Chapter 22
(All)
Aubrey and Emily were at the apartment when Beca and Chloe got home just after noon on Sunday. Anticipating their travel exhaustion, they had decided to be on hand to help at least through dinner. Aubrey already had dinner in the slow cooker, and Emily had just finished a thorough vacuuming job.
After dropping their luggage in the bedroom, there were hugs all around before Beca and Chloe sat on the couch to greet their furry friends. Lyric immediately deposited himself in Chloe’s lap, purring like a chainsaw, while Melody put her front paws up on Beca’s arm until she started scratching her ears.
“They certainly miss you,” Aubrey said from the loveseat. “I’m pretty sure they slept on your bed, judging from all the fur, so I washed the comforter this morning.”
“Thanks, Bree,” Chloe replied. “You guys really went above and beyond.”
Emily smiled as she handed each of them a soda. “We were happy to do it. They’re very loveable cats and a blast to spend time with.” She joined Aubrey, slinging a leg over hers.
“Anything of note at work?” Beca asked.
Emily smirked. “A bit. This is all second- and third-hand information, mind you.”
“Give it to me, it already sounds interesting.”
“Apparently, Simon is a bigger idiot than we thought. He pulled something, I don’t know what, with someone else. She went to HR and Simon was out on his ass by the end of business Wednesday.”
Beca laughed. “Why am I not surprised? And it had nothing to do with us. Feeling a bit better, Em?”
Emily nodded. “I am, yes. I don’t have to scan the halls to avoid him anymore. Makes it easier to get around the building.” Aubrey took her hand, twining their fingers. She had tried not to gloat about Simon’s downfall at the label, but she would be forever grateful that they would likely never see him again.
Beca started to fill them in on the trip, but Aubrey stopped her. “You’re coming to dinner tomorrow; don’t exhaust yourself with it today. Just tell us if it was a generally good trip.”
“It was definitely a good trip once we got there,” Beca confirmed. “And thanks for all the pictures; it definitely helped to see you and the cats having a good time.” Chloe slid her hand into Beca’s; being away for a week had been difficult and she knew Beca was feeling it now that she was home and tired.
“We missed you, too,” Emily said with a smile. “It felt weird going to work knowing that I wouldn’t see or hear from you.”
“And my Thursday dragged, home alone. I’ve gotten used to having you to hang with during the week,” Aubrey added in Chloe’s direction. “You’re coming over for lunch this week.”
Chloe laughed and agreed to her best friend’s plan. She had enjoyed having Beca most of the day for a week, but she was also glad to be home. Aubrey got up to check the slow cooker and put together a salad. The cats had returned to roaming, and Emily moved to the floor to tempt them into playing as Beca and Chloe leaned back, the ginger’s head resting on her partner’s shoulder.
***
After spending most of Monday in bed, Beca and Chloe headed to their friends’ apartment around 5 for dinner. Emily answered the door and took them into the living room, where she already had glasses of wine poured. “You two are to do nothing but relax, per Aubrey’s orders,” she informed them as she sat on the couch with her glass.
Beca chuckled. “You guys are amazing friends, taking care of us like this.”
Emily shrugged. “You’d do the same, and you’re family regardless.”
Aubrey came in to say hi between doing things, checking to make sure everyone had enough wine for the moment. “Dinner should be ready soon. Emily passed on my instructions?”
Chloe laughed and stood to hug her best friend. “Yes, she did. We’re just sitting.”
“Good. You both had a long week of takeout and room service; you need a home made meal to settle back in.” With that, she returned to the kitchen and Chloe sat in Beca’s lap.
Emily, smiling in Aubrey’s general direction, leaned back. “God, I love her so much. I can’t believe it’s been 9 months already and I still have the rest of my life to keep loving her.”
Beca smiled. “I know what you mean.” She tightened her arm around Chloe’s waist, who leaned down for a kiss.
“I love you, too, Becs,” she said quietly and earnestly.
Aubrey stuck her head out to summon them to the kitchen for dinner, and all three filed in and took their seats. Dinner conversation was kept light, saving stories from Vegas for after the meal.
Emily cleared the table when they were done and refilled everyone’s glasses before they returned to the living room. A secret, unspoken part of her was jealous of the new songwriter who already had a chance for Beca to record her music. Not wanting to seem entitled or greedy, she hadn’t even mentioned it to Aubrey yet. She was hoping it would pass without needing a conversation.
Starting at the beginning with their hectic travel out west, Beca and Chloe took turns filling their friends in on their trip. Emily asked about the music, keeping her voice cheerful even as she felt her hope dwindling. If the label wanted hard rock from Beca, she didn’t stand a chance. At the first opportunity, she offered to make tea for everyone before Beca and Chloe headed home. Aubrey could hear in her voice that something was up, but chose to wait before saying anything.
In the kitchen, the songwriter started the kettle and prepped four mugs before leaning on the counter, pinching the bridge of her nose. She had no right to get upset with her friend’s potential success. For one, nothing had actually happened yet. For two, how could she begrudge Beca a chance at having music to release? No, she had to get over it and look forward. She’d had months at the label to write something Beca could make popular and it hadn’t worked. The kettle whistled, and she turned to pour it.
Back in the living room, Emily handed out mugs of tea and sat against the arm of the couch, her feet up in Aubrey’s lap. The blonde absently began massaging one foot as the conversation continued. Emily was tempted to pull her feet away, but she didn’t want to hurt Aubrey’s feelings or show any of her distress.
Aubrey could feel her partner’s restlessness, even if she didn’t know the source. As they talked, Emily said less and less, till Beca and Chloe noticed.
“Em, you okay over there? You got real quiet,” Beca asked.
Emily nodded with the best smile she could summon. “Yeah, I’m just tired. Long day at work.” She caught Aubrey’s concerned look, but kept her eyes averted.
Chloe put her mug down. “It’s getting late, we should head home anyway.” They all stood for hugs and thanks, and Beca and Chloe headed out.
“That was a nice evening to come home to,” Chloe observed in the car.
“Yeah, it was. But something is up with Emily. I don’t know what, but she faded fast after dinner.”
Chloe frowned. “Bree hasn’t mentioned anything.”
“I saw how she looked at Em just before we left; I doubt she knows any more than we do.” Beca parked and they went upstairs. They changed for bed and settled against the headboard with only the bedside lamps on. Lyric and Melody were quick to join them, Melody curling up down at the foot of the bed and Lyric stretching out against Chloe’s side.
“I hope it isn’t something between them. And if it is, I hope it gets figured out. They would both be miserable in a prolonged fight.” Chloe leaned against Beca, biting her nails until Beca gently pushed her hand down. She settled for petting Lyric instead.
“There isn’t really anything we can do until someone tells us what’s up, love. Don’t let it pull you down until we know there’s a reason for it.” She stroked Chloe’s hair as they sat.
Finally, Chloe turned for a surprisingly aggressive kiss. “I want you, Becs. Let me put my hands on you.” Beca smiled and pulled her into another kiss.
***
Aubrey walked up behind Emily as she added the mugs to the dishwasher and started it, resting her hands lightly on Emily’s hips. “Em? Love, what’s wrong?”
It’s nothing. It’ll pass. I just…” She sighed, torn between keeping it quiet and confiding in her partner.
“Just what?”
“I just wanna sleep. I really am tired.” She ran a hand roughly through her hair.
Aubrey took a step back, letting her hands fall. “Okay. Let’s go to bed, then. We had a longer evening than usual.” Turning, she made her way to the bedroom.
Emily leaned her forehead on the fridge, thumping her fist against it lightly. She wanted to get past these feelings on her own, but not at the cost of her relationship. She lifted her head to look at the picture of them taped to the fridge door and sighed. She couldn’t do this the way she wanted, so she went to handle it the only way available to her.