Addison checked to make sure the door to her apartment was locked, then went to the top of the stairs to wait for Emma. They would work the night performance, and it was time to go get into costume.
Emma came from Hannah's and her apartment and likewise locked the door. “Anyways like I was saying, it’s real nice to know Shay and Kent got back to normal. I know what Shay from 1880 is having to go through.”
Addison nodded. “I’m not a fan of shifting… well… at least not shifting into the body of a man.”
Emma snickered a little. “I must be strange what with you and Jacob both being men in 1880.”
“You can say that again!”
They started down the stairs and Emma went on. “It’s real nice seeing you and him getting on so good.”
Addison looked at her friend and felt like there was a lot unstated. She let the silence hang until they got into the lobby of the theater.
“Emma… are you and Devon okay?”
Emma smiled a little. “Yeah, he’s real nice and makes everything fun.”
“I was just asking… Seems like you get along pretty good.”
Emma shrugged. “We do…”
Again, Addison felt like a lot was unsaid. “You do… but?”
Emma siged. “It ain’t going nowhere fast. I think I bore him. And… I don’t… He’s real nice.”
“Nice?” Addison smiled. “But not much more?”
Emma shook her head.
“Look… If it’s not moving forward, you need to call it off. You’re wasting your time and his both…”
They discussed the concept a little then Emma said, “I wouldn’t know what to say to end it.”
Addison leaned in close. “Just tell him he doesn’t make your girl bits tingle and it’s not fair to drag things out”
Emma flushed and her eyes bulged. “I couldn’t say that! I couldn’t”
They discussed things she could say. When they reached the dressing room, Addison had Emma played out the scene a few times until Emma felt like she knew what she wanted to say.
“Emma… what got you two together in the first place?”
Emma shrugged and looked down. She didn’t say anything right away, but Addision didn’t interrupt.
Emma finally looked up. “I guess when I saw Merritt taking up so good with Hannah, I settled for Devon, and Hannah pointed out how nice he is and how sweet he is. It’s been real fun, and I like him… but…”
“No tingles…” Addison smiled.
“It’s not ‘xactly that… not that by itself…”
Addison thought about what Emma had said before, then realized something she’d missed. “Settled? You settled for Devon? Like he came in second?”
Emma frowned and looked down.
Addison went on. “Emma, you’re still catching feels for Merritt, aren’t you?”
Emma looked up. “Catching feels?”
Addison smiled and took on the 1880 voice and mannerisms she’d learned in a great measure from Emma. “Dear girl, I do declare! You’re still carrying a torch for that Merritt, ain’t ya?”
Emma smiled at the performance but it wasn’t lasting. She teared up just a little and looked down. “I reckon if it’s meant to be…”
Addison took Emma’s hands into hers. “Listen, it might be meant to be, but if you don’t play your cards right, he’ll be a ship passed in the night. If you believe it is meant to be, you need to act on your belief. You can’t just sit back and ignore what you believe to be true.”
Emma looked up and wiped away a tear. “What do I do?”
Addison shook her head. “Every day you spend in a relationship with Devon is a day you're not in the relationship you believe you’re supposed to be in. You gotta start with that situation before you do anything else. In a big way, to be fair to Devon, not to mention being honest with yourself.”
“And then?” Emma asked.
“One step at a time? How about taking that first step first?”
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