I turned the key to my apartment to open the door, but before it could go all the way, it was yanked open, and my best friend stood with a welcoming smile on her face.
"Emma!" She screamed and threw her whole weight on me.
I barely stopped us from crashing to the ground.
"Sophie!" I cried with the same excitement, hugging her tight. "I have missed you so much," I muttered into her shoulder.
"And I you," she said tightening her grip on me.
We hugged for few more minutes before we pulled back, but still held on to each other.
"Are you okay?"
She nodded with a small smile on her lips.
I searched her eyes for the truth of her words. Her grey eyes were slightly shadowed by sadness, but she looked sincere.
"I am glad you are fine," I pulled her again into my arms.
"Don't be mad at me, I did something," she whispered into my ear.
I quickly pulled back and looked suspiciously at her. "What did you do?" I growled.
Well--you-- see, she stammered, finding it hard to spill her words.
"Emma," a familiar words called out softly from the inside of the house.
Sophie grimaced, while I looked behind her, praying that my ears were deceiving me.
"Sophie you didn't," I snapped when I saw Tony standing few feet behind us wearing a guilty expression on his face.
Sophie quickly moved out of the way like she is scared I will smack her, and I am tempted to. How could she do this to me.
"I am sorry, he begged to come," she tried to explain, but I was barely listening. All of my attention was on my ex few feet away from me, and what his presence here means.
It could only mean one thing. Trouble.
"Don't blame her. I ambushed her at the airport."
I frowned. That doesn't even make any sense. "What were you doing at the airport in the first place?"
"Following Sophie," he admitted with a sheepish look on his face. "I tried calling you, you weren't picking, you were not at home, I needed to find you." He gave me a puppy dog look.
In the past I would have found that look cute, but right now all I feel is irritation.
"You know what. It doesn't matter how you got here. I need you to leave," I stormed my way past him, ignoring the shock pained look on his face.
"Come on Emma. You don't mean that. I flew all the way from New York to see you. The least you could do is to hear me out," he followed me into the living room.
I could already feel a headache coming on from listening to his whinny tone. I am going to kill Sophie for putting me through this extra stress. As if joggling Amelia and her husband isn't stressful enough.
No don't think about her, I told myself forcefully. I took a deep breathe and then turned to face Tony with a forced patient expression on my face.
"Listen Tony, I am going to say this once, and I sincerely hope that it gets through your thick skull."
"Come on Emma just hear me..."
I raised my hand to stop the rest of his words.
"There is nothing to hear out. It is over between us. We are done. Now if you don't mind please leave my house," I pointed towards the door to enunciate my words further.
"And go where?" Tony glared at me.
"Hotel, anywhere that is not my house!"
He shook his head at me. "I don't believe you."
"Excuse me," I frowned at him.
"I don't believe that you no longer have any feelings for me," he smirked and took a step towards me. The look in his eyes changing to one of desire as he slowly closed down the distance between us.
I rolled my eyes at his attempt to seduce me. Since meeting her I have been cured of every lingering feelings I might have for Tony, so none of his ploys affects me.
"In that case read my lips clearly. I no longer have feelings for you," I muttered slowly, dragging the words like I was speaking to a retard.
We heard a chuckle from the side, and we both turned at the same time to glare at Sophie.
This is all her fault.
"I am sorry. Please continue," she waved her hand for us to go ahead. She was acting like we were some kind of entertainment for her.
I rolled my eyes and then returned to the task at hand. Which is sending my ex on his merry way before he destroys what I have going on here.
When I looked back at Tony, the desire was gone in his eyes, and he was now looking at me with anger in his eyes.
"Look Tony, I know we have been doing this on and off things for a while now, but our relationship is not going anywhere. I have moved on, and so should you. I am sure there is someone out there who will love you better than I did."
"I don't want anyone else," he growled angrily startling me.
"I am sorry," he apologized immediately seeing the fear in my eyes. The anger disappeared from his eyes, and his expression softened. "I love you Emma. And I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
Before I knew what was happening he was on his knees popping open a small red box with a ring inside.
My eyes bulged out from their sockets in disbelief.
"Will you marry me, Emma?"
"Oh shit," Sophie exclaimed, sounding excited.
I turned to glare at her, before returning my attention to Tony on his knees. I opened my mouth to speak, but a knock on the door interrupted.
"Saved by the bell," I muttered to myself and hurried off. When I opened the door I found Cassius on the other side bearing gifts.
"Hey," I smiled at him.
"I brought dinner," he raised the small cooler in his hand, with a smile on his face.
"You are going to spoil me," I muttered returning his smile.
"Is he the one?" Tony snarled behind us.
His interruption irritated me. I turned to glare at him. "Him what?" I snapped
"The one you are in love with," Tony snarled again while glaring at Cassius.
I rolled my eyes at his assumption. Cassius is a fine man, and any other day I would be all up on that, but I don't feel that way about him.
"No, I am not in love with him. Cassius is a friend. Not that it is any of your business."
"Then why is he bringing you food if he is just a friend," Tony sneered, putting an air quote on the friend.
"Because he is nice, duh."
Tony scoffed at this.
"Looks like I came at a bad time," Cassius looked from me to Tony, and then back to me.
"Yes."
"No," Tony and I muttered at the same time.
"Please ignore him, and come in," I said to Cassius.
He hesitated. "Maybe I should just give you this and come back when you are less busy."
I turned to face him squarely. "Have you had dinner?"
He shook his head. "Was hoping to have it with you."
"Friend, they said."
I ignored Tony's snide remark to respond to Cassius. "Then you are eating dinner with us," I took him by the hand and pulled him into the apartment, closing the door behind us.
"Hi handsome," Sophie greeted seductively, while staring at Cassius like she wanted to consume him.
Cassius returned her greeting wearing an amused expression, while I glared at my best friend to behave.
She raised her both hands. "Sorry. Don't worry I will keep my hands off your man."
I wanted to deny it, but why bother. They are going to assume whatever they want.
We all piled into the kitchen, and I went to the cup boards to get plates to serve whatever delicacy Cassius prepared for us.
While I was getting the plates, Cassius left the kitchen and returned bearing a bottle of red wine which he set on the kitchen island and then went to another cupboard to get the glasses.
"He even knows where things are, and she says they are not fucking."
I was getting tired of Tony's snide remarks. I turned sharply in his direction. "Will you stop it Tony. You are being rude."
"And you are a liar, and a slut," he retorted angrily.
"Hey man! No need to be rude," Cassius scolded sharply.
Tony snorted. "Rude. I merely being honest," he smirked at me. The sly look in his eyes told me that he wasn't going to let this go.
"Tony please stop it," I looked at him pleading, hoping that he will return to his right senses.
"Why, you don't want lover boy knowing what you do for a living," he smirked at me, a dark look in his eyes.
The feeling of apprehension gripped me, as I looked at Tony helplessly. I didn't want Cassius knowing that I am a whore. Being here, and working with Malcolm has made feel like I was somebody, but I should have known that you can never leave the past behind.
"I know what she does for a living, and stop being an ass man."
I could see that Cassius was getting fed up with Tony's antics. This is one of the reasons I decided to call things off. He can be so childish and vindictive.
"Really, I am shocked she told you," Tony looked from me to Cassius and back to me, but before he could say another word, the door bell rang.
"I will get it."
I walked out of the kitchen.
When I got to the door, I opened it to find Noelle standing on the other side carrying a take away bag in her hand.