Late Night Munch

12

TRIGGER WARNING: this chapter contains mentions of substance abuse and implications of sexual assault. If you read this chapter I URGE you to read the authors note at the end that will explain some of the character thoughts. Some behaviors I don't want people to misinterpret as these are serious subjects. MY beliefs and thoughts are in NO way tied to the characters because their experience is what forms their thoughts. All of this will make sense at the end.
(Edit: I forgot to mention that from now on Ethan will be named Tucker. For my own sanity I can't dwell on Ethma anymore. It seriously feels like writing about an ex boyfriend or something.)

The flash of the camera was blinding as it reflected off the glass refrigerator doors. He smelled the faint remnants of her vanilla perfume when she leaned over to examine the photo. His eyes were immediately drawn to her dimples, her smile indicating that she approved of the candid take. The quality of his pictures had significantly improved since they first began.

"I like this one." She murmured. "It's something I'd post to Instagram." There wasn't a higher praise Tucker could think of. Emma took her social media very seriously when it came down to capturing an aesthetic or essence.

"Of course you do, it's your face." He teased.

He quickly snapped a close up picture of her indignant expression. "This has to be one of my favorites." He said, pointing at the screen.

Although she brushed it off as another one of his jokes, he was being sincere. In this one you could actually see her freckles. The light makeup that she had on to enhance her features was covering some of his favorite ones. He vaguely remembers her mentioning covering up her under eyes bags and the redness of her acne, but with foundation it made it harder to notice the beautiful, golden specks from far away.

"You should let me take some of you." Emma said.

"What? Why" He said in genuine confusion.

"Don't you want to have pictures to show to your grandkids?" She asked. "Then you can brag about how good looking you were in your 20's." Emma winked.

He shrugged, "I think I'm good. I don't even think I'll have kids."

She didn't fully hear him because her attention was immediately drawn to the buzzing in her pocket. "Shit!" She exclaimed when she opened the notification.

"You alright?" He asked.

"Yeah," She muttered and let out a breathy sigh, "It's just the realtor letting me know that the apartment I filed for was no longer available."

"Oh, I didn't know you were moving." He said.

"I would've told you, but I didn't think it was important considering I haven't found a place yet." She said.

Tucker nervously fidgeted with the camera in his hands, "Do you trust me?"

"Hmm?" She asked half confused. She wasn't sure where all of this was coming from and in all honesty her mind was preoccupied with responding to the email. She was trying to type back a response that didn't sound desperate.

"Do you trust me?" He repeated.

"Yeah, of course I do." Emma said.

"What would you say if I told you I'm looking for a roommate?" He asked.

She scoffed, "I'd call bs."

"I'm not bullshitting you. I am looking for one and I'm getting desperate. The last few guys I interviewed seemed like roommates from hell." He said.

"How long have you been looking?" Emma asked.

"In theory a couple of months, but seriously looking I'd say a couple weeks.My old roommate has already found a place and is in the process of moving his stuff out." He said.