“I just thought things were off. Never mind. I must have imagined it.” Cass rambled on about a nightclub she was going to with Kally. Smiling, I pretended to listen. I knew when my best friend was lying, but I also knew she’d talk to me when she was ready.
“Sounds fun. Have a good night. I have to get ready to entertain a four year old.”
The little girl stood behind Simon's leg, peering out at me curiously.
I smiled at her and her face disappeared out of view. She was shy, but she was adorable. Her chocolate curls, which hung down to her shoulders, were held off her face with a pink butterfly clip. Her bright pink skirt completely mismatched her orange leggings and green shirt.
I knelt down in front of her. She looked at me suspiciously, her little white knuckles gripping Simon’s leg.
“You look very pretty today.” I said to her. She smiled, stepping forward proudly, momentarily forgetting her shyness.
“I picked it myself too.” She announced, twirling so I could get the full effect of her outfit. Just like that, her guarded exterior was gone. We were friends.
“She screamed when I tried to change her leggings.” Simon rolled his eyes. “I couldn't even bribe her with candy.”
“And so you shouldn't!” I chided. “A four year old with a sugar high is never a good thing.” Simon glanced over at the mountain of fairy bread sitting on the counter.
“Really?” He raised his eyebrows, amused. Maybe I wasn’t in the best position to lecture him, the amount of sugar piled into my little triangles of bread would horrify my dentist.
“That was the only thing I had the ingredients to make.” I flushed. “It's not like you gave me much notice.”
“So do you make fairy bread often? I mean, you had all the ingredients already.” He added. I blushed again. Laughing, Simon carried Maddie over to the couch. I followed with the fairy bread and drinks.
“Maddie, this is daddy’s friend, Emma.” Maddie looked up at me with her huge blue eyes. When she smiled, I could see she was missing one of her front teeth.
“No daddy, Emma is my friend.” Maddie replied. I held out a slice of fairy bread. I'd picked the bit with the most pink. Simon rolled his eyes again. It didn’t take much to convert her to team Emma.
“I’ve lost my girlfriend to a four year old.” He muttered under his breath. I glanced at him.
Did he just say girlfriend?
He winked at me. I smiled, turning my attention back to my new friend.
“Maddie, would you like a slice?” Maddie leaned forward slightly, her expression still serious. She inspected the sprinkles on the bread.
She seemed satisfied with the amount of pink and nervously took the slice from me. I smiled at Simon as she bit into the bread, sending a cascade of sprinkles onto the couch. I giggled.
“You are amazing.” He whispered softy to me, ruffling Maddie's hair.
“Girlfriend, hey?” Simon flushed, only now realising what he’d said. He rolled his eyes as I laughed, enjoying his discomfort. His eyes were firmly fixed on me. Maddie and I had gone from friends to best buddies as we sat down of the floor to play dolls. Simon watched on in amusement, shaking his head at me. I didn't care.
This was awesome. I loved dolls.
We played for a while, until she felt sleepy. She climbed onto the couch and fell asleep. Simon waited until she was snoring softly. He turned to me. He shook his head at me. He did that a lot. I was finally accepting that was a good thing.
“Have I mentioned how amazing I think you are?” He said again. What was that, the fourth time today?
“Yes, it’s not the first time I’ve heard about this amazing girlfriend of yours.” Simon chuckled. He reached for my hand, pulling me back against him. Honestly though, I was happy to hear it as often as he wanted to say it. I fiddled with the drawstring on my top. Meeting Maddie today had been a huge step for me. It made me sad, realising all the things I'd miss out on in Simon and Maddie's lives if I couldn't break out of myself.
“Yes, I consider you my girlfriend. Do you have a problem with that?”
“Nope. No problem with that at all.” He kissed my forehead, the touch of his lips sending my senses into overdrive.
“How are you feeling, Em?”
“I’m good.” And I was feeling good.
“Really? I know the hearing date is getting closer. I want to help you. Please let me help you in any way I can.” His voice was so gentle, he continued to kiss me softly, working his lips down my neck. How had I managed to woo such a wonderful guy?