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It had been a long day for Emma, she hadn’t slept particularly well the night before, in fact she’d barely slept at all, instead spending the night stressing over her assignment that was due in a couple days. She’d pushed through the morning fine and was hopeful that she could push through till the end of her shift, this however did not go as she hoped.
She’d been leaning against the counter for quite some time now, her eyes just resting while the store was empty, it wasn’t like she’d get many more customers at this point, I mean who got coffee at 8:00pm anyway?
She’d just about fallen asleep right there on the counter when the shops bell startled her awake.
“How can I help you?” She blurted out as she shot up, quickly making herself look like she hadn’t just been asleep.
“I don’t think I should trust the coffee if this is how the employees look” a familiar voice laughed.
Emma’s mask began to fade as she gave him a small smile. “Oh, it’s you” she laughed.
“It’s me” Paul grinned at her, then frowned slightly, “are you okay?” He asked worriedly.
She looked down at her feet, suddenly feeling very small, and it wasn’t just because of her short height compared to Paul’s enormous one, Paul’s question suddenly made her feel fragile.
“I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night” she offered in explanation, Paul nodded sympathetically, he came closer to her, as if somehow knowing that she wanted to hold onto him.
That she did, she pushed her face into his chest with no shame wrapping her arms around his middle tightly.
Paul hugged her back wordlessly, something that she appreciated. She liked that Paul never tried to fix her, only offer her support when she needed it, even after a year of knowing him she still believed she didn’t deserve him.
Without pulling away Paul broke the silence, “do you wanna postpone the plans for tonight, watch a movie or something instead?”
Emma pulled away suddenly at his words, a look of shock then sorry forming on her face, “how could I forget” she palmed her face, her head shaking disappointingly. “Our date!”
Paul smiled at her sadly, “yeah” he sounded disappointed, oh god he was disappointed with her.
She shoved herself back into his arms, “I’m so sorry!” She blurted out, “I’ve just had so much happening, and I– I’ve–”
“Shhh, Emma. I’m not mad at you” he comforted rubbing up and down her back, “these things happen sometimes, and hey, sure i’m a bit disappointed that we can’t go out tonight, but that doesn’t mean we can’t go out another night. Hell if you let me we have years and years to make up for this one night. Besides just because we don’t go out for dinner, doesn’t mean we can’t still hang out.”
Emma nodded “okay”
“Okay” Paul repeated, “why don’t you grab your stuff, and I’ll finish cleaning up out here.”
“You don’t have to do my job for me Paul” she argued.
“But I want to” Paul cut in, “besides the quicker you’re off the more time I have with you, so it’s not just benefiting you.”
“Fine” Emma grumbled, “it’s just the counter and the machine really, I’ve already done the floor.
“Okay” Paul smiled, “do what you need, I’ll be here when you’re ready”
He’d already began to pack everything away as Emma set off into the backroom, but stoped when she called out to him again. “Hey Paul” she turned to face him.
“Yeah?”
“You’re the best!”
With that she continued on into the backroom, leaving Paul with a smile as he wiped down the counter.
–
It hadn’t taken them long to close up with the both of them working together.
After which Paul had helped her into the front seat of his car, buckling her in, ignoring her insistence that she could do it herself.
She could barely keep her eyes open during the ride to his house, practically asleep by the time they pulled up.
“I can just take you home if you’re not up to it” Paul suggested.
“No no, I’m fine. I want to hang out with you” she reached over to grab his arm, hoping he’d understand.
“Okay, let’s go in then”
She’d managed to pull herself into his house with just a bit of effort, placing herself down on his couch as she waited for him to return.
“I brought you a change of clothes, and there’s a pizza in the oven” Paul announces as he chucks a pair of his sweatpants and one of his tops at Emma, she looked up to see he’d changed out of his work attire and into a similar looking outfit to what he’d chucked Emma.
Emma smiled, beginning to unbutton her shirt as Paul picked up the tv remote, beginning to flick through movie options, occasionally asking Emma what she thought of them, pretending he wasn’t staring at her each time he looked back.
“You like what you see Matthews?” Emma eventually teased when he’d held his gaze for a little longer than he should have.
He’d never turned around quicker, his blush visible from a mile away.
When he’d composed himself enough to turn around again Emma was completely changed and they’d managed to decide on the movie, Paul pressing play before collapsing next to Emma on the couch.
“So.” Paul Paused, “busy day today?”
Emma hummed, “yeah” she lazily mumbled, a yawn escaping her.
“I’m glad I’m here now though” she smiled up at him, another yawn escaping her as she let out her words.
Paul smiled, “you sure about that, you keep yawning” he couldn’t help but laugh, “am I boring you Perkins?”
“Shut up” Emma groaned before he could retort anymore.
“Will do” Paul smiled leaning down to kiss her forehead gently.
It was a bit of a risky move kissing Emma, he still wasn’t quite sure what their relationship was, but if she minded she didn’t say anything.
The movie moved quickly, and so did Paul and Emma. It wasn’t long till they were in what you could only call a cuddling position, Paul had of course noticed fairly quickly and he’d thought Emma would have too, had her eyes not been closed peacefully, clearly asleep.
At the sight of Emma asleep in his arms Paul couldn’t help but smile, thanking every single god out there that had any input in his situation right now.
Emma probably wasn’t, by the look of her reaction when she startled awake at the big jump scare from the tv.
When she realised she wasn’t in danger she relaxed back into Pauls embrace, before she jumped away again.
“Oh my god! I’m so sorry” she spluttered out, “I didn’t mean to, I mean I–”
“It’s okay” Paul shushed her before she could continue.
“I don’t mind, really” he encouraged.
Emma’s face was beet red, “I can’t believe I did that” her mumbled voice sounded behind her hands, that sat planted on her face.
Paul didn’t know what to say, of course he didn’t mind her cuddling him, in fact he loved it, but he couldn’t come right out and say that, not after the reaction she just gave.
“It’s okay” Paul eventually settled on, hoping his words comforted her at least a little.
“No it’s not” Emma groaned “cause now you’re going to tease me about it and I’ve eventually just ended our whole friendship.”
Paul’s face turned to confusion, then to comfort, “you think I’d tease you?” He asked, unsure why she’d think that of him.
“Well maybe not you but what I did was so embarrassing who wouldn’t tease me”
Paul frowned, “well I’m not” he affirmed before asking his next question, “and why would that ruin our friendship?”
“Because.” Emma paused, “i’ve made it awkward” she finally said, as if it were obvious.
Paul sighed, “come here” he murmured his arms opening up to invite her in to them.
Emma hesitantly leaning in to his gesture, a sort of hug, sort of cuddle position being formed.
“Now” he whispered to her, “I really don’t mind if you want to– cuddle” Paul hesitated “me. It’s not going to ruin anything between us, so if you want to then go ahead.”
“Okay” Emma simply mumbled in reply, turning herself slowly to resume her position from earlier.