Unexpected Love

Feelings

Emma’s POV

“Hey Belle. I’m home.” I said as I was walking through the door.  “I can’t believe you thought I was going to stay the night!”

“Hey, that wasn’t me that sent that text.” She pleaded

We both spilled our nights to each other.  She told me that Scott wasn’t like the guys she dated in college, I was happy to hear that.  I hate being the one that has to pick up the pieces when she realizes that they are not wanting what she wants.  She is such a sweet person, and deserves to be loved.  I on the other hand just had a hard time trusting people in general.  I only date, nothing serious, I know I will start to fall for them, and then my heart will be broken.  I can’t do that.  

My mom left when I was young, and never called or anything.  I am an only child, and my dad never remarried.  It was him and me against the world.  I never wanted a relationship because I don’t know how to be a girlfriend or wife.  I guess I was always scared that I would be just like my mother and run away, and not fix anything.  I didn’t want to get attached to anyone, and I always use the fact that I busy, or that my life isn’t in order, and it isn’t where I want it to be to be in a serious relationship, lucky for me, most college guys just wanted a friend with benefits, so they never questioned me!  Now here comes Ryan, I’m where I want to be in my life, working with people while they are dealing with the scariest times in their life.  I have a nice house with my best friend, and we agree that if one of us moves out, we can both afford to live here alone.  What if I’m not good enough, what if he realizes all I know how to do is clean, my mom never showed me how to cook, so I only order out, or let Belle cook.  I’m clingy, but I don’t think I’m affectionate, what if he thinks I don’t like him, because I don’t know how to show him.  

“What are you thinking about love?”  Belle said looking at me.

“What if Ryan realizes that I’ve never had a real boyfriend, and I am not good enough for him?”  I said with tears in my eyes.  “Or worse, what if I end up like my mom, and I leave because I have no idea how to be a girlfriend.”

“You are a great person, and Ryan will see that.  You and I have lived together for how many years, and you do all the cleaning.”

“And you do all the cooking.”  I interrupted her.

“Yes, it is called shared responsibility.”  She smiled at me. “You will make a better wife than your mom, and what she did to you only will make you a better girlfriend.  You didn’t have a mom growing up, so in an odd sounding way, you were your own mom.  You and your dad always had to do stuff that a mother would have to do.  You two managed, and every time I see your dad, he is always so proud of you.  You are nothing like your mother, you are like your dad, remember that.”

I gave her a big hug, I guess she is right.  We stayed up a little longer talking about everything, I helped her do the dishes that her and Scott used, then we went to bed.

“Before you go to sleep, I suggested to Scott that we do a double date later this week.” She smiled.

“Great, you know how hard that is for me to get someplace before 7!  Work at a hospital, I can’t just meet you guys for dinner.”  I pouted

“Fine, then one day this week we will just have the guys over for dinner and maybe go someplace afterwards. That way you can get ready while I cook dinner.  I’ll plan it today with Scott, and text you the details as they come in.  Good night.”  She explained

“Good night, thank you for the talk.”  I hugged her, and shut my door.  

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Belle’s POV

I wake up, and can’t wait to tell Scott my plan.

Hey, Emma likes the idea of a double date, but since she works at the hospital, she has to come home and shower before she goes out.  She will not wear her scrubs anywhere.  One time the gas pump credit card thing broke, and she made me come up there so I could go in and pay for her gas for her. ~Belle

I don’t know why I told you that, do not repeat that to anyone. ~Belle

Anyways, we thought maybe having you two come over to our house, and we can do dinner, then hangout at the house, or find something to do after dinner. ~Belle

I really need Ryan’s number I thought.  Maybe he would respond faster than Scott.  Scott works at the Budweiser brewery in downtown St. Louis, so he normally just leaves his phone in his locker.  I would probably do the same though.

I decided that I would text Emma, and ask her for his number.  

Hey, what is Ryan's number?  ~Belle

Why do you want MY boyfriend's number? ~Emma

Ok, so this maybe harder than I thought

Is it so you can tell him about what I told you last night? I don’t want him to think I can’t tell him, and I need my best friend to tell him my problems.  ~Emma

Emma, I would never tell him that.  It isn’t my place.  Now if you asked me to tell him, then I would, but what you tell me is between you and I.  You are overthinking everything once again.  Calm down, I don’t like YOUR boyfriend, and I won’t tell him anything personal about your life unless it is affecting you at that moment.  ~Belle

Ok, then why do you want his number? ~Emma

Honestly, I doubt you would tell him about coming to our house for dinner, so I was going to throw it all together, and get it planned out.  ~Belle

Are you sure?  Wouldn’t you have just asked Scott for it, or did he say no?  ~Emma

This girl can never just go from A to B.  She has to stop off at D, M, X, then head back for E, K, R, and Z, then go to B.

He is working, and keeps his phone in his locker, so I haven’t heard from him, and I won’t till he goes on break or lunch. ~Belle

You sure it isn’t because asking your boyfriend for his best friend's number just sounds weird, and you can lie to me, and I will still love you?  :) ~Emma

Well, maybe, just give me his number.  :)  ~Belle

After I finally got his number I text him, he doesn’t text back right away.

I figured I would get some work done.  I need to plan a couple visits to some stores, and get together the fall line setups.  I feel like if I’m there when they get their stuff, and I help get it set up for them, I’m doing some of the hard part, I also have their input of how stuff should look.  All my staff works hard, and at the end of the day, they are at that store for 40 hours a week, and I’m only there for a couple hours a month, maybe even every other month.  Maybe I would plan one visit on the day of our dinner date, that way I can just leave a little early.

As I’m looking at my calendar, and everything over in the corner my phone goes off.

Any updates?  ~Emma

No, I guess your guy is just as bad as mine with texting.  ~Belle

Maybe because they are grown, and their work is more important than a text message. ~Emma

Maybe they aren’t used to having girlfriends, so there is no need to check their phones. ~Belle

Whatever, I guess keep me updated.  See you tonight.  I was thinking maybe chicken for dinner, can you make that happen?  ~Emma

She doesn’t cook, so she has to let me know what she wants. I will come up with something that involves what she wants.  

For tonight?  ~Belle

Yes ~Emma

I would love to see Emma again. ~Ryan

Great to hear, I was thinking maybe Thursday night at our house?  Everyone can come after work, if you are like her, you can take a shower.  I was going to cook.  Unless we want to do carry out.  ~Belle

Sure, I’ll shower with her, but something tells me she wouldn’t like that too much~ ;) ~Ryan

Give her time, she is just shy, suggest it to her, but you are right, she will say no, so don’t be mad.  Just keep being you.  She likes you a lot.  ~Belle

Hey sexy, missed me so much you have to keep texting me all day?  ~Scott

I go from texting everyone, to now I am having to end one conversation with someone to start the next one. 

I did miss you. ~Belle

I can come over tonight, and then you won’t miss me. ~Scott

I promised Emma we would do something just the two of us. ~Belle

When do I get to see you again? ~Scott

Great, is this a red flag?  No, it can’t be, a red flag would be not wanting to see me.  Right?  Duh, wanting to see me every day is not a red flag at all. 

I was thinking Thursday, we can just meet at our house, and if you want, you can take a shower or change.  I was going to make dinner. ~Belle

I’ll take a shower with you anytime! ;) ~Scott

I didn’t answer that.  It sounds like everyone is good with Thursday.  Tonight Emma and I would hang out, tomorrow we can clean the house, and go shopping, and Thursday is our date.

Thursday is the night.  Everyone is just coming to our house after work, and I told the guys that if they need to take a shower or anything they can use the guest shower. ~Belle

Ok, thanks for putting this together. ~Emma

I stop off at the store on the way home, and grab stuff to make chicken parmesan.  I get home, and start dinner.  Emma comes downstairs, and starts cleaning the living room.

“Tonight, we are just going to hang out, and have fun.  Tomorrow we are going to clean. Just relax tonight.”  I barked at her

“You know how I get when people are coming over.  I can’t just sit here knowing that people are going to be in my house in about 48 hours.”

“Well to be honest, it is less than 48 hours.  Why clean tonight, when you know you will do it again tomorrow.”  I sighed

We eat dinner, and do the dishes, and clean up the kitchen. I talked her into not cleaning too much, I just wanted to have some girl time with my best friend.

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Wednesday at the store.

We picked up stuff for dinner, we decided on a stuffed chicken.  Cheese, bacon, peppers, what is wrong with that?  We also grab some stuff for a salad, and agree to have mashed potatoes.  Once we get home, we put everything away, and I start prepping the chicken, that way tomorrow I just have to put it in the oven.  Emma cleans everything.  She even decided that she no longer liked the way the living room was set up, so we moved everything, only to move it back, when we noticed that you couldn’t see the TV from the sofa. After she mopped the floor, we went upstairs, and she told me I had to clean my room.  I’m not sure what my room has to do with anything, but I threw my half full laundry basket in my closet, and rearranged my desk, and night stand.  This girl thinks she isn’t going to make a good mom, she is my second mom!