CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN.

It was two hours later when Naomi met up with Emily at the car, smiling sheepishly as Emily put out her smoke.

"Sorry about that," Naomi remarked as Emily opened the back seat for her crutches.

"Effy and I were fine," Emily replied. In fact, they had talked quite a bit about the connection between Freddie and Naomi, which helped Emily understand a few things a little better.

"Still, I know we were supposed to spend the day together."

"I fucked that up."

"A little," Naomi admitted. "But then I wouldn't have been able to see JJ. That time we spent together meant a lot to me, so in a way I should thank you for your, well whatever it was."

"I realise I was sending mixed messages. But I suddenly felt like I did whenever people would ask me a question and Katie would jump in. I had an irrational moment," Emily kissed Naomi's hand, pulling the blonde to her.

"Look, if this is too much?" Naomi wasn't sure what she was offering.

"No. It was irrational."

"Okay," Naomi nodded before moving away.

Emily knew Naomi was still confused, and she understood that, because she wasn't quite sure why she had panicked like that. Perhaps the stress of going to London was getting to her now.

"I love you," Emily needed to say it.

Naomi said nothing, but smiled as she got in the car.

"A shed?" Emily laughed, watching as Naomi tried to work out the location with a smoke hanging out of her mouth.

"What do you think?" Naomi turned to the laughing redhead who was leaning against the windowsill out the back.

"I think if you bent over and showed your workers crack I might just believe you know what you're doing," Emily teased.

"I mean about having a shed," Naomi was serious about this, she wanted Emily's input. Putting out her cigarette she waited for a reply.

"If Gina says yes," Emily shrugged.

Naomi limped back over to Emily, wrapping her arms around her shoulders.

"I want to know what you think about having a shed here."

"If it's important to you and Freddie and JJ, and Cook, I think you should do it," Emily kissed Naomi gently on the lips, enjoying the feel of the blonde's body against hers.

"But if it's here, we won't have as much privacy out the back," Naomi replied.

"Are you getting it by tomorrow or something?" Emily joked.

"No. It'll take a while, but if you come back to Bristol? I want you to be comfortable with the idea," Naomi blushed.

"Oh," Emily smiled.

"Too much?" Naomi worried.

"You really are quite fucking lovely," Emily ran her hand down Naomi's face.

Naomi smiled, moving away from Emily to turn back to the proposed location. She felt Emily's arms wrap around her waist from behind, and closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the silence.

"I think it's a lovely idea, love," Gina had surprised Naomi with her acceptance of the idea.

"You do realise it would mean dirty boys and loud music?" Naomi wasn't sure why she was trying hard to get her mother to change her mind, but she was still shocked.

"I'm going away Naomi, and I don't know for how long. I like the idea that you'll have people here, though I do hope they don't bring their parties inside the house."

"And Cook?" Naomi had to ask, this was a deal-breaker for her.

Gina stopped, looking over at her daughter.

"You know my feelings on him, Naomi."

"He's important to me. And to Freddie and JJ."

Gina knew she could potentially be breaking the fragile relationship she was rebuilding with her daughter, but she still couldn't help but worry about the kind of person James Cook was and his influence of her daughter.

"I'm an adult, mum. I pay bills, I pay rent."

"You're still my daughter, and I'm still permitted to be concerned."

"You won't be here, I could always defy you," Naomi stood, her chest out. If her mother wanted a confrontation, she'd give it to her.

"We don't have to worry about Cook for about six months, how about if I'm here at that time we discuss his entry into this house?" Gina compromised.

"Okay," Naomi knew her mother was trying.

"So that's a yes to the shed," Gina answered.

Naomi smiled, grabbing her phone to let Freddie and JJ know.

TBC ...

Thank you, everyone.