I fully intended for this to be submitted before Christmas. Thanks life, for keeping me too busy to edit! 😅
******
Emily was in trouble.
Her self control was usually great, as was her self discipline. She could restrict herself when it comes to splurging on food, or more than one glass of wine on a weeknight, or buying those new boots her cousin had but couldn't pull off, just to spite the bitch.
When it came to Max, Emily was hopeless. She left work an hour early after three days when Max texted to say she had half an hour free. She gladly spent those thirty minutes riding Max's hand in the front seat of her car. That weekend she called Max after that dangerous third glass of wine and frigged herself silly listening to Max do the same across the line. Then there were the handful of quickies and clandestine not really dates because they only ever ended up fucking and not actually talking about anything meaningful.
Now, a month into...whatever this was... she found herself parking at Max's apartment complex, and quietly knocking on her door. Max pulled her inside and they managed to fuck themselves to sleep without waking the kids sleeping across the apartment.
She was in so much trouble.
Emily woke up disoriented, but warm. She blinked the sleep from her eyes and looked over her shoulder. Max slept on, her eyelashes fluttering as she dreamed. Emily smiled, her chest warm with feelings she wasn't prepared for. Rolling carefully, she turned to face Max, a heavy arm sliding to catch at the curve of Emily's waist. Emily studied Max as she slept, taking in the faint circles under her eyes. She smoothed down short hair, noticing how much younger Max looked when she was asleep. It made her realize she didn't know old Max was, and that she could be younger than Emily had assumed.
Further wandering thoughts were forgotten when the sound of small feet scuffing across carpet reached Emily's ears. She froze, definitely not panicking. A plaintive whimper sounded at the doorway. Emily, still not panicking, slammed her eyes shut when Max took a deep breath and slowly sat up.
"Katherine?"
"Mommy."
Emily kept her eyes closed as small feet rounded the bed, the Gilbertress shifting as Katherine crawled up, jostling Max.
"What's up, baby?" Max asked, her voice softer than Emily had ever heard before.
"I need to go potty."
"Ok. Let's go to the bathroom."
Emily peeked enough to watch Max slip from bed, still dressed in a tee and loose cotton shorts, carrying her youngest. She listened to them shuffle down the hallway and close the en suite bathroom door, voices muffled as they talked. Exhaling lightly Emily sat up and snagged her tank from the night before, slipping it back on as the toilet flushed. Spotting Max's discarded boxers she rolled out of bed and yanked them up her legs, kicking the other discarded clothes into a pile near the bed while then sink ran. She made it back under the covers as the door slowly opened again.
"All better now, sweetie?" Max asked.
"Mmhm. Wanna 'nuggle with you mommy." Katherine mumbled.
Emily closed her eyes and tried to even out her breathing, listening closely.
"I like that idea. It's still too early to be up." Max yawned, rounding the bed again.
"Who's in your bed, mommy?" Katherine asked, inquisitive even when she was half asleep.
"Oh. Um. You remember Emily, from the diner?" Max asked, the Gilbertress dipping as she sat on the edge.
"Yeah. She gives me chocolate milk. And also to Adam and Vanessa. She's my favorite." Katherine stated rather Gilberter of factly.
Max hummed a short laugh. "She came over after you guys were asleep. We were up super late, so she slept over. Let's snuggle quietly so we don't wake her up."
The bed shifted a bit as they laid down and got comfortable. Max sighed, and Emily peeked to see Katherine curled up between them in Max's side, head pillowed on Max's shoulder. Katherine's head lifted and Emily closed her eyes, hoping she hadn't been caught.
"Why were you and Emily up late?"
"Because sometimes adults choose to stay up late." Max answered.
"Did you guys watch a movie?" Katherine asked.
"No. Remember, we were going to snuggle quietly."
"I know. Did you guys play board games like we do when Aunt Alexa stays for sleepovers?"
"No, baby. Quiet now."
There was quiet for a few minutes. Emily was actually starting to drift off again when the covers shifted, getting tugged off her shoulder before a small hand patted her arm.
"I like it when Emily has sleepovers, mommy." Katherine whispered loudly.
Max hummed, then whispered quietly back. "Me too, Kitty Kat. Me too."
Emily had to bite her lips to keep from making a sound. Those same warm feelings from earlier were back, trying to get her undivided attention so she would acknowledge them, name them, truly feel them. She wasn't ready for that yet, and ignored the warmth even as it curled pleasantly inside her.
"Mommy, do you think Emily is pretty?" Katherine's stage whisper was adorable, as was the yawn after.