Emma overheard some other nurses talking about dating the other day. About exclusivity. And dating multiple people. Like that was the norm.
Was that the norm? Emma didn’t know. Emma never dated very much, surely not multiple boys at once. And then Brendon happened.
And it hits her. Her and Brendon never had an “exclusively” talk, and now she’s spiraling that Brendon’s obviously dating multiple people, right? He’s hot snd rich and older and more mature so he’s gotta be. Who wouldn’t want him? And she’s so fucking stupid for thinking it was only her why would it be her? And so she kinda pulls away and starts to tear apart their every interaction, every text, every conversation, every gap in communication. Where she was always so understanding of how busy he was, suddenly every hour he didn’t answer a text was now he’s with someone else, every time he went to bed early she was wondering who he was in bed with, every friend he did something with he told her about she was nauseous was another woman he was on a date with.
It comes to a head when Brendon notices something’s up. She seems so anxious now. So afraid to “bother” him which he hates. It’s like she’s gotten smaller. He used to wake up to spams of memes and thoughts after he went to bed, now there’s nothing. She used to ask him how golf was with the guys from anesthesiology, how drinks with surgery was. Now when he says he’s going out with some friends she’s says cool no problem have fun. She’s not initiating date planning anymore, and she’s happy to go out with him but she’s not asking when he’s free, trying to squeeze something in on a night he got off early and he’ll admit-
He’s concerned a breakup is coming. Because you know what, fuck it. He’ll admit it. He likes Emma a lot. He likes having a girlfriend- having her as a girlfriend. He’s happy. He likes his life like this.
But Saturday they go out. Dinner. Emmas favorite- Japanese- because he’s terrified she’s over him and done dealing with his nightmare schedule and maybe, just maybe he can bribe her with salmon and spicy tuna. And they go back to his. And they were making out on the couch which felt normal, and he went to take off Emma’s shirt and she froze.
And he felt the bile come up.
“Emma. I know somethings wrong. But can we talk about it at least? Can you atleast let me try to fix it?” He begged. He’s not a man who begs. But he’s not above it, either.
Emma swallows and she looks like she’s gonna cry.
“Are you seeing anyone else?”
And the idea makes his head spin.
But they’ve been together for a while. He thought they understood what was happening here. Boyfriend-girlfriend clothes at another’s places phone wallpaper stuff.
“Emma of corse I’m not seeing anyone else are you fucking crazy?”
And he sees relief in her big brown eyes.
“No Emma. Jesus Christ where did you get an idea like that from?”
“Some of the girls at work-“
“-we’re talking about going exclusive and like, I wasn’t dating anyone when we met and I never thought about something like that but then I realized like. We never talked about it because I don’t know I was stupid and I thought-“
“You’re not stupid. Never have been.” Brendon swore.
“I just like. Assumed you weren’t dating anyone either but that’s obviously-“
“That’s obviously the truth. I don’t know where else you were going with that but it’s the truth.”
Emma looked up, Doe eyes wide.
He kissed her cheeks quickly. “Baby it’s only ever been you, okay? I was never seeing anyone else when we were dating. You were never- there was never someone else, you were never competing with anyone. It’s only you.”
He felt Emma sigh in relief.
“Think about how much I work honey? Where would I have the time for another woman?”
Emma stilled like she thought about it.
She’s thought about this.
“You know. You go out with friends. You go to bed early. You go get drinks after work.”
“Yeah. And that’s exactly what I say it is. I’m not lying- I wouldn’t lie to you.”
“Is this why you’ve been pulling away lately, baby?”
“Honey, come on. Emma. You gotta talk to me okay? You’ve been so sad lately but I coulda fixed this with one conversation.” Brendon reminded her.
Brendon has to accept that sex is so not happening tonight.
He rubbed Emma’s sides gently.
“I was scared if I brought it up you’d think it was too soon or I was being clingy or needy.” Emma admitted.
“Not too soon. We’ve been together for months. Not clingy. Not needy. Normal. You’re allowed to have needs Emma. You’re allowed to expect loyalty. You’re allowed to need things from me emotionally.” Brendon insisted.
“I like it when you cling to me. I like it when you’re needy. You’re my girl, Emma. I want you to act like it, okay? I want you to care. It’s okay if you’re jealous but you never need to be. Okay, baby?”
