It's later in the afternoon and Diana is standing in the kitchen with her back turned to Tig. He's made himself at home, which deep down, brings a smile to her face. She stands at the stove, cooking a simple dinner.
Tig is still enamored with her collection. Finally he pulls one out of the stack with a big smile.
She watches him out of the corner of her eye as he pulls it from the sleeve. She notices it's an old Johnny Cash album and she smiles to herself.
"Good taste."
Tig smiles at the acknowledgment.
The first notes of 'I Walk the Line' fill the room and she continues cooking. Diana had grown up with this kind of music so it always had a special meaning to her.
Tig's still sitting on the couch, cuddled up with Knox as he listens to Diana hum along with the words. He looks over through the window, watching her as she cooks. He knows he should've went back to Charming earlier that afternoon but there's just something about her that has him drawn to her like a magnet. He tells himself he's going to leave first thing in the morning.
Diana hums along with the record while she finishes up dinner.
"It's not a lot. I'm not used to cooking for two people."
She pulls down two plates from the cabinet.
Tig rarely cooked. If he did, it was breakfast and it usually consisted of eggs and toast. The only time he got a home cooked meal was when they had dinner at Gemma's.
Diana fills each plate before she hands one to Tig.
"Didn't think you'd stay till dinner." She chuckles lightheartedly.
Tig leans over to kiss her cheek.
"Didn't plan on it. I really should be back in Charming by now."
Diana glances at him as she takes a bite of her pasta.
"Don't blame me if you get in trouble." She winks at him before she sits down at the table.
Most of the time, the table went unused as Diana always ate at her desk or on the couch. She didn't see the point of sitting at the table without company.
The record player was still playing in the background while the pair ate in silence with Knox at their feet.
"What made you want to stay?" She asks aloud.
The question catches Tig off guard and he looks across the table at her. He opens his mouth to speak but he's not ready to answer just yet. He thinks about it. This was supposed to be a one night stand but something about her pulled him to her like nothing else. Maybe it's her kind smile or the way her hair frames her face.
"For starters, I didn't expect you to even come around the second time."
The statement causes Diana to think for a moment. Clearly Tig was used to one night stands. Now she twirls the pasta around her fork before she looks back at him.
"I didn't really anticipate a phone call from you. I thought I could leave that morning, unscathed." She laughs.
Tig looks back at her.
"I don't know. There's just something about you."
He pauses.
"Don't want to be cliché and say you're not like the other girls."
Diana just shakes her head in response.
"I'm sure no other girl could ever." She smirks with confidence.
Tig raises his eyebrows with a smile on his face.
He agrees with her though. No other girl could ever amount to what he has experienced in the last two days. He's used to crow eaters who don't care about who they sleep with as long as they've got the leather cutte on. He sees something in Diana that hasn't seen in a long time.
The room falls back into a comfortable silence as night has settled.
Diana doesn't date. She strays away from the idea altogether because no one can handle how much she works. Almost every time, it's always her schedule that creates contention in a relationship. Diana is a woman who knows what's she wants and she knows how she's going to get it. It's how she was raised.
Tig picks up their plates and carries them to the sink, almost to Diana's disdain.
"You cooked, let me clean up." It was the least he could do.
At first, she cuts her eyes at him but then she sits down on the couch. There's something about Tig that just makes her feel comfortable. It doesn't feel forced. It just comes naturally.
Once he finishes with the dishes, he joins her on the couch and he pulls her legs into his lap. No part of him even wants to go back to Charming, not in this moment.
Diana is the first to fall asleep on the couch.
Tig scoops her up and carries her into the master bedroom, gently setting her down on the bed. He stands there for a moment as he decides what to do. He knows what he wants to do. He wants to climb in the bed with her and hold her close, but he knows that he is expected back in Charming. He leans down to kiss her head before he tip-toes out of the room and down the hall.
Knox comes up behind him with sad eyes.
"I'll see you soon. Hopefully." If he leaves, he hopes it isn't the last time she'll let him in.
He locks the door behind him and he moves to climb on his Dyna. He's quiet as he backs it out of the driveway before he speeds off down the road into the night.
one more chapter for the day
is this how it ends? he disappears into the night forever
no neverrrrr