rumor has it x jemily

four

would you look at that?? first chapter of this book in 2022???? what a time to be alive! i hope everyone is doing well🥰

happy readings and stay safe besties! -salem🤍

TW: minimal swearing, jealousy, homophobia, childhood trauma, mentions of alcohol consumption
word count: 3777

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Matt: "The truth is rarely pure and never simple." Oscar Wilde.

"So I've been thinking," JJ said as Spencer handed her a coffee. The blonde woman smiled as she thanked him quietly. "I don't have to tell Emily, right?"

"Will it make you feel better if you don't?" Spencer asked as he slipped on his sunglasses. The two of them were having a evening getaway coffee meeting. JJ had been feeling a bit overwhelmed with the whole 'still being in love with Emily' thing. So, she turned to the only person who could hear her out.

"I don't know. Maybe?" JJ said and sat back in her chair with her arms crossed. "You heard her at the round table before we left. She said it didn't mean anything to her."

"That was directed at you?" Spencer asked and furrowed his eyebrows. He wasn't paying too much attention to the subtle detail that day. He was starving and had food and coffee right in front of him. Meanwhile, JJ had analyzed every single detail from that discussion.

"I'm ninety percent sure," JJ said and grabbed her coffee. "So at this point, why bother to tell her?"

"Because it'll eat you alive if you don't," Spencer said and shrugged his shoulders. JJ looked over at him with her jaw dropped slightly. "What? I'm just telling the truth! I know you, JJ, this is going to haunt you until you tell her. Actually, it'll haunt you until you're open up with the team entirely. You don't like keeping things to yourself."

Ring. Ring. Ring.

Spencer grabbed his phone before answer it. "Hello?"

"Hey, I was wondering if you wanted to come grab dinner with the rest of the team? It's a beautiful day and we figured some vitamin D was necessary for all of us. Emily is letting us off an hour earlier," Matt said and smiled softly over the phone. Spencer looked over at JJ who was on her phone, reading a text from Tara. "We're going to the usual Mexican place that Emily likes."

"Yeah, um, JJ and I will meet you guys there," Spencer said and nodded his head over at JJ. "Bye."

"Well, this isn't what I necessarily needed right now. Emily is going to be there," JJ said and sighed heavily.

"Who knows? Maybe it'll be great," Spencer said and chuckled. JJ rolled her eyes as she stood up and grabbed her coffee. Spencer got up quickly and followed after her.

Needless to say, JJ didn't think it was going well. After waiting for a table for nearly an hour, she got placed in the worse possible seating arrangement. Emily was on her left side and Spencer was on her right with Penelope right in front of her. JJ could practically feel eyes on her every move.

"Hi, my name is Nina and I'll be taking your orders today," the waitress said as she pulled out her small notebook. "What can I get you all for drinks?"

After making her round through the entire table, she finally landed on Emily. The waitress couldn't help but eye Emily up and down quickly. It was obvious to everyone at that table that she had a different look in her eye when it came to Emily.

"I'll get these right out," Nina said and gently squeezed Emily's shoulder. JJ couldn't help but clench her jaw tighter at the gesture. The second the waitress walked away, Tara and Penelope smiled widely at Emily. The raven-haired woman furrowed her eyebrows as they both leaned forward.