Emma was a "good girl". At eighteen, she had been around people her age who messed around, but had never felt the urge to participate in that kind of behavior.
She was more into observing and reading about life than actually living it. As a result, she began to have fantasies. The main fantasy she had was about Bryan, who happened to be her best friend, Jana's, father. She had known Bryan for four years now and had always thought he was nice looking...for her best friend's father.
When she turned sixteen, she was shocked when she started seeing him in a different light. Hiding her newly recognized feelings had been easy for the next two years, but once she turned eighteen, it was like a switch had gone off. She was legal.
Of course, she knew nothing would ever come of it, but a girl could dream, couldn't she?
Emma sighed. Yep. It would always be a dream.
"What was that sigh for, Em?"
Emma jumped a little and looked over at her best friend. A blush stole across her cheeks. "Nothing really."
Jana grinned slyly. "I know you have a crush on someone."
Emma's eyes widened. Did Jana know? "What makes you say that?"
"You get this dreamy look in your eyes. I recognize that look. I look that way every time I think about Vin Diesel."
Emma laughed.
"So, who is it? Tell me!" Jana insisted.
Emma shook her head. "I'll get over it. It's silly."
Jana tilted her head and stared at Emma. "I wouldn't mind, you know."
"Mind what?" Emma asked guardedly.
"If you got with my dad."
Emma covered her face with her hands and groaned.
Jana patted her hand. "It wouldn't really bother me. I just don't want to see either one of you get hurt."
"Nothing's going to ever happen. It's just that I recently started thinking of him in a different way. I have no idea how or why. I'll get over it."
"It grew on you. I know how that happens sometimes. Plus, my dad's nice looking and a really great guy." Jana laughed.
"That he is." Emma agreed. "Don't worry about it though. He'd never think of me that way."
Jana smiled mischievously. "You never know, Em. You just never know."
"Hey, Dad, can Emma spend the night?"
Bryan looked up from his laptop computer. Taking off his reading glasses, he ran a hand through his graying hair. "Sure, Jana." He glanced at his calendar. "But don't you have to work tonight?"
"Yeah, but I'll see if I can leave a little early. Even if I can't, Emma can find something to do until I get home. You can keep her company." Jana's face took on a serious look. "You do like Emma, don't you, Dad?"
"Of course, I do, sweetie. She's a very nice girl. Let her know she can come over any time she wants to."
"Cool. I'll call her and tell her it's okay."
By five o'clock, Emma was driving the twenty miles out to Jana's house. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach at the thought of seeing Bryan. "Stop that!" she told herself sharply.
A while later, she parked her car next to Jana's and climbed out, her backpack slung over her shoulder, the strap pulling her loose shirt taut across her full breasts.
Sometimes she wished she was built more like Jana, who was tall and thin. Emma, on the other hand, was on the short side and average in build. She would never be considered "beautiful" when compared to the movie stars or magazine cover models, but then, who would be? Emma knew comparing oneself to those women was unrealistic.
Stepping up onto the porch, Emma knocked on the front door, which was almost immediately answered by Jana.
"Hey, Em, come on in. Dad's working in his office. I gotta leave for work in half an hour or so. Make yourself at home." Jana's smile widened at the last. "I bought the ingredients you wanted for lasagna," her voice lowered to a whisper. "I didn't tell Dad you were cooking, but when he starts to smell the food, he'll follow his nose into the kitchen."
Emma laughed at that visual.
Jana led the way through the house, stopping at the open door to her dad's office. "Hey, Dad, Em's here."
Bryan looked up with a smile. "Hello, Emily."
Emma's heart fluttered. He was the only one to call her by her full name. "Hi, Mr. Jamison." In her mind, she called him Bryan, but had never found the nerve to say it out loud. She looked at his eyes and could have sworn they were fixed on her breasts for a split second. Surely she had been imagining that. Wishful thinking, perhaps?
"I'll see you later, Dad. I gotta be leaving for work in a few." Jana commented with a smile.
"All right, sweetie. Emily, you're welcome to do whatever you like."
"Thanks, Mr. Jamison." Emma followed Jana into the kitchen where she set her backpack on the floor by the table.
"I saw him looking at you, Em. I think he likes you." Jana said quietly.
"I doubt it, Jana. He probably thinks I'm too young." She still couldn't get over the fact that Jana was okay with the idea of her dad and her best friend getting together.
"We'll see." Jana said.
Within half an hour, Jana had left for work and Emma had her lasagna in the oven. When it was done, she placed the food on the table along with a tossed salad and garlic bread.
"What smells so good?"
Emma jumped, startled, and dropped the glass of tea she'd been holding. The glass shattered on the floor. "On no!" she exclaimed as she immediately began picking up the shards of glass. In her nervous embarrassment, she wasn't as careful as she normally would be and sliced her finger open. "Ouch!"
Bryan rushed across the kitchen and carefully grabbed her hand. "I'm sorry I startled you. This is all my fault." He led her to the sink where he gently washed the cut.
"It's all right, Bry-...I mean, Mr. Jamison."
Bryan's smiling eyes met hers. "You can call me Bryan. I don't mind."
Emma blushed but didn't say anything.
"I'll get a Band-Aid." He was back in a few moments and quickly bandaged her finger. His blue eyes locked with her hazel ones as he slowly raised her finger to his mouth and softly kissed it.
Emma's breath caught in her throat. His large hand continued to hold her smaller one as he gazed into her eyes. His head slowly lowered until his mouth briefly touched her...forehead?
Emma almost growled out loud. He was treating her like a child, damn it. Kissing her "owie" like she was a kid.
She slowly pulled away. "I better get this mess cleaned up. Thanks for playing doctor." She closed her eyes. She couldn't believe she'd said that out loud.
Bryan chuckled. "Anytime, Emily."
Together they cleaned up the broken glass and spilled tea then sat at the table to eat.
He asked her about her interests and they found they had quite a bit in common. They both enjoyed reading a good book, watching movies, researching, and had the same taste in music.