For a brief moment, Rory imagined herself to be someone who could date Gemma but immediately pushed it from her mind. Gemma didn’t need someone who didn’t know herself and having just found her friend, she didn’t want to risk losing her again.
Gemma opened her mouth to say something, but it was drowned out by the front door of the flat opening and a loud voice shouting out.
“Gemma! Are you here?” The door slammed shut, and footsteps advanced up the hallway. “Can you believe some twat in a Porsche has parked in my spot?”
Gemma groaned, and Rory stifled a grin.
“You didn’t tell me it was someone’s parking space.” She hissed at Gemma before turning to look at the person who had walked into the living room. The redhead stopped and looked at Gemma and Rory before dropping her shopping bags onto the counter in the kitchen. Rory stood to introduce herself, but the redhead beat her to it.
“Hi, I’m Teagan, Gemma’s roommate.”
“Hello Teagan, I’m Rory. The twat in the Porsche.” She smiled as she saw the blood drain away from Teagan’s face before she added. “I’m sorry about your parking space. Gemma didn’t tell me they’re reserved.”
“Oh, um, they’re not. Not really, I just like that space because it’s close to the door,” Teagan rambled.
“Ah, same reason I wanted to park there.” Rory sent Teagan her most charming smile and turned to Gemma. “That’s probably a good push for me to get home. I havesome bits to sort out before heading into work tomorrow.” She didn’t really want to go, but faced with Gemma’s roommate and friend, she suddenly felt like the flat was stifling her and she longed to be in the sanctuary of her own home.
Gemma nodded and walked Rory to the door. Before opening it, Rory turned back to Gemma, unsure of how to say goodbye. She desperately wanted to see Gemma again but didn’t know how to vocalise it. For a moment, they just looked at each other before Gemma walked into Rory’s arms for a hug. Instinctively, Rory wrapped her arms around Gemma. They had been tactile as teenagers, but Rory had never really thought about how good Gemma felt in her arms and how well they fit together. Reluctantly, Rory released Gemma and opened her mouth to ask her over for dinner.
“When can I see you again?” Gemma beat her to it and Rory chuckled.
“I was just about to ask if you wanted to come over for dinner.”
“Really?” Gemma smiled, and Rory knew it had been the right thing to ask her.
“Yeah, I mean I’ve seen your place. I thought you’d like to see mine and catch up some more.” Rory shrugged as if it was no big deal, but suddenly she wanted nothing more than to show Gemma her home.
“Sounds good. Would this Friday be too soon for you?”
Rory resisted the temptation to say that tomorrow night wouldn’t be too soon for her. She hadn’t left yet and was already missing Gemma. She nodded her agreement and double-checked Gemma’s number before heading off to her car. Friday couldn’t come soon enough.
13
GEMMA
Gemma shut the door behind Rory and returned to Teagan in the living room.
“So that’s the famous Rory?” Teagan smiled and handed Gemma a glass of wine. Gemma looked at it suspiciously, remembering all the mischief she had got up to thanks to red wine over the weekend.
“Yes, that’s her.”
“Well, your photo didn’t do her justice.” Teagan took a sip of her own wine and fanned herself. “She’s hot with a capital H!”
Gemma sighed and smiled.
“You should have seen her in her suit.” She admitted with a grin. She pulled her phone out of her jeans and showed Teagan some pictures they had taken over the weekend.
“So, what of the famous fiancée?” Teagan settled on the sofa and beckoned Gemma over. “Was she insanely jealous that you were there?”
“Actually, she wasn’t there.” Gemma took a sip that wasalmost a glug and let her head flop back on the sofa as its warmth ran through her body. “She and Rory broke up a few months ago. That’s why I was invited at the last minute. Rory told me on the drive back that it was an engagement gift for her and Darcy, and when Darcy pulled out, I was invited in her place.”
“Oh wow, that’s…” Teagan searched for the word by wafting her hand around in the air. “I don’t know what to think of that, actually.”
“It was fine. It was just like it always had been. Even though it’s been ten years since we’ve seen each other, that time melted away and we went back to being friends again.”
Gemma let her mind wander back to the feeling of being with Rory. It had been so comfortable, so natural to spend time with her and to be in her presence again.
“That’s the thing with good friends.” Teagan interrupted her thoughts. “My bestie and I are like that. We can go months without talking and then boom, it’s like no time has passed.”
