by Mj Fields
���You���re a bitch Emma, you changed,��� Troy snarled.
���Yes I have, thanks to you,��� Emma said and walked him to the door. ���Let me know what you decide. Did you drive?���
���No, why? Did you want to call the police?��� Troy said as he scowled at her and walked out.
* * *
Emma sat at the kitchen island drinking a cup of tea and saw Brody walk down the hall and she could tell he was trying not to smile.
Lila and the other guys walked into the kitchen, they all stood and looked at Emma. Emma laughed, ���So he hit on you Lila?���
���Sorry Emma, I would have told you, but you had just miscarried, and I didn���t want to upset you anymore,��� Lila said cautiously.
���Alright then. So what are we going to do tonight?��� Emma forced a smile.
���I thought you already made plans Emma,��� Brody tried to hold back his amusement.
���No, I guess I could get ready for my interviews. You guys have fun,��� Emma said and turned towards the hall.
���Emma I���m going to order dinner in tonight. The guys are staying to avoid the press. Don���t go back in there, please. Have a drink with us,��� Lila begged.
���I don���t want to intrude,��� Emma said and smiled. Lila handed her a glass of wine, and she sat and listened to Brody and his friends talk as she thumbed through her music.
���Emma would you like to listen to Maroon 5 or Kids Bop?��� Brody said and laughed as he took the wine and handed her a beer.
���How about Brody Hines?��� His friend Joe asked.
���No, she doesn���t care for my music,��� Brody laughed without smiling.
���I never said that,��� Emma said apologetically.
���What do you mean you don���t like his music?��� Joe said laughing.
���It���s not fun enough, not poppy,��� he laughed.
There���s that P again, Emma thought and smiled to herself.
She threw him a silly look, ���It���s great ��� just not happy and upbeat.���
���So it���s music that you would make love to?��� Joe asked.
Emma choked on her drink, and Brody laughed. ���No, more like watching someone through a window as they have sex, right Emma?���
���Wow, that���s pretty awkward if that���s what you got out of our conversation,��� Emma said and laughed uncomfortably.
���No…awkward would be the conversation I heard while using the restroom, and you and your ex were talking������ Brody laughed obviously loosening up after a few drinks.
���Do tell,��� Lila giggled as Emma closed her eyes and tried not to laugh.
���Well apparently, Emma is going to make some rock star very happy. Lots of sex, blowjobs, and possibly������ Brody started, and Emma threw a towel at him, he laughed. ���Emma dear, were you talking about me?���
���Troy brought it up and I was trying to make him mad,��� Emma turned red.
���Well, I think you succeeded,��� Brody guffawed.
���Were you spying on me?��� Emma smirked.
���No, I truly had to use the restroom, when I went to leave, that ass was being rude. I was afraid he may hurt you,��� Brody said sincerely looking into Emma���s eyes.
When he looked at her like that, she felt vulnerable and nervous. She cast her eyes down hoping to find something humorous to say to make her less uncomfortable.
���That���s very sweet of Brody, isn���t it?��� Lila said looking at his friends.
Joe smiled, ���Brody man, you���re pretty intense.���
���Or pretty drunk,��� Emma smiled at them, trying to lighten the conversation that was now making her uncomfortable.
���I���m not drunk,��� Brody said insistently and sat back. ���I don���t like him.���
���Well me either,��� Emma laughed and stood up. ���Anyone want a drink?���
���I do,��� they all said.
���Turn on some music,��� Emma yelled over her shoulder.
Emma handed out drinks and sat down and listened to the music.
Her foot was tapping, and Joe noticed, ���You like this song Emma?���
���Yes��� actually it���s upbeat,��� Emma smiled.
���It���s Brody,��� Joe grinned.
���Okay, what changed from then and now?��� Emma looked at Brody.
���I was younger,��� Brody sat forward and looked at his friends. ���We had a lot of fun then, huh?���
���Sure did, but that was before,��� Joe said and laughed.
���Yes���before,��� Brody laughed and ran his fingers through his hair.
���Before what?��� Lila asked.
���Before that whose name we cannot mention,��� Joe laughed.
���Well then we won���t,��� Emma laughed. ���So why not live like you did then, happier times?���
���It was in England, five years ago. We were twenty three then,��� Brody smiled looking down. ���So you two were thirty?���
Lila laughed, ���I was, Emma was twenty nine.���
���Happier times,��� Emma smiled as she grabbed her phone and sent a text to London.
- I miss you London, can’t wait to see you���Mommy
- Miss you too. I���m having a great time with Grandma. I���m tired and going to bed. I will call you tomorrow���London
- Sweet dreams, make sure you say your prayers���Mommy
���Are you texting London?��� Lila asked.
���Yep,��� Emma smiled.
���You know people in London?��� Joe asked.
���Her daughter���s name is London,��� Brody told him.
���How old is she?��� Joe asked.
���She is seven,��� Brody and Emma said at the same time.
Brody smiled, ���She is a beautiful girl, Emma. You miss her?���
���Thank you and yes very much,��� Emma said.
She looked at her watch, and it was only eight o���clock.
���Are we keeping you from something? Maybe a date with a Rock Star?��� Brody smiled making her uncomfortable.
���Hmm is Maroon Five playing here tonight?��� Emma laughed, ���Or no ��� how about Pearl Jam?���
���Eddie Vedor,��� Emma and Lila said and laughed.
���Isn���t his music quite serious?��� Brody asked.
���Yep, he was a favorite in college,��� Lila answered.
���Green Day,��� Emma laughed.
���Emma, you���re drunk,��� Lila laughed.
���Wow…I think I am,��� Emma smiled at her. ���We should go out and dance Lila!���
���Or we could dance here?��� Lila stood up and flipped through her music.
���But who would be the lucky Rock Star?��� Brody looked directly into her eyes as he bit his cheek trying not to smile.
���Do you think you could play the part?��� Emma smiled as she winked and laughed at him. He blushed.
���Emma!��� Lila said shocked.
���I was joking,��� Emma laughed.
���Well that���s a shame��� Joe laughed, ���Isn���t it Brody?���
Brody smiled seductively as he looked her u
p and down, ���Sure is.���
Lila and Emma cleaned up the coffee table and sat on the couch looking through a college yearbook. Brody, Joe, Quinn, and Max laughed over their shoulders as they showed them pictures.
���Well let’s see your pictures from eleven years ago, I���m sure they would be just as funny,��� Lila laughed.
���We were seventeen,��� Max laughed.
���Wow that makes me feel ancient!��� Lila laughed.
���No kidding,��� Emma smiled and laughed. ���We could be their mothers!���
Emma and Lila laughed until tears came out of their eyes.
���Were you sexually active and menstruating at seventeen?��� Brody asked his voice and face suddenly turned serious.
Lila and Emma laughed harder.
���I don���t think so,��� Emma said laughing.
���When did you have sex for the first time?��� Brody asked.
���Are you always this serious?��� Emma looked at him as she tried not to laugh.
���Just curious,��� Brody looked intense.
���Well I was in high school, it was after my junior Prom,��� Lila laughed. ���Emma here made Troy wait two years before she put out. So that was thirteen years ago right Emma?���
���Yes,��� Emma laughed. ���I tormented him; perhaps that���s why he turned out to be an ass.���
���Oh now it���s your turn guys let’s have it,��� Lila said.
���It���s not something I would like to share,��� Brody said biting his bottom lip trying not to smile.
���Too private? Maybe you should sing it then,��� Emma laughed.
���Well my dear Emma, I was thirteen. So by my best guess, I had sex for the first time before you. Making it impossible that you could be my mother, do you understand?��� Brody said searching deeply in her eyes.
���I do. You were a slut,��� Emma laughed, and everyone joined in which broke Brody���s intense look.
���I was not,��� his smile hit his eyes.
���Thirteen? Did you even know what your penis was for at that age?��� Emma laughed.
���Apparently I did, I still do. I think anyway…it���s been a very long time,��� Brody snickered.
���You���re a Rock Star hot stuff, get out there,��� Emma laughed.
���You first Emma,��� Brody smiled.
���I���m not divorced, oh and I���m a Mom,��� Emma laughed.
Brody smiled at her, ���But I should just go have sex with anyone willing?���
���Well not anyone, I mean I���m sure you can be picky,��� Emma said, and she and Lila giggled. ���Besides, if you just had sex with anyone willing you would probably never finish your album, you would be a very busy boy.���
���Thank you for the ego boost,��� Brody���s eyes expressed amusement.
���No problem. I had a lot of fun tonight, thank you guys. I���m going to bed,��� Emma smiled. ���Goodnight.���
Emma walked down the hall and into the bedroom.
* * *
���What���s going on with you Brody?��� Joe asked.
���Whatever do you mean?��� Brody asked in a serious tone and took a drink.
���Emma, do you have a thing for her?��� Joe asked.
���I find her interesting, refreshing actually. As far as a thing goes, I wouldn���t say that,��� Brody said deep in thought.
���You wouldn���t, but those of us watching what goes on with you when she���s present would beg to differ,��� Lila smiled. ���On that note, goodnight everyone.���
* * *
Emma walked into the midtown office building and had butterflies in her stomach. She rode the elevator to the twenty second floor. The doors opened and she stepped out into the lobby of Writes House and looked around. The brunette behind the desk asked if she could help her, she told her that she was there for an interview, she was asked to have a seat and wait to be called.
Emma���s interview went well. She had three more that day��� all of which made her feel uneasy, not because she felt like they didn���t like her, but because she didn���t want life to change for London. She wanted something to be normal.
* * *
Emma walked into Lila���s apartment, and Brody was sitting at the counter with his iPad, looking serious.
���Hello Brody,��� Emma said as she walked past him.
���Oh good afternoon, I didn���t hear you come in, how did your interviews go?��� Brody turned towards her.
���They went fine,��� Emma said softly.
���Why do you look bewildered?��� Brody pulled out the chair next to him and patted it for her to sit.
Emma sat and looked up at him, ���I guess because I am. If any of them offer me the job it would mean I would have to move.���
���And did you not expect that?���
���Well,��� Emma said looking down in deep thought, ���I guess I just don���t want to do that to my daughter. She���s already had to make a lot of changes.���
���Children are resilient, right?���
Emma laughed, ���That���s what they say. I think they just have no choice. The adults make the decision not taking into consideration what they want or need,��� Emma laughed knowing she was getting too serious. ���But it���s my job to figure out what is best for her, and I will.���
���What are your options?��� Brody asked.
���Well, I could stay where we are and hope to get enough substitute teaching jobs to pay living expenses, dance tuition, oh and I promised piano lessons. I could continue being there for everything which I have been fortunate enough to do, even after the split, or I could take whatever offer I���m given and move with my parents until I find a place, and depend on them to pick up my slack,��� Emma said shaking her head.
���Or you could run away with your daughter, you had mentioned that before,��� Brody smiled.
Emma laughed, ���That too. Lots to figure out. So what���s next for you?���
���I guess I���m going back to my house in Liverpool to finish my album and breathe,��� Brody said looking confused. ���After I wrap some things up here,��� he sat back.
���Well I truly wish you the best, Brody Hines,��� Emma said with a smile.
He leaned forward and looked intensely in her eyes, and she couldn���t pull her eyes away from him. Oh he is beautiful, she thought as she took a quick sharp breath.
���Emma, are you alright?��� Brody whispered.
Her eyes widened, and she nodded her head yes. He took her hand and kissed it.
Holy shit, she thought as she looked down.
���Am I making you uncomfortable?���
���God yes,��� Emma gasped nervously.
���Can I hug you Emma?��� Brody asked softly staring at her making her more uncomfortable.
Sure at least then I wouldn���t have to feel you staring at me. She nodded her head yes, and he stood and wrapped his arms around her.
���I want you to be alright, I just don���t know why������ Brody whispered.
She wrapped her arms around him, ���Thank you.���
Damn he smells good, and he���s so damn gorgeous, oh boy this isn���t good, she thought. She felt him pulling away and lifting her chin.
���Emma I���m going to kiss you.���
Emm
a opened her eyes just in time to move her face so that his kiss landed on her cheek.
���Oh, oh, I���m extremely sorry,��� Brody said releasing her and stepping back looking dismayed.
���Oh, please don���t be like that, please,��� Emma grabbed his hand.
���No, I overstepped, I just thought…Damn it.���
���Oh Brody please don���t make this awkward, I���ve truly enjoyed getting to know you,��� Emma pleaded.
���I don���t know how I can avoid awkward after that,��� he started walking towards the door.
���Please don���t go,��� slipped out of Emma���s mouth before she could stop it.
He turned and looked at her. His face was a cross between mad and confused.
���Emma, I thought there was something…I���m sorry.���
She watched him grab his jacket and felt panicked.
She didn���t realize until that very moment that she truly liked him, no she needed him, ���Maybe I messed up,��� she said loudly and gasped.
���Emma,��� he breathed out as he turned around, ���You���re confusing me.���
���Well you just confused me and now you���re leaving?���
���Do you want me to stay Emma?��� Brody searched her face.
���Yes,��� Emma said softly.
���But how do we get past that?��� Brody asked motioning to the spot he kissed her.
���I don���t know, maybe try it again,��� she looked down.
He walked to her and wrapped one arm around her waist and lifted her chin with the other, she was trembling.
���Emma you���re shaking,��� he kissed her cheek.
���Sorry,��� she said breathlessly.
���You don���t have to,��� Brody said softly as he stroked her hair and pulled her closer to him.
���I want to,��� Emma whispered.
���You���re sure?��� He searched her eyes.
She quickly closed them and whispered, ���Would you just kiss me?���
