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Chapter 14

"Thanks for coming," Naomi said, giving a man his change and watching him leave the café.

Sighing, she walked over to the table he had been seated at and cleared off the debris before wiping it clean and returning to her stool behind the counter.

"Are you okay, honey?" Gina asked, walking up to her daughter.

"Yeah," Naomi said, putting her chin on her hands. "It's just so slow and boring today."

"Well there's another customer," Gina said, nodding toward the door,

Naomi smiled upon seeing the familiar red hair. "Emily."

Emily opened the door, walked in and smiled. "Hey."

"So this is Emily," Gina said, standing up straighter and putting her arm around Naomi. "You're even prettier than your sister."

Emily laughed. "Well don't say that to Katie."

"You have good taste, honey," Gina said to her daughter.

Naomi blushed and shook her head. "Thanks mom."

Gina smiled. "It's about time for your lunch. Why don't you take it now so you can eat with your girl."

Naomi blushed even more. "Please ignore her."

"I'll bring out two of the special," Gina said as she walked away.

"Shall we?" Emily asked, nodding toward one of the tables.

Naomi nodded and followed her, intently watching the redhead as she sat down.

"So, did you have fun last night?" Emily looked up at Naomi and asked.

Naomi shrugged and sat down across from Emily. "It was fine; I drank a bit too much as I always do with Cook. He at least seemed to feel a bit better though."

"Well that's good," Emily replied, smiling.

"I guess I just need to make a bit more of an effort so he doesn't feel like he's being left out of my life," Naomi said, laying her head on the table.

"He doesn't really seem like the type who would be so attached," Emily noted. "But I only met him once so I guess I can't really judge all that well."

"Cook puts on this show," Naomi replied. "He doesn't show a lot of people his serious side because he's too busy trying to be the fun party guy. He's had a hard life though; both of his parents are shit and abandoned him, which I think is why he's so worried about losing me. I think I'm the closest thing he's ever had to a family."

Emily frowned. "Poor guy."

"So what did you do last night?" Naomi asked.

Emily shrugged. "Not much. I read some and then went to bed early."

"Exciting," Naomi joked.

"Well I am an exciting person," Emily replied.

"Yes, all you ever do is excite me," Naomi said before realizing how it had sounded. "That didn't sound quite as dirty in my head."

Emily laughed. "Well at least I excite someone."

"So what did you read?" Naomi wondered.

"Oh just this book about this guy who has to do this tournament thing and fight to stay alive since there are a lot of people who want him dead," Emily replied, staring down at her hands.

Naomi's eyes narrowed. "Meaning you read Goblet of Fire?"

Emily laughed. "Yeah, I was reading Harry Potter. What can I say; they're kind of my comfort book. I just didn't want you thinking I was a big dork"

"Oh I already think you're a big dork but not because of that," Naomi replied.

Emily smiled. "So what's your comfort book?"

"Hmm," Naomi said, thinking. "I guess Carmilla. Don't ask me why but I've always loved the story."

"How very lesbian of you," Emily joked making Naomi smile.

"I know, I can't believe I didn't see the signs sooner," Naomi said, shaking her head. "Have you read it?"

Emily nodded. "A long time ago. I'm not really into vampire stories, but it was actually good. I like reading older stories like it, though, they're usually so much better than anything written today."

"So you think writer's today can't write well, but you're a writer?" Naomi asked.

Emily laughed. "Yeah, pretty much."

"Well at least you're not one of those wankers who think their work is the most brilliant, life altering thing ever," Naomi replied smiling.

"Hey, for all you know it could be life altering," Emily said, nudging Naomi's hand with her own.

Naomi smiled. "Let me read your stuff one day and I'll let you know."

Emily looked down at their hands and linked her pinky with Naomi's. "So, tell me about this trip you're going on."

"I figured I'll just travel around Europe some," Naomi replied with a sigh. "See all the places I've never been; Italy, Greece, France, Spain, Cyprus, perhaps."

"Here you are, girls," Gina said, carrying two bowls their way. "I hope you like it."

"It looks wonderful," Emily said, smiling as Gina set a bowl down in front of her.

Gina winked at Naomi and grinned. "I'll leave you two alone."

Naomi rolled her eyes. "Subtlety is definitely not her strong suit."

"You have to admit that it's kind of sweet though," Emily said, digging into her food.

Naomi grunted in acknowledgement as she saw her mom peep through the window in the kitchen door.

"She's still wanting you to come to dinner one day," Naomi said, blowing on the soup to cool it down.

Emily shrugged. "Maybe when you get back."

"If you haven't forgotten about me by then," Naomi said, half joking but also half serious.

"It's kind of hard to forget being on a date with Naomi Campbell," Emily said with a smile.

Naomi shook her head and laughed. "I really hate her for giving me my name."

"I think Naomi is a pretty name," Emily replied.

"So, have you planned out what we're doing on Saturday?" Naomi wondered.

"I have," Emily said, coyly

"And?" Naomi asked.

Emily smiled. "And there's no way I'm telling you."

Naomi sighed. "I figured."

"Payback," Emily said, simply, shrugging.

Naomi tried to glare but the second Emily looked at her, she found herself grinning like an idiot. She had never been around anyone that put her at such ease. Yes, initially Emily had been a source of great anxiety, but once she had gotten to know her a bit and stopped fighting it, Naomi had become seriously fucking happy around the girl. Her whole life she had always been guarded around others, but every time Emily looked at her, she could feel another one of her defenses crumbling around her. It had taken her friends years to finally get close to her and Emily had come in and in mere weeks she'd managed to break through the wall Naomi put between herself and the rest of the world. She wanted to know everything about Emily and, as scary as it was, she wanted Emily to know everything about her.

The two ate in silence and Naomi couldn't help but to watch Emily most of the time; watching her was quickly becoming Naomi's new favorite pastime.

"That was really good," Emily said, putting her spoon down and leaning back in the chair once she was done.

"My mom will be happy to hear that you approve of her culinary abilities," Naomi replied.

Emily smiled. "Did you inherit those abilities?"

Naomi laughed. "No, not in the slightest. I can barely cook eggs."

"That's a shame," Emily replied. "I like a woman that can cook."

"Well maybe you can teach me then," Naomi said, raising her eyebrow.

Emily grinned. "Mmm, that could be fun."

"So how did you like it?" Gina asked, coming over and pulling up a chair.

"I was actually just telling Naomi how wonderful it was," Emily said with a smile.

Gina's face brightened. "Lovely."

"Naomi was telling me how she can't cook, though," Emily said, looking at the blonde.

"Well we tried to teach her once, but it was a complete and utter disaster," Gina replied.

Naomi rolled her eyes. "Thanks mom."

"Sorry, dear, but it's the truth," Gina replied.

"Well, maybe I can help change that," Emily said, winking at Naomi.

Gina laughed. "Good luck to you on that."

Naomi couldn't help but roll her eyes again. "You make it sound like I'm completely incapable of doing anything."

"Well, you did say you can't even make eggs," Emily interjected.

"Yes, but that doesn't mean I can't learn," Naomi said, defending herself.

The truth was, she couldn't cook to save her life and probably couldn't learn either, but she didn't want Emily knowing that.

"Don't pout, dear," Gina said to her daughter before turning back to the redhead. "So Emily, what do you do? Naomi hasn't really told me much about you."

"I'm a writer," Emily answered. "Or at least I'm trying to be one."

"Wonderful," Gina replied. "A woman who is creative and can cook; I'm sure you'll make my daughter incredibly happy."

Naomi's face turned red with embarrassment which made Emily grin.

"Oh look, a customer," Gina said as she stood up. "Hello there!"

Naomi put her head down on the table and shook it. "She's so embarrassing."

Emily shrugged. "I think she's nice."

"Yes but she acts like we're going to get married next week," Naomi said, lifting her head so she could look at Emily.

"Is she like this with everyone you've dated?" Emily wondered.

Naomi sighed. "No, you're actually the first. I mean she was nice to them and everything, but she wasn't all pushy and wanting to meet them immediately like she is with you."

"I wonder why that is," Emily replied.

"Because for the first time she actually seems happy and excited about someone," Gina announced as she walked by.

Emily laughed and a blush crept up Naomi's cheeks again. "Thanks mom."

"You're welcome, dear," Gina said over her shoulder.

"I really like that woman," Emily said after she was done laughing.

"Take her then, please," Naomi joked.

Emily smiled and then looked at her phone and sighed. "I'm supposed to go meet Katie in a bit."

"Oh," Naomi said, nodding.

"We're trying to make more of an effort," Emily explained. "We decided that we're going to get together at least once a week so we're meeting at the park today. I wanted to do it another day, but she's going to be busy for a bit and this was the only time we could meet up."

"I'm glad," Naomi said, smiling. "That you two are patching things up, not so much that you're leaving right now."

Emily smiled back. "So am I. She still gets under my skin like no other but she's my sister, you know? I don't want to be a stranger to her."

"Well tell her I say hello," Naomi said, watching Emily reluctantly stand up.

"I'll see you tomorrow," Emily said, leaning down and giving Naomi a kiss. "Be sure to dress warmly."

Naomi smiled and watched Emily leave. As soon as she was out the door, Gina came over and sat in the vacated seat.

"I like her," Gina declared. "Just don't mess this up, honey."