Emma was tempted to take Keira’s hand again. They’d stopped holding hands early on at the first mention of the reason they were there; the work. They held hands all through the botanical garden, except when Emma pulled out her phone to take pictures of the colorful flowers and the bees that were attaching themselves to them. She took a few pictures of Keira without Keira noticing. She’d hang onto those for later. Keira even took a selfie in front of the building and texted it to Emma so she could have it as well. Emma loved how the two of them looked together. She’d opened the picture on her phone when Keira had to take a call and turned away for a moment, smiling. She was pretty sure Keira hadn’t noticed but clicked away just in case when she hung up and turned around. They’d had a pretty perfect day together, and it was really just starting. If she was being honest with herself, and Emma normally prided herself on her internal honesty, she’d have to admit that the entire day felt like a date to her. Even that night they went shopping near Keira’s apartment felt like a date to her, and they hadn’t even admitted their feelings to one another yet.
“I’m exhausted,” Emma confessed. “Can we head back to my place now? I’m ready to sit down for a while.”
“There’s just one more thing I want to show you.” Keira gave her a smile and took her hand.
“Okay.”
They were apparently off the clock now. Emma clasped the offered hand and enjoyed the softness of Keira’s skin against her own as they walked on. It took a few minutes for them to reach their destination and for Keira to tug on Emma’s hand to pull her forward a little more.
“I’m sure you’ve seen the Pacific before, but this view is pretty unique.”
They’d made their way to Ocean Beach and had an amazing view of the ocean and the Golden Gate Bridge. The reason Keira had to pull her along was because the sand was now beneath their feet. Emma had been hesitant to walk in it in her tennis shoes, but she’d given in at the wink and the tug. She smiled back as they stood side by side staring out at the ocean. The breeze was cool without being cold. It smacked them both in the face, but it was welcomed and refreshing. The crashing of the waves created background music for them along with the sound of the gulls flying overhead and landing with flops in the sand or in the water to dip their beaks down and find their dinner.
“It’s beautiful,” Emma stated the obvious. “I haven’t come out this way. What’s wrong with me? I live like twenty minutes away from this, and I’ve yet to come out here.”
“When I first moved here, it took me a while to make it out here too. I think it’s that you want to spend time in your zone first.”
“Your zone?” Emma glanced her way.
“Yeah, your zone. You need to spend time figuring out what’s around your new place and your job. You work out your destinations, like the grocery store and the gas station. You start your routines, like going to work, stopping for coffee, which trains you take or stuff like that. You get in that pattern. It takes something to snap you out of it and actually check out where you live now.”
“I guess you’re right,” Emma agreed. Then, she looked around at the large rock formation far off to their right. “I kind of don’t want to leave now that I’m here.”
Keira laughed, but the sound of the water nearly drowned it out.
“We do have a dinner to get to. I still have some work to do for tomorrow that you already volunteered your services for,” she reminded.
“I know. You’re right,” Emma agreed with her again. “It’s just so nice here.”
“Then, we can come back,” Keira said, but there was something in her tone.
Maybe there were a couple of things in her tone. Her comment sounded both unconfident or nervous yet also hopeful and promising. Emma turned to her fully this time and wrapped her arms around Keira’s neck. The wind picked up just at the moment she was about to lean in and capture Keira’s lips for their first kiss. She couldn’t think of a better place nor a better time to convince Keira that Emma wanted this too. But the wind had a different idea entirely and took Keira’s hair, which had been pulled back into a ponytail, and snapped it to the front of her face just as Emma was about to make her move. Both women laughed heartily as Emma pulled herself back and then removed her arms from Keira’s neck. She placed them gently on the woman’s hips instead, deciding she liked them there.
“Come on. Let’s go.” She laughed some more and tugged on the front of Keira’s shirt to get her to move along back to where they could catch a car to Emma’s apartment because Emma couldn’t walk anymore today.
“I hate the wind,” Keira remarked, causing Emma to burst into laughter once more.
◆◆◆
Keira unlocked her front door and motioned for Emma to head on in. She followed closely behind just as she watched Kevin emerge from the kitchen.
“Key, you have to try this shrimp thing Sierra’s making. It’s amazing. It’s crazy spicy but really good.” He paused the moment he saw Emma. “Oh, you must be Emma. I’m Kevin, the roommate.”
“Hey, Kev. I thought you were going to–” Keira cut off their introduction and moved beside Emma, taking Emma’s laptop bag off her shoulder and placing it on the floor next to the sofa before standing back up to face Kevin and give him her wide-eyed stare.
“I’m going. I just had to grab my overnight bag. I thought I’d be gone before you got home.”
Kevin was a good-looking guy. If Keira were at all attracted to males and Kevin hadn’t been the love of her best friend’s life, she could see herself going for someone like him. He was about 6’3” and had short, neat, dark hair and kind eyes. He was the best man she could have picked for her best friend. He was a gentleman and had treated Michelle with respect. Keira often wondered how he found the strength to go on sometimes when she barely had enough herself. Then, she looked at Emma who was giving her a look of her own. Keira wasn’t sure what the expression meant, but it looked familiar to her somehow.
“I’m Emma.” Emma turned to Kevin and held out her hand. “It’s nice to meet you. Keira’s talked about you a lot.”
Kevin reached out his hand and shook Emma’s.
“Well, I’ll admit to it now: yes, I do sometimes borrow her lady razor. But, in my defense, it just contours to the face better.” He rubbed his chin and the absence of a five o’clock shadow and winked at Keira.
“He’s kidding,” Keira replied.
“No, I’m not.” He hoisted a duffel bag that had been on the floor over his shoulder. “Well, Sierra is busy in the kitchen making you two a fabulous meal. I’m off. I will see you tomorrow night, right?”
“Yeah,” Keira answered.
“I’ll just be going then. Enjoy your evening, ladies.”
“You don’t have to go,” Emma stated. “You can eat with us. I feel bad that you’re being kicked out of your apartment. You’re the one that set all this up for us.”
Keira lifted her eyebrows at Emma. Emma smirked at her. Just a few short hours ago, they’d talked about how much they wanted to be alone. Now, Emma was inviting Kevin to stay. Did that mean Emma no longer wanted to be alone with her or did it just mean she was being polite?
“I actually have plans. Sierra and I go way back. She’s doing this as a favor to me, and I’m offering her services as a favor to Key, here.”
“Key, huh?” Emma questioned.
“Michelle used to call me that. Kevin picked up on it. He’s the only one that gets to call me that now.” Keira hated the fact that bringing up her best friend’s name still managed to give the same look of loss to her face and tone along with Kevin’s.
“If anyone else tries, she glares until they correct themselves. It’s ridiculous, but that’s Key.” He shifted the bag. “I’m actually staying at Tracy’s place tonight.”
Keira nodded knowingly and said, “I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
“I look forward to hearing about the event. And it was nice to meet you, Emma. I hope we can hang out sometime.”
“Me too.” E
mma nodded and moved to the side to allow Kevin to pass.
“Night, ladies. Good night, Sierra,” he yelled the last goodbye in the direction of the kitchen.
“Bye, Kev!” The reply came without Keira actually seeing the person yelling it.
Kevin gave them both a knowing smile with one lifted eyebrow and left the apartment, closing the door behind him.
“So, that’s Kevin.”
“He’s nice.”
“He’s the best.”
“So, Tracy?”
“He told me about her last night. They’ve been dating for a few weeks now. He seems to really like her.”
“Maybe he should have called in this favor with Sierra for a date night for the two of them,” Emma suggested.
“That’s not the kind of guy he is. He uses his favors for the people he cares about,” Keira informed. “Michelle really picked a good one.”
“Seems like she did.” Emma’s hand made its way to Keira’s back and held there for a moment before rubbing back and forth, applying just enough pressure to soothe and comfort.
Keira closed her eyes momentarily to both enjoy the touch and embrace the comfort it provided at the memory of her lost friend. She also took a moment to recognize that Emma was already well on her way to being able to read her moods. She let out a small smile at the thought.
“Hey, ladies.” Sierra came out of the kitchen, dressed in jeans with a white chef’s coat embroidered with her name above the breast pocket. She was drying her hands off with a rag that she then draped over her shoulder. “I have appetizers ready on the table for you. The entrée will be ready in a few minutes, but it can keep if you want to wait,” she offered. “Hi, Keira. And it’s nice to meet you, Emma,” she added as an afterthought with a smile.
“Nice to meet you too,” Emma said.
“Hey, Sierra. Thank you for doing this. This is amazing.”
Keira took a few steps forward and hugged the woman who was cooking what would undoubtedly be a delicious meal for her second date with Emma. She’d met Sierra through Kevin at a few parties here and there. After Michelle’s death, whenever Kevin needed a plus one for a work event or otherwise, he’d ask her to join him. That was until he started dating again and she was invited less and less, which she didn’t mind at all. Sierra was a great chef but was also a kind person and good friend to Kevin. And now, she was extending that friendship to Keira.
“No problem. To be honest, I’m preparing you the menu I was going to make for a client tonight. But they canceled and paid for the food in advance, so you two get to reap the rewards.” She grabbed the rag off her shoulder. “The dessert is in the oven and should be done in twenty minutes. Then, it needs to cool. I can be out of your hair in ten, if you want to take care of that.”
“Yeah, that sounds great,” Keira stated. “Not the getting you out of our hair part.”
“I get it. Come on.” She motioned for the two of them to round the corner.
When they did, Keira noticed the table had been set beautifully for two. She knew that part was likely Kevin and Sierra working together. There were two long white candles already lit in the center along with a small floral centerpiece with blue and purple fake flowers. The white plates from their cabinets were already down along with the silverware neatly placed next to them and the fancy cloth napkins they rarely used underneath. Keira caught Emma’s eyes in the flickering light of the candles, and her breath caught somewhere inside her body. Emma’s eyes were smiling like the glossy lips below them. Emma was happy. Keira started breathing again at the revelation, but her eyes remained locked on the ones staring at the place settings.
“This is amazing, Sierra. Thank you.” Keira was able to more or less breathe out while still staring at Emma.
“No problem,” Sierra stated and then looked over at Emma who managed to properly meet her eyes, unlike Keira who was still gawking at her date for the evening. “And I wish I had someone who looked at me like that.” She nodded in Keira’s direction, giving her away. Emma turned to see Keira quickly avert her eyes to the table and then offer the slightest glance back at Emma to check her reaction, which was only to keep a small smile on her face and meet Keira’s eyes with her own. “Damn! Like that too,” Sierra added now referring to the way Emma was staring at Keira.
Sierra left the two of them alone to return to the kitchen. They remained locked in that awkward yet not so awkward stare for another moment before a sound from the kitchen pulled them both out of it and back to reality. Keira pulled out the chair closest to her for Emma to sit and then walked around the table to do the same, all the while thinking about how lucky she was to have nearly hit this woman with her car.
◆◆◆
Sierra’s food was a masterpiece, Emma thought as she finished the last bite of the apple-cherry pie she’d prepared. The entrée was lamb with asparagus and thyme-roasted red potatoes bathed in delicious butter and garlic. The appetizers were the spicy shrimp in some kind of light sauce Emma didn’t recognize but enjoyed all the same along with prosciutto wrapped around several vegetables on skewers. All of it, including the wine, was perfect. Emma was rightfully stuffed as she took in the candles that were about to die due to the amount of time the two of them had sat talking through their now two-plus-hour meal.
“We should probably get some of that work done now,” Emma suggested while finishing the last sip of her wine.
“Probably,” Keira agreed, though half-heartedly. “Is it wrong that I don’t want to do any work tonight and definitely don’t want to do any tomorrow?”
“What would you prefer to do instead?” Emma asked in a teasing tone accompanied by a smile as she toyed with the bottom of her glass between two fingers.
“I think you know what I’d like to do instead. Stop that,” Keira said.
“Stop what?” Emma asked but stopped all her movements just in case at Keira’s protestation.
“That thing you do with the wine glass.”
“What do I do with my wine glass?” Emma asked with a confused lifted eyebrow.
“You play with it like that.” Keira pointed at Emma’s hand. “Your fingers slide around the bottom of the thing back and forth. It’s… suggestive,” she whispered the last word.
Her face was flush. Emma didn’t know if that was because of the wine or out of embarrassment. Emma laughed softly but removed her hand from the glass all the same.
“Sorry, I had no idea it was causing you problems.”
“Please, you had to know.”
Emma laughed louder at that and said, “I honestly had no idea. It’s a nervous habit. I’ve done it since I started drinking wine.”
“Nervous habit?” Keira’s eyebrow lifted as she finished off her own glass. “Am I making you nervous?”
Emma enjoyed the back and forth teasing as another method of flirtation between them, but she also felt like maybe she should just be honest in this moment. She extinguished her laughter and put on an expression to match her new mood.
“You do, yes. All the time, in fact. I’m nervous all the time around you, which is a new thing for me. If I told my friends how I’ve basically been a nervous, mood-swinging crazy person around you, they wouldn’t believe it at first. Then, they’d mock me incessantly.”
“That’s pretty adorable.” Keira’s mood also shifted.
Emma hadn’t known Keira long, but she’d already been able to pick up on the subtlety in her mood changes, like earlier, when Michelle’s name came up. Emma knew in that moment that she both wanted to and needed to comfort Keira.
“So, now I’m adorable?”
Keira leaned forward and placed her chin on her hands as her elbows rested on the table.
“No, you’re always adorable,” she replied, causing Emma’s skin to go a light shade of red. “You get extra adorable when you seem overwhelmed or like you’re trying to hide something from me.”
“Hide something?” Emma squinted, trying to figure out what she’d tried to hide from
Keira.
“For example, how you’ve liked me from the moment you met me but tried to deny it and hide it from me.”
“Pretty sure you did the same thing,” Emma returned to their flirtatious banter with ease. “I also found that adorable.”
Keira smiled. Then, she picked up the wine bottle, which was their second of the evening, and poured the remainder of its contents into each of their glasses.
“Should we retire to the living room?” she asked in a formal yet playful tone.
“We should probably do the dishes,” Emma countered.
Keira shook her head from side to side and replied, “I’m not allowed to do dishes in this house. It’s Kevin’s thing. He has to clean them a certain way and load the dishwasher just right. I’m supposed to put them in the sink and soak them if required.” She laughed. “He actually made Michelle and I a chart once that showed pictures of what to soak and in what kind of soap.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I tried to do the dishes once to be nice. He did them over again. So I’ve given up. I take care of the vacuuming and dusting. He handles the dishes and the rest of the kitchen. We alternate bathroom duty,” Keira explained. “I don’t think anything here requires soaking.”
“According to your chart?” Emma smirked.
“Right,” Keira replied. “So, I’ll just drop the stuff in there and meet you on the sofa.”
“I’m here to help, remember?”
“Yes, and you will. I plan to put you to work.”
“Now, who’s being suggestive?” Emma lifted a mischievous eyebrow.
“Stop that too!” Keira stood, pointed and chastised.
Emma laughed and carried both wine glasses to the sofa.
CHAPTER 15
Keira sat on the floor in front of the sofa. They’d pushed the coffee table a little further out to accommodate them sitting with their legs stretched out under it, as it was easier to work that way than on the sofa. They were also down there because sitting on the sofa meant they were too close together and far too comfortable thanks to the softness of that particular piece of furniture. It only took three minutes of sitting facing Emma with wine glasses in their hands for Keira to necessitate the move to the floor using work as the excuse.
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