La Vie en Rose {Life in Pink} by Lydia Michaels

gave a few undignified speeches I’m glad no one else witnessed. I puked, hit an all time low, came to terms with the fact that Becket’s scum and I’m too good for him, went to Brooklyn, almost had sex with a douchebag, watched a lot of Colin Firth movies, applied for a few jobs, and today I’m going sightseeing.”
    Silence.
    “Rarity?”
    “Yeah. I’m just...shocked. You’ve been hanging out with Riley?”
    Reservations clouded her upbeat mood. Rarity asked the question as though the idea of Emma and Riley being friends was the strangest part of everything she disclosed. It seemed more monumental to Emma that she’d come to terms with Becket leaving her.
    Did her friendship with Riley make Rarity uneasy? That couldn’t be right. Rarity had two best friends, her brother and Emma, all three of them being close made convenient sense.
    “We’ve only been hanging out when he’s not working. Is that not okay?”
    Rarity’s laughter was hollow. “Of course it’s okay. Why wouldn’t it be? I’m glad you’re not fused to the couch. It’s all good.  Anyway, I gotta run. I just wanted to call and check on you. I’ll be back Saturday, okay?”
    “Okay. Miss you.”
    “Miss you too, toots. Mwah .”
    “ Mwah .”
    Emma dropped the phone in her purse and replayed the conversation in her mind. Was it so weird that she and Riley were finally getting to know each other? They’d met almost two decades ago and shared an address. It was bound to eventually happen.
    The sound of Riley’s phone vibrating caught her attention. Following the soft tremble, she paused outside of his room.
    “Hey, Rare.” His voice was gruff and raspy from sleep. Rarity was calling him now? Why?
    “What? Wait. Slow down.” Covers rustled and Emma slowed her breathing to listen closely.
    “It isn’t like that, Rarity. We’re friends. Give me a little credit. I wouldn’t treat her like that. I don’t shit where I eat.”
    Emma drew back. Shit where he eats? What did that mean?
    “I know she’s your best friend. I’m telling you, you have nothing to worry about.”
    Emma grimaced. She didn’t need Rarity looking over her shoulder like she couldn’t take care of herself. What made her the expert on life? Rarity had never been engaged or cheated on. She didn’t know what that did to a person. And Emma just told her everything she needed to know. Why did she have to call Riley?
    “Rarity, I’m not discussing this with you. I told you it’s nothing and I meant it. We’re just friends.”
    He was quiet for a moment and then she heard his steps approaching the door. Abort! Panicked, she ran to the couch and jumped into the center, grabbing the book sitting on the arm. His door opened and he walked straight to the bathroom wearing only his briefs.
    It wasn’t the first time she’d seen him in his underwear. When you lived with someone those sorts of things happened. But suddenly everything seemed wrong and inappropriate in an under-the-microscope sort of way. Damn Rarity for getting in her head and stirring up drama that didn’t exist five minutes ago.
    The toilet flushed and Riley reappeared, pausing when he spotted her on the couch. “Oh, hey. I didn’t see you there.”
    “Yup. Been here all morning. Just hanging out. Maxin’ and relaxin’.”
    He frowned. “You okay?”
    “Me? I’m totally fine. As a matter of fact, I’m so fine I was thinking about handling some errands I’ve been avoiding, so I don’t think I’ll be able to have a Ferris Bueller day with you after all. But thanks for the offer.”
    He eyed her suspiciously. “Is this about the goat fart?”
    “Oh my God, please stop calling it that. And no. I just have some errands to run.”
    “Okay.” He didn’t appear overly disappointed that she wouldn’t be spending the day with him and for some reason that smarted.
    “Okay then.” She grinned and tossed the book aside. Sidestepping to the door, she grabbed her purse. “I’ll see you