Chapter 3 - A New Home
The Next Day
“What were you thinking?! Were you even thinking?! You think a god-damned chair could have kept someone out of here? They could have attacked you or worse.”
While Gabi took a breath during her rant, Emma hazarded a glance over at Devin and asked him under her breath, “Is she always like this when she’s angry?”
Just barely nodding his head and murmuring back in just as soft a voice, he answered, “Frankly, I find it a turn on.”
Emma closed her eyes and shook her head at the immediate mental imagery that provided and it was at that point that Gabi realized that she wasn’t being paid attention to and stalked closer to Emma, shaking her finger as she resumed her lecture, “I’m not messing around here young lady! Why didn’t you tell me about this in your text? Crisse de Tabarnak! You should have called us, or better, come back to our place.”
“Oh, she’s so pissed if she’s pulling out the French.”
“You shut up! This isn’t a joking matter. Would you be sitting here mocking me right now if we’d come here to find her raped or worse, murdered?” Gabi waved towards where Emma’s mammoth chair still blocked the other apartment entrance. “That chair, big and fluffy as it is, wasn’t going to stop anyone hell bent on getting in here.”
Head lowered, eyes locked on the ground, Emma’s voice was soft to the point it was almost inaudible. “I’m sorry for scaring you. I thought I had it under control. And I’m okay.”
“Okay enough that you’re willing to live in this hell hole for another 10 months, risking this happening again and again?” Emma couldn’t prevent her wide gray eyes from darting up involuntarily and Gabi nodded triumphantly. “Thought so. We’re getting you out of here. We’ll get you out of your lease, get you some place safer.” She paused for a long moment, and had Emma been paying more attention, she might have noticed the almost devious gleam in Gabi’s eyes. “In fact, I know a place in Blue Springs proper that you could get for the same price you’re paying here because of some other factors.”
“Oh, don’t do that to her.” Devin interjected almost immediately and this time Emma did look up to gaze at him curiously. “I don’t want her here either, but you don’t want her to have to put up with that, do you?”
Gabi smiled at her husband, murmuring at him, “It will be educational.”
Gazing back and forth between her friends, Emma finally asked in a still soft voice, “Do I get any say in this matter?”
“No.” They both answered in damn-near unison, before Devin continued. “It isn’t safe for you here, little one. And while I’m not completely sure I agree with her plan, I do agree that you shouldn’t stay here a moment longer. Baby, why don’t you work your magic on the lease agent, I’ll call some of my boys over, see about how fast we can move her stuff out of here.”
When the couple turned to start discussing further details, Emma eased out of the room and into her bedroom, closing the door behind her. Almost mechanically she went to her closet, pulling out suitcases and clothing, methodically packing even as slow tears trickled unchecked down her face.
It wasn’t that Emma didn’t appreciate her friends cared – that she had friends at all was still something of a wonder to her - it was more that, once again, people were deciding what was best for her. She’d spent her entire life being a disappointment to most of her family, the odd duck who wanted out of their pretentious little town, and the one who just never fit in. Even when she’d graduated Summa Cum Laude from Columbia University this past May, only Keegan had made the trip to New York City to see her accept her diploma. And the previous night’s phone call was the first time he’d made any sort of reference to keeping up any sort of relationship with her.
Glancing around the room at her meager possessions, Emma noted with some sadness that had anyone attempted to burglarize her apartment, they‘d have been sorely disappointed. While she did have a laptop, tablet, and smartphone, those were all work-issued, and were luxuries she never would have considered if she’d had to get them on her own. Even the old suitcase she was now packing was held together in several spots by duct tape – but like the chair in the living room, it had belonged to her Grandpa Connelly. So even if she could afford to replace either item, she never would.
A soft knock at her door caused Emma to pause her packing and see which Malone had decided to check up on her. Opening the door, she found Devin’s big brown eyes gazing back at her and without a word he pulled her into a hug, his voice a whisper as he ran a slow hand through her blonde curls. “It’s going to be okay, little one. We’ll take care of you, keep you safe.” He pulled back from her a bit and gazed into her eyes. “I wish you had called us last night.”
She sighed and backed away, too overwhelmed by emotion to deal with his affection outright and turned back towards the half-packed suitcase. Mumbling at him in the same soft but defiant voice, she reminded him, “I had it under control. I’m still here right now, aren’t I?” She shook her head, knowing Devin would be less prone to lecture her than his wife would, but still aware she was treading in dangerous territory.
“You are. For now. She’s not only gotten you out of your lease, but you’ll be getting your security deposit back.” When Emma turned to stare at him in shock at that bit of news, he nodded his head. “You should see her in the courtroom. She’s fierce. Like I said, it’s a turn on.”
Once again Emma was closing her eyes and shaking her head. “I really, really, really do not want to know about your sex life, Dev. No matter how much I like you guys, no. Just. No.”
“Is he telling you about how I tie him up and spank him when he’s a naughty boy?” Gabi’s voice trickled in from just outside Emma’s bedroom door, and this time held the more playful tone that Emma had grown accustomed to.
“Brain bleach! Brain bleach! Oh my fucking god, you guys! How am I supposed to do anything with those mental images in my head?” Emma had her face covered with her hands and was shuddering a bit.
“I guess that means we shouldn’t tell her about the handcuffs?” Devin inquired casually and at that Emma just screeched without a word while Gabi laughed and came further into the room.
Coming up behind Emma and placing her hands on her shoulders, Gabi spoke softly to the younger woman. “I’m sorry that we’ve kinda taken over here. I just don’t think either one of us could stand the thought of losing you. You’ve become like a little sister to me.”
“I have a younger sister,” Emma murmured back at the same volume. “You’re more than welcome to her.” Not realizing how serious Emma was being, both Devin and Gabi chuckled. Their laughter stopped abruptly as she continued. “Course, you’re not embarrassed to be around me, so she’d have little use for you, either.”
Devin and Gabi exchanged a wordless glance and then Devin spoke, trying to cautiously change the subject. “This place in Blue Springs. The unit you’d be potentially getting is about the same size as this place, but more clean. It’s within walking distance of a grocery chain and a home improvement store. There’s also a hospital right up the road.”
“Sounds nice. And expensive. So how exactly are you expecting it to cost me the same that I’m paying to be here?” Emma inquired as she waved her hand around the dilapidated room.
Once again, the couple exchanged glances, and this time it was Gabi who answered. “Because it’s owned by the people who built the rink that they plan to put a minor league hockey team in, and they’re being careful about tenants. It’s where they’ll host the players, and it’s liable to be a bit louder and rowdier than this place. But still, infinitely more safe.”
Shaking her head side to side, Emma retorted, “I know you said they legally can’t enforce that no-fraternizing clause, but it seems like a big fuck you to the paper if I go and live where the players are. Is that the smartest option?”
They both nodded their heads and Devin answered, “You’ll be safe there. And Gabi’ll make sure you don’t have to pay a penny more than you are now.”
~*~
And true to her word, Gabi had negotiated so that not only was Emma paying less, but she had more space, even a second bedroom – even if she hadn’t stuck any sort of bedding in there a year later. She just used the room for storage, for various items that the baseball and football teams had given away and other assorted items.
It almost felt like the home she’d thought she’d found in Jefferson City – a bit too big to be quite as cozy, but still comfortable. And as the Malones had assured her, safe. The community was gated, within walking distance to the new rink, and the owners had only been too happy to inform her that her rent covered access to the training facilities in the practice arena. So between that and weekly kick-boxing sessions with Gabi, Emma had found herself to be less fluffy than when she first moved to Missouri.
There were still only a few other ‘regular’ neighbors, as far as she was aware, but she had noticed a newer model muscle car in one of the carport spots, though Emma was yet to spot this new neighbor. Given the Nebraska plates, what she presumed to be a mystery man was perhaps one of the hockey players, and Emma knew she could inquire to the higher ups at the team if they’d signed anyone and get all sorts of information.
But the team had been good about keeping her in the loop, working with Emma to make sure she would have access to the team. She’d have passes and media packets waiting for her at each home game. She knew it was only a matter of time before her fax machine buzzed to announce the prospective signing, and at that point, she would investigate further.
And perhaps, if she was lucky, she’d find someone worth testing that no-fraternizing clause on!