Ed hesitated a few minutes before he gave in and went to check the cabinet above the refrigerator. He clucked his tongue when he saw the bottle. He reached for it and went to grab a glass from the cabinet on the other side.
He poured a modest amount of the bourbon into the glass, and put the bottle back. He took his drink to the living room and plopped down on the couch. The local news was playing on the TV, but the sound was still muted.
Olivia had called an hour ago to check in, and to apologize for once again being delayed. He didn't ask why because he knew it would only frustrate her more. Instead he'd just offered his assurance that he'd stay all night if needed.
She said she'd try to be home before midnight, but it wasn't looking promising. He'd been successful in distracting himself while Noah was awake, but now he was left alone with his thoughts.
What a day it had been. Between his encounter with Olivia this morning, Noah's unintentional prodding of his still broken heart, and now sitting in Olivia's living room waiting for her to get home like he'd done countless nights before.
Before.
The bourbon wouldn't ease the pain. He'd tried that. Nothing was strong enough to make him forget her. Even after all these months, he found himself feeling as raw and devastated as he had the night she made him leave.
He sipped his drink as he flipped through his phone. Nothing new from Olivia. Nothing at all from Rita.
He grabbed the remote and pulled up the channel guide. He smiled when he saw Die Hard had just started. It was his favorite Christmas movie, though Olivia had once insisted that it was not a Christmas movie at all.
He toed off his shoes and stretched out on the couch. He rested his drink on the cushion beside him but kept his fingers wrapped loosely around the glass.
Ed tried to focus on the movie, but it was a struggle to not think of Olivia. He was surrounded by her. Every room held a memory, every new photo a lost opportunity.
As the bourbon started to mellow him, he felt that if he closed his eyes, he could almost let himself drift to another time. A time when she'd have outwardly chastised him for waiting up, but rewarded him for it with a kiss. If it wasn't too late, or she wasn't too drained from whatever case had kept her away, his reward might have followed them to the bedroom or shower.
Ed groaned. That was not where he needed his mind to go right now. His body was already reacting at the mere hint of it. He went to the kitchen and poured himself a refill.
Olivia finally trudged up to her door at 2:41am. She unlocked the door and slipped inside. She saw the dim light of the TV flickering, but the sound must have been turned down low because she didn't hear it.
She quietly slipped off her jacket and didn't bother to brush off the bit of sleet and snow that accumulated on her short walk from the car to the door. She toed off her wet shoes and tiptoed over toward the couch.
She bit her lip when she saw him. Ed was sound asleep clad only in a dark gray t-shirt, jeans and socks. The sweater he'd been wearing earlier was draped over the back of the couch, his shoes on the floor just off to the side.
She took the moment to take him in. One hand was resting on his stomach, rising and falling with each breath. The other was by his side, palm up next to an empty tumbler. She smiled knowing that he'd found the bourbon he'd left and that she hadn't had the heart to either drink or throw out.
Olivia carefully plucked the glass from his side and sat it on the coffee table behind her. Then she reached over and snatched the fleece blanket that was draped over the other end of the couch and gently draped it over him hoping it wouldn't wake him.
After waiting a few seconds to find she'd been successful, she padded down the hallway to get ready for bed.
Ed woke suddenly. Something was off. He moved his hand to reach for the glass that he somehow remembered was by his side. That's when he noticed. He was covered with a blanket. Feeling around, he also realized the glass was gone.
Olivia.
He looked around. The TV had been turned off as had the light in the kitchen. He was surprised that she'd been able to accomplish so much without waking him.
He stilled his movements and listened. He could hear water running. She must have just gotten home within the last few minutes.
He faltered for a minute. Part of him wanted to go back to sleep and accept that she wanted him to stay, otherwise she'd have woken him. Another part of him wanted to go knock on her door and find out why she hadn't woken him. And yet another part wanted to put on his shoes and jacket and leave before things got more complicated and painful than they already were.
The water shut off. He looked at his phone. 2:58.
He sat up and kept contemplating what he should do. It'd definitely be easier to just sneak out.
Olivia finished brushing her teeth and made quick work of washing her face. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her eyes betrayed her fatigue. She sighed and went to get ready for bed.
She looked at the clock on her way to find something to sleep in. Ugh, tomorrow morning was going to come early.
She slipped into a t-shirt and shorts, and went to plug her phone into the charger by her bed. She whispered a curse when she realized in her distraction she'd left her phone in her coat pocket. Her coat that was in the living room.
She quietly opened her door and crept back toward the front of the apartment. She stopped as soon as she saw him. Ed was sitting up with his head in his hands. Assuming he'd heard her approach, she changed course.
"Hey," she whispered. "You okay."
Ed's head popped up. His look of surprise indicating that he hadn't heard her.
"Sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to wake you."
"S' okay," he mumbled still groggy from sleep. "I should probably get home."
Olivia felt a twinge of panic. "No, no, please stay," she blurted out.
He looked at her, clearly not expecting that reaction.
She backpedaled, somewhat surprised by her own outburst. "Have you looked outside? It's sleeting, a real mess."
He glanced toward the window and shrugged. The blinds were closed.
"Ed, it's three a.m.," she said. She couldn't explain why she felt compelled to convince him to stay.
"I'll be fine." He put his hands on his knees and started to stand.
She put a hand on his shoulder stopping him. "Please."
He turned to look at her. She shivered and pulled her hand away wrapping her arms around herself.
"I see you still don't have appropriate sleepwear for winter," he said glancing down the length of her bare legs.
It was only then she took notice of her attire, or lack of it. She shivered again. "It gets hot under the covers."
Ed choked back a laugh and shook his head.
"Mind out of the gutter," she admonished, but her tone betrayed mild amusement.
He suddenly stood which put them face to face and in much closer proximity than she expected. Her arms fell to her side as she almost stumbled back a step.
"Liv." There was a hint of warning in his tone. "I really should go." He stepped into her space again.
Olivia didn't back away this time. Instead she put her hands on her hips and looked him in the eye.
"Ed, it's the middle of the night. It's sleeting. You'll never catch a cab, and I will not be responsible for you catching pneumonia."
He cocked his head and smirked.
She didn't know what to make of it, and she couldn't tell what he was thinking. It unnerved her. She told herself that it was just because of the late hour and bad weather that she tried one more time.
"Just… stay."