Emma swallowed. She could hear her pulse pounding in her ears, like she was on a roller coaster approaching its first free fall. “Obviously?”
“Well, after you introduced us, I just thought, why would he? But then I started to suspect maybe he did? It’s like you said, the more time you spend with someone, the more you start to read the signs.”
Oh God. Emma was going to be sick.
“And it’s perfect because I’m pretty sure he’s not even lookingfor a relationship, so—” Nadine caught her friend’s blanched expression and her smile faltered. “Are you mad?”
“No.” Emma shook her head, her tongue darting out to wet her dry lips. “No, I’m not mad. It’s just… Nadine, I have to tell you something too.”
Silence descended and Nadine’s eyes grew wide. “Is it about the Met interview?”
“No, that can wait. I just… I have to tell you…” Emma closed her eyes to steel her resolve. “We… he and I… hooked up.”
A long moment passed. When Emma finally opened her eyes, her friend was still there, her face contorted as she processed the information.
“You hooked up,” Nadine repeated slowly.
“Yes.”
“So… are you two together or—”
“I… I think I’m in love with him.”
It was the first time she had said it out loud. The words came so naturally, so easily, it was like they had been there on her tongue for ages, just waiting to be set free. It felt good.
Then she saw her friend’s expression. Nadine’s usual smile was gone, her mouth slack, and her eyes were staring straight ahead.
“In love with him,” she murmured to herself.
“I’m so sorry, Nadine.” Emma sat down on the sofa beside her. She tried to push down the guilt, but it only came roaring back. “We didn’t plan it or anything. It just happened.”
Nadine swallowed. “I… I guess it makes sense. You’ve known him for so long. There’s probably history there.”
Her voice was so soft, so small. Emma bit her bottom lip, trying to keep her emotions at bay, but she was failing. “We were only ever friends. When I introduced you to him, we were still just friends.”
“I believe you. And he’s so gorgeous. And nice. And thoughtful. How could you not fall for him?”
“I never expected to, though. Honestly, I didn’t.”
Nadine made a motion as if to nod, but it died halfway through. “Right. Especially because of the whole gay thing.”
Silence. Emma blinked, so taken aback that it took almost a full minute for her to find anything to say. “The gay thing?”
Nadine finally turned to look at her. There were tears in the corners of her eyes and her bottom lip was wobbling. “Because you thought he was gay.”
Silence again. Emma’s mouth fell open, but nothing came out for a moment. “Nadine. I don’t think I’ve ever, in my entire life, gotten the impression that he was gay.”
Now it was Nadine’s turn to look confused. “But you told me he was.”
“I did?”
“Yes, don’t you remember?” Nadine turned her body to face Emma fully. “The first time we went to the salon. You told me he was gay.”
Something clicked into place in Emma’s mind and her eyes narrowed on her friend. “Nadine, who are you talking about?”
Her friend sighed sadly. “Mateo.”
Relief flooded Emma’s body, loosening every muscle, and she couldn’t help but smile. “Mateo.”
