Chapter Eleven: Confessions

                                    

                                          
Emma smiled, feeling a warmth wrapped around her body. It was Buck. She was laying on her side, his torso pressed against her back. She could smell soap on his skin. Based off the pattern of his breathing, Emma assumed he was still asleep. She heard a pounding on her front door. Her blood ran cold. It must have been what woke her up.
"Emma Riley if you don't answer this door in 2 minutes I am going to call the police." She heard a voice say.
It made Emma smile. The voice was Claire. She gently scooted from Buck's embrace. His arms fell onto the mattress. She glanced back at him and her breath caught in her throat. Buck was the most handsome man she had ever seen.
His blue eyes were closed, and his muscled chest was gently moving up and down. Snapping out her Buck trance, Emma walked to her front door. She gently cracked it, making eye contact with her friend. If she opened the door anymore, Claire would see Buck in her bed.
"Emma." She scowled, "I have been so worried about you, I've been calling for days."
"I know." Emma sighed, "I'm sorry, Claire. There has been so much going on."
Claire shrugged, "I got time now to hear it, can I come in?"
Emma bit her lip. "Now isn't a good time."
Claire rolled her eyes, pushing into her apartment.
"Wait, Claire." Emma protested.
Claire had already stopped, her gaze on a sleeping Evan Buckley. Claire raised an eyebrow, turning to Emma.
"Is there any particular reason a hot fire fighter is in your bed with no shirt?"
Emma chuckled, "Let me put on some tea and I can let you know the entire story."
Buck groaned, sitting up in bed. He locked eyes with Claire, then with Emma.
"This isn't what it looks like." Buck said.
"Whatever, fire boy." Claire said. "Why don't you go get us some breakfast while Emma fills me in?"
"Claire." Emma scolded, "Be nice."
Buck laughed, slipping out of bed. He threw a t-shirt on.
"I think I can do that." He spoke. "Emma, I will be back in an hour."
Emma nodded from the island, watching him leave. She began making two glasses of tea while Claire sat on the couch.
"I just don't understand why you couldn't tell me you were seeing him." Claire said, her voice hurt.
Emma smiled, bringing the tea to her friend. She sat beside her, sighing.
"I'm going to tell you the full story, Claire." Emma said, looking into her friend's eyes. "However, it's a long one. They are things you don't know about me. Things that I have never told you. I just need you to listen."
Claire nodded, "OK."
Emma sighed and for the second time, she told her story. By the time she was finished, Claire had tears streaming down her cheeks. Claire quickly wiped them when Emma was finished.
"Emma." She breathed, "I'm so sorry that you had to go through that. I'm even more sorry you suffered in silence for so long."
Emma nodded, "I am doing better. A lot of that is thanks to Buck."
"I'm glad you tripped over him in that hallway."
Emma smiled, "I am too."
"I have never seen you act like this over a man."