He very well could have shut the conversation up, she was not primarily a telepath but a clairvoyant, and he could have easily overpowered her. But that would have been rude and their friendship could have suffered because of it. Nikolai, at this point, must have known this conversation was coming. Emily gave advice whether it was asked for or not, unless she knew it would hurt them. This was not going to hurt Nikolai - he would find it embarrassing or ridiculous because he, like so many other people, thought there was something so different about themselves that clearly meant they were not capable of having loving relationships. Emily had always thought that to be an absolutely absurd notion. No one was so different than they were never meant for love. It was just in the nature of people. Everyone would find love, and was capable of it. Nikolai was as well, despite his insistence that he was a deep, special snowflake that was meant to be alone.
It wasn't like she didn't feel the change the second she mentally said Ferran's name. His reaction was wildly excessive for someone who was 'just friends.' She had to hold back a laugh, although if he were to look at her there would be the hint of a smirk on her face. Friends sometimes make the best lovers. That was all she was going to say on that particular topic. Nikolai and Ferran were so, so silly. Ferran had similar kinds of fears as Nikolai, both having had such terrible times with relationships in the past. Everyone has dating problems, Niko. You're not the only one. And anyone pursuing a romantic relationship with you is a smart cookie, not someone doomed. I don't know why you insist on thinking you're broken. In fact, she found it a little insulting.
She took another sip of her coffee - Emily could get carried away in her advice giving modes if she let herself, so she took a moment just to savor that amazing french vanilla taste in her morning coffee. As she sat there in silence with Niko, she sensed something. Are--- are you checking your phone? Both her clairvoyance and her sense of hearing told her that. There were a lot more to that tense feeling when Ferran came up than he was letting on. Once again, if he were to look at her face, he would find a distinctly smug kind of smile placed there quite easily. I mean, you could always text first.