Reckless Surrender :: Chapter Two

Bo stared mindlessly at the beer bottle in front of him. After ordering, he decided that he didn't really want it. Carly's voice drew him from his daze.

"How was your day?"

He looked at her sizing him up from across their table. They sat in the Horton Town Square making good on their promises of dinner plans from earlier that morning. Bo shrugged, "Fine."

"So what's got you in such a mood?" Carly asked softly.

Bo thought about the weird day he'd spent with Hope. She'd been so distant. Her words were cool, her body guarded. She'd been the utmost professional and for some reason it bothered him.

He attempted to focus his attention back on his conversation with Carly, "Huh?"

"Bo, what's going on with you?" Carly asked, worry evident on her face, "You're being weird. Something is obviously bothering you."

Bo shook his head, "Work. New case. Abe split Roman and I up today… made Hope and I partners again. It's gonna be a long road."

Carly's stomach flip flopped. She watched him avoid her gaze, "Are you worried about working with her?"

Bo bit his lip, "No. We've done it before."

"Yeah, when you were married." Carly spat a little more forcefully than she had intended to.

"Look, this was Abe's order." Bo scowled, "Hope and I are finally learning to be civil with one another. This is hard enough as it is. I don't need you breathing down my neck about it."

"Excuse me?"

"I don't want to do this right now…." Bo rolled his eyes, "It's been a long day. I have a lot on my mind."

He stood, tossing money on the table, and walked away without another word. Carly watched him leave, trying not to appear embarrassed at the small scene. She made no attempts to stop him. Instead, she held back her unshed tears and finished her dinner in silence.

Across town at the Brady Pub, Hope sat at a table with Ciara, Chase and Aiden. She poked lightly at her meal, surprised she wasn't hungry after her emotionally draining day at work.

"Everything okay babe?" Aiden asked softly. He kept his voice under the conversation of their children's, "You seem off."

Hope's eyes darted up to meet his. She offered a small, flat, smile and nodded once, "Yes. Fine."

"Are you sure?" He asked as he reached for her hand, "You seem down."

"Just tired," Hope sighed, "We started a new case at work. It's always stressful to get all the beginning kinks worked out you know?"

"Sure." Aiden smiled, "It will get better. You have a great partner. I'm sure you guys will get in the swing of things."

Hope bit her lip and stared at her plate. She knew Aiden was referring to Rafe, but she didn't have the nerve to correct him. She was too exhausted to explain. Her mind raced as she thought of the day she spent with Bo. It was long. It was awkward, but most of all it was hard. It was hard because she realized how far they'd drifted apart. She didn't recognize the people they'd become. They didn't know how to be in the same room together anymore. The silence had been deafening.

"You know what?" Hope exhaled the thoughts that swarmed her, "I think I'm going to get going. I need to get home. Ciara needs a bath and I'm just really tired. I should go."

Aiden eyed her suspiciously, but agreed, "Okay. Call me later."

Hope nodded with her flat smile and then directed her attention towards her daughter, "Ciara, let's go."

"But I'm not finished…" Ciara whined motioning to her half eaten plate.

Hope walked to the counter and grabbed a box. She placed her daughter's food in the box and grabbed Ciara's hand, "You can eat the rest at home. We gotta go."

Ciara huffed at her mother, displaying her disapproval, but stood with obedience.

Aiden stood to kiss Hope goodbye, "Goodnight my beautiful girls."

"Goodnight," Ciara smiled, "Bye Chase."

"Goodnight," Hope smiled.

Aiden watched Hope leave hand in hand with Ciara, knowing full well that something more than work was bothering her. He decided to let it be and finish his dinner with his son.