Sorry for the wait, everyone. Hope you enjoy it!
"So, you're seriously just going to take some girl to the Cubs game over me? So much for friendship, Phil." Colt huffed as he sat on the couch, kicking his feet up on the coffee table. Phil, meanwhile, sifted through his closet in his bedroom until he found a jersey that wasn't completely worn to hell.
"Colt, I hate to break it to you, but you're just not my type." He called with a laugh as he walked out to the living room to meet his grimacing friend. "How many times have I played lookout for you so you could hook up with a ring rat, huh?" He questioned, raising his brow at him knowingly.
His friend simply rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Apples and oranges, Brooks. This tattoo artist chick, Clinton—"
"—Reagan."
"Right, Reagan…is she worth all this? God, is she a Republican?" He mused. The tattooed man picked up one of the dog toys off the floor and chucked it at Colt's head, making him flinch and Larry dart toward the couch.
"I didn't get into her political affiliations, jackass. Even if she was, it wouldn't matter…She's great. She's low key, funny, I think there could be something." He said with a smile.
"And you'll ride a horse into the sunset like you did with April…Look how that turned out. All I'm saying is not to get too hasty, brother. I usually trust your judgment, but with this aspect of life, I question it for your own sake."
"Look, Colt, I appreciate you looking out for me and all that, but I'm a big boy. If I fall on my face, I fall on my face, at least I tried. What's the worst that could happen after the game; she gets hit by a baseball and never calls me again? Reagan seems like a decent person who isn't obsessing over who I am or who I used to be, and there's just…something man, I can't describe it. I want to try, and if it fails, you can have bragging rights and my season tickets." He said, his eyes bright as his friend initially looked at him like he had seven heads.
"You're right. You're a big boy, go do big boy things…I'll dog sit." Colt joked as he picked up the tiny dog.
"Out." He said pointedly. "And leave the dog." He smiled before heading out the door and down to the tattoo parlor.
After a few minutes, the bell above the door of the tattoo parlor rang, and Reagan's head perked up like a dog. She grinned wildly and dropped the appointment book in her hand, causing one of her tattooists to look up and shake his head.
"Ready to go?" He asked, cocking his head to the side and looking over the girl that had been on his mind for weeks. As cheesy and campy as it sounded, she looked even more beautiful than the day he met her. Reagan nodded, grabbing her bag from under the counter and giving notes to the head tattoo artist before she locked arms with the brunette and walked out the door.
"Before I forget…" Phil paused as they walked, and handed her a jersey. Reagan rolled her eyes and took the jersey, taking the time to button it. "Now it's a date. I don't think that jersey has looked better."
"You are ridiculous…Thank you, Phil." Reagan said as a blush crept on her cheeks.
Soon enough, they made it to Wrigley Field and sat in their seats. After a few snacks and idle chat about the game, it was Reagan who not so subtly slid her hand into Phil's callused one on his leg. Something about him made the normally stand-offish woman comfortable. He raised a brow but didn't question it and laced his fingers with hers. Another hour passed and the game ended in a win for the home team, the two of them clapping and celebrating before they walked out.
"So, do you have time in your busy schedule for some Chinese?" Phil asked, looking over Reagan with a shit eating grin on his face.
"You are very proud of yourself, aren't you? Yes, my pressing schedule allows for Chinese food." She smirked back and squeezed his hand as they walked back to his apartment.
Phil dropped his hat on his kitchen counter and quickly shuffled through his menus. "Uh, make yourself at home…That's Larry, he's the vicious guard dog." He said as the dog sniffed at Reagan's shoes. The softy for animals that she was, she picked up the dog and quickly began licking her face.
"Oh, vicious indeed." She laughed as she walked around the apartment and sat on the couch, looking around at the décor. "Jeez, talk about a man cave." The violet-haired woman let the dog rest in her lap as she flipped through her phone; a few of her coworkers sending both inquiring and encouraging texts.
"Well, I am a man…What do you want?" He asked, leaning over the back of the couch before sitting next to her. He quickly called after he got her order and nudged Reagan. "He seems to dig you."
"I mean, the dog's made a move faster than you have." She blurted and quickly covered her mouth. The tattooed man made a face. "I'm sorry, that just…that was rude." She cringed.
"No, it was honest…I guess I should step up, then." He said, then leaned over and kissed Reagan slowly. She took her time with responding back to it, mostly due to the shock as she grabbed at his hair. It was one of those things that deep down she needed, but always pushed down because of the timing. Reagan deepened the kiss and turned to climb into his lap, turning off her brain for a moment and giving in. Phil was the first to pull away for air and let his hands fall naturally at her waist.
"That was definitely a step up. Uhm…I guess this is a good time to tell you that I like you." Reagan chuckled and looked into his green eyes.
"No shit, really?" He laughed. "I like you, too, Reagan. You're…well, I'm still trying to figure you out, but I like a good mystery now and then. You're worth it."
"Well, I'll make sure of that." She smirked, and went to kiss him once more before the doorbell interrupted them. Reagan reluctantly got off of him as he went to the door, his eyes never leaving her with the biggest grin on his face.