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EMILIA
“So, are you going to go and meet up with him?” Annie stood in the kitchen of their shared house on Saturday afternoon, staring at Emilia with wide eyes. “I mean, his solution is super hot. I’d go out of curiosity, to be honest.”
“Yeah, maybe. I have a few hours to decide still.”
“Are you sure you’re okay with everything?” Annie took a sip of her tea, but Emilia could feel her eyes on her, watching her closely. “I don’t want to push, honestly, it’s just obviously still weighing on you and I’m here if you need me. We all are.”
“I think I’m okay, yeah. Everything’s still a bit up in the air, but I’m fine. Really.”I just feel like life is rushing past me and there’s nothing I can do to stop it coz I’m a talentless loser. No biggie.Not really something she could say out loud, so deflecting seemed like the best plan.
“Mmm,” Annie said non-committedly. “So what are you going to wear tonight?”
Emilia laughed. “I haven’t said I’m going.”
“Yeah, but I know that look on your face, you’re totally gonna go.”
“Okay, okay, ofcourseI’m gonna go. You know, Cameron has treated me differently since the minute I met him.”
“Define differently.”
“I can’t explain it, really. I feel like maybe he sees me for more than my face? It’s just weird cause he hardly knows me. I just feel like he doesn’t give a fuck about my looks, you know? We’ve only spoken twice.”
“Sometimes, twice it all it takes. And you still haven’t answered my question. What are you going to wear?”
* * *
Emilia approached Alfredo’s slowly a few hours later. She’d taken some time getting ready, and with Annie’s help had decided on a flowy, flowery summer dress that fell just short of her knees. She’d pepped it up with strappy heels and hoop earrings and decided on minimal make-up. Apart from her heels, it was an outfit she would have worn anywhere.
But not on a date.
She saw Cameron through the window, sitting at a corner table on his own, eating a breadstick while scrolling through his phone. She also saw him shake his head and put his phone away before he looked up and saw her.
His eyes meeting hers took her breath away. She’d been shocked to see him at work the other day, and the surprise had set off a series of reactions in her that she hadn’t had time to analyze before Mia threw her into working with him. All her walls had gone up at the very sight of him. He held her gaze for what seemed like an eternity before lifting his hand in a wave, a grin spreading across his face. She remembered the way he’d patiently-and in his own way-relaxed her until some of those walls had come down on their own. Taking a deep breath, Emilia smiled and waved back before entering the restaurant and walking straight to the table, determinedly ignoring the fact that her legs were shaking a little.
“Hi, fancy seeingyouhere,” he said as she approached. Getting to his feet, he touched his cheek softly to hers and Emilia could feel the warmth lingering on her skin as he pulled back.
“Is this seat taken?” His eyes lit up at her, sharing the joke and pleasing her no end.
“No, please, sit.” His green eyes glistened at her as she took the empty seat across from him. “You’re full of surprises, Emilia Beyoncé. I didn’t think you’d come and now you’re here, looking incredible, and I forgot all the things I wanted to say if you did show up.”
She felt the laugh bubble up in her throat. “Thank you, you don’t look too bad yourself.” He was wearing jeans that perfectly hugged his thighs and a black shirt with the top three buttons undone. He looked hot, there was no doubt about it.
The server arrived to take their drinks order. Emilia knew him, as she did almost everyone in Esperance, and made small talk before they ordered their drinks. She felt Cameron’s eyes on her the whole time and warmth spread through her.
“You have to stop looking at me like that,” she said half-jokingly when the server walked away.
“Like what?”
“Like I’m a buffet and you’re starving.”
“But what if I am starving?”
“Then you’re out of luck, cause I’m no one’s buffet, and this isn’t a date, remember?” She grinned at him over the top of her wine glass, enjoying herself completely.
“Oh, I remember,” he said, smiling and taking the sting out of his words. They fell into comfortable silence as they pursued the menu before he asked, “Can you recommend anything?”
“It’s all good, but Alfredo’s does the best pizza for miles around.”
“Any particular toppings?”
