It's nearly midnight, and she's half asleep on her couch. She rises to her feet, tired, from a long day. She moves towards the door, in her bare feet. She looks through the peephole, and she unchains the door. She pulls the door towards her, and she looks at him questioningly. His tie is no longer knotted, instead it is just draped around his neck. The top button of his shirt is unbuttoned, and the jacket to his suit is no where to be found. He looks a little rough. He looks up at her.
"What are you doing here?" she questions, with a furrowed brow.
"I wanted to apologize," he tells her.
She motions for him to come in. He steps in, and she closes the door.
"You're alone?" he wonders.
"Yeah," she nods. Leaving, some things unsaid.
"Look, I am sorry for the way that I acted. I just wanted you to know that I know I acted like a jerk. I'm sorry."
"It is ok. I know that you have a lot going on."
"No, it's not ok," he argues.
She looks at him, and a moment of silence falls between him. She looks at her partner. He's tired, and weary, his world has just been turned upside down, thanks to her boyfriend. The word boyfriend echoes in her mind. Who was she kidding? Brian would always be a boy. She shakes off the feeling of regret, and pushes the thought of doubt from her mind. She watches him, waiting for him to say something.
He looks at her, and for the first time he sees it. Her tough exterior, it's all because she's still looking, for what's missing. She hasn't found it yet, he tells himself. It's a shame she's with such a loser. She deserves better. She deserves whatever she wants, and he's pretty sure Cassidy isn't it. He wonders how long it will take her to see that. He shakes the thought from his mind, and focuses his attention on her face.
She looks into his dark eyes, and she feels herself being drawn to him, like a magnet. She tries to fight it, but she's tired, so tired. She remains perfectly, trying to listen to the voice of reason in her head. Her heart beats rapidly, trying to scream louder than her brain.
Finally he breaks the silence, "Liv are you ok?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"You look emotionally drained," he points out.
"I am not the only one," she reminds him.
He looks down, and realizes how he must look. His tie is barely draped around his neck. His jacket is in the car. He hasn't shaved in a couple of days, and he's barely slept. He probably looks like a hobo, and she stands there, in front of him, looking like a movie star, even though she's in her pajamas.
"How is it, that your whole life can change in one instant, without you even knowing it?"
She shrugs, "I don't know."
"I don't want to live with regrets," he admits.
"Neither do I," she agrees.
He swallows, and she watches as his adam apple bobs. She's wearing an old t-shirt, and a pair of sweat pants. Her hair is still damp, and she's not wearing any make-up. She wants to step closer, but she doesn't. Instead, she pushes away the silence that fills the void between them.
"It's funny how timing is everything."
He nods, "Yeah, but maybe, while we're waiting for life to happen, we're missing all of the things we were supposed to be living."
She doesn't say anything. She allows the silence to wash over them, once again. He can feel it, too. He doesn't want to fight it. He takes a step towards her. Her breath hitches. Her subconscious tries to warn her. It screams at her. He knows the difference between right and wrong. His lips curl into a devilish smile. If he's going to be wrong, she's the one person he wants to be wrong with.
"You should go," she says, just above a whisper.
"If you want me to go, just say the word," he responds.
She takes a step closer to him. She feels herself drawn in by his tired smile.
"But, maybe you should stay," she adds.
"Sounds like you're not sure," he takes another step in her direction.
"There are a lot of things that I'm not sure of," she admits, pacing towards him.
"Maybe I need to convince you," he offers.
He's close enough for her to feel his breath on her. "It wouldn't take much."
He closes the gap, between them. His lips stop, next to her ear. He whispers, "Then I'll try."
She doesn't say anything, as he kisses her neck. She takes the tie, from around his neck, and tosses it on the ground. His fingers rest under the base of her skull, in her hair. She doesn't hesitate. Neither does he. Her lips press against his, and for the first time, in a long time, she feels alive, again.
For the first time, all day, he isn't thinking about how hellish his day has been. His mind doesn't go anywhere near the fact that his entire life has just changed. The only thing he can think about is her lips on his.
Her mind doesn't wonder to her boyfriend, for a second. She doesn't think about fidelity, or trust, or betrayal. She doesn't consider how wrong this is. It doesn't even register that she's kissing her partner.
He moves slowly, and deliberately, knowing that they are crossing a line. In honesty, he doesn't care that they are crossing a professional boundary. He only cares about her, in the moment.
She doesn't hesitate, or consider the consequences. She reaches for his shirt. Her fingers gracefully undo the buttons on his shirt. She pulls the shirttails out of his pants.
He allows the dress shirt to fall to the ground. He reaches for her shirt, and it comes off just as easily.
No alarm bells go off in her head, as she peels his undershirt off of him. No red flag flies up, as their clothes fall to the floor, piece by piece.
There are no voices in his head, telling him that he shouldn't be here, that he shouldn't be doing this. He doesn't think about what will be said, in the morning light.
There are no rationalities, or thoughts of reason, as they make their way to the couch. He lowers her to the couch.
She presses her hand against his chest. He leans back, wondering if she's throwing up a stop sign. She smiles, and switches places with him.