It had been an hour since Katie left the apartment and left her Sister visibly upset on my shoulder. With Olivia nearby, I consoled her and made sure she didn't stay upset for long. We had coffee, much later than we originally planned then the three of us ventured out into the back garden to enjoy the early afternoon sun. I was persuaded back into the pool with my new, much younger friend and like before, Emily kept watch from the side, smiling on as I played several made up games with her Daughter. I deliberately lost all of course but it was a small price to pay to hear her giggle happily and see the adoring smile splashed all across Emily's face. After a short while, we stop, I stay by the edge of the pool, Emily stays soaking up some sun while Olivia floats around with the the help of her rubber ring. A few minutes pass before she's directed over towards me.
"Naomi, is my Mummy okay now?" She asks suddenly, I must of looked at her with a puzzled expression. "I heard her cry with you,"
"Yeah sweetie, she's fine. Just a silly little fight with Auntie Katie but it's all okay now," Okay, so I lied a little. It wasn't okay but there was no reason for me to upset a five year old and say so. "Do you want to play catch again? You have to let me win this time though, right?"
"Did you really make my Mummy sad before?" My attempt to change the subject and distract her fails completely. I'm left with an awkward question one which leaves me thinking hard before I answer. Kids. They really are smarter than you'd think, at least Olivia is. Being Emily Fitch's little girl, I can't say I'm surprised in the slightest.
"Erm," I stutter and glance over at Emily, making double sure that she can't hear us. Once I know she can't, I turn my attention back to Olivia who is somewhat patiently awaiting my answer. I clear my throat. "For a little while I did, why?"
"Auntie Kay says you always do," She explains, I sigh and her little face crumbles into confusion. "But my Mummy is really happy that you're here,"
"Did she tell you that?" I ask with a smile, a warm fuzzy sort of feeling appearing in the pit of my stomach.
"Nope," Olivia adds, swirling her arms in the pool to keep her afloat next to me. "But she always smiles when you're here with us,"
"She didn't smile before?" I question, immediately feeling quite sad and blameful at the thought of Emily being so unhappy. It was me. It was my fault.
"Not all the time," She tells me. "That's why I know she likes you being here,"
"I think you know too much," I laugh gently, spinning her rubber ring around a few times, causing her to giggle loudly. "Listen monkey, I'm gonna get out for a bit, okay?"
Knowing Olivia is happy to float around the pool in her rubber ring for a while, without me, I slip out of the water and take the short few steps over to where Emily is lying on the cushioned sun lounger. Her two piece red bikini reveals plenty of her beautifully tanned skin, all of which I remember kissing hours before. It doesn't stop the flutter deep in my stomach though. She really did look stunning.
"You okay?" I ask gently, she sits herself up, pushing the sunglasses onto the top of her head. Instead of sitting on the spare lounger, I sit at the bottom of hers and stroke her thigh softly. She just nods, sending me a smile in the process. I knew it was forced though. She always hated arguing with Katie. "I'm sorry Em,"
"What are you sorry for?"
"I don't want to cause trouble for you," I tell her. "I probably should of left before she came over this morning,"
"No you shouldn't have," She insists, gently touching my hand with hers. I look down and smile at the point of contact. "I don't regret anything we did last night and I'm certainly not going to lie to Katie about it to make her feel better,"
"She sounded really pissed, I heard some stuff she said," I explain without letting her know I was deliberately listening in on their argument. "Despite my feelings towards her, she is just trying to protect you Olivia,"
"Don't defend her, Naoms," She groans. It wasn't like me but Katie was the only family Emily had here and I didn't want to be the reason she didn't have that when I was gone from here. A thought which still filled me with absolute dread. "Anyway, can we just forget about my over protective, big mouthed twin Sister please?" She grins, tracing circles on the palm of my hand with her finger.
"You're really beautiful when you smile,"
"I've been smiling a lot lately,"
"Yeah?" Olivia was right.
"Yeah, I can't think why,"
"I could take a guess but I'd come across awfully big headed," I laugh, one which she matches. "Olivia's noticed how happy you've been lately,"
"She has?"
"Uh huh," I nod, telling her. "Apparently, you're really happy I'm here,"
"She told you that?" She asks, I nod again and she grins with her cheeks flushing a little bit. It was something I obviously already knew but it was especially nice hearing it from little Olivia of all people. "Kids huh? They're more observant than you'd believe,"
"Well, I don't know about others but Olivia most definitely is,"
"I've no idea where she gets it from,"
After retreating back inside an hour or so later, I collect my things from Emily's room from the night before, shove them in a bag Emily lends me and place it near the front door before strolling through to the spacious front room. Olivia is cutely cuddled up with Emily on the sofa, some cartoon is playing on the TV and it's not until I enter the room more, I notice she's asleep and Emily is not far behind.
"She's worn out," She smiles sleepily and I laugh gently, despite my heart melting at the adorable sight in front of me. "Fell asleep almost straight away,"
"You don't look far off sleeping either,"
"Well, I had an eventful night,"
"Lucky lucky girl, whoever she was," I smirk.
"She's rather beautiful," She adds. "I'm the lucky one,"
"Nonsense," I tut, chewing down on my bottom lip. "I'm gonna have to go, you know before my Mum sends out the search party," She laughs, I stroll over the last few steps and carefully lean down, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. I pull back after a few seconds of lingering. "I really, really want to kiss you properly," I whisper low. With Olivia in our presence I knew it wouldn't of been appropriate, even if she was asleep. If I did kiss her properly, I'm not sure how or when I'd stop.
"You can later," She flashes her cheeky grin at me, a glint sparkles in her eye, one that I'd never grow tire of seeing. I'm not sure I could wait until later, I'm not really sure she could either but we'd both have to. "Will you come to the club with me tonight?"
"I thought you weren't working?"
"I'm not but I thought It'd be nice, a few drinks, some dancing,"
"Sounds great,"
"Invite Zoe, yeah?" She adds quickly. "I sort of feel like I've robbed her of a holiday with a friend,"
"She doesn't think that,"
"Even so, invite her along, okay?"
"Okay, I'll ask her," I smile, unable to resist placing another kiss on her, this time into her hair. "You should sleep for a bit, you know just in case you have another one of those eventful nights like last night,"
"Cheeky,"
"Always," I wink, making my way towards the door. "I've not even left and I already can't wait to see you later, you turn me to mush Emily Fitch,"
With the promise of a text when she woke up, I left Emily's apartment and practically skipped happily all the way back to my Mum's. I'm sure I got a few strange looks but for once I didn't care who saw me. Nothing could wipe this smile from my face. I reached the driveway and noticed the car wasn't parked outside, so I assumed my Mum and Kieran were out for the afternoon, leaving Zoe on her own. I manage to enter the front door freely and even have time to unpack the clothes I'd worn to dinner last night before my friend appeared at the doorway behind me. I didn't even have to look, I could feel her presence.
"Hey Zo', here I brought your dress back, thanks for letting me borrow it," I do my best to keep my face straight as I walk towards her, handing over her piece of clothing. She was desperate to hear about last night, anything or more likely everything. Her text said as much but I couldn't resist a bit of fun with her. "How was last night, did Cook call and did he finally ask you out?"
"He's taking me away for the weekend,"
"Dirty weekend away huh?" I tease with a smile, it wasn't often I could actually tease her about something like she had been doing to me regarding Emily. "About fucking time,"
"Yeah, I know," She smiles happily and continues before I can say anything. "You've to call him, he wants to know how it went with you and Emily and he's not the only one. Are you going to fucking spill or what? You didn't come home and that's the biggest goofy grin I've ever seen on your face, so I guess things went really, really well?"
"They went better than that," I say with a smile, eventually taking a seat on the edge of my bed. "Last night was incredible. One of the best nights I've ever had with Em. It really felt like us again, you know? It felt like nothing had changed between us. She said she still loves me,"
"No shit, really?" She adds sarcastically, laughing afterwards before strolling over to take a seat next to me. "About fucking time," She mimics, I chuckle. "Geez Naoms, she really likes to leave her mark on you, huh?"
"Piss off," I joke, attempting to hide my neck. "I'm going to the club with her tonight, she basically insists you come with us. She likes you, wants to get to know you a bit more, plus, she sort of feels like she's robbed you of a holiday with your friend,"
"That's rubbish, I don't think that,"
"I knew that," I tell her. "So, you'll come with us yeah?"
"Sure," She agrees then laughs. "But the minute you start drooling all over her, I'm coming home,"