HAPPY FOREVER AFTER

When Emma woke up the next morning, the first thing that registered was how comfortable she was. Too comfortable. And warm. They were in Daniel’s room. On his bed.

The second thing she realized was that she was on top of Daniel. Not just on top of him, but sprawled across him as if she owned him. Her cheek was plastered to his shoulder and her forehead pressed against the side of his neck.

Appalled that she could betray herself like this, she started to ease away but Daniel tightened his arm around her.

“Don’t go.” he said.” This is nice.”

But Emma sat up anyway. She stared at him.

“did we…?” she began to ask. But he interrupted.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“No we didn’t,” he answered. “jeez… what do you take me for Emma?”

“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to”

“it’s okay”. He said. “I guess you should go get ready. So I can take you back home.”

“yeah”. Emma said as she got up from the bed. Missing the feel of his body against hers.. And hating it. The man was gradually making her vulnerable.

She walked into the room where her things were. She checked her phone. She had five missed calls and two messages from her sister.

She had totally forgotten she had someone at home. She had forgotten to call to tell her she wasn’t coming home. That was what Daniel did to her. She thought. He obliterated the thought of anyone and everything else from her head. She almost hated the effect he had on her. She didn’t know if it was a good thing that she felt that way with him. Definitely a bad thing. She told herself.

“I’m ready” she called, walking into the living room after gathering her stuff. Daniel was already there waiting for her, dressed in a white t-shirt and trousers.

“I guess I have to leave with your shirt,” she said. “but I will make sure you get it back”

“No don’t”. He replied. “You don’t have to. I want you to keep it… Maybe as a reminder that I’m not always a jerk.. And like I said last night… It looks good on you”

Emma smiled. “thanks” she said not knowing what else to say.

—————————

When they got to Emma’s apartment, Isabel was already up.

“What the fuck, Emma!” she said as she opened the door. “Do you have any idea how worried I was about you? You couldn’t call? I had to call Karen. She said she left with that Daniel guy…”

She stopped talking when Daniel walked in after Emma.

“And I’m guessing you are Daniel then”. She said

“Hello,” Daniel greeted. “I’m sorry I kept her this long… It was totally my fault, believe me she would have called… Or come home”

“If I could,” Emma added, giving him a look. Daniel smiled

“it’s okay.. As long as my little sister is safe. That is all I was worried about”

“little sister?” Daniel repeated. “Emma didn’t tell me that”

“And since it’s obvious that she won’t introduce us now. We might as well do it ourselves”

Emma rolled her eyes

“Isabel Green”

“Daniel Rohan,” he said, offering his hand for a handshake. “Nice to meet you… I guess the beauty runs in the family then”

Isabel blushed. “Oh… I like you” she said

“You hear that”. Daniel said to Emma. “she likes me”

“Yeah… Must be the first time anyone has”. Emma retorted.

Daniel smiled.

“wow” a voice interrupted from a doorway. It was Chip munching on a tuna cheese, and tomato sandwich which threatened to disassemble on the rug.

“Aunt Emma, you are back”. He said. “Who owns that car in the driveway? I wonder how fast it goes”

And before Emma could answer, he bolted out the front door, devouring his sandwich.

The front door slammed behind him just as Emma said “don’t slam the door”

“That’s my nephew,” Emma said to Daniel.

“Cute kid,” Daniel said, still smiling.

“well.. I should get going… It was nice meeting you Isabel.. I guess we will see each other some other time.”

To Emma he said. “I will see you in a week.” And with that he left.

“Nice guy” Isabel said and Emma groaned.

Isabel continued. “So you still gonna stand on that ‘nothing is going on crap’?

“It was just a little kissing,” Emma said. “No big deal”

Chip came back then. “That Mr Rohan is sure nice” he said

Yeah… To everyone else but me. Emma thought as she went to her room.

———————————-

Emma was at Karen’s office. They had agreed to meet during her break to talk about the wedding.

“I’m sorry I left the party without telling you, Karen.” Emma was saying it. “It was not part of the plan at all”

“Uh uh” Karen said

“And kudos on the dress.. Good choice” Emma said in a voice filled with sarcasm

Karen laughed. “Hey… I didn’t force you to wear it. It’s all on you.. And judging from what you told me.. It worked out fine”

“Okay” Emma said. “we don’t have time for this.. Let’s talk about the wedding”

“alright”

“Is it going to be a really big wedding?” Emma asked

“Maybe,” Karen said. “I have always wanted a big wedding. But now that I’m getting married, it just isn’t a priority anymore. I just want the wedding to go well”

“Oh… That’s such a grown up thing to say” said Emma. “Are you guys going to buy a house after the wedding? Oh please don’t move so far away. I can’t imagine you leaving. Even if you are a meddling freak” she said

“Chill,” Karen said, smiling. “Frank and I talked about it. We are going to stay where we are. For now.. Since we don’t want to have kids right away”

“Good… So we are both putting stuff together for the wedding.. What is Frank doing?”

“Oh he has just one job,” said Karen. “And I made him promise to stick to it”.

“So what is his job?”

“Duh… Staying out of the way”

Emma couldn’t help laughing.

“You know how guys are… Especially Frank..” Karen said. “he doesn’t really care about the planning stuff. All he has to do is get dressed and show up”

“So… what about the invitations?… Have you sent them out?

“Ermm… Nah.. But soon. Damn… There’s so much to do… there’s the bridesmaids dresses and the groomsmen too, the food, the cake, honey moon, sitting arrangement… There is so many things”

“Hey relax” Emma said. “That is why you have me. I’m here for you…”

“alright.. But this weekend we are going wedding dress shopping. I want the perfect dress”

“oh” Emma said. “you are going to be the most beautiful bride ever”

Ben came in carrying a file to give to Karen. Emma hadn’t seen him since their date, but they had talked on the phone a couple of times.

“Hi,” He said. “it’s been a while, Emma”

“yeah.. How are you Ben”

“I’m fine . It’s good to see you. You look good. Just as you always do.”

“Oh thanks. You look great too, Ben. ”

“Ermm.. Can you guys flirt on your own time?” Karen said.

Emma slapped her on the shoulder with the magazine she was holding.

“ignore her” she said. “she’s being all cranky… wedding issues and stuff”

“Yeah she is going off the market… Probably mad she is never going to be able to go out with me” Ben said dropping the file he was holding on Karen’s table

“in your dreams” said Karen playfully.

Emma laughed.

“You know… You and I should go out again some time Emma” Ben said talking her hand

“Oh I don’t think so Ben” Emma said trying to withdraw her hand

“what?… You seeing someone” he asked

“Yes Emma” Karen interrupted. “I was wondering the answer to that question too.. Are you seeing someone?”

Emma replied by hitting her with the magazine again

“Mind your business” she said

To Ben she said. “I am not seeing anyone… But I just don’t think it is a good idea”

“Why not?”

Emma opened her mouth but Ben said. “Fine.. We can just go out as friends. I enjoyed the last time and I think we should just go hang out”

“Fine” Emma said

“Great. We can do it on your own time. You just let me know, “he said before he left.

“What about Daniel?” Karen asked

“What about him?”

“You know he really likes you right?”

“yeah… and how do you know that?.. He told you.. Or you are just doing your silly match making thing again?”

“By the way he looks at you when you are not looking, you doofus.” Karen said laughing. “It’s so funny when he does it. Like he wants to eat you up with his eyes. And I know you want him too. So can you just get over yourself and go for what you want?”

“Easier said than done,” said Emma.

But maybe.. Just maybe.. It wasn’t such a bad idea