The bright early morning Cyprus sun creeping in from the bedroom window wakes me the next morning and after a second or two, I remember exactly where I am. In Emily's bedroom. In Emily's bed. Every moment and every word of last night comes flooding back to my mind and I struggle to remember the last time I woke up with a smile on my face as big as the one I'm wearing now. I turn my head to the right, adjusting it's position on the pillow underneath when I'm greeted with what I can only describe as being the most beautiful sight I've ever known in my life.
Emily is peacefully asleep next to me. Her red hair fans across some of my pillow and her body is cuddled up close to mine, almost the same way it was a few hours ago when we went to sleep. It had been a long time since I got to witness Emily like this. Asleep, unaware but totally breathtakingly beautiful. My heart swells in my chest. Most girls hated what they looked like first thing in the morning but Emily need not ever have that problem. First thing in the morning, last thing at night, it didn't matter. She was always gorgeous to me.
I prop myself up on my elbow, happy to watch her sleep for several more minutes, savouring the moment of taking in every single stunning feature she possesses. Old habits really do stick. I used to spend many of our mornings watching her sleep and would never tire of it.
"How long have you been watching me?" She spoke suddenly, her eyes still closed with a grin flashed across her lips.
"Jesus Em, are you trying to give me a heart attack?"
"Sorry," her eyes flicker open, she smiles innocently and leans up to place a gentle yet somewhat surprising morning greeting kiss on my lips. I can't resist and cup her face, making the kiss last a few more seconds than she originally intended. She giggles against my mouth and we eventually break apart. "Good morning,"
"Good morning,"
"You're still here,"
"Uh huh," I nod with a smile, loosely tangling my fingers through her hair. There really was no chance of me going anywhere. This was everything I ever wanted. "I told you I wouldn't go anywhere,"
"Yeah, you did,"
"Not sure I could even if I did want to, you've got a pretty tight grip, I couldn't breathe for most of the night,"
"Hey, you cheeky sod, I could of easily have kicked you into the spare room, you know?" She laughs, digging my leg from under the sheets. "I almost forgot how amazing it feels to wake up with you,"
"No regrets then?"
"Only that I didn't do this sooner," She replies, tracing her finger across my bare shoulder. I knew what she meant. I'd been here two weeks and after tomorrow night, I'd be on my way back home but I knew she didn't want to talk about that and as much as it was staring me in the face, neither did I. "So, did you sleep okay?"
"Best sleep I've had in a long time,"
"Same," She grins, one that lights up her whole face. I match it whilst settling my head back down on the pillow, refusing to take my eyes off her for a second.
"Why do I suddenly feel like we're seventeen again?"
"I feel like we did that night at yours after the college ball, do you remember?"
"Of course I remember," I raise her hand to my lips, placing a gentle kiss on her knuckles, clasping our hands together afterwards. I'd went to that ball, despite stern warning from Katie and won everything I ever wanted since I was twelve. I fought for what my heart wanted, I fought for everything with Emily and I have never been prouder of myself than I was that night. We had so many amazing times and memorable moments after that but that one particular night will always remain my favourite for a number of reasons. "Hey, at least my Mum won't barge in on us this time,"
"Oh my god, that was so embarrassing," she hides her flushed cheeks by burying her face into the crook of my neck. "Could she have walked in at a worst time?"
"Considering what you were doing to her Daughter? Probably not," I laugh, knowing full well Emily's face will be turning more flushed. "But I think me and you both know, a few minutes later and it could of been a whole lot worse,"
"Don't Naoms," She groans loudly and I laugh at her. "I thought I'd never be able to face her at the breakfast table that morning, I can't believe that happened,"
"I can't believe you left that morning without finishing the job," I tease with a wink when she parts from my neck. It brings another adorable infectious giggle from my favourite red head and it gains me another playful dig as she correctly points out that she returned to the house that same night and definitely finished off what she had started hours previously. "How the hell did we even survive those first few days? We practically camped out in my room for a week and hardly ate anything,"
"I remember eating," She responds cheekily with a whisper, slipping her teasing hand onto my lower stomach, her tracing fingers send a shiver up my spine and I know she notices, it would of been near impossible for her not to. "Do you have to rush off this morning?"
"I'm not rushing off anywhere. I've got a few hours then I'll have to head back to my Mum's,"
"Great, I thought I'd do you some breakfast," She announces, quickly leaving a kiss on my lips before she dives out of bed, despite my playful protests and disappears off downstairs. I throw my head back and contently rest it on the pillow, grabbing my phone from the side. When I switch it on, three messages come through straight away. Two from Zoe and one from my Mum, all mentioning Emily and all asking about last night in different ways. I smile to myself and quickly reply to both, letting them know they can expect me back at the apartment later in the day. I'm almost done when I hear Emily's voice from the doorway. "Naoms, I'm out of milk,"
"Oh don't worry about it," I murmur, continuing with the text to my friend.
"I do have other ideas for breakfast," She suggests seductively and as I glance up from my phone, I see her removing some of a towel that is now wrapped around her body. The instant flutter I feel deep in my stomach is something I have only ever experienced with Emily and she intensifies my racing heart when she drops the towel to the floor. Jesus Christ this girl. She definitely knows how to get me. Before I make moves out from under the sheets to join her, she strolls towards me and stands by the edge of the bed. I sit myself up to meet her and she places a wet kiss on my cheekbone. "Katie won't be bringing Liv home for another hour at least,"
"Fuck," I curse loudly, finding it increasingly difficult to concentrate on anything other than a naked Emily and what she was now in the process of doing. "You drive me crazy,"
"I know," She whispers rather proudly, nipping on my earlobe which forces me to let out a gasp, one that only spurs Emily on more as she slips her hand down towards the growing heat between my legs. She teases for seconds only before her fingers work the wetness she's already created. "I was hoping you'd join me in the shower this morning, if I'm honest, I've sort of wanted you from the minute I woke up next to you,"
"Emily," I breathe out, my body instantly reacting to her touch. "God, what are you doing to me?"
"Isn't it obvious?" She smirks and brings a sudden halt to her actions, briefly kissing my mouth before she speaks again. "Shower. Two minutes, yeah?"
For the next hour we struggled to keep our hands off one another. It was pretty much like it was when we first officially got together back in college. Emily basically moved in to my Mum's before we got our own little place and we were always together. You rarely saw one of us without the other being far behind. The others would always tease us about it, especially Effy but we took the playful digs they gave us. Our passionate love making in the shower carried on back into Emily's bedroom which meant we weren't fully clothed and ready until eleven. Given that last night wasn't at all planned, Emily lends me some clothes to wear for the day and after I've slipped into them, I find her in the kitchen, making some proper breakfast.
"Thought we worked up quite an appetite, so I've made us a little breakfast," she smiles, bringing two plates of food to the table, kissing my cheek afterwards. Her fingers run across the material of her t shirt which is now covering my body. "That shirt looks so much better on you,"
"Thanks. I might just keep it then, if you'll let me," I pull up a chair at the breakfast bar, Emily doing the same opposite and we both take a few mouthfuls of the food that she's cooked for us. A couple of minutes pass and as I continue eating, I feel her watching me rather adorably, much like she used to. I've missed her looking at me like that. "What?"
"Nothing," she says, breaking out in a grin. "I just like watching you,"
"You're even more adorable than I remember," I offer a smile in return. "Do you have to be at the club today?"
"I've asked Brandon to cover, he's going to run things for the next two nights. I know you'll probably have plans lined up with Zoe and your Mum but I was sort of hoping you'd manage to squeeze me in somewhere too. I need to see you again before you go,"
"I'm not squeezing you in anywhere, you're the very top of my list," I reach over the table, urging her hand to take mine and when it does, I squeeze gently. "I meant what I said last night, you know?"
"Emily?" I heard the front door slam shut and Katie's voice filtered through the apartment, stopping me in mid sentence. I let go of Emily's hand and she grabs the plates, putting them in the dishwasher as she calls her Sister into the kitchen. "I got you that milk, so put the kettle on, yeah? I can stay for coffee,"
"Hey Katie," It's all I offer when she stops suddenly after seeing me sitting at the breakfast table. She stares me out a bit, giving me one heck of an unimpressed glare when I'm happily pounced on by one excited little girl. At least someone is happy to see me. So much so that she runs to greet me before her Mum but going by the look on Emily's face, she doesn't mind at all. "Hey monster, how are ya? Did you have a good sleepover at Auntie Katie's?"
"Yeah," She nods, breaking out of our hug. "Auntie Kay and me made cakes,"
"Really? That sounds lots of fun,"
"I kept you one," She explains cutely, reaching into the bag she was carrying when she walked in.
"Aw darlin', that's so sweet, thank you,"
"Fancy that coffee now, Naoms?" Emily asks, ruffling Olivia's hair whilst doing her best to ignore the pissed off look on her twin's face. I nod, refusing to interrupt as Olivia proudly shows Emily the cakes she helped make the night before whilst repeating what she got up to during her little sleepover. The more I see them together, the more I see just how much she looks like Emily and that alone is probably the cutest thing ever. I carry on watching them from across the room, a smile plastered on my face until my view is blocked when Katie deliberately sits in front of me.
"You must of got up early this morning," I know what she was fishing for, she was obvious but instead of giving her what she wanted, I played along in my own way.
"Not really. I woke up about half past eight and I didn't get out of bed until after nine,"
"Is that Emily's shirt?" She interrupts suddenly, glancing down at what I was wearing.
"Yes, it is," Emily interrupts before I can respond. She places two mugs of coffee on the table, going back to collect her own before she pulls up a chair next to me, giving her Sister even more reason to look pissed. I can almost feel her glare cutting right through me. "Naomi stayed here last night, with me,"
"What?"
"I don't have to paint you a picture do I?" Emily laughs, Katie definitely doesn't and I stay quiet deciding it was probably best I said nothing. "Naoms, can you watch Liv for a few minutes?"
"Yeah, of course,"
I agree as Emily signals Katie to follow into the front room. Despite leaving the kitchen though, I can still hear every word between them.
"What the fuck is that on your neck?"
"Grow up, Katie,"
"You're so stupid,"
"What I do, has nothing to do with you," I hear Emily hit back sternly. "It's my life,"
"When you get hurt and I have to pick up the pieces, it has everything to do with me," Katie replies. "She hasn't changed and your life has been fine without her,"
"And you'd know that would you? You have no idea what goes through my mind when I'm alone in this apartment, I've really missed her,"
"Spare me the gruesome details please,"
"No, fuck off, you have no idea about us,"
"I know she fucked someone else and broke your heart,"
"If I can get past that, it shouldn't be a problem for you,"
"You know what, as soon as I saw her, I knew this would happen. I knew you'd be a soft touch and let her come crawling back,"
"That's not what I'm doing," Emily denies, raising her voice a little, so much so that Olivia hears. I manage to distract her mind off it and focus her attention back onto the game she was playing on her console which allows me to listen to the arguing Fitch twins. "I don't expect you to understand any of this anyway,"
"I've never understood you with her,"
"Maybe because you've never been in a relationship for more than ten minutes to know how it feels,"
"Bitch," She shoots back. "It's me and Jake's two year anniversary next week,"
"Congratulations," I can hear the sarcasm drip from Emily's voice. "At least one of us can have the perfect relationship,"
"Em, stop it. I just don't want you to get hurt again, it's not just about you now, it's Liv too. Please, don't do that,"
"No, don't you do that. You're supposed to support me, be in my corner,"
"I am," Katie insists but Emily is having none of it.
"No you aren't. You're in your own, like you always fucking are,"
"I moved here for you," she offers, her voice softening. "I didn't want you to be out here on your own with a new baby, so I gave up my life and I moved here. Don't tell me I'm always in my own corner because that's shit, Em. I'm never out of yours and I never will be,"
I don't hear anything else for the next few minutes and I silently debate with myself on whether or not I should interrupt them. Instead, I stay and Olivia ends up involving me in her game which passes a few minutes until a teary eyed Emily reappears back into the kitchen.
"Em, are you okay?" I immediately push my chair back and cross the room to move towards her, I didn't want Olivia to see and worry, so I move us out of sight, taking up a position just outside the doorway. She says nothing and just wraps her arms around my neck, burying her face into my shoulder, hugging me tightly. I soothingly rub my hand across her back, lightly placing a kiss on the side of her head. I knew she'd talk if and when she was ready.