One Door Closes

Chapter 8

It's difficult to ignore Graham, yet keep him on the hook, but it's going very well. Emma and I keep messing with his mind by letting him think one of us is cheating, while the other sends a text message. Or we both go to the same place at the same time. We don't do it constantly, because we don't want him to suspect anything, but we're having a lot of fun with it.

The most risky part has to be the moment I got Graham to pick me up from Granny's, after I'd had lunch with Emma. I told him to wait for me outside and before I left the diner, I hugged Emma. I knew it was in Graham's sight. He was bright red and utterly stressed out. I innocently asked him why and he merely stuttered some vowels. I reassured him that it was Mal, my friend and client and given the clothes I'd gotten Emma to wear, it made a lot of sense. Right at that moment, Emma sent him a photo of her lunch with one of her colleagues in the hair salon. I haven't seen him tremble as much as he did that afternoon.

I lie awake in bed. I know I have to get up early, because the holiday season is approaching and that means business will increase. But the more I start thinking about having to get up early, the less sleepy I get.

It's only twelve o'clock. I still have a solid six hours to rest. Kathryn is coming tomorrow, I need to brief her on the rent updates. I know Mal will be wanting new sets this month, we still have to make a selection. I go over everything I have to do tomorrow multiple times, but it doesn't help getting me to sleep. I still have five and a half hours.

Then, I hear my doorbell ring. I frown, confused, and get out of bed. I have no idea who could be on my doorstep and I just pray it isn't Graham. I've had him for the last couple nights, now it's Emma's turn.

It isn't Graham. It's Emma. She looks tired.

"I'm so sorry, Regina. I know we don't have the kind of relationship that we wake each other in the middle of the night, but I didn't know where else to go."

I let her inside without questioning. She looks unsettled and I give her a long hug after I close the door. She reciprocates the embrace and nuzzles her nose in my neck.

"It's silly," she says. I feel her body moving as she talks, but neither of us pulls away yet. "You've had Graham around for the last three days and didn't complain, but I immediately start acting like a baby."

"You're not," is all I say. She doesn't believe me, I can feel it. I think her behavior is justifiable. If I'd had the balls, I'd have escaped to her apartment every night Graham slept at my place, but I thought she wouldn't appreciate that one bit. I'm glad she's here.

"He just.. he was sleeping beside me and I couldn't find any rest. I kept thinking about all the ways he'd hurt me and how he'd betrayed both of us and it all went downwards from then on. I realized I'd rather have you yelling at me for waking you up in the middle of the night than spend one more second pretending to sleep next to Graham."

I hug her tighter. I'm happy to see her. I wouldn't be this happy to see any of my other friends at this hour, but I hope she's going to stay and sleep over.

"You're always welcome here. Doesn't matter what time it is." She lets go of me and smiles. It's a sweet, warm smile and it makes my heart pound louder. She looks happy to see me, that makes me feel good. "I hate Graham for hurting us both, but I'm so grateful I got this friendship out of it."

Emma nods and shifts on her feet. "I should probably head home, though. I don't want to ruin any more of your sleep. I just really needed to see you."

"No, don't.. go. You can stay here. If you want, that is. I really want to know what's going to happen with Paul Young."

We've started watching Desperate Housewives on a regular basis. Every Saturday night we came up with a plan to get rid of Graham and we get together in my bed to watch the show. Last weekend was the third time after Graham's party that we got together and I constantly look forward to the next time.