Ch 11.

Connor kept his dates with Mimi and Mandy Jane. Despite the conversation with Abby, he didn't see either again. He didn't tell Abby that he had let both girls know about his other date, wanting to be honest with them. He didn't want to be That Guy. After that he spent few evenings out.

After a couple weeks she realized he hadn't mentioned anyone he'd taken out recently. Perhaps he was a bit scared to mention it to her; she hadn't meant to scold him out of dating entirely. She doubted that was the problem though. Their interactions had been more comfortable lately than they had been in a while. For a while now whenever she was around him she felt oddly unsettled, a bit tense and agitated. As if she had something important to say to him, but she couldn't think what..

One day on their way home from work, when she asked him what he wanted for dinner he mentioned that he would be eating out. She decide her subconscious had been prompting her to check in on his love life. Connor would be expecting her advice, surely.

"Seeing someone new?"

"Not... new." He fiddled with his seatbelt. "I've gone out with Joyce a few times."

"Joyce? I thought that was done for?"

"It wasn't the best date I've been on. But she messaged me again and we decided to give it another go." Joyce had apologized for being so quiet on their date and Connor could tell she was embarrassed by her shyness. After the initial awkwardness things had gone smoothly and they'd enjoyed each others company.

Abby nodded thoughtfully. "That's nice."

Connor cleared his throat. "In fact, we've plans to go to the Star Trek convention this weekend. I meant to tell you I wont be home Saturday night. There's parties that night and a few of us got a hotel room so we don't have to find a ride home at 4 in the morning."

Abby nodded again but said nothing. Connor didn't notice her knuckles go white as she gripped the steering wheel.

.x.x.x.x.x.

Saturday morning found Abby working out vigorously. Connor had left an hour before, bidding her farewell until the next evening, and she had decided her sandbag needed some kicking around. Pausing to catch her breath, she went to the stereo and hunted through the songs on her ipod for something that fit her mood. She usually prefer bouncy pop music, but today seemed a proper day for something heavier, angrier, and she remember Connor had added a playlist of his own favorite hard rock songs. Before she could select it, she heard the front door open and Connor's voice drift up. Abby smiled, about to greet him and ask what he'd forgotten when a second voice joined his. A woman's voice.

"Abby, you home?" Connor called up the stairs, then lower she heard him say to his companion "You can meet me flatmate quick before we go."

Abby didn't stop to question her actions until she found herself hidden in the closet where she kept her exercise equipment. As she scolded herself for being a completely idiot she heard Connor reach the top of the stairs. Well, it was too late to come out now without having to answer some very awkward questions when they saw her exit the narrow cupboard. She'd just have to wait until they left. Feeling a proper fool, Abby to a seat on her balance ball, careful not to make a sound.

"Abby?" she heard Connor call again. "Hmm, she must have popped out. We'll have you meet her another time, yeah?"

"Wow, you weren't kidding when you said she was into lizards." As she listened, Abby realized she hadn't imagined Joyce would be Welsh. Not that she'd spent much time imagining Joyce, or wondering what about her caught Connor's eye. Of course not. She was irrationally pleased to realize that Connor had obviously mentioned Abby to his date. She wondered if he had spoken of her more than once, or if the woman simply had good recall.

"How many do you two have?" Joyce continued. Abby begrudgingly had to admit she sounded friendly, and genuinely interested.

"I've lost count. They're all Abby's pets. They're friendly though. Except Donna there, she's got a mean streak but she can't get to ya. Keep 'em company while I go grab the camera."

When she heard his footsteps cross to the bedroom, Abby cracked the door a few centimeters and peeped out. Joyce was standing by the lizard tanks, examining each, and Abby saw she was petite, a bit smaller than herself even. Her hair was dark, chopped in a short boyish cut, and when she turned Abby could see her delicate features. It should be a sin for any normal woman to have that kind of bone structure. The other woman wore a costume Abby didn't recognize: a black jumpsuit with gray shoulders and teal at the color. Intriguing spots were painted down the side of her face and neck. Connor returned from the bedroom and Abby had to stifle a giggle. She hadn't really paid attention to what he wore when he left, but now she thought she recognized his blue shirt from the Star Trek movie he'd dragged her to see. But what really got her was the fake pointed ears he wore. She definitely hadn't seen those; he'd must have worn his hat to cover them so she wouldn't laugh at him.

She sobered a bit as she realized that. Connor didn't need to hide his interests from her. Just because she didn't share his hobbies didn't mean Abby thought less of him for them. She wondered now if she hadn't taken enough interest in the things he loved. She did listen when he chattered on about the shows and movies he enjoyed. It was almost a bit cute how excited he got about things. But most of it was unfamiliar to her so she could never contribute much and those conversations often ended up a bit one-sided. Now she worried that perhaps Connor had taken that as a sign of utter disinterest, or even derision, on her part.

"Shall we?"

Connor slipped his camera into his bag and offered a hand to the girl. Abby sucked in a breath as Joyce took his hand with what seemed to be very familiar ease. Abby tried to remember how many times Connor has gone out since he started speaking to Joyce again. They couldn't have gone on that many dates. It took Abby months before she could let the man she was seeing get that publicly affectionate with her. Worrying at her lower lip with her teeth, she start to feel like voyeur but continued to watch regardless.

"Lets." Joyce responded, flashing an excited grin at Connor. "I hope this con is as much fun as the last one I went to. I got to meet Kate Mulgrew!"

"I was there that year! I didn't get to meet her though, her signing was at the same time as the seminar on the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition." Connor and his date stepped out of Abby's line of sight but she heard him speaking as they made for the door. "It's a shame you can't stay for the mixers afterward, Duncan and I got a room on one of the best party floors in the hotel."

"I know." Joyce responded with a groan. "I'll never forgive my professor for scheduling an exam on Monday but if I stay out late Saturday night I'll be too hungover to study on Sunday."

Abby hadn't realize she had been holding her breath until it rushed out of her. So Connor wasn't spending the night with Joyce. Abby wouldn't be up all night, tortured by the thought of them all alone together, sharing a bed... Lord, where had that thought come from? What was it to her whose sheets Connor slipped between?

She heard them retreat down the stairs. When the door closed behind them, Abby stepped out of the closet. Again she wondered what had possessed her to hide. If Connor was getting serious with Joyce, she'd have to meet the woman eventually. If they spent a lot of time together, Abby might even have to become friends with her. Unwilling to admit to herself that she suddenly didn't care for the idea of sharing Connor's company, she instead gave the sandbag suspended from the rafters a vicious kick. Her form was terrible and the resulting ache in her ankle did little to distract her.