Chapter 2- My Girl

Gillian was extremely comfortable lying in Cal's lap. There was a light breeze blowing and the park was quiet for the afternoon. She let her eyes drift close for a moment to feel the sun warm her face.

Cal watched her with quiet complacency. He wanted to take a hand and gently stroke her soft auburn hair, to have proof that she was actually here with him enjoying a Saturday afternoon together. And though she might actually have let him, he didn't want to disturb her serene quietude. He settled instead for just quietly observing her calm face.

"You want to go for a walk?" Gillian asked suddenly. Cal had been right, he did make a comfortable pillow. Between that and her quiet surroundings, she had slowly started falling asleep. Gillian felt herself blush slightly at the thought of falling asleep in Cal's lap, and was anxious to get up and moving to wake herself up.

"Sure, love. Let's go." If Cal had noticed anything, he didn't mention it. Surprised as he was, and not just a little disappointed at moving from their current comfortable position, he nonetheless agreed immediately to a walk. He helped her up, letting his hand linger a moment before releasing hers. They left their stuff under their tree and started down a meandering path around a nearby pond.

"So, love you been seeing anyone lately?" he asked casually. Although the thought of any answer other than an absolute negative made his stomach churn.

"Why precisely is that any of your business?"

"You're deflecting." He was getting nervous. It was all he could do not to let his anxiety show. She was getting better at reading him, something he was both proud of and slightly nervous about.

"No, I'm not. I just don't see why I should tell you is all."

"So you are seeing someone then?" The very thought of it made his stomach drop.

"I never said that."

"So you aren't seeing anyone?"

"I never said that either." An amused smile danced across her features. She was toying with him. This is fun, she thought to herself. Gillian could see the nervousness on Cal's face. Why he should be nervous though, she couldn't guess.

"Gil…" he was almost whining. "Are you enjoying mucking around with me?"

"Maybe a little…" Her smile widened as she looked at him with playful eyes.

"You've been spending too much time with Emily, love. Between the two of you, I'll be loony before Christmas." Cal was trying to feign frustration, but he was secretly glad that his best friend and daughter had grown so close.

"Well then you'll make a very jolly Santa," Gillian replied laughing. "Emily's a good kid, Cal. You should give her more credit for it."

"Yeah, yeah, I know you think she's bloody brilliant. But the two of you scheming together is more than any poor bloke can handle."

"Scheming?" she asked, now clearly amused, "Really Cal? Not everything's about you, you know."

"Well, of course everything's about me, love." Cal puffed his chest out mockingly. "How else did you think my head got so bloody big?"

Gillian laughed. "Hmm, I'd been wondering about that." They were now walking along a tree lined path bordered on one side by a shaded field and a garden on the other. "Oh, and by the way, I'm not."

"You're not what?"

"Not seeing anyone," she replied casually. Cal felt his heart rise. He breathed a sigh of relief, which did not go unnoticed by Gillian.

Thank god, he thought, although all he said aloud was, "Why not?"

"Just haven't met the right person is all," she replied nonchalantly.

"Oh, well, good." Cal stated matter-of-factly.

"Good? And why is that good might I ask?"

"Because you're my girl," he responded in the same matter-of-fact tone.

Surprise flashed across Gillian's face. "Your girl?" she asked, an amused smile accompanying the question.

"Yeah, you're my best friend, and I won't have some second-rate plonker stealing you away from me." He shot her a grin, not daring to mention he hoped one day she'd be more than his best friend.

"Cal!" she exclaimed with a feigned affronted air, "I am so not your girl." She shoved him playfully on the shoulder.

"Oh we'll see about that." With that, he grabbed her by the waist from behind, lifted her up, and spun her around. She let out a surprised scream, quickly accompanied by peals of laughter. Cal loved hearing her laugh. Her laugh was light and sweet, and made her face light up in the most adorable smile. He pulled them both down to the ground where he quickly rolled on top her, pinning her arms above her head. She squirmed beneath him, trying to escape.

"Cal!" she protested still laughing. "Let me go!"

"Not until you say you're my girl, love," he replied calmly, a cocky grin plastered on his face.

"No!"

"Well then I guess you'll be stuck here forever, love."

"Cal! Come on! Please?" she begged. She gave him her best puppy dog eyes accompanied by a pouting lip.

"Oh, now that's not fair! Fine." He let go of her wrists, only to immediately start tickling her as soon as he'd relinquished his hold. Gillian was now nearly breathless with laughter.

"Okay! Okay! I'll say it!" she gasped between giggles.

"I'm waiting, love."

"I'm your girl!"

He pinned her by the wrists again. "I didn't quite catch that. What was it you said, love?" he teased. He was thoroughly enjoying himself.

"I'm your girl!" Gillian was now practically crying from laughter. Even so, she managed to shoot him a somewhat scathing glare. She'd stopped struggling underneath him. She was well aware he was still lying on top of her.

"Good to know," Cal said. His cocky grin was back.

"Can I get up now?" she asked, one eyebrow raised.

"No," Cal responded calmly.

"Cal…"

"Yes, Gillian?"

"Get off of me," she shot him a warning glare, though a hint of playfulness still shone out of her eyes.

Cal paused for a moment, pretending to consider her request.

"Cal!"

"Alright, alright…" he relented, offering a hand to her as he stood up. He pulled her off the ground and wrapped an arm around her shoulders as they continued walking. Pulling her close he asked, "So, how's about my girl and I have dinner tonight?"

"Dinner? Really, Cal?

"Yeah, love. How else am I going to make sure you don't go home and start working again?" She shot him a reproachful look. "Kidding, kidding love. I just thought you might like to extend out afternoon into the evening. What do you say? Dinner at my place?"

Gillian smiled, "Ok, sure. Sounds like a plan."

"Brilliant," Cal smiled back. He wrapped him arms tighter around her shoulders, as they continued on their walk.

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