Title: You Were
the One (Chapter 6)
Author: Sassydew
Rating: T
Disclaimer: The
characters belong to David Shore, et. al. I'm just borrowing them so
that I can satisfy my desire to know what happened with House and
Stacy BEFORE...
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Where Ch. 5 ended:
After dinner Greg pays the bill with a credit card. As they leave the restaurant, he puts a hand on the small of Stacy's back and gently guides her ahead of him.
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When they arrive at her townhouse, Stacy invites Greg in for a drink.
"Again, I apologize for the mess," she says as she takes off her shawl and drapes it over a stack of boxes. "Have a seat." She gestures to the sofa. "So what'll it be? Coffee? Scotch? Or I have a good bottle of sherry…"
"Sherry's good," he says as he sits down.
"We'll have to drink it out of plastic cups, I'm afraid. My wine glasses are all packed." She goes into the kitchen and quickly reappears with the box of chocolates he brought, which she sets on the coffee table, and the sherry and two cups. She fills each, hands him one, and sits down on the sofa next to him.
"To a lovely evening," she says as she raises her cup.
"And great company," he says as they tap their plastic cups together.
They each take a couple of sips and then there is a moment of silence. Greg is staring down into his cup trying to think of something witty – or at least something nice – to say, when Stacy speaks.
"About the other night…" she begins awkwardly. "You might find this hard to believe, but I don't make a habit of going home with men I've just met."
I believe you," he tells her, meeting her eyes.
"In fact, that was the first time. It's important to me that you know that," she continues.
He looks at her and nods curtly. "Well, as long as we're playing 'true confessions,' I don't usually hang out at strip clubs, either. It was a bachelor party for my friend Wilson. He's in Hawaii on his honeymoon now." He's not sure why he adds the last bit, as if she cares where Wilson is on his honeymoon.
"Oh, is Wilson the guy who came by when we were standing by the restrooms smoking?" she asks as she picks up the box of chocolates, opens it, and extends it to him.
He nods as he takes a piece of dark chocolate and puts the whole piece into his mouth.
Stacy selects a cream-filled chocolate and, as she bites into it, closes her eyes. "Mmm! Nothing like Godiva!" She smiles at him and he's really glad he brought the chocolates.
"So…," she begins. "Why, exactly, did you tell me to leave so abruptly the other night?" she asks him, point blank.
"I was afraid you would ask that," he says quietly as he stares down into his sherry. "I'm sorry. I…I felt…I don't know. I thought it was just one night…" He feels completely exposed and vulnerable. But somewhere deep down he knows he has to be truthful with her if there's any chance of this working out. "…but then…I realized I…I like you. And I felt…well…I didn't think…you felt the same…"
She reaches out and takes his face in her hands, gently turning him to look at her. "You didn't even give me a chance," she says quietly, studying his features.
"I know. I'm sorry," he whispers. He never apologizes to anyone. Ever. And he's done it twice in just a few minutes. Now he's in trouble, he thinks. But then he feels her lips on his, her tongue in his mouth slowly circling his own – she tastes like chocolate and sherry – and he just doesn't care. At all.
(To Be Continued...)