That Summer

Face to Face and Cheek to Cheek...

**A/N: Hiiii! I'm so sorry it's taken so long to update. School took over, and I finally had a moment to continue this lil love story <333 This is a short chapter, but I promise that there's more to come soon! Just wanted to give you all something sooner than later :) Xx  

Stevie and Tom walked back over to the table; she saw Emma talking to a darling looking man, unsure of who it was. Emma looked up at Stevie when she saw her return to the table, looking kind of panicked. "Oh, Stevie! This is..."

"I'm Andrew, Miss Nicks, it's an honor to meet you... and Mr. Petty, wow." The younger man was starstruck, extending his hand to the two rockstars.

"Andrew, son, please – it's Tom." Tom replied, shaking his hand. Stevie followed, "Yes, please call me Stevie. May I ask how you know my assistant?" She queried with a surreptitious smirk. Emma blushed.

"Oh, yes, well...Emma and I actually went to high school together. I'm here for work but live in New York, and I was just asking if she'd like to join me for a drink after dinner... if you'd allow it, of course."

Stevie felt her heart drop. She couldn't say no; she didn't own Emma... but she felt that Emma now owned her – or at least owned her heart. 

But she quickly replied, "My beautiful assistant has her own life, Andrew... so it's up to her. I don't need her to tuck me into bed, which is where I'll be going as soon as we get back to our hotel." She looked over at Emma, seeing her fidgeting with her bracelet.

"Well, I appreciate that," Andrew laughed, "Emma? What do you say? I'll bring you back at a normal hour..."

Emma looked up at Stevie, almost like an indecisive child unable to make her own choices. Stevie winked at her, "Go on, Sweetie... have some fun. You've been around the old people for weeks now!" She gave Emma's shoulder a knowing squeeze.

"Um... okay, sure, just one drink though because I have a lot to do tomorrow," She started.

"Em, please – go have fun tonight. Tom and I are just gonna chill back at the hotel, and then I'm going to bed. You can have the morning off." Emma looked at her with a puzzled face, unsure where any of this was coming from, but choosing not to question it.

"Alright then... let's go!" Andrew smiled while taking Emma's hand.

"Hey – you pull anything, you're dealing with me." Tom pointed at Andrew, unclear whether he was joking or not.

"Yes sir," Andrew pointed back, "I would never steal Stevie Nicks' lifeline from her." Stevie rolled her eyes and laughed, "Ok then, get out of here before I change my mind..." She pushed Andrew toward the door. "Have fun, you crazy kids!" She called after them.

Once they were out the door and out of earshot, Tom pulled her close. "What the hell was that?" He asked.

"I'm not sure..." She thought, rubbing her hand on Tom's chest, "I think I just want her to have options, ya know? I don't want to keep her from living her life. She's young, she needs to have fun." Stevie nervously responded.

"You're sure you're okay with this?" Tom asked.

"Positive. Besides," she raised one eyebrow with a smirk, "she's not gonna sleep with him."

"And how do you know that?" Tom laughed.

"Because she told me she doesn't sleep with men on the first date." Stevie confidently answered.

"Well then, I guess she's no Stephanie Nicks..." Tom joked. Stevie slapped his arm, laughing at the very fair jab.

"She's got a little Stephanie to her... but yes, not that side." Stevie giggled.

"Well, my lady, I think it's time to get you home... looks like Sharon and Jana already headed back without you." Tom grabbed Stevie's bag and put it over his shoulder like a true gentleman, extending his hand out to her and walked her out back to his car.

*****

Stevie lay in bed, glasses on, writing in her journal. It was 2am, about 3 hours since Tom dropped her off back at the hotel. The wine at dinner was hitting her, so she decided to say goodbye to her friend in car and head back up to bed.

She wasn't thinking too much about Emma, but she kept remembering where she was, causing her to panic a little and debate calling her cell to check in with her.

She wanted Emma to have fun tonight. She wanted her to continue having a life outside of whatever this was. Stevie knew it wasn't fair to keep her from enjoying her late 20s like she sure as hell did.

She felt her eyes start to get heavy and her writing start to turn incoherent and sloppy. She closed her journal and put it back into her bag, moving Sulamith to her spot at the foot of the bed. She turned off the side table lamp and got comfortable under the duvet.

Just as she felt herself falling asleep, she heard the key card click open the door. She opened her eyes to see Emma walk in quietly, setting her stuff down on the couch and taking off her shoes and jeans, only to remain in her tank top and underwear.

Stevie closed her eyes again once Emma turned around, pretending to be sound asleep. She suddenly could smell her floral Victoria's Secret perfume that she drowned herself in every morning as she felt Emma's arms wrap around her from behind. Stevie rolled over, laying next to her face to face.

"Hi, baby..." Stevie sleepily whispered, rubbing  Emma's cheek with her thumb, "how was it?"

"Oh, Stevie... it was horrible." Emma whispered back, "I forgot how obnoxious he was, it was so awkward. And then he kissed me at the bar..." Stevie felt her heart sink from jealousy.

"Oh?" Stevie was genuinely surprised, but hoped she was hiding her underlying jealousy well enough, "How was that?" she asked.

"Well... let's just say it's really hard to go back to a guy who doesn't know how to use his tongue correctly when you've been kissing Stevie Nicks for the last week." Emma smiled, looking at Stevie's plush, perfect, pillowy lips.

Stevie grinned probably one of the goofiest smiles she's ever made, full of relief, licking her lips with anticipation.

"I missed you..." Emma whispered again, "And I really missed this." She leaned in, planting a passionate, deep kiss on Stevie's mouth. Stevie reciprocated, running her fingers through Emma's soft, brown locks and wrapping her leg over Emma's hip, grinding lightly against her thigh as Emma ran her nails down Stevie's back.

The two stayed like that for a few minutes, just completely entwined and immersed in each other's passion, unaware of anyone or anything else in the world.

Emma eventually broke the kiss, moving her lips to Stevie's neck and down her chest. Stevie stopped her, "Em, baby... I really want you right now, but I'm truly so exhausted. Let's just snuggle and sleep, okay?" 

Emma looked a little defeated, but she nodded silently, wrapping her arms back around Stevie's neck and kissing her one last time for the night.

"I love you." Emma whispered.

"And I love you, baby girl." Stevie smiled back, kissing Emma's forehead before wrapping her arms back around her waist and pulling her closer, resting her forehead on the same spot she just kissed.

The two women slowly fell asleep – just like that – feeling a mutual sense of comfort that the other still felt the same way: completely head over heels in this crazy, messed up love.