"So I scribble him a note, and we sneak out the front door like some sort of mistress and her secret love child while he's on the phone with her." Emily said, adding a sugar packet to her coffee.
Claudia took a bite of her danish, white flecks of icing falling onto her colorful top. "I've seen this Isabel lady on tv, you could take her Em."
Emily rolled her eyes. "Messing with Aaron's relationships is the last thing I want to do."
"Then why did him making up with his girlfriend make things so weird between you two? You've barely spoken to him in two weeks, and all you do is mope around. I mean you obviously wanted more."
"I did not!" Emily exclaimed. "I'm only in it for Elena."
Claudia shook his head. "You're in it for Elena. . . Is that why you just so happen to be wearing makeup for the first time in two weeks, the same day that he's coming to campus?"
Emily took a sip of her coffee, coyly tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's parents day at the daycare. I wanted to look nice."
"Nice for Aaron." Claudia rebutted.
Emily looked up to see Aaron walking down the hall towards them, a security detail next to him.
"Shhhhh! Here he comes!" she hissed.
Emily watched as Aaron made his way down the hall of the student union. He played the role of politician well. He smiled and waved, stopping every so many steps to shake hands. He must have gotten used to always being in the spotlight, because he moved and talked to everyone with such ease. Everyone greeted him the same, a sudden pause in a person's natural expression when they looked his way, followed by overcompensating with a nonchalant gaze and a weak smile.
"I'd like to snap those suspenders if you know what I'm sayin' " Claudia sighed, her eyes never leaving Aaron.
Emily had to agree with Claudia. With his sharp jaw, chin, and cheekbones, warm hazel eyes, and thick brows, Aaron had always been attractive to Emily. However, it was his thick, dark chocolate curls, that drove her absolutely wild. He wore them gelled back, and Emily wanted nothing more than to run her fingers through them, loosening them from their cast. She let out a shaky sigh.
"I hear you girl" Claudia replied.
"Good morning ladies" Aaron said, approaching them.
Emily shook the thought of raking her fingers through Aaron's luscious locks from her head. "Aaron, this is my good friend Claudia."
Aaron offered her his hand. "The infamous Claudia! Elena has told me so much about you."
"Oh child I don't shake, I hug!" Claudia chimed, pulling Aaron's muscular chest against her.
Aaron gave Emily an awkward grimace, and Emily shrugged. "Ok, ok Claudia, keep it in your pants!"
"We should get going to the daycare anyways." Aaron said, smoothing the front of his shirt.
"I just need to stop by my office real quick ok?" Emily asked.
"It was nice meeting you Claudia." Aaron called as they turned to head toward the Political Science building.
Claudia eyed Aaron like a kid in a candy store. "Hate to see you go, but loooooooovvvvvve to watch you leave!" She called, sending Emily into a fit of giggles.
"Claudia is. . . . something." Aaron said, as they rounded the corner.
Emily smiled. "Don't flatter yourself, that's just Claudia. You should see her with Damion down in the cafeteria."
"Are we sure she's a good babysitter for Elena to have?" Aaron joked, arching his eyebrow.
"Here we are, home sweet home away from home." Emily said, unlocking the office door.
Aaron stepped into the tiny office. "A big change from your office in the West Wing huh?"
"I still love it." Emily said, opening a filing cabinet.
Aaron walked over to her desk and picked up a picture that was on Emily's desk. In the frame was a picture of Emily, looking beautiful but utterly exhausted, her face squished up to Elena's pink scrunched newborn face.
Aaron sat the picture back down. "Emily, I know it's been awkward between us but. .."
"It hasn't been awkward, you're making it awkward." Emily snapped.
Aaron sighed. "It has been awkward. Ever since you left my apartment that night, you've been really short with me, That is, when you even answer my calls."
"I've just been really busy Aaron. I have a full time job and a two year old. Sorry if I don't have much free time to chit chat." Emily knew her tone had come off as defensive, but she couldn't let Aaron under her skin again.
"Can we please talk about it?"
Emily slammed the filing cabinet closed. "You want to talk about it? Fine, let's talk about it. Let's set some ground rules. One. No more Elvis."
"Emily I. . . ." Aaron started, but Emily cut him off.
"No. I mean it. We are in contact for Elena only. None of this sweet "my girls", "you look beautiful" stuff got it? Stop trying to woo me, especially when you're still trying to figure out whatever it is you have with Isabel. "
"We're actually back together, me and Isabel." he said, gazing down at the ground, unable to look Emily in the eye.
Emily froze for a moment. "Oh. . .good," she said, her voice more pained than anything.
Aaron fidgeted with the button on his suit jacket. "So we're in agreement. We only communicate about Elena."
A young kid, wearing a green backpack and scuffed converse knocked on Emily's open office door. " ! Sorry I'm late."
He glanced over at Aaron. "Oh My God! ! You and Kirkman definitely have my vote!"
Aaron shook his hand, "Thank you we appreciate it."
"Michael what can I help you with?" Emily asked.
"We made an appointment to go over my report on. . ."
". . . .Constitutional rights. Oh I forgot!"
Michael's face down turned slightly. "We can do it another time if you're busy I . . . "
Emily shook her head. "No, no. You made an appointment with me, I just forgot to write it down. I'm sorry. Just a minute." Emily turned to Aaron. "Do you care to go to Parent's day alone? I already had to cancel on him once because of the reporters." she whispered.
Aaron shook his head. "I've got this."
Emily smiled. "Thank you. The childcare center is right by the student union, two buildings over."
Aaron smiled. "See you later."
…
As soon as the program was over, Elena came running over full force. She grabbed Aaron's leg, hugging it tight.
The teacher approached them. "Elena is this your dad?"
Elena glanced up at Aaron, her chestnut curls falling softly into her big honey brown eyes. "Yup! my daddy!"
Aaron's heart swelled, as he stood in disbelief. Elena had just called him dad for the first time. He bent down, scooping her tiny body in his muscular arms. "That's right! I'm her daddy!" he encased her in a tight bear hug, sending her collapsing into a fit of giggles.
"Daddy I go with you?" Elena asked, tugging at his pant leg.
"Sure" He said. "Do you want a ride?"
Elena nodded and he hoisted her up onto his shoulders.
"What a lucky girl you are to have a daddy that loves you so much!" the teacher chirped.
Aaron looked up at Elena, "No, I'm the lucky one."