the lot.
“Umm, I’m walking, actually. Cocolbees isn’t too far from here, so I figured I’d just—”
Luna squinted up at the sky. “Pretty sure it’s about to start raining again any second. Don’t be silly. Here, jump in. Let me give you a ride.”
Em slid into the passenger seat of Luna’s car, and they headed down the street, the two of them chatting about work. When they pulled up beside Cocolbees, the rain was coming down in sheets. Luna reached into the back seat, pulling out an umbrella.
“Here, you need this more than me. I’m just headed home.”
“Thank you. I’ll bring it back with me to the office next time I’m in.” Em reached for the handle of the door, her finger resting over the button of the umbrella.
“Hey—if this is weird, you can totally say no. I mean, you don’t need my permission, of course, but—” Luna rambled, her hands clenching the steering wheel. “A few of us grab drinks sometimes after late shifts. Would you ever wanna join? Or go just you and I… if that’s not awkward?”
Em’s chest fluttered. The recognition of what was happening sank in. She thought of Shae and the pool situation. Of the distance between them that she hoped would have closed by now.
“Umm, maybe. That might be nice… to make new friends.” She let that word linger in the air between them.
Luna was kind, but she couldn’t handle anything more than friendship with anyone else right now.
Not with her mind so tightly wrapped around Shae again, it wouldn’t be fair to anyone.
But it was good to feel wanted, to feel seen in a way she hadn’t in a while.
It was a good reminder that she had options.
Luna’s face softened with relief. “Cool. No pressure.”
Em jumped out of the car, the rain pelting the top of the umbrella, thankful for Luna’s kindness. She would have been drenched in seconds without it.
When they arrived back at the house, everyone was lounging together in the living room. Lennon ran up to Brodie, who was sprawled out on the bean bag chair, and jumped on him, planting him with kisses and showing off her fancy new nails.
“Looks like you ladies had a blast,” Brodie said.
“What’d you guys do?" Lennon asked.
“This,” Kira replied, chortling. “It’s been raining all day!” She reached up, stretching. “Let me see your nails,” she said, leaning forward on the couch as Claire put her hand out, tapping her fingers in the air.
“Ooooh, I like-y!” she said, admiring her hand, twisting it back and forth. Lennon reached out her hand, showing off her own. “Nice! How about yours, Em?” Kira asked.
Em reached out over the coffee table to show Kira. “Oh, yours are my favorite,” she said, “That’s what I would have chosen.”
Em glanced up in time to catch Shae’s stare lingering on her, almost proud, as if the simple compliment from Kira had lit her up, too. An involuntary smile tugged at her lips.
Shae continued staring, smiling back, causing Em to flush further.
“Rude,” Lennon said to Kira. Clutching Brodie’s head in her hands and aggressively planting kisses all over his face.
“Okay, okay, love birds,” Seth said. “Gag!”
“Guess who got asked out on a date today?” Lennon blurted out triumphantly.
“Lennon,” Em snapped under her breath.
“Don’t be so humble.” She grinned, then added teasingly. “Em got asked out by a girl she works with,” Lennon smirked, her eyes flicking to Shae.
Shae went still, looking over at Em, then away just as fast. Her fingers tightened around the throw pillow in her lap. The action lasted no more than a second, but Em caught it; people tend to reveal the most in what they try to hide.
Shae bit at the inside of her cheek as she stared at the TV, as though it had suddenly become more significant.
“It was nothing. She was just being nice.”
“So nice that she gave you a ride to meet us and lent you her umbrella.”
“Wait, I thought you all were having a girls day,” Kira said.
“I had to stop by the office to catch up on some paperwork. Lennon dropped me off, and I caught back up with them for lunch.”
Her eyes darted back to Shae. Her knee bounced once, twice, and then stilled again—her eyes fixed forward, expression carefully blank.
“What are you guys watching?” Em asked, changing the subject.
“The original Bad Boys,” Brodie said, then bellowed out the theme song.
Lennon nudged him to stop.
“It’s surprisingly entertaining,” Kira added.
Em peered back over at Shae, who was leaning back, head pillowed against the arm of the couch, her knees pulled in.
She wore an oversized sweater and comfy-looking shorts; her hair was damp as if she had just stepped out of the shower.
She was all warmth and comfort and completely unaware of what that did to her.
Em imagined herself climbing atop her and resting her head on her chest, Shae wrapping her arms around her, welcoming her affection.
Almost as quickly as the thought came, it went.
“Push over you two,” Claire said. “I want in.”
Shae pulled her legs in a little more, and Kira shifted closer to the armrest to make space.
Claire plopped down on the couch as if exhausted, pausing briefly before leaning over to rest her body against Shae’s legs.
Em lifted her hand to her forehead shielding herself from the visual impact, pretending to watch the TV.
“Well, is this all we’re doing tonight?” Claire asked.
“Yep,” Shae replied.
“It better not rain like this tomorrow, or I’m staging a protest. I will make signs,” Seth threatened.
“You’re on your own there,” Lennon responded, tapping him on the arm.
“I think I’m gonna head up,” Shae said. “Kira, you gonna finish the movie?”
“Yeah, I’m chill. I’m not tired yet.” Kira responded, phone in hand, mid-text.
“Because you just woke up!” Brodie joked, stretching his leg out to tap hers with his foot.
Shae left the room, and before long, Claire snuck out after her. She didn’t announce her exit, but more than one set of eyes followed her out, watching her round the corner to the stairs. Em felt it before anyone could say anything.
“Oh shit,” Kira said. “I think I know where she’s going.”
All the air drained from Em’s lungs. Every part of her wanted to push past Claire on her way up the stairs and make her way into Shae’s room before her, and… then what? Her mind hadn’t gotten that far—she only knew she didn’t want them to be alone together in such an intimate setting.
“Hey Em, wanna head up with me? I’m a bit tired, too.” Lennon lied, giving Em a mischievous look.
Em grinned as Lennon reached for her, pulling her to her feet. They headed hand in hand over to the stairs, whispering as they went.
“We know what you’re doing. You’re not slick.” Brodie yelled from the living room.
“Shhhh,” Lennon said, holding a finger up to her mouth.
They could already hear Claire’s voice from the top of the stairs coming from inside Shae’s bedroom.
Em stalled, every step felt wrong. Like she was walking into something she wasn’t sure she wanted to hear or have confirmed.
They snuck up closer to the door, Lennon practically lying her ear against it.
“Len, you’re gonna get us busted.” Em mouthed.
“Come here,” Lennon mouthed emphatically. “COME HERE, behind me.”
Em hovered behind Lennon, her chin perched on her shoulder. Her thoughts moved faster than she could sort through them.
“Wait, are you ticklish?” Claire asked from inside the room.
Em widened her eyes at Lennon, nodding her head vigorously, answering for Shae.
“Yeeesss, very!” Shae giggled, and Em’s shoulders dropped. She loved Shae’s laugh, but this time it wasn’t for her.
A sound like rustling and movement ensued.
“She sounds like she’s pulling away.” Lennon narrated.
“Stop,” Shae said through laughter.
“Okay, I won’t. I’ll keep my hands to myself… for now.” Claire teased.
“Please and thank you!” Lennon mouthed, twisting to face Em.
“What’s your sign?” Claire asked.
“Aries,” Em answered for her again.
“Aries.” Shae chuckled. “You know this, you’re friends with Lennon!”
“Oh, duh,” Claire said. “I always forget you guys are twins. What’s that like?”
“You better say ah-mazing,” Lennon whispered, “or I’m—” Lennon made a motion like she was kicking down the door.
“Ummm, it’s like having a sister. Except you’re the same age, I guess… I mean, we don’t look alike, so...” she trailed off.
There was a long pause in conversation, and Lennon swirled her hand in a circle, motioning them to get on with it.
“Okay… so, question for you.”
“You’ve been asking questions,” Shae laughed, sounding flirtatious.
“I know, but this is an even bigger question.”
“Okayyyy?” Shae said. “Shoot.”
“Can I—may I kiss you?”
Em and Lennon snapped their heads toward each other, their jaws dropping. Em’s eyes widened, disbelief written across her face. Em’s body understood the levity of the situation before her brain, and caught herself tightly gripping the back of Lennon’s arm.
“I can’t hear this. I can’t.”