Six ways to sunday.
Idiom
Meaning: Thoroughly or completely; in every possible way; from every conceivable angle.
Six Ways to Sunday
Chapter Eight- Deja vu
Friday
Riley is surprisingly calm as she considers what to wear tonight. She figures the antidote for first date jitters is five years of friendship. Rummaging through her saturated closest of flannel and band tees, she struggles to find something that Mac hasn't seen her in.
She settles on an off-shoulder burgundy knit top and black high waisted jeans; she pairs it with her favorite pair of black boots.
They are supposed to go being going to be a Mexican restaurant so she feels good about her casual outfit. She gets dressed and finishes her make up in record time as she catches the time. If she doesn't leave immediately, she'll be late.
She has to meet him there because she had a meeting with her proteges and had to run home to change. Before she's out the door she gives her hair one more tussle and two last spritz of perfume on her neck.
Even as she drives toward him in Jack's convertible the nerves stay at bay. It's just Mac but it's also...Mac. It's weird going on a first date with him, the point of the first date is to get to know the other person. They already have so much history what new information could she possibly get out of him tonight?
After an exhausting hunt for parking she gets out the car and high tails it to the front of the restaurant where's he's waiting. He looks incredibly sexy but he's not doing anything special. It's just him. She wonders if it's too early to ask for the cheque so she can take him home.
As she gets closer to him, she realizes something is wrong. His face is hardened and he's carrying tension in his shoulders. Her stomach drops. Something's wrong.
"Just got word, there's a bomb situation in Sacramento." he said.
Visibly disappointed she said, "Ahh, so rain check?" she said. She hears the helicopter approaching overhead and knows it's probably his ride. They didn't even get five minutes.
He takes her hand in his and gives it a gentle squeeze. "I will make it up to up." He leans down and leaves a chaste kiss on her lips. When he runs off to the empty lot the helicopter had landed in, she's runs a tired hand through her curly hair and watches him leave.
Saturday
The scorching sun beats down on Mac's neck as he waits in line at Riley's favorite doughnut shop. He got back from Sacramento half an hour before and hadn't slept a wink. He's too eager to see Riley and make up for the flop that was last night. He hates that he had to take off and doesn't want to start off their relationship like this but some things are unavoidable. Like bomb threats unfortunately.
There are five people between him and the inside of the doughnut shop. He checks the time impatiently. A little after ten. If gets the donuts within the next half hour his surprise brunch would be right on time.
An hour later he's in front her apartment with a picnic basket filled with all her favorite breakfast foods and a dozen chocolate-almond doughnuts. He knocks and knocks and knocks and the grim reality sets in. She isn't home. If he's lucky she's at the grocery store or ten minutes away. He pulls out his phone and calls her.
"Hey you,"
"Good morning. So, guess where I am?"
"I don't know? Somewhere between Sacremento and L.A?"
"Try outside your apartment."
"Oh."
"Yeah, I should have called ...wanted to surprise you."
"Mac I'm sorry. Mentoring the girls right now. But hang tight, I can be back in under two hours."
"No…no…no, it's my fault. I clearly didn't think this through. You should keep working."
"What about later tonight? We could do something then?"
"It's a date."
"See you then."
She hangs up and he looks at the picnic basket. Guess he'll be surprising Bozer with a romantic brunch.
Sunday
It's almost eleven pm when Riley, Bozer and Mac stumble into Mac's living room. Bruised and exhausted they file into the room for another impromptu sleepover. They carpooled after the mission and no one had the energy to drive to three different locations so they all made the decision to crash at Mac's. They had been in the sewers since Saturday night looking for a missing child. Another cancelled plan. Not that Mac and Riley had even remembered with a child's life on the line. They had found her just in time thankfully. Not until the drive home Riley realizes they had been interrupted yet again.
"Shower shotgun." Bozer said running off to shower off the day.
Mac and Riley drag themselves to the deck so they wouldn't spread their stink on Mac's furniture.
Exhaustion wins and their muscles crack and creak as they lower themselves down to sit. Riley's looking forward to showering climbing into Mac's bed but she's so tired her body has to catch up with her mind.
"You can use my en suite you know." he said.
"I can't move my legs," she said. "You go first."
She knows he's just as tired, maybe even more as he's had back to back missions and even less sleep than she had. With a heavy sigh he lifts his heavy muscles and stands. Before he's out of earshot she says, "Mac, do you think the universe is trying to tell us something?"
He hardens and she knows she said the wrong thing but they haven't the chance to just be with each other. Maybe the universe is giving them an out before they make a mistake.
"No. And I'll prove it. Late dinner after we wash this stink off?"
She nods with a smile.
He leaves to shower and after ten minutes she goes to find him so she can shower. When she opens his bedroom door he's passed out on his bed, still naked with a towel wrapped around his waist. It looks to her like he passed out instantly after his shower. She's careful not to wake him because even though he wants to spend time with her he needs to sleep. She gently places his legs on the bed and covers him with his comforter. She puts on his ac before padding out of his room quietly. Bozer is in the kitchen and she motions to be quiet. He nods understanding her and tip toes away. She then takes a shower in the main bathroom and changes into clothes that had been left behind in her abrupt move. She considers crawling into bed next to him but she doesn't want to risk waking him. He needs to sleep. Instead she sleeps a couple of hours in her old room and leaves at first light. As she ubers at the crack of dawn she tries to fight back the bitterness that swells in her chest. Why couldn't they get a chance? Is this how it's always going to be? She doesn't want to complain and nag. She doesn't want them to make the same mistakes he made with Desi.
Monday
When Mac wakes up to the warm glow of his room he can't believe he slept till morning. When he looks over at his alarm clock, he realizes he'd slept the entire day. It's Monday night. He shoots up in bed, "Riley?" He sprints out of bed and finds the house empty except for a single post it on his refrigerator. 'You needed the rest' he recognizes her handwriting immediately and frowns. He crumples the note and goes back to his room to get some clothes.
He feels rested but he'd rather have been tired around her. It's nine pm. When he leaves his house. He wants to see her, needs to see her. He's waited long enough. He just needs this one night. He goes straight to her apartment after stopping for takeout and beer. He knocks and waits for an answer. Luckily, he hears shuffling and soft music coming from inside. At least she's home this time.
When she opens the door in a cute black lounge wear set and her hair in a messy bun his entire body warms at the sight of her.
He holds up the take out and the beer, "Fifth time's the charm."
"I don't think that's how the saying goes."
"I know but can I come In anyway?"
She smiles and moves aside to let him in. Five minutes later they are sitting on her living room floor. She threw her couch cushions and throw pillows on the floor to cushion their butts they leaned against her couch for back support. Food is scattered all over her coffee table and they're already down two beers. He's not sure why they had wasted time trying to go on dinner dates and planning romantic picnics when this is all they wanted. Just to be with each other. It didn't really matter where.
Mac holds out his beer bottle so she can knock her own against it for a toast. "Take that universe." he said and she grins.
"Tonight, was perfect," she said.
"I hate that it took us this long to do it." he said. He reaches for her hand and threads their fingers together. "I missed you Riles."
"You see me almost every day,"
He touches the hair on the nape of her neck, "Not like this I don't."
"It's been hard for me too...I just don't want to come off-"
"Hey," he lifts her chin with his fingers, "You are so important to me. And I'm going to make it my life's missions to show you that everyday."
Her eyes are warm and pretty and tonight when he stares into him. He doesn't want to talk anymore. He leans down and brushes his lips against hers. She latches on to him almost instantly and opens her mouth to him. Not knowing when they will get an opportunity like this again, Mac knows he can't let another moment waste. They fall back against the plush cushions on the floor, enjoying the moment.