HAPPY FOREVER AFTER

“Coming” Emma yelled as she walked to open the front door to let Karen in. Her apartment was well furnished. It had three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen and a balcony. Karen always said that the only thing that was missing from the apartment was the presence of a guy. Like his shirts, perfume and stuff. All Emma had done was roll her eyes as usual. She opened the door and Karen walked in.

“That’s what you’re wearing” Karen said, looking her up and down like she had clown makeup on. “Come on Emma, it’s your first date with this guy”

“So?”

“So you are supposed to wear something that makes him wow. Something that makes him not want to take his eyes off you”

“You mean something slutty” Emma said

“Not too slutty” Karen replied “You should know what I mean”

“Well I know what you mean,” said Emma. ” I’m not in the mood for all that. And to be honest I would have changed my mind if I hadn’t already told Ben I would be seeing him. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with what I’m putting on. It’s a nice dress”

“Yeah. But nice isn’t going to get you laid” Karen said

Emma gave her one of her looks. “Aren’t you supposed to be next door right now?. You know… doing all your valentine’s day stuff” Emma asked.

Karen had been dating Emma’s neighbor Frank for almost two years and they were such an amazing couple. Karen had come to visit Emma one time and she and Frank had hit it off. Despite Emma’s view of relationships, she always thought Karen and Frank were couple goals indeed. Sometimes she wished she had what they had. But she was truly happy for her friend.

“I just came over to check on you” Karen replied ”

” Or you’re just here to stick your nose where it doesn’t belong. As usual” said Emma.

Karen laughed “Actually yes. I came to make sure you hadn’t changed your mind about meeting Ben”. Said Karen

“I won’t. We agreed to meet at Raj’s for dinner by 8:30”

“Good. I’m gonna go see my man now but I wanna hear everything tomorrow. Try to make this one work girl. I promise you Ben is a nice guy”

Emma rolled her eyes “They always are at the beginning dear”.

“Or at least just make out”

“Get out Karen”

Karen laughed as she left. She and Frank probably had something romantic planned for the evening and Emma couldn’t help but wish that she already had someone to spend the evening with instead of going on a first date.

Starting and building a new relationship felt like work and having to break up after getting to know someone just made the whole process even more annoying. She called Ben to let him know she was on her way, picked up her purse and left the house.

By the time Emma got to Raj’s she was already regretting agreeing to this date idea. The thought of turning her car around and drinking back home crept into her mind but didn’t want to just leave Ben that way. Yeah she was that nice. Ben was sitting at a table close to the wall when she walked in and he waved so she could see where he was. She smiled as she walked over.

Emma had met Ben once or twice when she had come to see Karen at her office and he had always been nice. A part of her had known Ben kinda liked her. But she’d always seen him as just a friend. According to Karen, he had always wanted to ask her out on a date. Well here they were.

“Hello” she said as she sat down. “hope I’m not too late”

“Nah not really” Ben replied “I haven’t been waiting for long”

“Oh great,” she said. “I didn’t want you thinking I stood you up.

Ben was an attractive guy. He wasn’t a tall guy and they were almost the same height but he smiled a lot and that made him look even more attractive.

“You look beautiful”

“Thanks… You look great too”

“I have always wanted to ask you out since I saw you” Ben said ” I took so long because I was always scared you would say no”

“Really. Well if I’m being completely honest with you I didn’t want to at first. I don’t go out alot. But I’m kinda glad I did now. This place is beautiful and it’s nice to get out after a stressful week.”

“That’s great.. What would you like to order?”

He motioned for the waitress and they made their order. They talked about their jobs, families, likes and dislikes and the night actually turned out to be great. She realized she was actually having a nice time with him. The only thing was that Emma realized that she wasn’t attracted to him the way Karen and Ben had hoped. He was a nice guy and all but the chemistry just wasn’t right.

After dinner they said good night and Emma drove home feeling a little sorry for Ben. Poor guy, he was so sweet and he even promised to call.

There was definitely something wrong with her.

———————

Emma loved Saturdays. She didn’t have to go to work. All she had to do was shower, cook, clean, relax and she loved it. Karen came around that evening to say hi “. Although they both knew she just wanted to hear about Emma’s date with Ben.

“So how are you doing this today?” Karen asked, raising her eyebrows in a funny way.

“Just ask the question you really wanna ask and just get it over with” Emma said

Karen laughed. “Fine… So how was last night with Ben?”

“It was fine”

“What do you mean it was fine? Just fine? That’s all you’re gonna tell me? I need details hun. Every single little dirty detail. Karen said and smiled.

“They’re no details. No dirty ones. God knows what you mean by that ”

“What?”

“I’m serious. The date was fine and Ben was great but I just didn’t feel the thing ”

“Oh honey. You should always feel the thing” Karen said again with one of her devilish smiles.

Emma gave her a disgusting look. “Do you always have to make everything sound dirty?. Ben is okay but I think the problem is me. It just felt like I was out with a friend instead of a date. Seriously, does it sound like there’s something wrong with me?”

“Ermm… Yeah”

“You know a friend is supposed to be nice. And a friend would say.. Oh sweetie.. no there’s nothing wrong with you” Emma said

“Well I’m not nice. Of course the problem is you. You’re just too scared. You’re scared of opening up to someone. You’re scared of letting anyone into your life and you’re never going to meet anyone that way” She sighed. “Duh, I really thought you would like him”

“I’m sorry girl” Emma said feeling guilty. She knew Karen had done something nice trying to help her meet someone. And she truly did get lonely sometimes.

“I didn’t say I didn’t like him,” Emma continued. “I did. But not just in the way you thought I would. I didn’t tell him that though and he called today”

“Yeah he’s nice like that,” Karen said. “Just don’t push him away so fast. You might actually start to like him. Who knows”

“Yeah. But we both know that most times if y’all don’t click on the first date the chances of it happening later are kinda slim”

“Yeah. Because you let it be that way”.

“You know I’m right. Emma said. “I need a drink and I finished the last bottle I had last night when I got home. Think Frank has any?

“Wow. You’re the only person I know who would actually leave a date just to come home and drink alone”

“Shut up it wasn’t like that”.

They went across the hall to Frank’s apartment. He was in the living room when they came in and Karen went to join him on the couch.

“Hi Frank” Emma greeted

“Hey what’s up” He replied

“I’m good. I was just wondering if you had any alcohol around. I’m kinda out”

“Yeah sure. Should be in the kitchen”

Emma walked into the kitchen and came out with a bottle of vodka.

“Thanks Frank. Gonna replace it when I go to the store Tomorrow…..”

She stopped suddenly. She had actually seen the guy who just walked into the room through the window when he was standing at the balcony. His back was turned as he was making a phone call then and she had just assumed he was one of Frank’s friends who she had met before.

He was devilishly handsome. No man should be allowed to look that good. She said to herself. She had a feeling that standing really close to him would make her look really shorter than she was. He was maybe six-three or four. Which Emma found refreshing. She’d always been a sucker for tall guys. His hair was dark and his skin was smooth and tanned. She stared at him, from the dark eyes that watched her steadily, to a strong jaw, to the wide shoulders encased in a white shirt. The sleeves of the shirt folded up to his elbows.

Her heart began to beat heavily. She was fascinated by the man. Awareness flooded through her, as did a sudden need to brush her hair. Dammit, why had she put on this stupid bum short and singlet today. She wondered what he would look like with that shirt off.

She swallowed and tried to look away. Fantasies like that would get her nowhere.

“Hi,” he said. And for a few seconds Emma didn’t realize he was speaking to her.

She blushed when she lifted an eyebrow questioningly. “Oh hello”

“Urmm… name’s Daniel. Nice to meet you” He said as walked over and offered his hand for a handshake.

“It’s nice to meet you too.. I’m Emma” she said. She dropped his hand like he was made of fire. It was a shock and she was reeling from that initial touch that set her alight. The spark of generic attraction she’d experienced for him flared to sharp fascination as she faced him. A compulsion to know everything about this man welled in her.

“Emma.. that’s a nice name”

“Oh you think so?”

“yeah I do”

“Well.. Thanks”

His deep voice echoed in her ears and sent a burst of heat through her. Her breath caught for a moment before she remembered to breathe. They stared at each other for a while.

“So you live in the building too?” he was saying

“Yeah I live next door.. I just came over to borrow this” She said as she raised the bottle. “I should be getting back now”

“Oh alright. I guess I’ll see you around then”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“yeah sure.. Daniel”

She was in a hurry to leave and she didn’t even know why.