EMMA

"So this Gemma, tell me, what should I be expecting?" Adam's friend, Connor, smiles at me before taking a sip of his coffee. Beside him, Adam chuckles, probably recalling the stories I've shared about Gemma and her ... spontaneous ways. Eyeing him skeptically over my own iced mocha, I turn my attention to Connor, trying to decide how much to give away and how much to let him discover for himself.

Connor is friendly enough, and if Adam likes him, then I trust that he's a good guy. But Gemma has been a constant in my life when I haven't had many and I'm still a little dubious of the whole plan. She has a history of picking rotten apples - I don't need to help her find another.

"She's amazing, really, always the life of the party and up for anything, but at the same time, she's the most loyal person I've ever met." I chuckle, the day some years back when Gemma nearly jumped a table to defend me present in my mind. "She-"

I'm interrupted by the metallic chime of Nadine's door bell, followed by a sing-song shout that I know all too well. "Honey, I'm home!"

Meeting Connor's eyes once more, I scrunch my nose at him. "She knows how to make an entrance,"

"Emmy, my love," Her delicate arms circle around my neck from behind my chair and I lean back into her chest. "Where's Nadine?"

"Sick today," I stand, gesturing across the table to Adam and Connor, who have both stood to greet her. "This is Adam, my friend from work. And this is his college roommate, Connor." I watch as Gemma's eyes hungrily take in Connor's appearance - tall, broad shouldered, with hair and eyes almost darker than the night sky, he's perfect for her on paper. But can he keep up with that devious side of hers? Adam thinks so - the blind date was actually his idea to begin with.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, I've heard great things." Connor's shy smile is different than the one he wore just moments before, and suddenly, I think Adam might have been up to something after all.

"Well boys, I'm sorry to keep you waiting, but this girl has gotta eat, and soon." She pats her belly before flicking strawberry blonde hair over her shoulder and making her way to the counter, towards a young girl furiously working to keep up with the orders coming in. I catch myself watching her when Adam interrupts my thoughts.

"So this was your first job?" Adam grins, teeth brilliant against his dark skin. "I'm not going to lie, this is pretty much exactly what I would expect."

"Really?" I laugh, twisting my straw between my fingers. "What did you do, you know, before college internships and all that?" I open the question up to the guys, not wanting to get into other positions I've had, ones Adam probably wouldn't have expected.

"I worked in a place like this actually," Connor looks around the shop, "My parents own a diner so I was their go-to bus boy,"

I smile sympathetically as Adam blushes, distracting himself with the salt remnants on the table top.

"What about you?" I ask him directly.

"Me?" He mutters before regaining his normal, easy confidence. "I actually didn't work until college, my parents... they wanted me to focus on school." He shrugs, almost as if he's ashamed, and I feel my own brows furrow.

Does he think that changes what I think of him? Had Mom and Dad been alive, would I have ever worked here? The many hours I've spent in this coffee shop are ingrained in me, woven into the fabric of my soul, but what if I never had to fill out the application? My own parents probably would've been the type to push school, much like Adam's, had they gotten the chance.

Suddenly, a tray lands beside me, making me jump, and Gemma pulls out the chair, already bubbling over with conversation.

"So Connor, what do you do?" She takes a bite of her bagel while staring him down with her wide, dark eyes.

Turning to him with in amusement, I wonder how Connor will hold up under Gemma's intensity.

Easily, he launches into an explanation of his work at some research lab, and surprisingly, Gemma seems engrossed in what he has to say. As she laughs at one of his jokes that I miss, her hand lands on his forearm across the table and my gut twists involuntarily.

It's been two weeks since Beau left and so far, it hasn't gotten any easier. The first few days were okay - we talked before bed each night and texted when we could throughout the day. But as his schedule picks up and work becomes busier on my end, we aren't having much luck connecting recently.

Excusing myself to the restroom, I press my phone to my ear and replay Beau's voicemail from about a week ago. As his voice tells me he misses me, I feel the sentiment deep within myself. I never knew it was possible to miss someone so much.

Knowing I won't get him, I dial his number anyways, imagining where he is now. A limo? At sound check? Rehearsal?

With Rey? The darker part of my mind quips and I'm once again filled with shame. Rey or no Rey, I have to trust Beau. How can we be everything I want us to be if I can't trust him?

His deep voices grabs my attention. "Beau Lewis. Leave a message."

I smirk at the abruptness of his answering machine message. That's my Beau - pleasantries be dammed.

"Hey. It's me," I take my bottom lip between my teeth, unsure of what to say. There's only so much to say, when you've gotten voicemail for the tenth time in a week. "I guess I just wanted to hear your voice." I admit truthfully, leaning back against the cool tile of the bathroom walls.

Moments after I've hung up, I push myself from the wall and rejoin my friends at our table. Finding only Connor and Gemma immersed in a conversation about her trip to Australia, I peer around the cafe until I spot Adam in the reading corner.

Something told me he'd like this spot in particular. "Find anything good?" I sneak up beside him and peek over his shoulder at the worn novel in his hands. "You've got to be kidding,"

"What?" Adam's eyes widen at me.

"Nothing." I shrug, pointing to the copy of The Great Gatsby that he's holding close to his chest. "That's just my favorite book of all time. That copy in particular," I grin fondly, "Has gotten me through a lot."

"Oh?" He extends it to me, tenderly holding it between his hands, careful not to damage the tired binding. "Reading on the job, hm?"

I'm grateful for the joke instead of more personal questions. "Funny, considering where we work now, isn't it?" My eyes scan the shelves for any new arrivals and fall on a teen magazine. For a moment, it feels like my heart has stopped beating as I read the headline.

"This one is my favorite," Adam points to The Lord of the Flies some shelves below the one he was just browsing. "Nadine, you said her name was? She has a great collection."

I agree, having read through its entirety multiple times. I grab the magazine discreetly as Adam nods towards Gemma and Connor.

Settling into a bright orange bean bag chair on the floor, Adam pats the one beside him. "So what do we think?"

Tucking the magazine under my arm, I glance over at our two friends, oblivious to everyone else in the coffee shop. Gemma's smile is genuine as she listens to whatever Connor is saying and he seems to keep up with her easily, making her throw her head back in loud laughter.

Beau's answering machine ringing in my ear combined with the pressure of the gossip mag under my arm sends a new wave of doubt washing over me.

How easy it could be, to meet up for a date at the local coffee shop, to have lunch and a carefree conversation, to maybe bring them home and show them my own place.

"Emma?" Adam's expression is amused as he repeats himself. "I asked if you think Gemma is interested,"

I nod my head quickly, shaking off the thought. "Oh, definitely. I've never seen her like this,"

"Same here." He raises his hand and I meet it in a victorious high-five. "We make a good team, you and me." He boasts proudly before quietly opening the pages of The Great Gatsby, and handing over The Lord of the Flies.

Rolling my eyes, I take the book anyways. Cracking it open, I follow Adam's cue and fall into comfortable silence, the only sound the turning of the old pages between our fingers.

***

My TV plays quietly in the background as I maneuver through my kitchen, cooking up some chicken parm for dinner. Chopping some garlic, my mind once again wanders to Beau and what he's up to. He's so much busier than I am, does he think of me?

Sliding a pan into the oven and setting my timer, I lean against the counter top and drum my fingers against the surface impatiently. Eyeing the magazine just poking out of my purse, I argue with myself internally.

On the one hand, I know better. These magazines never do any good. And yet, on the other hand, there's so much that I don't know - that I can't know, because I'm not there. And it's not like I can just ask him, given the circumstances.

Groaning in disgust at myself, I pull the magazine out from my bag and splay it out over my stovetop. Tearing through the pages, I find the story that grabbed my eye and notice that the date is actually from a week ago.

"Beau Lewis: Still a Ladies Man!" I read the words again and again, trying to remain calm. Continuing down the page, I find the picture.

Beau and Rey, holding hands, walking into a nightclub, after one of their shows.

Ouch. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, forcing oxygen to my brain so that I don't lose my mind over something stupid.

Skimming through the story, if you could even call it that, I read a brief outline of my reconnection with Beau, followed by some of Rey's backstory. Apparently Beau found her singing at some dingy dive bar and decided to work with her on the spot. My body tenses immediately, jealousy threatening to suffocate me.

The article finishes by speculating who Beau is actually with - former flame Emma Carter, or intriguing new girl, Rey, a nickname stemming from her last name, Reyes.

Frustrated with the article and with myself, I slam the magazine closed and press my palms into my eyes.

Once my chicken is ready, I pile a healthy portion onto my plate and sink into my spot at the table I bought at a yard sale with Nadine. Twirling some spaghetti around my fork, I let out a deep sigh, the empty spot across from me making it impossible to push the negative thoughts from my mind.

The next week passes slowly, with work becoming more manageable the more I get used to it. Across my desk, Adam pours over one of his manuscripts, furiously taking notes on his legal pad.

I shake my head and resume typing on my company laptop - I'll never understand why Adam takes notes by hand. He only has to type them up afterwards, anyways.

A rapping on the door makes us both jump. "I'm going to grab some coffee, either of you want anything?" Wren sticks his head through the door, his keys jingling in his hand.

I scrunch my nose. "What's wrong with the coffee in the break room?"

"It's in the break room," Wren shrugs, coy smirk spreading across his face. "Hey, if the boss is on vacation, it's only right for the employees to take a little breather."

"I'm fine with my tea, thanks," I raise my mug to him and Adam asks for a large coffee, black. I smirk at the similarity between him and Beau. When Wren leaves, I raise my eyes at Adam curiously. "Did you pull an all-nighter last night or something?"

"More like my third all-nighter this week. My mom's spending next week at my place," He winces.

"And?" I chuckle, still working on my laptop. My mind wanders to Beau and why we haven't connected. Is something wrong?

"And if you knew her, you'd understand. She's so... uptight." Adam thinks to himself quietly before meeting my eyes, his own full of concern. "I'm sorry, Emma, I wasn't even thinking. I know... I didn't mean-"

Lizzie and Tori walk past my office then, indifferent expressions on their faces as they barely nod in our direction. They, too, are taking a page from Wren's book, I notice the fast food bags in their hands. After the retreat and our game of Never Have I Ever, they haven't had much to say to me.

"It's fine, I didn't think anything of it." I reassure Adam quickly, ignoring the women more easily than before.

Could it be that Beau is starting to slip? He seemed to be in such a better place this time around...

A few moments later, Wren returns with Adam's coffee and we're back to work, carefully annotating the works in front of us.

The hours drag by until it's finally time to head home. Grabbing my coat from the hook behind my door, I wait for Adam to collect his things before walking out of the building by his side.

"So when does your mom arrive?" I ask, digging through my purse to find my keys.

"Sunday," Adam sighs as if it's not only Wednesday. "Hey this is weird but..."

My eyes flash to his face. "I'm listening," I lean back against the hood of my car, enjoying the slight breeze in the evening air.

"Mom always insists on throwing me a dinner party - she likes to meet my friends and stuff," Adam blushes, his hand furiously rubbing the back of his neck. "And I guess we're kinda friends now, so..."

"Are we? I'm touched," I play off of his sarcasm, "Are you inviting me to your mom's dinner party, Adam?"

"I hate you," Adam groans as I struggle to contain my laughter. "But really, don't feel pressure to come or anything. It's just her thing."

"I think it's nice she wants to be involved," I tell him seriously, feeling the familiar sadness that comes only when I realize yet another thing I'm missing out on, not being able to see my own parents. "Send me the details and I'll be there."

"Really?" He asks, grinning hugely. "Why don't you bring Gemma, we can make a whole thing of it."

"Sure," I nod, "Sounds like a plan,"

"You're not the worst friend ever, you know that?" Adam chuckles, opening my door for me. Rolling my eyes, I stick my tongue out at him through my window and pull out of my parking space.

Hi loves! I promise more Bemma interaction will be coming soon! But we're getting a look at their lives as two separate people... can't wait to hear what you think!
How do you feel about Adam - great friend or does he have ulterior motives?
Annnnd new hunk Connor alert!