Playfully she’d swat at Emily’s arm then, head giving an amused sort of shake, yet still Carolyn remained utterly unable to hide the smile from her face. “Yes, a friend,” she echoed, though perhaps more so for herself. To usher the doubt that had begun to fester—to ruin that happy day and night. No, Carolyn wouldn’t allow that, and so just as quickly as it had come, the dark was sent away. Allowing the woman to focus on the good. To laugh even, at what Emily had said.
Carolyn had just started to confirm Jesse’s costume, when Emily had went on. A flush finding her cheeks at the blonde appraisal of the other. A heat that rose into her features, and one that remained with Emily’s protective nature. “He hasn’t, though you can’t hold it against him, the fact that he’s even willing to be around me speaks volumes for the saint he is,” she shook her head then, amusement in the words despite their heaviness. That self-deprecating humour. “He knows about—” she trailed off, implying he who would not be named, “I told him a few days after the wedding, after everything that happened there…”
She had told Emily what had happened, perhaps not in the detail that the blonde had wanted but Carolyn did share what she had learned. About the conversations that had happened after. She had to tell someone—though hadn’t given Warren’s name or any true details about him. That was his secret to tell. “So I think all of that sort of shot the idea of a date in the foot, don’t you? Besides, I probably shouldn’t be allowed to date regardless.” With that she smiled, a part of her meaning those words for after everything that had happened—after the wedding, Warren—Cohen and Jesse. No, she didn’t deserve much.
Emily shook her head. “Even if you didn’t try, many of the men in this town would burst if they thought they had a chance with you.” She said confidently. “Also you’re a hot redhead. If I rolled that way, I’d probably have fantasies about you too.” Emily said teasingly even though she meant every word. “Oh…” Emily raised a brow, slightly impressed that this Jesse guy hasn’t run off. Maybe she should give him more credit.
“Why shouldn’t you be allowed to have fun and move on? A man wouldn’t even think twice.” Emily pushed herself up from the sink and walked closer to Carolyn. She placed her hands on both her arms and spoke bluntly. “If I didn’t love you so much, I’d join in on the self depricating comments. But, until when will you continue punishing yourself? You deserve to be happy just as much as anyone else. I think even more.” She reased Carolyn’s arm, grabbing another slice of pizza to stuff her face.
“Besides, men and women can not be just friends without ever thinking about sleeping with each other.” To prove a point, Emily brought up Cohen. It was her intent to build him up to Carolyn, but she probably did the opposite. “Cohen is one of my best friends and I can recall times I thought about him naked. He’s packing on a lot more than it looks,” She said, nudging the other woman’s arm.
A few moments later, the doorbell rang and Emily made her way to open it. “Well, hello. You must be Jesse.” Emily greeted the handsome stranger, opening the door wider for him to enter the house. Standing behind the man, Emily made sure to catch Carolyn’s attention so she could mod in approval while giving her a little wink from across the room.
Although Jesse had some reservations about his costume, he knew that it wouldn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. Tonight was all about Avery and her experience trick or treating, rather than what he looked like as an unexpected chaperone.
Nerves growing within the pit of his stomach, Jesse stopped to remove his motorcycle helmet before replacing it with the black, fuzzy cat ears he’d purchased from the costume shop earlier that week. It was hard to say why he was always so flustered by the red head. He had come to know Carolyn fairly well over the last few months — arguably a little too well. But as hard as he tried to shake this inner anxiety, Jesse made his way up to the door feeling much like a schoolboy with a crush.
Before he could waste another moment, Jesse rang the doorbell, allowing his eyes to wander as he waited. It was easy to see that both Avery and Carolyn were fans of the holiday, taking note of the jack-o-lanterns sitting on either side of the front steps, along with the number of decorations they’d positioned around the front yard. As the door creaked open, a bright smile lit up his features, already prepared with a compliment. “I always knew you were a wizard with the scissors, but it turns out you can carve a—” Finally meeting the woman’s eyes, he came to discover that the blue orbs staring back at him were not those he had become accustomed to. Face flushing a bright shade of red, Jesse paused to clear his throat before finally speaking once more. “In the flesh. Sorry, I thought you were Carolyn. She didn’t think to tell me that her fairy godmother would be here. Please tell me you won’t turn my motorcycle into a pumpkin come midnight.”
