Chapter ten and a half

Because the last one was so short. :)

“Hey, Em, what about this one?” I asked her, holding up a sweater the next day in J. Crew.

“What the hell Aves, are you trying to look like a grandma? Because if so, you are so far succeeding,” she stated bluntly before turned back around to the rack of pants she was inspecting seconds ago. I’m sure even the pants cringed at the way she just attacked that argyle sweater.

Shopping with Emma, always an experience. I can always count on her for her brutal honesty, even if it makes little kids cry. The way she describes the clothes, is, for lack of a better word, redic.

“What about…” I started, picking up another sweater, my new fetish, but before I could even finish, she looked at the sweater, ripped it out of my hand and threw it back on the table.

“Avery, you’re twenty-freaking-four. Just because sweaters are comfortable doesn’t mean you have to buy every single one you see for God’s sake,” she lectured, picking up a lumpy oatmeal colored cardigan for emphasis. “Go, look over there at the brightly colored things. You need some spice in your life.”

“And neon colored sweaters will provide said spice for me?” I questioned dumbly, walking blindly in the direction she pointed, knocking over a rack of graphic tees on my way.

“It possibly could,” she stated, and then paused before continuing. “If Crosby isn’t doing the trick, that is.”

I stopped looking at the traffic-director neon orange sweater that was staring back at me and looked over in her direction. Did she really just say that? Someone’s a little bitchy today, aren’t they? I wasn’t sure how to respond. She was still staring at the rack of blazers in front of her and didn’t seem to think anything of what she just said.

“Uh, actually,” I started, getting ready to tell her about yesterday.

“I knew it!” she yelled in my direction, but I’m pretty sure the saleswoman a few feet away thought she was yelling at her, and looked up alarmed, and actually quite scared. “He’s not as great as you thought he’d be, right, right?! I’ve heard that’s how all hockey players are,” she stated, quite loudly, so before she could finish her sentence with what I knew was coming next, I towed her outside the store, throwing my bubblegum pink cardigan on the floor on the way.

“Shh, Em, stop,” I pleaded as we got outside.

“He’s not good in the bedroom,” she said triumphantly, a silly grin on her face.

As much as I wanted to agree with her and nod my head yes, make her think she’s right, I just couldn’t. I glanced down at the ground and then back up to her. Her smile faltered.

“Wait,” she started slowly. “You’ve slept with him?” she asked in almost a whisper.

“No, no, Emma, I haven’t, honestly, it’s just, we came kind of close yesterday, and I really, really like him, and I feel like I’m myself with him, even though I know that’s so ridiculously cheesy and corny, it’s true,” I said breathlessly, my breathing a little heavier.

“Okay,” she said after what seemed like, 6 hours of waiting for a response. “You’re my best friend. So what if you’re dating my hockey idol, I should be thrilled. I’m sorry I’m such a selfish bitch,” she said with a slight smile. “I’ll try and keep myself in check from now on.”

“That’s what I’m here for,” I said, giving her a hug. “To keep your ass from doing something stupid.”

“Thanks girl,” she said, returning the gesture. “I feel really bad that I just called out your boyfriend… I’ll buy you a sweater!” she said with more enthusiasm than a little kid going to get candy.

“Oh, what about thi-“ I began once we got back in the store, but Emma slapped my hand away from the yellow cardigan I was reaching for.

“Do you want to look like Big Bird?” she snapped at me. “Just go stand in the corner while I get you something decent.”

“Fine. Way to be a pushy bitch.”

“Oh, now I’m a bitch?” she asked with a smile, picking up something with her back to me.

“Yes, you are,” I stated blankly.

“When it comes to what you’re wearing and what you’ll be wearing in public with me bitch, I don’t care how pushy I have to be to get you in something decent.”