Sophie hugged Cal and for the first time since her divorce, Gillian felt jealousy again. At that moment, she wanted to be the one in Cal's arms. Seeing him wrap his warm arms around the girl's waist, whispering soothing words in her ear, it all made her so jealous. If it even was jealousy. She just wanted to share that special moment with Cal too.
For the first time in 5 years, she was happy, free, wearing what she wanted, and even getting what she wanted. Whether it was a donut sprinkled with sugary goodness in the morning, or a coffee as black as the night and sweet as a stolen kiss, even those sweet slushies she had been denying herself for a few months now. But now, all she wanted was a hug from Cal Lightman. Her partner, friend, boss; an arrogant ass, pusher, probably somewhat mentally disturbed at moment; what did she care? His hugs looked so inviting and she desperately felt like one. It was the only thing she couldn't get at this moment. Inside, her body was begging to touch even an inch of Cal, yet he was so far away. Only a few metres in reality, but so far away in her mind.
So deciding to wear her pink tight dress the next morning wasn't just because she felt happy and free, she knew that Cal would notice her in this dress, faster than he would if she wore black. The phone call about the loan didn't even bother her as much as she let on, it bothered her that, even if it was readable on his face, he still refused to get closer to her than she physically wanted.
That bruise on his cheek begged to be treated and she almost mothered him about it but was too focused on how his arms looked in that vest. It was rare to see him in an actual suit, complete with tie and white shirt (because he usually preferred some other color to fit with his jeans or suit pants). The black pants made him look so much more professional, showing off his tiny yet intimidating figure.
Gillian noticed how he moved his arms back and forth while he walked, fingers slightly open to feel the air move around them. These little details that almost nobody else would notice, she saw. The way he tilted his head away just a fraction of an inch as if he tried to hide that bruise. Maybe he was a bit afraid she might lecture him on how he got to it and so solved the case. Leaning against the wall and keeping her hands to herself seemed like the best option for Gillian Foster right now. Unless she wanted to push Cal against the wall and kiss his breath away. Not exactly a way to say hello to your business partner and boss.
The fact that he told her how he bought his ex-wife out to make sure she was going to stay made her clench her jaw, hoping he would risk this firm for her too.
Dragging him to the side of the hallway was the closest they got since the divorce, since the case ended. Somehow Cal decided to keep his distance from her ever since she told him she was divorcing and dragging him by his arm finally broke away that invisible barrier between them that had been bothering them for so many years now. Cal was scanning her face for every single emotion like he always did; she was busy staring at his eyes while ranting at him about how much better she felt.
Even Cal Lightman couldn't spot the unfinished truth. She had everything she wanted. That was true, but she missed something. Something small, significant...
She needed him. Wanted him.