Oliver catches sight of her first.
They're nestled in the corner of a cafe, leaning in towards each other. The man across her whispers something that causes her to rustle in laughter. Felicity tucks her hair back behind her ear and softly drums her fingers over his hands.
Oliver takes a moment to admire how pretty she looks with her curled hair framing her face when she notices him.
"Oliver?"
The man turns around and Oliver can't help but quickly assess him.
Strong jaw line, dark brown hair, and press ironed shirt neatly tucked in; he has a quiet demeanor and firm gaze.
Felicity doesn't get up but nervously introduce them.
"Um, Ed, this Oliver Queen... my boss."
She winces at the last two words but continues, "Oliver, this is Edward Raymond."
She's careful not to give whatever role he plays in her life, no title of friend or boyfriend. He gets no relief from the fact. It makes him strangely uncomfortable.
"Hi, it's nice to meet you", and stretches out a hand. Ed goes to meet the gesture when his pager goes off. He frowns and turns toward Felicity with a regretful face.
"I'm sorry, they need me down at the office. Vic finally came in. That guy, he always does what he wants."
Felicity smiles wryly. "Yeah, it's okay. Tell Sage I said hi."
"I'll call you," he leans down to kiss her cheek but brushes the side of her lips instead.
He doesn't notice, but Oliver watches as a tinge of red spreads across her cheeks. He doesn't like that.
They watch him exit in silence until they can't see him.
Tentatively, she is the first to speak.
"Do you want to sit...or are you busy?"
He pulls back the chair and settles down where Ed had just been. She fidgets in her seat, knowing what he'll ask.
"So who was that?"
Glancing at him for a second before reverting her gaze at the napkin she's started picking at, she wets her lips and swallows. His gaze is unnervingly intense.
"C'mon Felicity, at least I got a nervous my boss."
She laughs at that, an expression close to the one he'd found on her before she'd seen him.
Her face is clear of vibrant lipstick or eyeshadow.
"You're not wearing makeup", he blurts out unwittingly.
Suprised, she brings a finger to her lips. "Ha, yeah. I didn't want him to see me like that."
She breathes out a laugh. "Usually it's the other way around. "
It's strange. By now, she'd have rambled herself in a circle, but she was quiet and withdrawn.
His nails dig into the styrofoam of his cup. Knots grow in his throat at the thought of a man who had that effect on her.
His hands relax when he hears her start again.
"Ed... was my fiancée. "
Oliver jolts forward in surprise. She glances up from the table to him and gives a short, self derisive giggle.
"I know. We met while I was in college."
Head in her hands, she gazes out the window, face clouded in a fog of nostalgia.
"He was always chasing after something, and for a while, he chased after me."
Oliver's jaw clenches in something close to anger crossed with jealousy.
She doesn't notice and comtinues, "But he... got nervous. Distant. I think he was afraid that it would end for him like it did the first time. He was widowed and he had a son."
He slowly registers the information.
"You know, I would've done it. I would've moved to New York, walked Ronnie to school, have those family outings. Except, he pulled away and he wouldn't listen to me, wouldn't let me reassure him."
Her hair falls forward to curtain her face off from his view. He doesn't want to hear this, doesn't want the tugging feeling in his stomach, or the rock in his throat.
She whispers from under layers of blonde hair, "I guess it wasn't enough."
He can hear the silent word hidden beneath the fear.
I
I wasn't enough.
He holds her hand until their coffee grows cold and the cafe slowly empties out.
He drives her home, walks her to the door, looks at her red eyes.
She finally smiles at him. The moon is half full and it's past nine. She crinkles her nose and he notices a splash of freckles on the bridge of her nose.
She kisses him on the cheek.
"Goodnight, Oliver."
The door shuts softly in front of him and he can still feel her on his skin.