A/N: It's Emma's birthday once again and these next two chapters will be covered in her POV, which will leave out Regina's conversation with Audrey, but I will be sure to mention it once it's Regina's turn again to re-tell this story. :) For now, happy reading and do enjoy these two new updates (ch's. 33 & 34) that I was able to provide you all with tonight. Happy reading!
Chapter 33: Emma
"Em, are you alright?" Audrey asked as I continued to drive down the already familiar road that would lead us to Audrey's home.
"I'm fine." I muttered under my breath, when in fact I was boiling inside.
Once we arrived at the house, I parked along the driveway and quickly got out of my car, slamming my door shut.
"Em?" I hear Audrey call out as I turn on the balls of my feet to face her. "Are you sure you're alright?" She asks.
"I already told you, I'm fine." I roll my eyes as I tuck my hands inside my pockets. I really didn't want to talk about this right now. Especially not with Audrey. "How many times are you going to keep asking me that?" My tone came out quite sharp. I didn't mean for it to come out as sharp as it did, but I was already irritated enough.
Audrey's brow raised, surprised by my sharp tone. "When you tell me what is really going on with you."
"Nothing." I shrug. "I'm fine."
That was a lie. I wasn't fine. Regina was supposed to come back with us and instead, as soon as stable boy shows up she decides to just leave him. I realize that I didn't have a reason to be jealous, like Regina had said, but I couldn't help myself. I was jealous of Daniel.
"Are you? Because you were 'fine' when we were at the mall earlier, but once Daniel arrived-"
"What?" I breathe out, rolling my eyes once again at the sound of Daniel's name. I'd rather not talk about stable boy for the rest of the day.
"Oh, my God…" Audrey smirked.
"What?"
"I can't believe I didn't see it before." Said Audrey, that smirk still playing along her lips.
Under different circumstances I would have worried as to what Audrey thinks she might've realized right now. Frankly, I was too angry, too annoyed, and too jealous to care about what Audrey thought.
"You are jealous of Daniel." Audrey's smirk grows impossibly larger.
"What?" That was all the vocabulary I could muster, shaking my head. Was it that fucking obvious? "You don't know what you're talking about, Audrey-"
"No. I do know. I know that look on you, Emma Swan. You're jealous."
If there was anything that bugged me to the core was to have my jealousy pointed right at me like a damn finger, accusing you of something. At least with the way Audrey seemed to be doing right now. Okay, so I was jealous. I know I didn't have a reason to be. But I did. I really liked Regina, really, really liked her and it was driving me crazy that I was jealous of Daniel when I knew Regina liked me. I was upset that I meet this amazing woman and she happens to be married, and not only married- but my girlfriend's mom.
"Should I help you with your bags, Ms. Audrey?" Sidney steps outside, smiling, offering his help.
"Please, Sidney. Thank you." Audrey handed him the bags and Sidney went back inside. That's when Audrey took the liberty to walk closer to me.
"I'm gonna go call my mom." I begin to head inside the house, not wanting to talk about this any longer, but Audrey holds onto my arm and pulls me back.
"Hold it right there, Swan!" I rolled my eyes again, wishing Audrey would just let me be for the rest of the day. But her arms wrapped around my waist, keeping me in place. "Emma." She calls out to me until my eyes are looking at her, and she smiles. "You have absolutely nothing to be jealous about. Daniel is just a friend."
I give a low chuckle, "Maybe you ought to clear that out with him, don't you think? I doubt he seems to remember that fact."
"Baby, it was just a hug and an innocent kiss on the cheek."
My brow furrows. Audrey thought this was about her. She thought I was jealous of her. Of course she did. Suddenly I felt like I had been knocked on my ass, no longer feeling angry but a bit unfair and ashamed as if I had forgotten that who I was dating here was Audrey. This jealousy, mixed in a cocktail of the feelings that were no longer blooming for Audrey, were starting to get the better of me. And I knew that if I didn't do something about them soon, they would explode like a ticking time bomb.
"I'll admit, I love it when you get jealous," Audrey chuckles, none the wiser, placing several kisses along my lips. "But, I assure you, Daniel knows I'm with you. And he would never try to come in between what you and I share. And even if he did- I love you too much to ever think about cheating on you." She cradled my face in her hands and once again I was stung by a little guilt. "And not to mention, he is too pathetically in love with my mom- I'm afraid he doesn't have eyes for anyone else."
Not something I needed to know all over again right now.
"Yeah, well… I don't think your dad would appreciate knowing he has the hots for your mom." I said, trying to throw Audrey off of my jealousy. Of course, Chief Irons wouldn't like knowing that I had the hots for Regina.
Then I realized what a hypocrite I was being. Regina had to toughen it out all day, putting it up with Audrey clinging all over me, and me acting like everything was alright, kissing her back when she kissed me. Yet, she leaves with Daniel and I can't stand it.
Audrey chuckles, "You're right about that." She kisses me on the lips one last time, wiping away her lip gloss that smears on them with her thumb. "Come on. What do you say I make us a cup of hot chocolate? I know that'll put you in a better mood."
"Okay." I nod, trying my best to swallow down this sting of jealousy.
Normally hot chocolate would calm me. I did enjoy it, and it was good, and it did help a little. But I was still feeling so jealous over a stupid little hug. These fucking feelings were eating me up alive, so much so that I had to take an extra run today. And just as I was finishing up my run and returning my way back to the house, I see stable boy's jeep pulling up in the driveway.
I hear Daniel and Regina exchange a few words before saying goodbye to one another, and Regina ends it by placing a kiss along his cheek. I roll my eyes at this, but I begin to feel better once Daniel drives away and Regina is walking toward me as she sees me, panting for a breath.
"I thought you only ran in the mornings?" Regina asks, her eyes looking me over.
"I do." I said through a pant. "But, I needed the extra run today."
Regina smiles. "Well, you seem to have had a very productive day today. Far better than mine."
"I don't know about that," I chuckle in a mocking manner, spitting out my jealousy throughout my next choice of words. "You seemed to have had a pretty productive day yourself."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Regina immediately frowns.
"I think you know what it means." I scowl, but immediately catch my ridiculous behavior and my child-like lashing out on Regina. I sigh, "Look, Gina-"
"Where's Audrey?" Asked Regina, not caring at all for my behavior, clearly angry.
"She's inside." I nod toward the door, feeling a wave of shame wash over me as she begins walking away without saying another word to me. "I'm sorry." I call out to her.
Regina whirls around, her eyes burning lasers right through mine. "Oh? For what exactly?" Her arms cross over her chest, and her brow lifts. She wasn't just angry right now. Regina was furious. "For having to put up with you and my daughter's affections toward one another the entire day? Not to mention feeling like the worst mother in the world about it. Or for acting like a complete child in front of Daniel- who might I remind you- is just a friend?"
My cheeks go crimson red. I was an asshole. Here was Regina, biting her tongue her own fucking jealousy toward Audrey and me; and here I was, like a fucking three year old, whining because mommy was giving her attention to someone who was nothing to Regina, other than a good friend. Way to go, Em! Okay, maybe I shouldn't use that term with Regina.
Here was Regina, astonishing and strong as ever, putting up with more than she bargained for, while I cried and whined like a little kid.
After Regina whirled back around and headed inside the house, leaving me alone to cry and whine, I realized all the more what an asshole I was. "Shit." I mutter, scolding myself.
As days passed, I noticed Regina was no longer angry at me, and we had apologized to one another with a hug that proved to be difficult to pull away from. But for the sake of her own feelings, I noticed Regina would avoid being around Audrey and I in the same room for far too long. Not that I could blame her.
And this morning, I was no longer twenty-four but twenty-five years old. It was my birthday and the one thing I wished for when I woke up was to be able to spend some time with Regina. I didn't need to blow out a candle to wish for that and hoped it came true.
And as fate would have it, Audrey surprised me this morning, throughout the madness, that Regina would be taking me down to the Orchard for a little while. I was more than up for it, of course.
And as Audrey and I said our goodbyes, my trip to the Orchard with Regina was a quiet one. It was like we were okay, but we weren't okay. This jealousy that constantly kept happening between us was becoming too much, these feelings were becoming too much and I think Regina was clever enough to figure that out for herself without actually having to talk about it. Except, I hope we did talk about it. Someday. If we aren't yet together.
As we pulled into the familiar dirt driveway of the Orchard, I found myself wishing for another wish. That stable boy would be nowhere near. We didn't need another wave of jealousy hanging around us.
We exited out of her Mercedes and to my miraculous surprise, it would appear that Daniel wasn't anywhere near, given that he didn't come out running to greet Regina as he usually did.
"So, uh," I shut the passenger door to the Mercedes, looking around for Daniel. "Where's Daniel? He's usually the first one jumping at the opportunity to hug you." I had to get that out of my system.
Unlike the last couple of days, there was a small smile at the corner of Regina's lip this time. "I gave him the day off." Her eyes lock on mine, and my heart flutters. "I didn't think you'd want him around on the day of your birthday."
All of my wishes were coming true today. I was beginning to really like my birthday. Perhaps I should wish for a kiss from Regina.
"You didn't have to do that." Was all I could think of to say.
"It's fine. He deserves some time off. He works hard enough as it is." I feel a wave of shame come over me and I see Regina fighting back a smile. "And it is your day, so, I figured I owed you for just today."
"Just today?" I chuckle, feeling a little more at ease as I shuffled on the balls of my feet.
"Well it is your birthday, dear." Regina also feels free to smile and I couldn't feel happier that the tension around us has dissipated.
"Don't remind me." I grumble under my breath with an added eye roll.
Regina's smile widens.
"So," I breathe with more ease, feeling my lungs thank me in the process. I look out at the endless, beautiful field. "It's just you and I, huh?"
"It would appear so." Regina nodded.
"So," my eyes lock onto Regina's and I don't ever want to look away. "What do we do?" I ask.
Regina smiles once again, and I can see her eyes light up before me. "Well. What I like to do on the day of my birthday, is I always make it a private goal for myself to try something new. No matter how small or how big."
My smile widens as does Regina's. I loved the sound of trying something new with her by my side.
"This is what you want me to try?" I stared wide-eyed at Regina, standing by the entrance to the stables, watching as she prepared my old nemesis Rocky. When Regina had said 'try something new,' mounting Rocky was the last thing on my mind.
"Another thing I always tell myself is to conquer my fears." Said Regina, smiling from ear to ear as she tightened the straps to Rocky's saddle before standing upright.
"Yeah, that may work for you, Gina, but… Frankly, when you said 'to try something new,' I was thinking like jumping out of a plane, new, or bungee jumping from the highest altitude, new."
I tuck my already clammy hands inside my pockets to cover up my nerves around Regina, although how nervous Rocky made me was yesterday's news to her. The smile that stretches along Regina's lips then is beautiful, but it still doesn't calm me completely.
"I promise you, I won't allow what happened last time to happen to you again. Not on your birthday." Said Regina. She strokes along the fur on Rocky's long neck in such a gentle manner, it's almost hypnotic to look at.
"I thought you didn't like to make promises? You know, this is the second promise you've made to me." A smirk settles along the corners of my lips, teasingly.
Regina gives off an eye roll in a playful manner. "Well, it seems today is the day of exceptions for you. Just don't push your luck, Ms. Swan." She lifts up her index finger in a playful warning. "These are the only promises I am allowing myself to make toward you."
My grin grows, stretching so far it hurts my damn cheeks. It was crazy how anything Regina said would create a delightful chaos for the butterflies in my stomach. "Only ones, huh?" I said teasingly.
"So, are you ready for your first successful riding lesson?" Regina strokes Rocky's muzzle as she turns to me. I could feel the color on my face slowly disappear, giving me the complexion of a ghost.
"Honestly, I'd rather go swim with the sharks and hope they don't eat me- to this- but…" I sigh in defeat, not knowing how to say no to Regina. Not wanting to say no. "How could I possibly refuse anything from you?"
Regina's grin grows so big that it hurts my eyes just looking at it. And the more I looked at it, the more my heart slowed. It made my lungs forget how to breathe. It made my eyes not want to blink. It made my brain forget to send signals to my legs so that they could move forward. But I would force my legs to learn how to walk again. Gladly. Because seeing Regina smile like she was right now made me want to walk across these stables grounds, reach carefully for Regina and kiss her all over again. In fact, I would learn how to mount and ride Rocky if that meant I could kiss Regina one more time.
"Do you remember how I showed you how to mount up?" Regina asked, taking a step back to give me room.
I remember everything Regina tells me. "Left foot on the stirrup, grab onto the horn and pull up." I repeated.
"Very good." Regina smirks with a proud look shining in her beautiful eyes. "Now, before you do that," I freeze to the touch of Regina's hand landing along my shoulder. "I want to try something first."
"Okay?" I don't know what to expect, but I'm sure whatever it is that Regina wanted to try, I would willingly do; no question, no protests. I watched her take my hand and walk me to stand in front of Rocky. My nerves are on edge at this point, but having Regina hold my hand, makes me not worry about it so much.
"The important thing you have to remember about horses, not just Rocky, is you need to remain calm around them. Show them that it is you who dominates him, instead of making him feel like he is the one who dominates you." Regina explained in a calm and well mannered voice.
I chuckle, "Yeah, I think he already knows he's the one who calls the shots around me." I said.
Regina smirks, so natural and beautiful. "Here," without hesitation Regina reaches for my wrist, her fingers wrapping along it so delicately as she brings my hand up to Rocky's long neck, guiding my hand with the utmost patience. "Smooth, gentle strokes like so." I allow Regina to continue to guide my hand along Rocky's softly covered fur's neck. "Good. See? He likes you." She said.
I feel liberated to smile and continue to stroke Rocky, my nerves briefly pushed aside. Especially when Regina smiles back. "I guess he does." I reply through my smile.
"Wait here." My hand pauses along Rocky's neck as I watch Regina leave the stables without another word of explanation.
As I look over to Rocky, I continue to stroke him, along the neck, never going farther than that and smile as my nerves seem to finally settle. "You're not so scary, I guess." I say to Rocky. "Hey, no hard feelings about that kick. You have a mean hook there for a horse." I chuckle. "I'll tell you what, if you and Sylvester Stallone are ever in a ring, my money's on you."
Regina comes back a minute later, holding the reddest apple I had ever seen in my life. "Here." I take the apple as she offers it to me. "It's to feed him. If you think he likes you now, he'll love you for this." She said.
My nerves are suddenly back, like a blanket wrapped over my back. It was an entirely different matter to feel at ease in petting Rocky to literally bring my hand near his mouth and feed him. But once again, overpowering my nerves was Regina's hand, grabbing gently onto mine and guiding it toward the horse's mouth. It tickled as Rocky calmly took the entire apple from my hand, crunching it between his teeth. But the fact that Regina was holding my hand today far more times that I had quickly lost count of made me smile way more than forming an unforeseen bond with Rocky.
"Hey, he really likes it!" I said in excitement and amazement, looking down at Regina's smile once I turned to her.
"He does. Apples are his favorite." Regina runs her hand along Rocky's muzzle with years and years of trust between them, that I didn't think I would ever have with Rocky.
As fascinating as it was to watch Regina's hand caress along Rocky's fur, my eyes moved over to land on her smile, on how content she looked every single time we were here. With no weighted pressure along her shoulders or back. We were just Emma and Regina again, making my birthday the most special one I had ever had. It never failed to surprise me just what a beautiful woman Regina was. This was definitely my favorite look on her, dressed in her riding jeans, her white tucked in, button up shirt with her sleeves rolled up to her elbows. Her hair was regal and straight.
"So," Regina's voice brings me out of my many thoughts and into focus. It made me feel dumbfounded. "I think you are safe to mount him now. Would you like to give it a try?"
"You only live once, right?" I exhale sharply, and bring out all of my bravery as I move to stand on Rocky's side. Let me tell you, Rocky was big in size for a horse.
"Left leg up." I lift my left leg up, doing as Regina instructs me to do, step by step. "Good." She nods as I successfully insert my left food into the stirrup. Regina's hand clasps along my wrist and I allow her to guide my hand along the horn of Rocky's saddle. I make sure to grab on tight. Regina's body was pressed so close along my back, I just wanted to stay like this forever. "Now-"
"Boy," I breathe out, feeling goosebumps all over my body from having the privilege of having Regina this close. "If a riding lesson means having to enjoy being this close to you, you can sign me up for the rest of the year." I smile a little at my attempt to flirt, hoping it isn't too forward that it will make Regina move away from me.
I feel a light, playful smack along my arm, and I can tell just by the sound of Regina's voice that she's smiling. "Really, Ms. Swan." She murmurs, and my smirk grows impossibly larger. I give a quick glance over my shoulder and am delighted to see a pink blush settled along Regina's cheeks.
"Pull yourself up. Carefully." Regina whispered in close proximity to me. And I won't lie, hearing Regina whisper so close to me was making me feel a lot of things all at once. That feeling ending in a place that I had been neglecting for a good while now-a-days and that suddenly needed immediate attention. Shit. I was being turned on by a fucking riding lesson! The butterflies in my stomach were forgetting how to fucking fly.
I draw in a slow and steady, deep breath, keeping my focus as I pull myself up, using all of the strength in my arm and left leg along the stirrup to keep myself up as steady and as in control as possible without falling on my ass. Truthfully- my body was goddamn jelly right now. A light touch from Regina's hand along the back can do that to a girl. And that's exactly where her warm touch landed, guiding me every step of the way as I was finally able to mount Rocky.
I felt taller being up here.
"Very good." Regina smiles proudly up at me. I see her reach for the reins and she hands them to me. "Now, always remember to hold onto these. Don't pull them anywhere but in the direction you'll be going." She said.
"Roger that." I nod, holding securely onto the reins. I watch as Regina moves over to her horse, the same white stallion as before and mounts it so swiftly and with every amount of regal form she can possibly possess. Fuck me. Everything about this woman was absolutely astonishing, it could drive even the sanest person mad.
Regina guides her horse to stand alongside Rocky and myself, her eyes always on me as we are once again at eye-level. "Now, you're ready to ride out with me." She smiles, and my nerves, although a little more at ease, pulse a little. But I had the world's best instructor. I knew I would be fine. "Hold onto the reins," she nods toward my reins and I hold on tighter. "Good, now this next part may be a little scary, but I promise you won't hurt him."
"That's three promises in a row." I grin and see an eye roll come from Regina.
"Very gently, I want you to use the heel of your feet, and use them to gently tap Rocky's ribs- but, hold onto the reins at all times." Regina firmly instructed.
"At all times." I nod and look down at my feet, suddenly becoming nervous again. Okay… Very gently. "God, help me," I murmur under my own breath in a silent prayer and tap the heels of my feet along Rocky's ribs, feeling a sudden but light tug as he begins to calmly walk out of the barn. "Whoa!"
Regina is all smiles as she quickly catches up with Rocky's speed, instructing me far more than I could have ever imagined as we ride along the endless green field together as one. It was the most free I had felt in all my life.
"So, how did you like your first riding lesson?" Asked Regina as she walked alongside me while we headed back toward her Mercedes.
"Well, I'll tell you, I won't call myself as good as you yet, but for being my first lesson, I think it went very well." I smile and am delighted to see another natural smile stretch along Regina's own lips. "It's safe to say Rocky and I are good friends after this."
"He did take quite a liking to you."
"You think so?"
"I know so." Regina looks down at her feet as we stop along the dirt road, right before her Mercedes.
"Thank you." I say softly, looking into her eyes as she looks up into mine.
"Whatever for?" Regina asks.
"For today. The riding lesson. Being here with me." I shrug.
Regina chuckles and brushes back a strand of hair, tucking it behind her ear. "Wait until tomorrow. You won't feel your thighs." She said.
I chuckle, already feeling my legs a little more wobbly than before. I had determined though that that was what I liked to call the Regina affect.
"So, how does it feel to be twenty-five?" Regina asks, breaking through our moment of silence.
"No different than being twenty-four." I answer truthfully, shrugging and letting out a long held breath. "Another banner year. But I'll admit, as much as I hate celebrating my birthday… This has been the best one I've ever had."
"I'm glad." Regina smiles. "We should head back now. You do have a party to take part in."
"Right," I exhale sharply, feeling disappointed that my time with Regina had to come to an end. The thought of the party already makes me want to disappear off of the face of the Earth. But if I did, that would only mean I would leave Regina alone, and there was no way I was ready to do that. More than anything, I wanted to be wherever Regina was.
We both climb into Regina's Mercedes, I buckle up and shift in the passenger seat. "Emma," I look over to Regina who calls out to me. My eyes look down to her hand digging inside of the pocket of her jeans. Regina pulls out a small white box, holding it shyly in her hand as whatever is inside rattles.
Was she carrying that with her the entire morning? I wondered in silence.
"I hope you don't mind," Said Regina, looking down at the small box she held before me. "But I took the liberty of buying you this. It's just a small gift. A gesture. You know, for your birthday."
She bought me a gift. "For me?" I ask, feeling pretty dumb afterward, but I was so surprised, I didn't care. When did Regina make the time to buy this? I reach for the gift, accepting it as Regina nods in confirmation. The butterflies in my stomach could fly again. "You didn't have to-"
"I wanted to." Regina interjected, flashing a small smile my way that was enough to stop my heart. I didn't mind gifts, but this gift- coming from Regina- was a special one.
I lift up the top of the box, settling it against my thigh and I do not expect what I see. Inside the box is the exact same swan pendant I had seen back at the bookstore. I wasn't thinking about buying it or anything, I just liked it, which clearly Regina noticed that day. I reached along for the pedant, taking it within my fingers and pulled it out of the box for a closer look.
"Oh, wow…" I breathe, holding the necklace at eye-level before me. My brows furrowed as I helped myself to a much closer look, seeing something engraved right at the bottom of it in tiny cursive letters. Emma. "And it has my name, too!" I look up at Regina with the biggest smile I could ever produce in that moment.
"It's not much," Said Regina, giving me a nervous smile. "And I know I didn't have to get you anything, but you seemed to like it, so I really wanted you to have something to remember me by. And, I didn't want to be the only one without a birthday present for you."
My smile stretched farther, I thought I was going to rip a facial muscle. "Not much? Are you kidding?" This necklace was everything to me. I take it out of the box and place it along my neck, letting it hang onto my chest. "This is the best gift ever, Gina- thank you." I lock eyes with Regina's. "I really love it. Thank you."
"You're welcome. Happy Birthday, Emma." Regina's voice comes out so soft, it's a wonder how I still heard it. Or how I was able to restrain myself from leaning in and kissing her all over again.
Regina pulls into the gravel driveway and I'm already wishing I could be anywhere else but back here. I wanted to be anywhere else with Regina. Back at the Orchard, taking another walk along the park, or eating out somewhere for my birthday- anywhere- but here. And I could tell from the look on Regina's face that she wanted the same. If anything was proven today, was that this morning only brought Regina and I closer.
"Are you ready?" Regina asks, remaining inside of her car.
No, I wasn't ready. I sigh in defeat and rub away at my right temple. "Can't you just call Audrey and tell her that we got a flat tire or something?"
Regina chuckles, "And crush her heart? She worked really hard on this party for you." She said.
"I know." My shoulders slump. I knew about the party ever since we went shopping. Audrey was a terrible liar. "Alright, let's get it over with." I look over to Regina who gives me an encouraging smile. As we both exit the car, and walk along the gravel path, once we reach the front double doors, I stop.
"Breathe." Regina whispers, and on command I take a slow intake of breath, exhaling it slowly. After another minute to prepare myself, Regina guided me inside of the house and flicked on the lights.
"Happy Birthday!" Familiar faces manifested from various parts of the house in honor of my birthday. A white banner with green, blue, yellow, red and orange letters that read Happy 25th. Birthday, Emma! Hung from the stair railing above. There were snacks and the main dinner was already set along the dining room table. Audrey front and center, smiling.
Audrey's friends, Amanda and Alex were here, Sidney was among the crowd, too. But there was one face that was unmistakable to me and I was very surprised to see stand along the small crowd.
"August?" I breathed, smiling from ear to ear. There he was, the asshole, waking before me in his leather jacket, jeans and t-shirt, the same scruffy look on his face and unkempt hair. His arms were quick to pull me into the biggest bear hug imaginable.
"Hey, Em!" His hands patted me along the back before letting me go.
"What are you doing here?" I ask him, my grin matching his.
"What? Like I'd be a huge asshole and miss your birthday? Not on your life!" I chuckle as he punches my arm playfully. "Your girl here called me up and convinced me to drive down here just to surprise you."
I look at Audrey and share an equal smile with her as she is quick to join August and me. "You really did that?" I ask.
"I wanted you to see a familiar face on your special day." Audrey's smile widens. "I know how much you've missed him."
For this, I wrap my arms around Audrey and she pecks me on the lips. Everyone aww's. "Thank you. I love my surprise." I was thankful Audrey only invited four to five people to join the party. I was hopeful Regina would want to stick around. I might as well enjoy this gathering, and while August was here, it would be great to confine him once and for all. But that would happen later, when we could find some time alone.
"Alright, let's wait until later to hold hands and kiss, huh? This is a party!" August claps his hands and grins. "So, what does a guy have to do to get a drink around here?"
Audrey chuckles as she reaches to squeeze August's bicep. "Drinks are in the kitchen. Help yourself. Straight ahead, through the living room."
"Cool. I'll bring you two a beer." August grins, clapping me along the shoulder before heading toward the kitchen.
I look around for any sign of Regina, seeing her nowhere, and suddenly I am being congratulated by Alex and Amanda. Once they step aside, Audrey pulls me a little farther away from anyone's earshot. "See, this isn't so bad, is it?" She asks, flashing a hopeful smile.
I smile. "No, it's not so bad. And I love my surprise." I look over to the small hallway that leads to the living room, seeing August walking right toward us with beers in both hands. Regina walking in right behind him. "I can't believe he actually showered." I chuckle.
Audrey laughs. "I told him it was mandatory."
"What was mandatory?" August hands me and Audrey our beers, pulling out his own beer out of his jeans pocket and popping it open.
"Nothing." I chuckle, clapping August along the back while I take a sip of my beer.
"I'm going to see if my mom needs any help. You two catch up." Audrey smiles and walks away toward the dining table, where Regina is with Sidney. My eyes automatically land on Regina.
"She's looking great, huh?" Asked August. He was looking over to Audrey who was in deep conversation with Regina. "Things are good with you guys?" He asks.
"Yeah. Things are good." I said. August may have been looking at Audrey, but my eyes were still on Regina.
"Hey," August nudges my arm and nods toward Regina. "Who's the hot brunette with Audrey?" He whispers and I frown, knowing very well he is talking about Regina. "I met her in the kitchen, she's very nice." Leave it to August W. Booth to drool over any woman. Always the womanizer.
I smirked, "That's Regina."
"Regina, huh?" August's eyes positively light up at the sight of Regina. I can't say I blame him. "So, who is she? Is she Audrey's sister? I thought she didn't have any." He said.
"That's because she doesn't." I lean to August in a teasing manner, already picturing his reaction. "That's not Audrey's sister, August, that's her mother."
August leans forward to keep himself from almost spilling his beer at the revelation of Regina being Audrey's mom. His eyes are wide as he wipes his scruffy chin with the back of his hand. "No shit?"
"No shit." I shake my head, my look smug.
August looks to Regina again, his mouth hanging all the way to the floor. I knew what he was thinking, and I couldn't agree more. He turns to me simply to mouth 'wow.' Another thing I could agree on.
I grin, realizing just how much I had missed his company, I clap him along his back. "I'm so glad you came today, August."
"Hey, I wouldn't miss it for the world, kid." He grins, his eyes moving over to Regina again, who didn't realize she was being hunted. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go see if Audrey and her mom need any help from someone that's strong enough to lift anything heavy." He draws in a sharp breath and puffs out his chest like the alpha male he thought he was around any beautiful woman.
I simply laugh and shake my head, taking another sip of my beer.
The dinner was delicious. Meatloaf made especially by Regina. Which I have to say, it might have my mom's beat, a box of my favorite bear claws for dessert along with hot chocolate. Everything had been amazing. And while we all mingled among each other, August couldn't stop following Regina around like a little lost puppy. I didn't mind August following Regina around, I didn't need to worry about him. And I am not ashamed to say that the entire night, even throughout dinner, Regina and I would steal glances here and there. In fact, my eyesight continued to remain focused on Regina. My hand wrapped around my necklace pendant, my gift from Regina. I had no intention of taking this off.
August seemed to be too engraved in his conversation with Regina, I had to go over there to avoid him telling her any embarrassing stories about me. I could hear them exchanging words as I neared them, August telling Regina he wants to be a writer someday.
"Everything okay over here?" I ask, looking down at Regina's almost finished drink. "Regina, can I get you a refill on that wine?" I offer.
"Oh, no." Regina is quick to shake her head and smiles. "Thank you, but I think I'll wait to have another one."
"August?" I turn to August.
"Oh, hey, don't worry about me." He held up his beer, which still had some alcohol dancing inside his bottle. "It's your birthday. You shouldn't be waiting on your guests."
"He's right." Said Regina as she turned to me. Her eyes looked down at my necklace that I proudly wore along my neck. "That looks so good on you."
"Thank you." I hold onto the pendant, wrapping my fingers tightly and securely around it. "It's come to mean a lot to me." I share an equal smile with Regina. I could see August out of the corner of my eye, exchanging looks between the two of us.
As always, Regina and I share a small moment and then, "Em!" I look over to Audrey beckoning me. "Come on, it's time to open your gifts!"
Gifts. Of course. I look back to Regina. "Time to unwrap gifts." I breathe in defeat.
Regina nods and she and August follow me into the living room, where we join Audrey, Amanda and Alex. Alex and Amanda hand me their gift first, and I am surprised to see a new camera bag, which I had been wanting to buy for myself lately, given that the one I carried was already too run down. Of course, I love it.
"Thanks, you guys! I love it." I say to them, setting the gift aside along the living room.
August hands me a rectangular box, wrapped up neatly in white wrapping paper with colored confetti. "I got you this. It's from me and my old man. I hope you like it." He takes a sip of his beer once I reach for the gift.
I am quick to unwrap August's gift and am surprised to find a box displaying a stereo for a car- empty. "It's empty." I look at him quizzically.
"That's because while you were gone, Audrey lent me the keys, and I installed it for you." He grins, pretty proud of himself.
"Thanks, Aug." I smile and shake my head, setting the box aside.
"No problem. It's about time your car gets a decent sound system." Laughter echoes around the room due to August's joke.
Those were all the gifts. "Well," I breathe, looking around the room to everyone, ending on Regina. "Thank you all so much-"
"Wait!" I turn to Audrey who jumps to her feet with a mischievous grin playing at the corners of her lips, walking up to me. "There's one more surprise," my eyes fall along a small maroon box Audrey holds before me. "From me to you."
I couldn't begin to describe how silent the room became at that moment. As if everyone knew something I didn't. Amanda and Alex for sure did, given the smiles on their faces. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. All that was heard was a faint gasp escaping from Alex's lips as she smiled. Regina was the only one who seemed clueless, not to mention me. I couldn't tear my eyes away from the maroon box, fearing what it might be holding inside of it.
"What is it?" I ask, my heart accelerating inside of my chest, and not in a good way.
Audrey chuckles, "Well, you have to open it first, Em. If I tell you what it is, that kind of defeats the purpose of the surprise." I laugh a little- not by much- along with everyone in the room. But that's not enough to ease the nerves happening inside of me right now. Finally, I reach for the box, ready to uncover the mystery that wasn't much of a mystery, given the sparkle in Audrey's eye.
I open the box and my heart stops beating at the sight of an engagement ring, shining right before my eyes, which I could swear would pop out of my head at any given moment. I gasp escapes my lips as I've forgotten how to blink or breathe.
"No way," I hear either Alex or Amanda whisper within the room.
"Shit." That was clearly August.
First she wanted to move in together, and now she wants to get married? I don't understand. I couldn't understand. What would I say? The truth seemed decent. Either that or I could bend the truth just a little. But I couldn't do this. I didn't want to get married. I mean, someday I did, but certainly not now. Audrey and I were just talking about living together for fuck sake. Of course, this wasn't just about wanting to take things slow. Not with Audrey. My eyes looked up to Regina in that moment, who was as surprised to what was happening as I was.
"Audrey…" I breathe, looking directly into Audrey's hopeful eyes.
"I can imagine what you're thinking right now." Audrey smiles. "And I know this is all very sudden. It wasn't in our plans at all, but," she takes a deep breath and her smile widens. "People change, Em. And this summer with you, plus spending a year in this relationship with you has made me love you every step of the way. It had been the most amazing thing I have ever done in my entire life. Just like meeting you was the best thing destiny could have given me."
No. This wasn't happening right now. Not now! I feel my eyes sting with tears that can't even spring free right now. Marriage?! Audrey never even wanted to talk about marriage and now she's just changed her mind?
"I know all of our ducks aren't exactly in a row yet, but there's no doubt in my mind that they will be. Together, you and I can do anything we set our minds to."
Please, just stop talking. I swallow a hard lump that forms in the back of my throat. My brain was in a knot, so tight it was wrecking my brain. I couldn't breathe. I needed air. Audrey was right about one thing, though… People do change. Ever since I set foot inside this house and looked into Regina's beautiful gaze, everything changed. I changed.
My own ducks that were swiftly on a row were fucking scattered now.
"So…" Audrey smiles. "In front of everyone here tonight, and the most important woman in my life, who's my mom," she flashes a smile at Regina who isn't even smiling right now. I look over to Regina, exchanging a knowing look with her. "I want to ask you a question."
"Audrey-" I shake my head.
"Emma Elizabeth-" I couldn't do this. One look at Regina and that's all it took to know I didn't want to do this anymore.
"Audrey." I blink, silence surrounding us again. Audrey is still smiling, which makes my decision even harder. But it needed to be said.
"Em, you're supposed to let me finish." Audrey whispers, smiling as she looks around the room. A single tear rolls down my cheek as she looks back at me. "What's wrong?" She frowns.
I swallow down another lump, "Audrey," I whisper. "Let's talk outside for a minute."
Everyone frowns, and as I look at Regina, her eyes are wide. She shakes her head at me.
"Talk about what, Em?" Audrey chuckles. "Come on. We're among friends, right? This is a special moment, your special moment." Her frown only deepens. "What's going on?"
I look over to Regina again and she gives me a small smile. That's all it took. That's all it took for me to know that I didn't want to marry Audrey. Not when I felt this way over Regina. Not when my heart wanted and beat for Regina. That's what David was talking about. He said that when the time came, I would know.
"I'm sorry, Audrey." I shook my head. I look down at the box and snap it shut before placing it back in the palm of Audrey's hand.
"Emma?" Her frown deepens.
"I can't." My heart beat super fast, I felt it was going to explode. I knew this would hurt Audrey. But I didn't want to marry her. I couldn't. "I'm sorry. But I can't marry you."
"Shit," I hear August breathe out. Shit was right.
Audrey's eyes immediately teared up, so much tears spring free just as a few did from my own eyes. I turned to Regina, giving her an apologetic look. I was sorry for hurting Audrey. I really was. But if I married her, I would hurt the one person I never wanted to hurt. And I couldn't bring myself to do such a terrible thing.
"I have to get some air." I huff out, rushing out of the room without looking back.
"Wha- Emma!" I heard Audrey call out to me but I chose to ignore her, continuing on my walk.