Aaron awoke to the sound of Elena laughing, the smell of coffee filled the air.
"HE'S AWAKE!" Elena screamed, running into the kitchen.
Aaron uncovered his face, slowly and reluctantly. Streaks of sunlight penetrated the window, temporarily blinding him. He dragged himself into a sitting position, feeling a slight crick in his neck from sleeping on the beaten down couch.
Emily appeared in the doorway, a cup of coffee in her hand. "Well good morning sunshine!"
Aaron stretched his arms above his head, yawning. His shirt rose slightly, exposing a glimpse of tanned, perfectly chiseled abs, and making Emily's heart skip a beat.
"What time is it?" he asked, groggily.
"It's a little after 7 a.m." She replied, handing him the mug of coffee.
He took a sip of the coffee and grimmaced. "Americano. Still drinking foofy coffee I see."
Emily smirked at his catty remark. She gestured to his phone. "Your phone's been ringing non stop. Isabel is probably worried sick."
He picked his phone up from the coffee table checking his messages. "No, probably not. She and I are not on the best of terms right now. Practically not even speaking."
"It's not. . . I . . . Is it. . . " Emily stammered. "It's me isn't it?"
Aaron shook his head as he stood up. "Don't worry about it. It's not you, it's her own issues with jealousy."
"I knew I shouldn't have had you baby sit. Aaron I'm sorry."
He placed his hand on her shoulder. "She's my daughter, it's not babysitting. It's called being a parent. Speaking of Elena, where is she?"
Emily motioned towards the kitchen. She's eating breakfast. By the way, thanks for fixing my sink, you didn't have to do that."
Aaron shrugged. "It was nothing really."
An obsidian curl fell into Aaron's eye, the cast of gel that usually held it in loosened with sleep. Emily fought the urge to brush it out of his eye, and run her fingers through his disheveled curls. "Elena said that she helped."
"If by helped you mean stuffing her face with Goldfish crackers and asking if I'm done yet, then yes."
Emily laughed, placing one hand on his chest. "She's a bossy one."
Aaron shook his head. "Not bossy, a leader. She's strong, and knows what she wants out of life. She's you."
Emily sighed. "I'm not sure I know what I want anymore."
"I think you and I both know what we want." Aaron said, his voice low, almost a whisper.
Aaron's words sent chills down her spine. Her heart beat fast. Emily met his gaze, perfectly aware of his eyes flickering between her eyes, to her lips, then back up again. She leaned in, his lips meeting hers with an unexpected urgency. He clutched his hands onto her hips, pulling her into his muscular body. They both knew what they were doing was wrong, their internal monologues screaming from the rooftops, but their bodies had wanted this for so long. Aaron knew he'd regret the fallout of this kiss, but he couldn't be bothered with the future as he clinged to Emily.
Emily pulled away breathless. Her face burned a bright crimson, unable to look him in the eye. Her heart beat fast, she could hear the steady "thump thump" in her ears.
"Mommy! Milk please!" Elena called from the kitchen.
"I should. . ." Emily stammered, trying to process what had just happened.
Aaron nodded, also visibly flustered. "Yeah I should go."
Emily opened her mouth but couldn't think of anything to say. She turned on her heels and quietly hightailed it to the kitchen as fast as she could, where she stayed until Aaron was gone.
...
"So how did you mess it up with Emily this time?" Seth asked, handing Aaron a beer.
Aaron looked up. "Huh? Who said anything about Emily?"
"You've walked around all week like a sad little puppy dog that's lost its bone." Seth said, sitting down on the stool next to him. "It's definitely an Emily thing."
"I kissed her." Aaron said, taking a gulp of his beer.
Seth's eyes widened. "Whoah, so you really messed up."
Aaron shrugged. "Was it really a mess up? I've wanted to do it since the moment I saw her again. I mean I know I'm with Isabel, but what me and Emily had. . ."
"What did Isabel say?"
"I didn't tell her. I don't know how to tell her. I don't want to hurt her."
Seth sat his beer down and looked Aaron straight in the eye. "Do you love her?"
Aaron arched his eyebrow inquisitively. "Isabel? Or Emily?"
"The fact that there's even a question of who tells me what I need to know." Seth replied, matter of factly.
"What are you trying to say here doctor Phil?"
"I'm trying to tell you what you already know. You love Emily. You always have."
Aaron laughed nervously. "What. . .I . . . that ship has sailed. She said so herself. Besides Isabel. . ."
"Do you love Isabel?" Seth asked.
Aaron sighed. "No." the truth escaping his lips before he could stop it.
Seth shook his head. "Exactly. Now, do you love Emily?"
"I . . . well,. . . . we. . ." Aaron stammered.
Seth rolled his eyes. "That's not a no. Dude you're still in love with Emily, Just admit it."
"I still love her." Aaron replied softly, Seth almost unable to hear him above the crowded bar.
"FINALLY!" Seth hollered.
Aaron took a long drink of his beer, letting the cool liquid flow down his throat before speaking. "I have to break up with Isabel, but how? I feel horrible. I've led her on for so long."
Seth pointed at the tv, hanging above the bar. "I think I found a way."
Aaron looked up just in time to see two pictures of him side by side. One of him walking into Emily's house, his clothes neat and pristine, and one of him walking out of Emily's house the next morning slightly disheveled. The headline "Walk of Shame? The bad boy Vice President." scrolled across the bottom. "Oh for Fuc. ."
Then a picture of Elena flashed across the screen. Aaron knew the picture very well. It was Elena's most recent school picture, Emily had given him a copy that he had kept in his wallet ever since. Her sweet photo panned across the screen, as the reporter retold the details of how Aaron found out about Elena.
The tension spread across Aaron's face, a horrible aching sensation rippled across his stomach. "I've got to call Emily."