Chapter 59
The tension between the two intensified after that morning. They did their very best to avoid each other. Emmett spent most of his day at the office and started coming home lateR than usual. What really got on Regina's nerves was Emmett decided to spend the weekend at the office too and then stayed with Ruben those two nights. She felt as if them crossing that line made things worse.
She thought they could have a chance. But Emmett was doing everything in his power to avoid her now. She felt betrayed all over again. She did enjoy their closeness and did wish they weren't interrupted. She just couldn't bring herself to completely let herself be in his arms again when the realization of what they were about to do hit her in the face at that moment.
It was Sunday night. Regina was crying her eyes out still hoping and waiting that Emmett would show up. But it was already going to be past midnight. She felt so alone being there by herself. She let the tears pour out of her eyes, hoping she would eventually fall asleep.
Emmett on the other hand was also wide awake. Many thoughts ran through his mind. He kept tossing and turning unable to sleep. He eventually got up and went to the kitchen to grab a glass of water. He decided to stay there as he drank the water.
"What are you doing up, Em?" Ruben asked as he rubbed his eyes off sleep.
"Couldn't sleep," Emmett replied as he finished the glass of water and placed the empty glass in the sink.
"Yea I figured. I heard you toss and turn." Ruben said as he looked over at his face.
"What's going on?" He asked Emmett. "What happened between you and Regina?" He continued.
Emmett just gave him a look then looked away.
"It's nothing, Ruben," he says softly.
Ruben knew that was a lie. "Bullshit! You have been staying extra late at work and now you are spending the weekend at my place. I know you Em. I know something is bothering you and that you are avoiding Regina" he finished, hoping Emmett would open up.
At the mention of Regina's name for the second time, Emmett finally looked at him. He didn't know how to approach this topic with Ruben.
"What happened?" Ruben asked again as he gestured for Emmett to follow him in the living room so they could sit down.
They both sat at the table in silence for a little bit. Ruben hoping Emmett would say something not wanting to keep pushing the subject.
"I think I fucked up" Emmett finally said as he clasped his hands together in front of him and leaned his forehead against it.
"How?" Ruben questioned confused as to what could have gone wrong.
Emmett didn't lookup. "We…uh…..um…..we almost had sex" he finally blurted out as he let out a heavy sigh.
Ruben was left with his mouth hanging open this was not something he had expected to hear at all. He was left speechless.
Emmett finally looked at him and was surprised to find Ruben so shocked. He leaned forward a little towards Ruben and snapped his fingers in front of his face.
"Earth to Ruben"
Ruben finally snapped out it. "Holy shit! Dude!" He said as he was grinning like a maniac.
"When?! How?! WHAT?!" Ruben couldn't believe it. He didn't think things were going to escalate between the two so quickly.
Emmett just shook his head at him. He didn't want to deal with this side of Ruben.
"Will you calm down? I'm seriously losing my mind over here."
Ruben just glared at him.
"Fine. Fine. So why are you freaking out about this so much? Shouldn't this be a good thing?" He asked as he tried to think of what could be so bad about it.
Emmett shook his head again. "Well…..things just went from one thing to another and on top of that before…before anything actually happened…we got interrupted…and from then it's been awkward all over again." He ranted out.
"Well did you two talk about it or say anything to each other after that?" Ruben asked. Emmett just shook his head in a no at the question.
Ruben couldn't help but be frustrated with Emmett. His best friend was extremely annoying sometimes.
"You need to go talk to her" he finally said.
Emmett didn't say anything just gave him a look that said no way.
"Look Em, man up and go confront her about it. This avoiding each other shit is going to make things worse. Besides I thought you wanted to make progress with her and your relationship with her" Emmett nodded in agreement at the last statement. "Then go talk to her, idiot! Sitting here and dwelling on it isn't going solve anything for you both"
"I am not sure. She hadn't tried to talk about it either" Ruben couldn't help but get pissed at the statement.
"Em! Listen to me. Forgot about this who should make the first move or not. Go talk to her man. Just make the first move, damn it!"
Emmett didn't say anything. He knew Ruben was right. He just hoped that Regina would be open to talk about it. He was afraid he would be pushing something on her that she didn't want to discuss or get into it. Or maybe she would want to forget about the whole thing altogether.
"You are thinking too much, Em," Ruben said as he saw the look on his face and knew what he was doing.
"Alright! Alright! I'll talk to her. Happy?" He said as he got up and started to walk back to the room.
"Where are you going?" Ruben asked as he saw him walk away.
No response. Ruben got up too and went to his room. He came upon Emmett getting dressed and gathering his stuff.
"You know it's after midnight, right" Ruben informed him.
"Yea I know." That was all Emmett said.
"Can't wait. Can you?" Ruben said with a smirk on his face.
Emmett noticed the smirk and again had the urge to wipe it off his face. "Shut up Ruben. Besides, you said to go make the first move. So that's what I am doing"
"I hope she doesn't kill you if you wake her up from her beauty sleep," Ruben said as he laughed.
"I'll see you around," Emmett said as he walked out of the room, Ruben following behind him.
"Thanks, Ruben," Emmett said as he stepped out of Ruben's apartment door. Ruben just smiled at him.
"Happy to help, my friend," Ruben said. They said their byes for the night. Emmett walked to his car as Ruben went back to his bed to sleep peacefully, hoping that his friend would be alright.
'I hope she's awake' Emmett thought as he made his way to the mansion. Thinking that maybe Ruben was right about doing this in the morning. But he was already on his way.
It didn't take long for him to make the drive. He was soon pulling up to the driveway. Daniel came up and took the keys as Emmett made his way inside.
He made sure not to make too much noise in case Regina was sleeping. He made his way up the stairs and was now standing in front of their bedroom door. He had his hand on the doorknob but was hesitating to open it.
Before he even had the chance to turn the doorknob it turned on its own and the door flew open.
Regina was now standing in front of him with tears in her eyes. He noticed the redness and puffiness in her eyes. She had been crying a lot. His heart hurt at the realization of the pain that he caused her.
He wanted to hug her and wipe those tears away but stopped himself trying not to push his boundaries again.
Regina was looking at him searching for answers. Emmett wanted to say something, anything…." Regina…" was all he managed to say. Regina then hugged him circling her arms around his torso and holding him tight as she rested her head against his chest and cried.
Emmett stood there, arms hanging in the arm, his whole body not moving an inch. He felt his shirt get soaked from her tears. Then he heard her cries and quickly wrapped his arms around her body.
"I'm sorry, Regina" he apologized as he tried to fight back his own tears at the sounds of her cries. They held each other tightly, not wanting to let go of each other.
After a couple of minutes of standing by the door, Emmett pulled Regina off himself. He then brought his hands up to wipe away her tears. "Don't cry, please" he pleaded. Regina grabbed his hands and pulled him inside. Emmett followed her in. They stopped by the bed; Regina then turned around to sit on the bed as she faced Emmett.
"Stay with me tonight" she pleaded with her eyes. Emmett nodded as he closed the gap between them as he stood in front of her. He then watched Regina lay down on the bed. He walked around to the other side and sat down to take his shoes, jacket, and tie off, and threw them on the floor. Once he was done, he turned around to lay on the bed next to her.
The moment Emmett laid down; Regina pulled herself close to Emmett's body. She laid her head on his chest as she wrapped her arm around his torso and held on to him. "Please don't leave me alone"
Emmett had wrapped his arms around her too and pulled her against his body more when he heard her say that. "I won't, I promise" was the last thing spoken between them before both gave in to the sleep.
