Walking together

Nia and I slowly walked to my apartment, hands locked and swinging languidly between us. Even for a Sunday afternoon, it was quiet. The serenity fit as the perfect closer for our long weekend. Or, rather, the would-be serenity, were our banter not breaking up the otherwise peaceful afternoon mood.

Emery: That last time was definitely doing it to get back at you for teasing her, hehehe.

Nia: Oh really? You sayin’ I deserved it, then?

Emery: So you’re admitting your feelings, then?

Nia: I-I’m not! I wasn’t, for real! I was just saying… She said it a lot…and her hand…

Emery: It’s okay if you feel that way, hun.

Nia made a noise of exasperation, then dramatically threw both her head and free arm up in the air.

Nia: Okay! Okay fine, you pulled it out of me. Maybe I was a little jealous… It just took me so long to get you to be okay with being called cute. She gets to just enjoy it without any of the work… Makes me feel…funny…I dunno how to describe it…

Nia squeezed our still connected hands tighter as she spoke.

Emery: You know, you’re the only reason I don’t mind. Those years of effort you put into making me the person I am today… She only gets to “enjoy” calling me cute because of you.

Nia: Eheh, alright. Maybe you have a point… Though doesn’t this whole conversation feel kinda backwards when she’s the one fucking me?

We both got another chuckle out of that. It did feel a bit ridiculous, but we all had our own hangups in life.

Emery: Maybe so hun…

Emery: Anyways, thanks for coming back with me. I appreciate you going out of your way so we can spend more time together.

Nia: Course hun. Thank you for fibbing so we could leave a little early and do this. I know you don’t actually need anything from your place, hehe.

Oup, I suppose I was busted. She could be awfully sharp when it came to things like this.

Emery: Heh, glad you know me well.

Nia: Ditto.

We pulled closer together, my head resting partially on her shoulder.

Emery: We need a little extra “us” time while we can get it. Your parents need you to stay at your place tonight, right?

Nia: Yeah… I’ve been spending so much time at your place these last few weeks, I almost forgot. But now Eve has too much homework to help me fill in with the kids.

Emery: Is Anton not old enough to help you two out yet?

Nia: Hah, I wish! He isn’t quite old enough for me to trust him with that. I swear, hehe, you’re such an only-child sometimes Em.

Emery: Ouch, but fair enough. I can’t deny I’m talking out of my ass when it comes to childcare.

Nia: Yup, so just leave that to my judgment.

Emery: Then I’ll leave those calls to you if we ever have our own.

Nia gaped for a moment, before gripping my hand with a newfound enthusiasm. She gave me a kiss and flashed a bright smile.

Nia: Well duh, hehe! What would you do without me?

We continued the remainder of the walk in comfortable silence, a visible pep in Nia’s step the whole time.