Emi was still conversing with Shayla, the girl behind the counter, someone both he and Emi knew well enough now since they both frequented Foams so often. He took advantage of her longer than normal time at that counter to study her a bit more. This was a new look for Emi. Normally she dressed casually for school: comfortable jeans and a cute figure-hugging matching top. The only times he’d been privy to seeing her dressed up were the weekend he formally met her at the repast, the party the next day, and then a few times he’d seen her either on her way out to a date or just getting back from one.
All those times, especially the first weekend around her family and friends, he had neither the inclination nor the curiosity to take a longer gaze. Now he eyed her subtly over his tablet. She had an interview today for an internship at The Staples Center. Sydney had coached her last night since he often interviewed new hires and interns. She was as nervous as she was excited, but he’d told her she was sure to get it. She had everything companies looked for in new hires: the dedication, the willingness to learn, but mostly the enthusiasm. Emi wasn’t just the bubbliest person he’d ever met. She had more enthusiasm than anyone he knew. He’d explained to Emi last night that looking professional was über-important, and she’d mentioned her black slacks and the silk top she wore now. She looked professional alright, but damn if she didn’t also look good.
As young as she was, Sydney had become more aware lately of what a young adult she actually was, not a kid or young girl. A full grown sexy woman. For months, she’d been talking about the weirdness of not being a teen, as if turning twenty was any kind of real milestone. She still wouldn’t be legal to drink. Yet, taking in the curve of that ample behind, Sydney was reminded yet again of what she was legal for. He too embraced her nice ass and had shamefully been doing so for some time now. But that was normal. He may respect her as a friend, but he was still only a man.
He cleared his throat, glancing around when he realized just how hard he’d been embracing those curves. Somehow no matter how many times her behind had caught his attention in the past, he hadn’t been ready to see her like this: all done up and looking so damn sexy.
His eyes jolted back to his tablet, his fingers still at his temple as he pretended to be engrossed in his reading once again when she turned back to him.
“So if you decide to take Cheryl this weekend, would it be too weird if I tagged along for the ride?” she asked with a wince. “I’d hate to take such a long ride alone.”
Sydney looked up at her, sipping his coffee, then shook his head. “I don’t think I’ll be taking her.”
“Why not?” she asked curiously, taking the seat across from him again.
He shrugged. “It’s a whole weekend thing. Not sure I’m ready for that yet. Too soon.”
“Too soon?” Emi scrunched her nose as she took the lid off her coffee and blew on it. “It’s been months since you started seeing her.”
Smiling, Sydney nodded. “Need I remind you that you’ve been seeing Darren even longer and you still don’t think it’s time to bring him around your family.”
“That’s different,” she said, making Sydney laugh softly.
“How’s it different? He’s your boyfriend, right?”
“Sort of, but unlike you, I’m not looking to get serious. Bringing him home to meet my family would give him the idea that I am. You, on the other hand”—she brought the steaming cup to her mouth and took a cautious sip—“you’re looking for Mrs. Right and you said it yourself. Cheryl has a good head on her shoulders, and you’ve dated her more than once, something you said you only do if you’re hoping for something deeper than just a fling.”
Sydney peered at her as she took another cautious sip of her hot coffee. “I never said I was looking for Mrs. Right.”
Emi nodded, wiping her mouth with a napkin. “Well, since you said you should be looking to start a family and that maybe it was too late for you, I just assumed.”
She must’ve seen the look of confusion on Sydney’s face as he tried to remember when he’d ever said that. It was true, and more than once the thought had crossed his mind, but he didn’t remember telling Emi this.
“Way back at Mando’s repast,” she said, and then her eyes narrowed. “Or maybe it was the party the next day. Anyway, when I asked you about having kids, you said you should be thinking about it. I remember because I thought you were nuts to think it might be too late for you, and”—she brought her hand to her mouth, the gasp as overstated as her expression—“you are going to be thirty this year.” Her expression morphed into a mocking smirk as Sydney stared at her, unimpressed with that little performance. “I just thought because of all that you might be moving things further along with her.”
It was hard to believe that it had only been a year. He never imagined he and Emi would be this close this fast. A year ago he never would’ve imagined them sitting at Foams, doing what had become their normal morning ritual before starting their weekdays now and her talking so freely about his love life!
“Yeah, well,” he said, standing up and gathering his things. “Just because I’ve gone out with her more than once now doesn’t mean she’s the one.”
“Hmm,” she said as she flung her book bag over her shoulder.
“What?” he asked when she didn’t say anything else.
“Nothing.”
The smirk she wore was too telling, something else he’d since picked up on about her. Even though it had been nearly a year now, it was still a relatively short time for her to already conclude she knew him better than he’d ever believe or admit she did.
From day one, Emi had been an open book, sharing with him about her personal life. Maybe she had gotten a few things out of him here and there, but he was far more particular about just how much he shared. Still, she seemed to have the idea that she knew him better than he thought.
“Emilia,” he said in that stern voice he reserved for her when she was being a brat. “You never hmm for no reason.”
She giggled, leaning into him playfully as they walked out of Foams. “I just think maybe you like this girl more than you’re admitting.”
Sydney smiled, feeling triumphant, but wouldn’t let Emi in on that. Clearly, she didn’t know him nearly as well as she professed, because she couldn’t be further from the truth. Cheryl was a nice girl. She did have a good head on her shoulders, and while the sex was more than satisfying, after years in denial, he’d finally admitted it. He was still doing what he’d done for too long. He was waiting to feel what he once had for Lynn. But he was beginning to think maybe that was a once-in-a-lifetime thing. Maybe he was only ever meant to feel something like that once in his life and he’d missed the boat. While he was fairly sure he’d been in love with his ex-wife at some point, in hindsight, he knew with all certainty he’d never felt for her what he’d once felt for Lynn.
There was no other way to explain it, except that she’d completed him. For as long as he could remember, every significant moment in his life, when she’d been a part of it, would’ve felt less meaningful had she not been present to share it with him. When his father had passed so suddenly, Lynn was already married. Yet having her fly out to be at his and his mother’s side had somehow made that horrific experience a little less excruciating.
Even now, she was usually the first one he texted or called to tell about anything momentous that happened to him. If she was ever second, she was only second to his mother. Growing up, he’d always been exceptionally close his mother. Once his life turned into a flash of flights, hotels, and conference rooms in opposite ends of the world with an endless array of professional responsibilities, it was hard to stay so close, but he still tried. Often times he called her first when something big was going on.
“I like Cheryl well enough,” he said as they walked through the parking lot of their building. “But a whole weekend thing feels like a bit much just yet.”
“You’ve already spent a whole weekend with her,” she retorted.
> “I knew you’d say that.” He shook his head, smiling. “But that was different. I didn’t plan it that way. I passed out at her place, and the next day she insisted on making me brunch, and then we spent the day”—he smirked but was unwilling to say it—“lounging.”
He turned just in time to see her roll her eyes, and he couldn’t help laughing.
“That’s even more serious than spending the weekend strolling a food festival.” She dug in her bag until she came up with her keys and laughed too. “Heck, I’d spend the weekend with Darren at a festival like this, just for the food.”
Sydney chuckled, pulling his own keys out of his pocket. “Yeah, but the weekend I spent with her was more of a fluke. I wasn’t bringing her around to meet more of my friends. As you said about Darren, it might send the wrong message, one I’m not sure I want to be sending yet.”
“Okay,” she said in that telling voice of hers again. “We’ll just have to agree to disagree.” They began parting ways. “Oh, hey, they’re supposed to tell me today if I’m in for the internship—”
“You’re in,” he said before she could finish.
She smiled big now. “I hope so. If I am, I think I want to do something a little special tonight. You have plans?”
Sydney thought about it for a moment. He did, but . . . “I’m free,” he said without giving it further thought.
“Oh, good.” She smiled even bigger. “Meet me by the pool around six? I’ll order pizza. You bring the beer.” He lifted a scolding brow. “Oh, please.” She laughed. “I’ll be twenty-one this year, and it’s not like it’d be my first beer.”
“Alright,” he said, biting his tongue because the words “it’s a date” nearly slipped out. “Six it is,” he said instead. “Pizza and beer poolside because I know you got this.”
He shook off what her even bigger smile did to him. He’d known from day one at the repast Emi had the kind of smile that warmed you instantly.
“Good day, my friend,” she said as she always did every morning when they parted ways.
“Good day. And I’d wish you luck, but you don’t need it. You got this.”
The moment he was in his car he made sure his phone auto connected to his blue tooth. He’d make this call before he put too much thought into it. It was no big deal; he’d just reschedule. This was a big deal to Emi, and she was his good friend now. He thought about that for a moment. In a little less than a year, she’d pretty much become one of his best friends.
Oh, for crying out loud. Who was he Forrest Gump now? He hit speed dial as he pulled out of the parking structure. “Bubba was my best good friend,” he muttered in his best Forrest voice then laughed. “Morning, Cheryl” he said a little too cheery. “Listen. I’m sorry but something's come up last minute that I can’t get out of tonight. Maybe we catch that movie another day?”
By the time he reached his office, he’d snuffed out any bothersome thoughts about canceling with Cheryl to spend time with Emi—again. Emi was his good friend now, and she’d been nervous about this all week. Now that it would finally be over and she could relax about it, she should celebrate and do something different for the occasion. So she wanted someone to help her celebrate. That’s what friends were for, right?
Chapter Six
Emilia
Adjusting her sarong around her waist, Emi glanced up at the sound of the pool gate opening. It wasn’t Sydney. She’d waited until she was at the pool area to text him, letting him know the pizza had arrived and to meet her there. She wanted to get there before him and adjust herself—the bikini—accordingly.
They’d hung out by the pool before, but it’d been too cold to get in the water. The times they’d hung out before hadn’t been planned either like tonight. Each time she’d been out there reading when he’d shown up to sit and talk with her for a little while. The first time he’d said he saw her from his window and, since he wasn’t doing anything, decided to come out. Since she was trying to make it a point to not invite herself over to his place too much, every time she’d gone out there to read since that first time he showed up, she’d secretly willed him to look out his window and see her. He didn’t every time, but more often than not, he had.
Emi hated being alone. As tight as her family had always been, it was the one thing she disliked the most about going away for college. Her only friend out here besides Sydney was a schoolmate, Deandra. But she lived clear out in East LA. She had to take the train into school during the week. Then there was Darren. At the moment, things with Darren were on the outs. She’d meant it when she’d told Sydney that morning that she wasn’t looking for anything serious with Darren. The idea of a serious and committed relationship with someone she really cared for, someone who left her breathless and made her heart skip a beat when she least expected it, didn’t seem so objectionable anymore.
Darren, however, didn’t do any of those things for her. It was why, despite seeing Darren for over a year and even sleeping with him now, she’d yet to invite Darren back to her place. She’d told him this was her brother’s place and he lived with her.
Technically, she hadn’t lied. A.J. was the one paying for her apartment. His name was the one on the lease. And he did stay with her when he was in town. Of course, that was only every few months when he played the Dodgers because even when he played the Angels he said it was too far to drive back to downtown LA to stay with her. Darren didn’t need to know all that. In fact, she hadn’t even told him who her brother was. A.J. had warned her early on about keeping that to herself.
“There’s too much shit that comes with being famous or even being related to someone with a little fame,” A.J. had said to her and her other siblings. “I’d hate for any of the negative stuff to affect anyone in my family.”
The concern went both ways. The last thing Emi wanted was to have any haters or her scorned exes tainting A.J. online in any way just to get back at her. She was even happier now she never told Darren who her brother was because lately he’d begun to talk about things getting more serious, while she, on the other hand, was thinking of calling the whole thing off with him. It’d begun to feel wrong stringing him along, though she’d always made it clear she wasn’t looking for anything serious. Still, she wasn’t looking to hurt him.
“Do I even have to ask?”
Emi glanced up as even the sound of Sydney’s voice by the gate made her heart flutter. He opened the gate and entered, carrying a small ice chest. He wore swim trunks and a tank top. It was the first time since she’d met him that she’d seen his bare arms and shoulders. She’d seen as far up as his upper biceps when he’d worn short-sleeved T-shirts but never his entire bare shoulders. As expected, for someone who had every other part of his life so under control, his physique was no exception.
Very nice were the two words that came to mind as she took him in.
“I’m in!” she announced cheerfully.
“Was there ever any doubt?” He smiled sweetly, putting the ice chest down. “Congrats.”
To her surprise, he leaned in and hugged her lightly. Caught off guard, Emi lifted her arms around him, resting her hands on either of those strong shoulders she’d been admiring. He smelled as good as he always did. “Thank you,” she said, leaning in and taking in his fragrance with her eyes closed. “What cologne are you wearing?”
“Same one I was wearing last time you asked.” She opened her eyes just in time to see him smirk. “Creed Royal.”
“It smells so good.” She inhaled again. “I’ll have to look into getting my brothers some. I’m sure they’ll like it.”
But there was more to it, and being this close to him, she couldn’t deny it any more. It wasn’t just the freshness of his cologne. It was the other fragrance she’d come to love when she was ever close enough to smell it—that delectable scent she wasn’t sure how to label. It was just his special blend of masculinity. It was a reminder that, as well as she knew him now, there were still things about him as his friend she may never
get to explore, a thought she didn’t like to ponder too much because it made her a little sad. She’d been pondering a bit too long because she didn’t notice how he was staring at her now too.
Feeling her face flush, she cleared her throat and took a seat by the table with an unlit fire pit in the middle. “So are you getting in the water? I see you have your swim trunks on.”
“Yeah, it’s warm enough. I thought maybe I’ll take a dip, but first this.” He sat down next to her, leaned over, and opened the ice chest, pulling out a bottle of champagne and two champagne flute glasses. “I know you said beer, and I brought a couple of those, but I thought the occasion called for a little of the bubbly.”
“Ooh, champagne and pizza.” She giggled, taking the glass he handed her. “Fancy! I was beginning to feel kind of silly making such a big deal about this. It is just an internship.”
“At the Staples Center,” he said, lifting a brow. “I’m sure they had a boatload who applied. Trust me. We get a ton, and when we weed them out, we take only the ones who highly impressed us.”
Her jaw dropped. “You didn’t tell me this the other night.”
Sydney laughed as he popped open the champagne bottle. “You were nervous enough. Point is this is a big deal. Don’t sell yourself short. You earned the right to be proud and make a big deal of it. And this is gonna to look awesome on your resume.”
He filled her champagne glass halfway then his own and set the bottle down on the table. “To your bright future.” He held his glass up and Emi clinked it, her heart swelling the tiniest bit seeing how genuinely proud he seemed. “This is just the beginning.”
“Thank you,” Emi said, bringing the glass to her lips and sipping, and then raised her eyes in surprise. “This is good.” She leaned in to read the label on the bottle. “Bollinger.” Glancing up at Sydney, she took another sip. “I know nothing about champagnes except the only other time I’ve taken a sip was at a wedding. I didn’t care for it. But this, I like.”