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Thanks to the key that was in her possession, Emmett was already in Teddy's apartment before she was home. She'd already been there for hours, but the pizza on the coffee table was freshly delivered and untouched despite the enticing smell that tempted the blonde to break into it. Instead, she pressed her lips to the bottle of a beer, choosing her favored beverage while having a bottle of wine that was already in the kitchen set out with a glass.
She leaned back against the couch cushions, hazel eyes fixated on the game in front of her. It wasn't even her team, but it was something to watch at least while she was passing the time. She was quick to realize that Teddy's movie collection was seriously lacking. Really, she was a little surprised the woman had a television at all.
At the sound of the lock turning, Emmett sat up straight, a grin immediately appearing on her face as she spread her arms out. The moment the door cracked open, she was already talking. "Welcome home!"
The time alone in the elevator had Teddy smiling to herself. There was a lot to be happy about, really, least of all the memories that coincided with it. She'd just left Olivia by the door, and she didn't need good eyes to know she'd had fun during their date.
As she walked the small distance, her eyes saw the light beneath the door of her own place. That could only mean one thing. As she turned the key in the lock, a bright voice welcomed her.
"Darling." She greeted without surprise, shrugging off her jacket as eyes narrowed on her dear friend. She hung it up by the door, her second jacket falling from her shoulders a moment later.
"What would you've done if I brought her up with me?" It might have been the first date, but that was a technicality. Who knew just how well it could have gone.
It was - admittedly - a little bit enjoyable to see that her friend had grown used to her presence to the point where it wasn't often a surprise to find her already there. Even better was the nickname that Emmett doubted anyone would use to describe her. She beamed.
Arms dropping, Emmett immediately went for the wine she had waiting for the lawyer. Popping off to cork, she gave a generous pour into the glass as Teddy removed her jacket. "But you didn't." Emmett thought pointing out the obvious fact was more important than the real argument she had in store. "And I'm gonna say you'd assume I'd be here and texted me." Her own logic was flawless to her as she opened up the pizza box, revealing the goodness inside.
"And." Already moving on, she gestured to the display she had out for Teddy. "Now you get to come home to wine and cheese."
Teddy nodded once to concede; obvious point taken. She stood there alone, save for present company who easily moved towards her to pour her a drink. Given the circumstances of where Olivia left her, she doubted she would have had the time to send a single message, especially stuck in an elevator.
Bright eyes glanced at the display on offer and she had to laugh. The first thing she reached for was a drink. "I knew I let you in for a reason." Present company was much better than coming home to an empty bed.
"I'm not sure which of you would run quicker at the sight of the other." She said then. Either way, it would have certainly been a mood killer.
As the drink was taken from her hand, Emmett grinned. She figured that the lawyer would be wanting something when she came through the door. Apparently the decision was right, and with free hands, she was hauling a couple slices of cheesy pizza onto some paper plates. One was set onto the table for Teddy, while the other she took a bite into. It'd been taunting her for the last ten minutes since it had arrived, though she couldn't complain, considering it was pretty good timing between the delivery and Teddy's arrival.
A laugh escaped her at the idea of running into Olivia in the apartment. "I'd take the stairs in case she'd run to the elevator." Because by no means would she want to be stuck with the paralegal down an enclosed space for eleven floors.
It sounded generous for Emmett to willingly take eleven flights of stairs just to avoid someone. A slow elevator ride could be painful; she never really liked being stuck with anyone in there. But those words made her wonder what kind of animosity might have been living under the surface for Emmett.
Given the question she asked, Teddy could figure that intention out pretty quickly. Her hand rested on her shoulder lightly, pushing back on her a little. "It was good, actually." She admitted, offering her a sympathetic look; "I feel like that's not the answer you were hoping for."
Admittedly, part of Emmett wanted to hear how the night had floundered. To the girl who never went on a date and ended up in separate beds, she even expected it to be so. But a hand to her shoulder did well to shake her confidence, eyebrows raising as her friend sounded almost sorry over the fact. Or maybe that was more for the mechanic than anyone else.
"Hey, I mean if you had a good time that's cool." She shrugged her shoulders. There was a clear cut opinion of the paralegal, and it wasn't entirely good after hearing the details of a confession. If it could properly be called that. "So what happened? Did she finally figure out the mystery of what it means to be gay?" She asked, taking another bite of pizza.
Though she'd never admit it, or question it, Teddy was sure she heard a stint of off-brand irritation about the incorrect answer she'd given her friend. Despite the part she'd played in forcing this all together, Teddy knew she felt a certain type of way about the situation. At least she wasn't pushy about it.
"Well, I'll admit I was a little sceptical about how it would go." She admitted. Trying to date another lawyer wasn't always an easy feat, especially given their working relationship. "But I didn't get the unsure feeling from her this time. I think time to consider what was going on managed to help."
She paused long enough to taste the wine on offer. After all that, it was a welcomed distraction. "I think she's keen to do it again, though. Seemed so, anyway."
As Emmett ate, she listened to how the girl apparently gained some perspective. Really, it was a bit of a relief to hear, even if she was slow to change her opinion on her. She felt the twitch of her nose at the idea of them going on a second date, but she chose not to be too critical, because it wasn't what mattered. Not completely at least.
"And would you do it again if she asked?" She questioned, head tilting a bit to the side as she put her pizza down, going as far as resting her chin on the lawyer's shoulder.
A twitch of her nose mightn't have been much, but for the woman who saw everything, it was everything. It was here that the difference in their beliefs started to weigh in, but that wasn't a bad thing. Teddy had a great understanding of how Emmett chose to live her life and could never judge the mechanic for that, but it potentially made her the wrong person to talk about this with.
Still, she tried. And as she tilted her head to rest against hers, she realised that was the best part.
"Yes." She replied, the corner of her mouth dragging to a smile, "It's too soon to tell anything either way. There's no harm in it. So why not? Sure, we're often taught to avoid people who seem so... Unsure." Teddy continued on, like getting the jump before Emmett could. Or acknowledging a thought she knew they'd both shared, "But that just seems harsh in this context."
Though she was to close to really see, Emmett could practically hear the smile that her friend wore. The mechanic couldn't quite understand it herself, but she also never went on a second date in her life. Let alone with someone so new to this life. But Teddy was different, and despite her better judgement, she wanted to support the idea that the lawyer liked Olivia, even if it seemed a bit absurd.
"Just make sure this isn't some weird bicurious thing she's going through." Because at the very least, she didn't want her to get hurt.
An arm draped over Teddy's shoulders and she let out a sigh. "What do you even do at a cooking class?"
Emmett voiced the very thought Teddy had inadvertently pointed out to Olivia when they first talked about it. Of course, she knew that already; Emmett had the details of that conversation not long after it had happened. "I have reservations. It's not to say I don't believe her, because I think she believes it." She admitted. For someone who held herself so intently, it wasn't the easiest thing to admit. But in present company, nothing seemed all that difficult.
"It's exactly like it sounds." teddy replied simply, careful not to disturb her friend with any harsh movements, "I don't think it was about learning anything. Not for me, anyway." Emmett of all people knew she didn't need a class to prepare a decent meal, "It was more important to see what she was like outside of work. She wasn't completely nervous, so that was nice."
There was a confidence that Teddy carried in Olivia that Emmett couldn't see - maybe it was because the lawyer spent more time with her than Emmett ever would, but her shoulders shrugged. She even laughed at the idea of Olivia not being nervous. From the few interactions she had with the paralegal, it seemed like it was just a major part of her personality.
"I'm glad you had a good time." And really, she meant it, despite any outward opinions she had on Olivia. "But I bet whatever it was you guys cooked up isn't as good as this pizza." Emmett was instantly grinning again, but still couldn't bear to lift her head from its new place of comfort.
Emmett did have one very good point; there was little that beat the meal prepped and ready for her when she got home. Teddy had to wonder just how anyone in her life would grow used to the eccentric relationship she carried with the mechanic. It didn't seem like she was going anywhere any time soon, which she was grateful for. Especially given Olivia's short history with Emmett, the outcome felt potentially awful.
Easing back, she leaned against the counter instead, taking a momentous sip of her wine in such silence.
"There's something else you want to ask me about." Teddy denoted, and she didn't even need her good eyes to do it. "So go on."
Emmett took the silence as an agreement - if anything, she chose the right bottle of wine by the way Teddy so easily took a sip from it. Likely because she took it from the lawyer's own stock. Regardless, she considered it a win over anything else that her friend had done that night, and that was enough for the mechanic.
A laugh escaped Emmett easily as she finally shifted her head away from the shoulder it rested on. Called out and absolutely right about it, she grinned at Teddy, eyebrows raising as she reached for the beer she favored. "So what does this mean about Natalie?" It wasn't much of a surprise that Emmett was heavily invested in the lawyer's love life, given that her own was lacking anything that lasted more than a night. Her curiosity had gotten the better of her, and she had no shame in that fact.
