Emmeline swiped another coat of ruby red lipstick across her lips, delicately rubbing them together before puckering at her reflection. She heard a deep sigh behind her, and she rolled her eyes before she spun around to see Chris leaning against her door frame.
"We were supposed to leave fifteen minutes ago. Are you done?"
"Yep." Emmeline said, dropping the lipstick in her purse before hoisting it over her shoulder. "We have to pickup Margot too."
"Okay," Chris said slowly, raising his brow at her as he followed her. "You're mad at me?"
"Yeah, I am mad at you." She said, shooting him a glare as they made their way outside. "Seriously, Chris? You had to go all macho big brother on Haley the other day? What, are we five? I don't need you to talk on my behalf, and I certainly don't approve of you making her cry like a total ass. Haley and I's shit is our shit, and no one else's."
"Fuck- I made her cry?" Chris winced. "Shit. I... I just was looking out for you. You're my little sis, I was... Jesus."
"Yeah, you did. You took it way too far." Emmeline said with a pointed glare. For good measure, she made sure to slam the door of his car with as much might as her small frame could muster. Chris managed to look even more pained. "I don't need you to fight my battles for me. I was upset with her, but as much as you are my person, she is too. And I'm not losing her. I think I just knew I had to let her go a little so she would come back to me."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize to me. She deserves your apology, jackass." Emmeline snapped her fingers at him. "Are you going to drive?"
"You're so bossy." He grumbled fondly, looking properly admonished as he began to drive.
***
Emmeline was already two whiskey neats into her night, her hips swaying fluidly to the beat. Anthony Mackie was on the small, wooden stage, delivering a passionate rendition of Shaggy's "It Wasn't Me". Haley was beside her, phone out and recording the performance like a proud soccer mom as Margot yammered on between them. She was about to ask the girls if they'd pick her next song, when they suddenly seemed to make themselves scarce.
When she followed the warm scent of cedar and citrus over her shoulder, she nearly dropped her glass as her heart stammered. All she could do was blink rapidly as Sebastian Stan flashed her a lazy smile, his hand coming to rest on the small of her back as he captured her attention.
He wrung his bottom lip between his teeth in such a way that it drew her attention directly to his mouth as he spoke over the noise. "Hello, Emmeline. Did I scare you? I just wanted to come over and say hi."
"I- no. You just surprised me. I wasn't expecting to see you here tonight."
"I am friends with Chris, and I do live here. In the city, I mean. Not in this uh... lovely establishment." His blue eyes twinkled with mirth as he lifted his glass to his lips, his eyes on her even as he leaned his head back to take a sip.
"Of course."
Of course she knew that he lived in the city- it was a fact she had planted firmly in her hippocampus as she tended to avoid Sebastian. Ever since the night she'd first met him some years ago, she knew he was trouble. Bad news. Her cheeks flamed just remembering it.
It had been Chris's birthday, and Emmeline had taken it upon herself to throw him a party that was borderline over the top for his tastes. They were celebrating at The Crown, a rooftop bar that boasted a breathtaking view of New York City.
"I can't believe you have me doing something nice for Chris," Haley complained beside her, nose scrunched in distaste as she shoved a cake topper on top of a delectable-looking buttercream cake. "I hope his obnoxious girlfriend isn't here tonight, I can't stand her."
