Chapter 5
(Aubrey & Emily)
Aubrey was still dragging her feet on the way to the car. “Bree, you okay? If you wanna stay…”
Aubrey cut Emily off. “No, no. That’s not it. I just… I have to let go to drive,” she explained quietly, hoping she wasn’t being too intense. While walking, they had admitted their mutual feelings and agreed to see what happened between them.
As they came up on the car, Emily drew her gently to a stop and stood in front of her, wearing a warm smile that made her hazel eyes sparkle. “That is adorable. And I totally get it. So, I have an idea, if you’re interested.”
“What’s the idea?”
“We could go somewhere and grab an early dinner before you head home. I know you have a drive, so if not…”
Aubrey placed a finger lightly against Emily’s lips to hush her. “I would love an early dinner with you. I’ve made the drive at all times of day, in all kinds of weather. You never have to worry about that part. Time is the only part I have no control over.” She lowered her finger. “Where would you like to eat?”
Emily shrugged a bit. “I don’t really know anywhere in the city to go. New York is far from Atlanta.”
The blonde smiled. “I know a place. And it isn’t far, so I don’t have to let go for long.”
Twenty minutes later, Aubrey and Emily were seated at a small Italian restaurant with a romantic, old-world ambience. “This place has the best Italian I’ve found I have yet to be less than impressed.”
“Sounds amazing. Gonne be hard to choose.” Aubrey insisted she take her time deciding. She waved for their waiter when they had both chosen.
When they had ordered, Aubrey pulled out her phone. “First date selfie?” she asked shyly.
Emily grinned and moved around the table for the picture. Without thinking, she kissed Aubrey’s cheek before sitting back down. Aubrey tried to hide her blush, which Emily found endearing, and the brunette declined to point it out in public, so Aubrey wouldn’t die of embarrassment. “You should mark this weekend in your calendar, Just in case the date is relevant in the future.”
Aubrey smirked at that. “Good idea.” She did exactly that before putting the phone away. Emily smiled and extended her hand to the middle of the table, where Aubrey’s met hers and their fingers laced. Their eyes locked, and if their food hadn’t arrived 10 minutes later, they likely would have been lost all night.
Emily immediately realized why Aubrey liked this restaurant. Her manicotti was perfect, as was the bite of Aubrey’s tortellini alfredo she was offered. “Pretty sure I found my new favorite place to eat,” she asserted as she leaned back with her soda.
Aubrey chuckled as the waiter cleared their plates. “I’m really glad you enjoyed it. It’s nice to be here with someone.”
“Do you usually come alone?”
Aubrey nodded. “I found it while I was lost one day, one of my first trips to the city. Took me months to find it again, but I was too stubborn to ask around. So I’ve kept it to myself.” She paused. “I’ve never wanted to share it before.”
It was Emily’s turn to blush, but she didn’t try to hide it. “Then thank you, for choosing me to share it with.” They decided to skip dessert and Aubrey put Emily’s address into the GPS to take her home. She turned the radio on, and Emily surprised her by singing along quietly. She smiled as she listened until she pulled into the lot of Emily’s building.
They sat quietly for a few moments, neither sure what to say. Finally, Emily turned in her seat to face Aubrey. “I had a really, really fantastic weekend, Bree. And I’m really glad you were a part of it.”
Aubrey smiled shyly. “Me, too, Em. I hope… I hope I hear from you soon.”
Emily leaned forward and kissed Aubrey softly. “You will,” she murmured. “Text me when you get home, no matter what time.” Before Aubrey could say anything, Emily was out of the car and headed inside.
Aubrey sat a moment, mindblown over the end of the conversation. When they had gotten to the diner the night before, she’d had no reason to expect Emily would kiss her 24 hours later. Eventually, she got back on the road, turning up the radio so she could sing her way home.
Upstairs, Emily leaned against her door. Had she really just trusted her gut to the point of kissing Aubrey on impulse? Not that she had any complaints herself. She just hoped she hadn’t scared the blonde away. Sighing, she went to her desk and sat to write.
***
The next morning, Aubrey woke up to her phone announcing two texts. Yawning, she looked at the time; she had managed to sleep till eight. Picking up her phone, she smiled; one from Chloe and one from Emily. She opened Emily’s first.
“Morning, beautiful.”
“Morning, babe,” she typed back, figuring the cute pet name was a harmless experiment. She moved to Chloe’s text.
“Details?! Are you even at home right now?”
She laughed. “Yes, I’m home. Just woke up. Will call later.” Getting out of bed, she went to the kitchen for coffee, hoping to hear more from Emily. Friday and Saturday had happened really fast, but she knew she was forever indebted to Beca and Chloe for all of it. If it hadn’t been for their help and support, last night’s date probably wouldn’t have happened, let alone the kiss.
She opened her phone to the picture they had taken at dinner. God, Emily was gorgeous when she smiled. She forwarded the picture to Chloe, whose immediate response was a very elongated aww. Before she could reply, Emily texted.
“I got a lot of writing done last night.”
“That’s great! Progress on the new songs?”
“Actually, I took a lot of notes for at least one entirely new song.”
Aubrey set the phone down to pour a second cup of coffee. It would be easy to assume she had something to do with the new song, but she wasn’t that vain. Musicians found inspiration everywhere. She sat back down. “Can’t wait to hear more of your music.”
“Soon, babe. Promise.”
***
Emily smiled as she typed the last message. She’d stayed up late writing because she had so much to think about. She had started texting before she even got out of bed, not wanting Aubrey to think she had flaked on her. She had also been looking to see if her impulsiveness had changed Aubrey’s mind about her.
Fortunately, that didn’t seem to be the case, judging by this morning’s messages. She forced herself to work on the stacks of boxes she hadn’t unpacked yet. It needed done, especially if she ever planned to have company. The idea of having Aubrey visit her at home gave her the energy to forge through more boxes, skipping lunch entirely and working till her phone rang at four.
“Hey, Bree. How are you?” She took the phone over to the couch.
“Pretty good, how about you?” Aubrey replied, lying on her bed staring at the ceiling.
Good. Did a lot of unpacking today. I feel very productive.”
Aubrey chuckled. “Yeah, unpacking seems to be just as much work as packing. Did I call at a bad time? You sound almost out of breath.”
“I may have sprinted across the apartment to answer the phone.” Emily chuckled. “No, it’s not a bad time. I have all evening.”
They chatted about their day a bit before Aubrey got to her point. “I didn’t want to say this over text because I wanted you to hear my voice. I know we didn’t put any words or anything to… us. But after last night, I thought maybe we should, just so we stay on the same page.” She paused. “Is it too soon for me to say this? I’m not…”
“It’s fine, Bree. I’m not running away. What did you have in mind specifically?” Emily stood and moved to the kitchen for a soda.
“Okay, right. Well, is it too much to ask for exclusivity?” Aubrey fidgeted with the hem of her shirt, terrified she was moving too fast.
“Not at all. I would have just assumed that part, but it’s good to spell it out.”
“Absolutely. And, uh, what exactly are we? Like, are we girlfriends, partners, still friends but figuring it out?”
Emily chuckled again. “You are the most adorable person I’ve ever met, babe. “Well, since we’re an exclusive couple, girlfriend or partner works for me. We’ll figure it out. And before you ask, we can tell whoever you want, so feel free to call Chloe.”
There was a touch of guilt in Aubrey’s voice. “Yeah, that’s something I should tell you, too. And I’ll just cross my fingers that I’m not ruining things.”
“Bree…”
“No, before we go further, you need the whole story about this weekend.” With that, Aubrey outlined her initial visit to Beca and Chloe’s, the drunken confession, and how the diner had been their idea to see if anything happened. “The goal was to get us talking; no one thought it would go this way, this fast.”
“Okay. I don’t see a problem with any of that. Honestly, you’ve been on my mind since France, too. I just didn’t realize how much or why until we hung out again. You didn’t ruin anything, babe. But I appreciate that you told me; I can tell that wasn’t easy.” Emily finished her soda and pulled out a stack of menus to choose dinner from.
Aubrey took a deep breath. No, it hadn’t been easy. But it had been necessary in her view. “Yeah, well, I needed to say it. But I’m overjoyed that it doesn’t change anything, Em, really. Well, with that out of the way, are you busy Saturday night? I thought… I thought I could come cook for you. Then watch a movie or whatever.”
That was the sweetest thing Emily had ever heard. “Are you sure you wanna drive that far to cook? I mean, I could come there, if that’s easier.”
“I, yeah, that’s fine. I didn’t realize you had a car. Hey, one more thing before I go make dinner. Bring a bag, just in case. I have a guest room,” she made sure to include so Emily wouldn’t jump to conclusions.
Fortunately, Emily laughed. “Yeah, I’ll pack a bag. Never know, we may have a few drinks.”
“Exactly.” They nailed down a time and Aubrey texted her address over. “Talk again soon?”
She could hear the smile in Emily’s voice. “Probably every day, babe. Just tell me if I’m bombarding you.”
“I guarantee that won’t happen.”
***
For Emily, the week dragged on. She kept unpacking till she finished. Wednesday, she went walking with her notebook to write outside for a while, taking several selfies to send Aubrey. Her brain was nearly overflowing with words and notes and chord progressions, so much so she was having trouble sorting it all into separate songs. So she just kept taking notes to sort through later.
When Saturday finally arrived, she couldn’t sleep past seven. She went out for breakfast, hoping the fresh air would help calm her nerves. It didn’t, though she did feel more awake for it. By noon, she was in the shower, and by one she was on the road. Once she was out of the city, she could see the natural beauty of southern New York state, and completely understood why Aubrey lived where she did.
Shortly after four, she was pulling into Aubrey’s driveway. She took a moment to breathe deeply before she got her bag and rang the bell.
Aubrey answered quickly with a smile. “Hey, there. Come on in.” She stood aside so Emily could walk by. “Did you find it okay?”
“Yeah, didn’t get lost at all.” She put her bag down and stepped close for a tight hug. “I missed you,” she said quietly.
“I missed you, too, Em.” She rested her forehead against Emily’s for a moment. “C’mon. I’ll show you the house and you can leave your bag in the guest room.” She took her hand and gave her the tour, ending with the guest room. By then, Aubrey had to start dinner, so she got Emily settled at the table with a drink and turned the radio on low enough that they could still talk over it.
Soon enough, Aubrey was serving up steak, mashed potatoes, and salad. Emily was suitably impressed, though Aubrey tried to wave off what felt like excessive praise. “It’s really not anything special,” she insisted.
Emily put her knife down and reached across the table to touch her wrist lightly. “Hey, now. You chose and cooked a meal specifically for me. I think that makes it special.”
Aubrey covered her hand with her own. “Do you really think so, Em? Because that… that would mean a lot to me.”
Emily tilted her head curiously. “Yes, I really mean it. But can I ask, why is it so important to you that I like it?”
“Um. Okay, kinda soon, but that’s fine.”
Emily added her other hand to the pile. “You don’t have to answer, babe. You don’t have to spill your guts to me all at once.”
Aubrey shook her head. “No, you should know this. I just… I kinda just realized it myself and haven’t talked about it much.” She took a deep breath. “When Chloe told me about her arrangement with Beca regarding work and chores, I realized that I want something similar.”
Emily looked confused. “I’m sorry, what arrangement. I must have missed the memo in the move.”
“Beca works and Chloe takes care of the apartment. I’m sorry, I just assumed you knew. Anyway, the point is, being a homemaker is what I actually want to do. That’s why it matters to me if you really like my cooking.”
Emily nodded. “Okay, I can understand that.” She looked thoughtful for a few moments. “I don’t see an issue with that. If things get to that point, we’ll discuss it and figure out what works for both of us. For now, don’t worry too much. This is still brand new. I don’t mind talking about potential futures, but don’t try to live in them till they happen. Does that make sense?”
Aubrey nodded. “Absolutely. You’re totally right. Sorry, I didn’t mean to make it a big deal.” She looked down at the stack of their hands.
Emily patted her hand. “It’s fine, babe. A little awkwardness and a few missteps happen at the beginning; we just have to decide to keep trying.” She leaned back a bit, and Aubrey withdrew her hands. They returned to eating.
Afterwards, Aubrey poured each of them a glass of wine and led the way to the living room. She pointed at a bookcase next to the TV. “If you want a movie, take your pick. Or we can do whatever you want.”
Emily grinned. “I brought something else with me, just in case, but I left it in the car. You up for a surprise?”
“Yeah, of course. I’m up for whatever.” Emily kissed her cheek, then went and fetched a large plastic case from her trunk. Back in the house, Aubrey raised a brow, but waited to see what was coming. To her shock, Emily pulled out her guitar, slinging the strap over her shoulder. She watched as Emily quickly tuned it by ear before launching into song. Aubrey listened as Emily played through several songs in a handful of genres, mostly singing along, but also playing a few instrumentals.
At the end, she looked Aubrey in the eye. “Sing one with me?” She played the intro to Flashlight, which made Aubrey smile broadly before nodding and joining in. By the end of the song, Emily was sitting on the edge of the couch facing her with a smile.
“You sound fantastic, Em,” the blonde asserted. “Thank you for playing for me.”
Emily reached over and twined her fingers with Aubrey’s. “Call it thank you for dinner.”
Aubrey lifted their hands and met Emily’s eyes as she kissed her knuckles. Emily leaned close, laying her other hand on her partner’s jaw, and drew her into a long, soft kiss. Aubrey’s hand tightened on hers, and she leaned into it more intently as a spark ignited inside her.
Aubrey returned the greater intensity, though she was still restraining herself. When they parted to breathe, Emily set the guitar aside before resting her forehead against Aubrey’s. She was noticing that everything with Aubrey was more intense than she’d felt before. She was willing to talk about the future because she already had a feeling their future was together. Part of her wanted to stay cautious and measured, but a larger part was screaming that she had found the one and she should hold on for dear life.
Before she could second guess herself, she framed Aubrey’s face with her hands and claimed a long, deep kiss. She felt Aubrey’s hands rest on her hips and could have sworn those hands seared her even through her jeans. She could feel the desire radiating from her partner, and her body responded accordingly. She shifted closer on the couch, one hand dropping to the blonde’s lower back and pulling her closer.
Aubrey willingly moved even closer; she wanted anything and everything Emily might offer. When the kiss ended, Emily tilted her head to trail little kisses up her neck till she could delicately nip her ear. Aubrey bit her lip to stay quiet, but couldn’t help but moan softly when Emily dragged her teeth over her earlobe. “Em…” she breathed.
“Tell me to stop and I will,” Emily murmured. She didn’t pull away, but she waited for an answer before continuing.
“No, don’t stop. Just be sure.” She tilted her head to allow free access, and Emily slowly kissed down her neck, then nibbled delicately along her collarbone. Lifting her head, the brunette claimed a fierce kiss that set Aubrey’s blood on fire. She felt the hand on her back slide under her shirt, just enough to splay across bare skin, sending a jolt through her.
“Touch me, Bree. I want to feel your hands on me,” Emily whispered against her lips. She had barely touched her glass of wine, but she felt drunk on Aubrey and all she wanted was to show her, viscerally, that she was serious about them. She felt Aubrey’s hands move up the back of her shirt, and as skin slid over skin, she shivered, biting her lip before claiming another impassioned kiss.
Aubrey could feel Emily holding herself back. “Don’t fight it,” she whispered, “take what you want, babe.”
“I want you.” Emily took hold of the hem of Aubrey’s shirt, and the blonde pulled it off quickly. Once started, the undressing went fast, clothes strewn over the floor around the couch. They crashed into another kiss, until Emily pulled back. “Bedroom, babe.” Aubrey nodded and they hurried down the hall to Aubrey’s room, where Emily pulled her to a stop in the middle of the room. “Are you still sure?”
“Positive.”
“Good.” Emily grabbed her by the hip and pulled her tight against her for a more aggressive kiss. Slowly, she back Aubrey up to the bed, stopping just before she would have fallen back. With measured deliberateness, she kissed and nipped her way down until she caught one taut peak between her teeth lightly, flicking her tongue against the sensitive flesh. Aubrey’s breath hitched, then she voiced a low groan, digging her fingers into Emily’s shoulders.
Straightening, the younger woman coaxed her partner onto the bed, crawling after her to kneel over her. Lowering her head, Emily resumed her torment, earning her a loud moan as her hand drifted up Aubrey’s thigh until she could stroke and circle gently. The blonde arched against her with a loud groan, raking her nails across Emily’s back without thinking. Emily hissed in pleasure before she kissed her ferociously.
“Em, please… I need…” Aubrey pleaded in a whimper against her lips. Knowing instinctively what she needed, Emily obliged her, and the blonde lifted her hips to meet each thrust.
“Come for me, Bree,” Emily murmured, and soon Aubrey gave a ragged cry, clawing Emily’s back again. The brunette lowered herself to the mattress beside her, gather her close in her arms. Aubrey clung to her, panting against her neck. Emily stroked her hair, kissing her forehead. “Next time, I’m taking my time with you.”
Aubrey kissed her jaw. “Glad to know there will be a next time.”
Emily chuckled. “I only lasted to the second date. I’m not changing my mind, babe.” She reached up and traced Aubrey’s lips with her thumb. “Bree, you have been on my mind since the tour, and nonstop for the last week. I think this would have eventually happened even if Beca and Chloe hadn’t gotten involved. I don’t think I could have stayed away from you; I would have called at some point.” Her tone had become more serious. “I don’t really do casual. I’m with someone or I’m not. When I’m with someone, I’m serious about it. So, rest assured, I am serious about you, and us.”
Aubrey blushed. “So am I, Em. I just don’t want to scare you off by being too… intense, I guess.”
“I promise you won’t. Intense doesn’t scare me. I want to be with you, for as long as we’re both happy. And if one of us isn’t happy, I want us to work on things, not quit the first time it gets hard. You asked me how we should refer to each other; partner would be the most accurate, because that’s how I see this, a partnership.” She paused. “Here I am, being intense as hell.”
Aubrey kissed her softly. “Intense doesn’t scare me, either.”
Emily smiled. “I was gonna ask if you want me to move to the guest room for the night.”
“Not unless you want to. I’d rather you stay, but it’s okay if you don’t.” Aubrey reached up and tucked a lock of hair behind Emily’s ear.
Emily kissed her forehead again and snuggled closer for the night.