Matters of the Heart

Chapter 37: Forever (Part II)

Chapter 37:

Forever (Part II)

The house smelled delicious when Emily walked inside, the scent of Ali's vegetarian lasagna wafting through the air. Ali came strolling out of the kitchen, trying to appear nonchalant, because she knew Emily hated it when she jumped all over her after her appointments.

"That was a quick visit." Ali walked over to meet her.

"I'm getting pretty good at them. I'm basically going through the drive-thru now." Emily joked.

"How'd it go?" Ali asked eagerly.

"Good." Emily kept her reply simple. She wasn't quite ready to unload the visit yet.

Ali peered at her curiously. It wasn't like Emily to be so vague after her appointments. She usually gave Ali more details, because she knew that if she didn't Ali would turn into an incessant child nagging her, poking her until she spilled her guts.

"Everything is okay?" Ali pried.

"Yeah." Emily nodded, a tight smile on her face. "I'm going to take a quick shower and get ready."

Ali's eyes narrowed, following Emily's stride as she walked up the stairs. She didn't like how squirrelly Emily was being. She heard a timer go off in the kitchen, and she turned her attention towards the food.

She'd planned on asking Emily for more details about her appointment, but Hanna and Caleb showed up early. Emily opened the door and Hanna practically jumped into her arms to hug her, careful not to squeeze her too tight so she wouldn't hurt her. Emily stumbled back a few feet and laughed.

"Easy." Caleb couldn't help but laugh. "If you bulldoze her too hard you're gonna have to face the wrath of Ali."

"It's fine." Emily hugged Hanna back. "I've missed you, too, Han."

"It's been, like, forever." Hanna pulled back, a huge grin on her face.

"We just saw you at the wedding two weeks ago," Emily said with a smile.

"That's what I told her." Caleb shrugged. "She just told me to shut up. Guess I can't compete with true love. I only married her. You're the one she loves the most." He joked, leaning in for a hug. "You been doing okay?"

"Yep." Emily nodded.

Ali came walking down the stairs.

"Hey, guys!" She waved.

Caleb shot her a small wave back. Hanna paced over to hug Ali.

"How was Italy?" Ali asked.

"Ah, bello." Hanna replied with an Italian inflection. "How have things been here?"

Emily and Ali looked at each other, both smiling.

"Good," Ali said.

Moments later, Toby and Spencer walked in and the second round of hugs began. Hanna regaled them all with tales from her trip. Spencer chatted about her mother's victory in the State Senate. Emily was just content to listen to them talk. She had so much love for her friends. They had no idea.

A few minutes before Ezra and Aria were expected to arrive, Emily went to take the finger foods to the table they'd set up outside. Spencer was the first one up to help her. Ali offered, but Emily asked her to check on dinner instead. Ali frowned, convinced that Emily was trying to avoid her.

When Spencer walked outside she couldn't help but be amazed at the transformation from Rosewood to Hollywood. There was a red carpet leading out to a canopy with a table that had a black backdrop behind it with a Hollywood sign that stood out in bold white letters. There were balloons and lanterns with stars and a bunch of other LA-themed décor.