The kids missed the bus so Gail had to drive them, luckily it was her day off.
"Love you" she said to the backs of her children as they ran into their classroom. "Wow I feel loved." she murmured to herself.
"You know they love you." came a familiar voice. Turning around she was met with brown eyes.
"Holly, or should I say Ms. Stewart." Gail smiled at the teacher.
"I think Holly's fine." she smiled.
"I do too." Gail winked, causing the brunette to blush. What was she doing? She couldn't do this, she was already so swamped and adding dating into the mix was just a really bad idea.
"Are you flirting with your children's teacher to get them better marks?"
"I guess it's a good thing you aren't their teacher now isn't it?" she asked raising an eyebrow. Stupid, stupid Peck she thought to herself.
"I guess so." Holly agreed with a smirk. There was a bang from down the hall, followed by a call for Ms. Stewart.
"I better get that." she said pointing towards the noise. Was that disappointment she saw in those gorgeous brown eyes?
Gail nodded, "yeah."
She watched as the brunette walked past her, down the hall and disappear into a classroom. Gail was hooked and she knew it.
Gail spent the rest of the day trying not to think of the unbelievably beautiful brunette and failed miserably. She did all of the house cleaning, extra paperwork, errands, and even pre-cooked some lunches for herself and the kids. She did all of those things to try and distract herself, which did nothing of the sorts. Instead she spent the day wondering what it would feel like to kiss those soft lips, how her body would feel against Holly's, what kind of noises would erupt from deep within the brunette when Gail touched her. She also imagined what it would be like to wake up to Holly's face, how much of a family the four of them would look. Gail had never pictured those more domestic things with anyone before and it scared her. She didn't even know Holly and was picturing how their life would be together, how much of a creeper did that make Gail? She didn't want the answer.
So maybe all of these thoughts and feelings unconsciously made her late, maybe. It definitely wasn't because she wanted to see Holly and possibly ask her out. Nope, couldn't be.
"Not that I don't like hanging out with Holly, mom, but I would like to be able to watch my favourite show every once and a while." Ollie said and then continued to practice her cords on the uke. They had been playing the instruments again, but to a new tune. Zander was actually really good at the piano and seemed to be enjoying it immensely. Gail made a note to see if they wanted extra lessons.
Gail smiled at her daughter, "I'll be sure to tell everyone in the city to stop everything so I'm not late and you can watch your cartoons."
"That would be lovely." Ollie met Gail's smile with one of her own. Holly giggled at the interaction.
"Mom can we go, I'm hungry." Zander asked walking over to her side.
"I just fed you." Holly smiled to the boy.
With a shrug he answered, "what can I say? I'm a Peck." Holly looked to Gail who also shrugged with a nod.
As the kids gathered their things Gail walked over to the brunette.
"Do you want to go out on friday?"
Holly took a step forward, now in Gail's space and kissed her cheek. "I would love to." she whispered with a smile.
Gail gave a deep belly laugh as she doubled over, hand in the air as not to drop her ice cream cone. Catching her breath she looked back up at the brunette, "Ollie seriously did that?"
Holly nodded, not able to contain the face splitting smile on her lips. "It was very brief and she had just sprung on me out of no where. She gave me the rundown and the threats very seriously and calmly, then politely smiled and asked for a juice box like nothing happened."
"She's a very protective, not one to be messed with." Gail said proudly as she began walking again. "Did Zander have anything to say?"
"No, I think he thought Ollie was enough for the point to get across." Holly smiled and took another lick of her ice cream.
Gail finished her bite before speaking. "You sure it's not because of his shy qualities?"
"Oh definitely. He's actually pretty talkative when it's just us three, and of course when you're there it's just heightened." The brunette was quick to answer.
Well worrying if the kids liked Holly was now a silly thing. Zander was comfortable enough to be heard and Ollie had let Holly patch a tare her stuffed bunny, Brad -which blew Gail away because even she wasn't qualified to do that.
"They really like you, you know."
Holly became bashful as she looked to her feet, hiding behind her long hair.
"They do. As you've probably picked up on Zander isn't one to talk much, yet he wouldn't stop talking about the really awesome Ms. Stewart that hung out with them after school. And Ollie let you sew Brad back together, which is something I'm not even allowed to do by the way. She also brought one of their sciencey books for you to explain things to her." Gail assured earnestly as she finished eating her ice cream cone.
"I don't know what to say to that." Holly breathed, glancing back at the blonde.
"There isn't really anything to say to that, it's just so you know." She smiled. "Wanna sit?" Gail asked pointing to a wooden bench just up ahead.
Holly threw out the last few bites of her cone and brushed her hands on her jeans. "I'll race you" she exclaimed, getting a head start with a laugh.
Gail immediately ran in an attempt to win, catching up to the brunette in no time. It was neck and neck before she tripped over a dip in the pavement that Holly effortlessly leaped over. The brunette sat on the bench in victory, trying to catch her breath with a smug grin plastered on her face. Gail smirked inwardly, not wanting to show any emotion other then how unfair the race was.
"I would have won if you hadn't cheated and if this freaking walkway was properly lit." Gail said with crossed arms.
"I was like two seconds ahead, so not much cheating and I thought you were trained in all terrains as an officer of the law." Holly smirked and leaned back in triumph.
Gail pouted and looked to the now dark sky.
Holly took a moment to gaze at the blonde. She really was adorable with the way her lips quivered in an attempt to not smile, her cheeks pink from the chill in the night air and a bit of ice cream graced her chin. She had it bad for this woman.
"Come sit with me Officer Sore Loser." Holly coaxed the blonde by pulling on her wrist until she sat next to her. "I'll give you a chance next time to redeem yourself."
Gail smirked and met her gaze, "there'll be a next time will there?"
"I guess that's up to you." Holly whispered. Her eyes not able to stay on the blue ones looking back at her as Gail licking her lips was much more captivating.
Gail brought a hand up to Holly's cheek, "you've got an eyelash." She whispered as she pinched it between her forefinger and thumb. She held it towards the brunette now just on her forefinger.
Holly raised an eyebrow.
"You have to close your eyes, make a wish and then blow it away." Gail explained quietly.
She admires as Holly closed her eyes tight, her lips moving slightly as she made a wish and then blew away the eyelash.
When she opened her eyes again she found Gail with a goofy smile playing on her lips, those full, red, soft lips that she couldn't help but stare at the entire evening. "And you have ice cream on your chin." Holly whispered and cupped the blondes jaw, wiping the white substance with her thumb. Her heart began to race as Gail moved closer, neither breaking eye contact.
"Are you going to kiss me?" Gail husked with a lick of her lips. She could smell the caramel from the ice cream as the blondes warm breath hit her face.
"I was thinking about it." Holly's voice was low and unsteady.
Gail inched closer, their noses barely touching. "And what's your conclusion Ms. Stewart?"
A blush crept up from her chest, effectively burning her cheeks and ears as a shiver ran down her spine. She could feel Gail's smirk melt as their lips moved together. Holly trailed her fingers down her toned jaw to tangle them in blonde locks, as Gail cupped the back of her neck.
She couldn't help but smile as she realized what was happening. Causing Holly to smile too, making kissing impossible. Pulling away she opened her eyes to meet dark brown ones and they both broke out into a fit of giggles.
Gail stood. "We're getting delirious, let's go." She chuckled, pulling Holly to her feet. They walked hand in hand back to the parking garage they both had left their cars. With a few fleeting kisses at the brunette's car they went home feeling like love stricken teens.