The sun was just starting to peek over the buildings on the upper east side as Aubrey turned her back on them, heading west on her last lap around the Central Park Reservoir before heading home. Her breath condensed and mingled with the early morning haze of winter, the sound of every step sloshing on the snow already melting on the track.
Chloe didn't understand how she could run when it was so cold out, opting to stick to soulcycle as soon as the temperature fell below 50, but Aubrey loved this time of year. There were few things more beautiful than seeing the park covered in snow, and the cold temperatures kept most other people home at this early hour. Besides, after the first fifteen minutes of jogging she couldn't really feel the cold anymore. Especially since she'd noticed a hot brunette who'd taken to run laps around the Reservoir too.
Aubrey would never admit it to anyone, especially Chloe, but she added a lap or two to her usual run on the days she spotted the brunette with the hope of running into her a few more times. It was a harmless crush, and she didn't plan on ever acting on it, but watching the brunette's toned body jog away from her brightened up even the gloomiest of days, and today had not been an exception.
She ran off the track, keeping her pace as she took the path that led out to 90th street when she felt something collide against her left leg, the impact making her skip off towards the snow blanketed lawn, her right ankle rolling painfully on a rock and ultimately making her land on her ass with a yelp. The cause of her fall, a border collie that looked completely unapologetic, was staring at her, wagging its tail as it proudly displayed the ball it had been chasing when it ran her over.
"Are you okay?"
Aubrey looked up and watched mortified as the hot brunette she'd been ogling just minutes before ran over towards her, kneeling on the snow beside her with a concerned frown.
"Of course," Aubrey muttered to herself. She really hoped she hadn't seen her less than graceful tumble to the ground, but considering how fast she got there she must have been close.
"What?" The brunette squinted down at her and Aubrey noticed she had the most gorgeous eyes, the early morning light making it seem like there were little flecks of gold swimming among the emerald green.
"I'm fine," Aubrey said, shaking her head and focusing back on the fact that she was still on the cold, wet grass. "Just twisted my ankle."
"Ollie!" A tall girl ran over, her eyes barely visible in between her scarf and hat, and leashed the dog. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry, the ball wasn't supposed to go this far."
Aubrey looked between the hot girl kneeling next to her, the dog, and its bundled up owner self consciously. "I'm fine, really."
She leaned forward intending to stand up but her ankle screamed in pain as soon as she put weight on it making her wince. She felt a steadying hand on her arm forcing her to sit back down.
"Is it your ankle?" The brunette had moved in front of her and was taking off her gloves. She gave her a reassuring smile and cradled her ankle softly. "Do you mind if I take a look? I'm a doctor." She extended her hand. "I'm Stacie."
"Aubrey." She looked up with a strained smile and grabbed the proffered hand, startling when the brunette let go and her hands moved back to rest on her ankle. "I'm sure it's nothing."
"Just to make sure?" She smiled, causing Aubrey's heart to stutter and wondering briefly how much that smile could convince her to do before she bit her lip and nodded.
Hot Doctor Stacie, which was now her name in Aubrey's head, proceeded to very carefully remove her shoe and sock and run her fingers up and down her ankle.
"Does this hurt?" Aubrey shook her head no with her lower lip still tightly clasped between her teeth. Stacie's hands moved to the back of her heel, tilting her foot slowly. "How about this?"
"A little," Aubrey replied, trying to ignore the tingling on her skin at the brunette's touch, whose fingers were dancing up her ankle again and ghosting over her calf.
"It doesn't seem broken but it's swelling up a bit. It should be fine as long as you don't put too much weight on it today." She reached down to where she'd put Aubrey's sock and shoe and put them back on before Aubrey could react. "And ice it for a while."
"Thanks." Stacie's hands were still holding her foot off the ground, her fingers resting on the skin between her sock and her leggings, her lips set on a reassuring smile that caused Aubrey's heart to beat a little faster and have the irrational thought that she wouldn't mind staying like that a little longer despite the cold ground.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry," the dog's owner exclaimed, reminding Aubrey she was still standing there, witnessing her obvious and embarrassing crush. "I'll help you get home." The dog pulled on its leash as if in protest, making the girl stumble and growl at the dog. "Stop it."
"I can take her." Stacie offered, giving Aubrey a wide grin.
"Oh, that really isn't necessary. I'm just a couple of blocks away, I can manage."
"At least let me help you to a taxi," Stacie insisted, squeezing her ankle softly.
"Okay," Aubrey breathed out, letting Stacie help her up and holding on to her arm to keep steady.
The dog's owner was still staring at her, her eyebrows pinched with worry as she fought the pull of the leash. "I'm-"
Aubrey cut her off with a shake of her head and a squeeze to her forearm. "Don't worry about it, really. I'll be fine."
The girl nodded, the dog finally winning the tug-of-war and dragging her away making both Aubrey and Stacie chuckle.
Aubrey turned to Stacie, ready to insist again she could handle the trek down to the street but the words got stuck in her throat when she met Stacie's eyes, who was now close enough for her to makeout individual eyelashes.
"Ready?" Stacie asked. At Aubrey's nod, she moved closer and hooked Aubrey's arm around her shoulders, pressing her against her side with a hand on her waist. "Try to keep your foot up."
Aubrey hopped forward, Stacie's hand tightening on her waist, the touch threatened to mess with her balance so she decided to make conversation to distract herself. "So what kind of doctor are you?"
"I'm an epidemiology resident."
"Oh."
"What?" Stacie slowed down to a stop and looked at Aubrey, her brow furrowing as she studied her.
Aubrey leaned on Stacie, her hand itching to move up and run a smoothing thumb between her eyebrows. Instead she just smiled, the warmth of it softening Stacie's features. "I just didn't know epidemiologists studied ankles."
Stacie huffed out a laugh and rolled her eyes, nudging Aubrey to start moving again. "I had my ortho rotation last year, but I can take you to the hospital for a second opinion if you want."
"It's fine, I trust you." She could feel Stacie look at her but she didn't turn, afraid she'd realize how much she actually meant those words.
"You're not a dancer, are you? I wouldn't want to risk your career."
Aubrey laughed, hopping the last few feet to the end of the park and onto the sidewalk. "So it's fine if I limp for the rest of my life as long as I'm not a dancer."
"I'd feel less guilty about it, yes."
"I'm a lawyer."
Stacie smiled. "Great, you don't need your foot then."
She stopped by the end of the sidewalk, turning to face Aubrey without letting go of her waist, the other hand moving up to hold her steady. Aubrey didn't feel stable enough to completely let go, her hand holding on to Stacie's shoulder.
They stood there looking at each other for one breathless moment, the space between them felt warm and electric despite the freezing cold air. Stacie's fingers fidgeted on the hem of Aubrey's puffy vest, her eyes flitting down to Aubrey's lips, making her run her tongue over them self consciously.
"Stairs," Stacie said suddenly.
Aubrey blinked up at her confused. "What?"
"Do you have to go up stairs? I should go with you if there's stairs." Stacie took a step back, extending her arm to hold on to Aubrey while she looked down the street for a taxi.
Aubrey thought about protesting, she could call Chloe to meet her on the street and help her inside, but she didn't want to say goodbye to Stacie yet. "Yeah, thanks."
"Great." Stacie beamed at her for a few seconds and then went back to her search, extending her free arm as soon as she spotted a yellow car moving towards them.
She helped Aubrey hobble over to the car and opened the door for her, holding on firmly to her arm until she was seated and then climbing in behind her.
"88th and Amsterdam." Aubrey instructed, sitting back and stretching her leg to keep her ankle straight.
"You good?" Stacie asked, moving closer to the door to give Aubrey more room to stretch.
Aubrey nodded, giving her a grateful smile.
"So what kind of lawyer are you?"
"Why, are you worried I'm gonna sue you for giving out faulty medical advice on the street?" Aubrey asked with an amused smirk.
"Well now I am." Stacie pouted making Aubrey laugh.
"I'm an entertainment lawyer."
Stacie perked up. "Ooh do you know any famous people?"
"That's confidential." Aubrey teased and leaned forward, pointing to the left side of the street. "Just ahead over there is fine."
Stacie got out first and helped Aubrey out, looking up at the set of stairs that led up to the brownstone where Aubrey lived.
"I'm on the first floor." Aubrey hopped up to the sidewalk, bracing herself for the trip up the eleven steps to the building door.
She felt Stacie wrap her arm around her waist again so she brought her arm back around the brunette's shoulders. Stacie squeezed her side and led her forward, stopping before the first step and grabbing the hand on her shoulder.
"Maybe it's easier if I carry you up," Stacie suggested.
"What?" Aubrey squeaked and held onto the banister with her free hand.
"It's fine, come on." Stacie let her go and leaned down in front of Aubrey. "Jump up."
"You're giving me a piggyback ride up to my door?"
"It's that or hopping up on one foot all the way there."
Aubrey inwardly groaned at the thought, she was already too tired from jogging and then getting to the street on one foot, but getting carried up by Stacie seemed like a step too far.
Stacie seemed to sense her conflict and looked up at her with a reassuring smile. "I promise I won't drop you if you promise not to sue me."
Aubrey huffed, already leaning forward to wrap her arms around Stacie's neck. "Fine."
Stacie used her hands to hoist Aubrey's thighs up to her waist and slid them down to rest on the back of her knees, sending a shiver up Aubrey's spine.
"You okay up there?" Stacie asked.
Aubrey nodded and pulled herself closer to the brunette's back, her arms tightening around her shoulders, her fear of falling overpowering her fear that Stacie might feel how fast her heart was beating. "You?"
"I'm great." She went up the first few steps. "I'm glad you're on the first floor though."
She slid her down in front of the door, making sure her injured foot didn't touch the floor and held on to her as she searched for her key, her arm immediately finding her waist when the door was unlocked to help Aubrey get to her apartment.
"Do you mind if I come in? I want to take one last look just to make sure."
Aubrey chuckled. "I'm not suing you, Stacie."
"I'd still feel better if I leave you with your ankle on ice." Stacie gave her a soft smile and leaned on the wall next to Aubrey's apartment door. "And that way when I call to check on you later there's a higher chance you'll agree to go out with me."
Aubrey felt herself blush and looked down to hide it under the guise of unlocking the door, looking back up once the door was open. "Help me to the couch then."
Stacie grinned widely, holding Aubrey as she hopped over to her living room, dropping heavily onto her couch once she was close enough.
"What happened?" Chloe called as she entered the living room and eyed Stacie suspiciously. "Hi."
"I fell and hurt my ankle." She nodded at Stacie. "Stacie helped me get back home."
"Oh," Chloe smiled up at Stacie and sat next to Aubrey, giving her a one armed hug. "That's so nice, thank you."
Stacie merely nodded with a tight smile. She had backed away and was looking at Chloe wearily, a fact that Aubrey noticed and hurried to add, "Chloe's my roommate."
"Oh. That's-" Stacie's brow unfurrowed, the side of her mouth quirking up as she looked down at her gloved hands awkwardly. "-great… Do you mind if I use your bathroom? I should wash up before I…" She pointed at Aubrey's foot.
"It's the first door on the right," Aubrey said, pointing towards the hall.
"Thanks."
As soon as they heard the door close Chloe turned to Aubrey. "Wow." Aubrey shushed her but the redhead shook her head in disbelief and continued. "Who is she? What happened? Is there something going on? Because she looked like someone had kicked her puppy when she saw me."
"You know that hot girl I've seen in the park lately?"
Chloe gasped. "That's her?" She looked towards the bathroom as if she could see through the wall and assess Stacie's hotness. "And she helped you home?"
"I know, she's the best."
"And clearly into you," Chloe added.
Aubrey blushed. "She said something about asking me out, but she kinda makes me want to skip ahead, you know?"
"Like to the sex?"
"No… well yes but also." Aubrey sighed. "I mean, obviously you can't tell a woman you just met that you love her, but it sucks that you can't."
"Whoa." Chloe chuckled. "Maybe go on a date with her first, see if you still feel that way."
They heard the door open and Stacie came back out, her smile making Aubrey melt again.
"Chlo, can you bring me some ice from the kitchen?"
Chloe looked at Stacie, whose eyes hadn't left Aubrey and rolled her eyes. "Sure, I'll be right back."
Stacie kneeled down in front of Aubrey, taking off her shoe and sock again, her cold hands pressing on her ankle. "Does it hurt more?"
"Not really."
Stacie lifted Aubrey's leg and motioned at her to stretch it out on the couch, putting a cushion under it. "Keep it elevated and iced and call me if you need anything."
"I don't have your number."
Stacie smirked and dug her phone out of her pocket, handing it over to Aubrey to add her contact info. She called the number when Aubrey gave it back and she felt it vibrate in her pocket. "Now you do."
Chloe came back with ice wrapped in a dish towel and Stacie took a step back.
"I'll let you rest."
Aubrey reached out and squeezed her hand. "Thanks for bringing me home."
"It's my job. Sort of." Stacie shrugged and looked away, finding Chloe's amused gaze trained on her. "Bye Chloe, it was nice to meet you."
Chloe stood up to accompany her to the door. "Don't be a stranger."
A few seconds later Aurbey's phone started buzzing. "Yes?"
"Hey, this is Stacie, we met at the park earlier?"
Aubrey laughed and looked out the window, waving when she spotted Stacie on the sidewalk looking up at her. "I remember."
"So about that date, are you free on Wednesday?"