MAL!!!!!!
printed this off for you in case you want to do any other cool gay stuff with me.
(imagine a sunglasses emoji is here okay?)
EMERSON!!!!
CHAPTERNINEMOVE IN WITH ME
On Monday, in the short hour they had crammed into their schedule for time at the Haus, Mal arrived Mal Late, which meant only five minutes early.
It was a cool day, overcast and gray, and Mal lingered on their walk in, taking time to appreciate the ginkgo trees that lined the upper part of Greenup Street, closer to the river. They were changing color at last and were currently Mal’s favorite shade of green-just-starting-to-turn-yellow. Mal ran their fingers over the ombre line where waxy green faded to waxy yellow, wondering when they would fall.
Soon, they hoped. It was always an incredible sight, the way the ginkgos all decided to shed their leaves at once. And if the slight chill to the breeze was any indication, they might be right.
But lingering meant that when they walked through the front door of the Haus, they weren’t as on time as they liked to be—but they were still more on time thanEmersontended to be, so they waited at the front coffee bar, trying not to be obvious about keeping an eye on the door while they watched for her bright hair to come through it.
The minutes crept by, Mal checking the time regularly on their phone lock screen.
At 4:03—practically late enough that they’d considered packing it up and going home—Sam, clad today in a red beanie and an orange flannel, noticed them.
“Oh, hey,” they said, nodding at Mal from behind the bar. “Emerson’s here already.”
“What?” Mal said, their voice bordering on indignant, before they could stop themself.
“I know,” Sam said, and laughed. “I’m as surprised as you. But she’s in the back already.”
“Oh.” She could have texted, at least. Mal frowned. Nowtheywere late. “Well, can I get a coffee, please?”
“She’s got you covered already—took one back for you.” Catching the look Mal must have worn plain on their face, Sam added with a grin, “Sweet, right? If you need a refresh, let me know. I can warm it up for you.”
“Thanks, Sam.”
“No problem, Mal.”
And then Mal was off, headed to the back room.
“Finally,” Emerson exclaimed as soon as Mal walked in, turning to face them with one hand on her hip in mock exasperation. “I’ve been waitingforever.”
Guilt surged through Mal. “I’m sorry, I didn’t—”
“Chill, Mal.” Emerson’s shoulders rolled with laughter as she beckoned them over. “Literally it’s been like ten minutes, tops. Also, I got you coffee! It should be perfect guzzling temperature now.”
Mal grinned despite themself. “Some of us like toenjoyour coffee, Emerson.”
“Well, it could never be me,” she said, twirling once in her rolling chair. “But come on in anyway, I guess.”
And so Mal did, and as soon as they came closer—as soon as they were able to take their eyes off Emerson, who today wore a bright green swing dress that did nice things to her curves—they noticed a shift.
“You… decorated,” they said, blinking at the new scenery.
“Yep!” chirped Emerson. “I’m moving in!”
