Chapter 20
While Ray was thumbing through a cookbook, a knock at the door brought him a welcome excuse to look up. Sticking a spatula in the page as a bookmark, he went to open the door.
"Hey," he said surprised when he found Neela on the other side of it.
"Hi," she answered, looking awkward. "Look, I'm sorry, I shouldn't be here, I didn't mean to just drop by like this." She made a move to turn around.
"Hey, hey," Ray said softly, catching her arm. "I am now giving you the official right to perform the Girlfriend Pop-In whenever needed. I can even make you a certificate," he finished, pleased with his own cockiness.
Neela raised an eyebrow. "Official Girlfriend business is this? I can get used to the sound of that," she said, muffling her own words as she tilted her chin upward, initiating the first Official Girlfriend Kiss.
"So," Ray said, breaking the silence of the first Official Girlfriend Embrace. He briefly wondered how much longer he could get away with attaching the words "Official Girlfriend" to everything he and Neela did. This thought transformed to a whole series of other thoughts that he figured probably didn't have their place out in the open night air of his apartment landing. "Anyway," he continued, "Want to come inside?" he murmured into the top of Neela's forehead. He felt her nod in reply.
"I talked to Emily," he said as he closed the door behind him. "About, you know, our O.G.-ness. Without using that term, abbreviated or otherwise," he trailed off when he realized the extent of ramblings issuing from his mouth. Neela, on the other hand, laughed.
"How'd she take it?" she said after her giggles subsided.
"Pretty good, it sounded like. There's gotta be some things running through her head right now, though."
"Maybe I should talk to her," Neela offered.
"Maybe," Ray said, considering it. "I think if you guys just spent some time together…preferably in an environment that doesn't involve her bodily fluids being extracted."
"Mm," Neela groaned, "You think she hates me for that?"
"Not hate, she's just…less than amused," Ray suggested as he resumed his reading of the spatula-marked cookbook.
"What were you planning on making?" Neela asked as the subject turned to dinner.
"Not sure, I thought I'd try something new."
"Well that's—a plan," Neela said, her tone remarkably identical to what Emily's had been when Ray had suggested his idea of "experimenting." "I think I'll give you a hand," she said warmly.
After the use of many kitchen appliances, several sponge wipings, and Neela's excellent cooking abilities, dinner was on the table. Emily came in from the hallway, looking slightly disheveled and blinked in the bright light from the kitchen.
"Well hey, look who decided to grace us with her presence," Ray teased when he saw her. "How're you doing? I was just about to get you. Nap?" he asked, eying the state of her.
Emily merely nodded, having just spotted Neela. "Neela came over for dinner," Ray explained, following her gaze. "And ended up making dinner," he added sheepishly.
The rest of the meal passed smoothly—Ray and Neela were very involved with one another, and watching them gave Emily fresh things to think about.
Okay, she figured silently, twisting her napkin, He's happy. He deserves to be happy. She's—okay. And I guess they're kind of cute together, in a disgusting sort of way. Hey, I survived mono. Running into Neela early in the morning on my way to the shower? No big deal.
THE END
Author's Note: That's it! My first-ever story is done, completed, finished, signed, sealed, and delivered! I'd appreciate some reviews about it as a whole; plot lines, characters, etc., including how I did on the technical side, grammar and all, as well as the medical terminology. I know some readers won't discover this fic for a while, but no matter when you do, remember: it's never too late to reveiw!