Girl Friday

Eight

Pausing, I remind myself to tread safely, choosing my words with care. What I really wanted to say was that Elias couldn't exactly judge anyone for how they conduct their love life when he ran from his responsibilities when Jenna found out she was pregnant with their little girl, Nola. He flaked and was an absentee father for years until Sophie talked some sense into him and just because he and Jenna are now married and expecting another baby, that didn't right all his wrongs. He was the embodiment of hypocrisy for attacking us for how we live our life.

Much to my surprise, my brother didn't step in to defuse the situation. Instead, he puckered his lips and fixed his stare on the table in front of him, only looking up to catch Sophie's eye every few seconds or so. From behind me, I also didn't hear Jenna supporting her husband. That, to me, said a lot.

"You screwed your brother's girlfriend and they broke up," Elias reminded me of a dark period of my life. "Now you're shagging a teenager."

"Ok, mister," an angry voice began to yell from the living room. It was Keira. Elias may as well speak his last words because he was about to die, especially when I heard her angry, heavy footsteps clomp against the wooden floor and coming to a stop at the entryway to the dining room. "Somewhere, somebody out there is thinking of you and the tremendous impact you've made in their life. It isn't me. I think you're a fucking idiot and your behaviour is a testament to that. You come in here and you talk shit about Michael, then you pick a fight with Isaac, and then you go all in on my best friend's boyfriend... you, sir, are a wankstain on society and there could not possibly be a human being worse than you in this vast universe. I ever so would appreciate it if you would go fuck yourself because as your wife said, you're on the couch tonight, pal."

No one said a word once Keira was done with her spectacular insult. If I'm honest, I was still trying to decipher what exactly she had said; Keira has a way with words that are unparalleled. I always thought Sophie was bad with her sharp wit and Martha knew how to make someone feel inferior but Keira Delaney was in a league of her own. I could see now how she and Martha are best friends.

The only person who seemed to have a clear grasp of what Keira had actually said was her boyfriend, Logan. Quickly leaping from his chair, he made their excuses and dragged her from the house, muttering something about wanting to marry her one day and for that to happen, she can't die at the hands of Elias Marshall tonight. She insisted that she could handle 'that little twerp' but Logan wasn't having any of it. Better safe than sorry, he rationalised.

In the aftermath of their departure, awkward silence filled the air. Hearing a small cough from behind me, I look over my shoulder to see a very uncomfortable Martha silently pleading with me to leave. Nodding, I pick up my phone and throw on my winter coat, conscious of the fact that it was freezing outside in the snow. Sophie smiled at me as I exited the dining room, following Martha out into the hallway and helping her into her own coat. Buttoning it up for her, I pull her closer to me and softly kiss her.

"I'm sorry you had to witness all that," I apologise.

She smiles weakly. "It's ok. That's just his opinion and like you said, he's not one to talk since we all know how he's behaved in the past. But... are you ashamed of me in any way? I mean, dating a teenager?"

Frowning, I take a step back to determine if she's being serious or not. From the way her shoulders hunched inwards and her eyes roamed around, avoiding meeting mine, I could tell that she was worried about my answer.

"Martha, you could not be further from the truth," I honestly tell her. Wrapping my arms around her waist, I step forward until we're once again touching. "You are perfect. I love everything about you and even the things that annoy me, I kind of love, too, because, without those things, you wouldn't be you. I wouldn't change a thing about you because you are utterly amazing. Never change, Martha, because I love you exactly as you are."

Martha blinked rapidly, her mouth twitching as she attempted to speak but failed in her ability to do so. I knew what she wanted to say and the only way I could confirm that, without saying it to her once again, was by showing to most of our nearest and dearest- minus Elias- how I really felt about her. Taking her hand, I lead her back into the living room, standing in the space that separated it from the dining room. All eyes turned to us.

"I have an announcement to make," I say. When I'm sure I have everyone's attention, I turn to Martha briefly before continuing with my declaration. "Martha and I are dating. She is my girlfriend and I am her boyfriend. I am not ashamed of our relationship in any way, shape or form. I am in love with her and if you cannot accept that, that's your problem, not ours."

Turning to Martha I smile, whispering, I love you just before I capture her lips in yet another sweet kiss.

WTF- he loves her?

Is it too soon to be saying it?

Is it doomed now?

Elias- what a knobhead.

You can always count on Keira to stand up for you- that's what besties do!

I hope Sophie's floor isn't scratched.

Will Martha say I love you back to Sam?

We'll find out next week, I guess!

(Paris, Tourjours- Emma's spin-off- is up tomorrow!)