Her response makes sense to him. When you're young you always think the worst. And, rarely consider the good that can happen. Understanding how she felt, but feeling as though she needs to hear his take. He says, "I get it. We were super young. But, now that I know how you felt. I wish you would've asked me another time. Or even told me you liked me back then."
She hears the seriousness in his voice, and something in her, causes her to match his tenor as she honestly, and bravely replies, "I don't know if admitting how I felt about you back then would've made a difference. But, I do know that my feelings for you have never waned."
He likes what he's hearing and feels the moment intensifying between them, just as she feels it too. She then says to him, now i have a question for you." He smiles as he asks, "What's up buttercup?" They share a laugh as she replies, "Did you know about my feelings for you before you came over Sunday?" He wonders about her question as he responds, "No. I didn't. I would've told you if i did. Why?" His answer quiets her concerns as she replies, "Because i wanted to make sure that night was a moment of chance, verses a plan to capitalize on what was."
He's taken aback by her response, and feels the need to clarify his intentions as he says,"Liv, i would never take advantage of you like that. I didn't expect us to hook up that night. But i'm not mad we did. Because it opened the door for us to see each other the way we probably should've seen each other before." She agreeably says, "Me either. I don't have any regrets at all about that night. And thank you for being you; i never would've thought you'd do anything like that. But, i had to ask."
He smiles at her as he says, "I'm glad you don't have any regrets about us. And I'm not bothered by you asking me that question. I'd rather you ask me then assume the answer. She agrees with him, it's much better to hear the answer from someone, than to make up answers on your own.
With her thoughts settling, he's still in thought a bit as he asks, "Given how we're feeling now about each other. What do you think we should do?" There's a brief moment of silence between them until she answers, "I think we should see where this vehicle we're in takes us. What about you?"
He nods as he says, "I'm open to that. But, what does that look like for us?" Outwardly she replies, "It looks however we want. There's more than one way to skin a cat." Agreeing he responds, "True. But, I don't want to risk losing you, or your friendship. Both mean too much to me. I couldn't take losing either one. So we have to do this right."
His words settle on her heart as she replies, "I know. I don't think I could take losing you or your friendship either. So the question is, do we dare to test the waters, by making what we're feeling right now something real, beyond great sex?" Again, there's a pause. But it's rather brief as he says, "Great sex huh?" They both chuckle at his remark. And when the laughter settles, he then says, "All jokes aside, I've spent too long chasing after what will never be. And realizing it way too late, to make the mistake of not pursuing what I should've acted on long ago. Ergo, I am game to take the risk if you are. Because I think it's worth it. What about you?"
Once again, his reply touches her. But this time she's noticeably moved. He can see it on her face, as her eyes flutter, filling with tears. And she puts her hand over her mouth. Inside, he loves the reaction he's seeing. But, he interjects as he asks, "Livy, are you okay?"
She pauses as she takes a breath, and removes her hand from her mouth, placing it on her chest as she says, "You say something like that to me, and then ask if I'm okay, really?"
He smiles at her and she smiles in return, as he says, "I just wanted to be honest with you. I didn't mean to choke you up. But, I can't lie. I'm enjoying it." She chuckles as she responds, "You're such a jerk sometimes." He laughs with her, as she reaches for a Kleenex from her nightstand, dabbing her eyes.
When their laughter settles, she knows he deserves a proper answer. So she says, "I'm sorry for the tears. I don't know where they came from." Sweetly, he replies, "No apologies necessary. Just talk to me. And tell me whatever it is you want me to know."
She didn't intend to have this conversation with him right now. But, she feels like she has to come clean, and she wants to make her perspective clear, as she says, "While I will admit. My emotions have been a little high and low due to the break up. This moment of tears isn't associated with that. This isn't a rebound for me Fitz. It's simply how I feel about you."
Happily, he openly says, "It's not a rebound for me either Liv. My feelings for you, are about you. And what I feel when I'm with you." She smiles as she replies, "Thank you for saying that." He nods as he smiles in return, as he says, "You're welcome. I promise to always tell you the truth. I won't hide anything from you." She nods as she responds, "Thank you. Same here. Honest communication is very important. He agrees as he replies, "Yes. It is. Which makes me think about how we move forward."
She openly says, "Like I said before, we do what works for us." He agrees with her but asks, "Does that mean we are exclusive or are we just single people dating. She didn't realize where his mindset was, until this moment.
It causes her to think momentarily. She feels some pressure building, and intuitively, he sees her in thought and says, "I'm not trying to push you Liv. I'm just trying to be transparent." She nods as she responds, "It's fine, I can appreciate where you're coming from." He's happy she understands. She continues to think a little longer, trying to decide if she should verbalize her thoughts. And he encourages her as he says, "Be as honest with me as you can Liv. I'm a big boy, I can take it."
She smiles at him adoringly, as she openly replies, "Fitz, my response is honestly more about me than you. I've been in a relationship for four years and engaged for two. As much as I know I enjoy being with you. I know that I'm not ready to get back into another committed relationship yet."
They're looking at one another eye to eye, and she sees that his expression doesn't change. She holds her breath for a second, until she sees his lips move as he replies, "That's completely understandable. I'm not exactly in that space emotionally or mentally right now either. Thank you for being honest." She smiles as she responds, "Always. There's no need to lie." He nods as he says, "Agreed. And, with that being said. How do you want to proceed with letting people know about us dating, namely Mellie?"
She takes a moment, and sighs as she says, "She will surely promise to be a challenge no matter what, just because of who she is. But, I'm not sure of how to tell her. Can I think on it?" He nods in agreement as he replies, "Sure. But, in the meantime I plan to talk to her sometime this week about me stepping back from her. Just for the sake of clearing the air."
She nods as she adds, "That makes sense. Did you just decide to do that?" He shakes his head as he replies, "No. I was going to do it anyway. It needs to happen." She appreciates his canter, and his willingness to handle her directly, and succinctly,
But, she throws in a warning for him, as she says, "Well, I'm sure she is looking for a chance to ask you about Nyemah. She'll likely think she's the reason you're shifting gears sort of speak."
He sighs as he replies, "I'm sure you're right. Not that she should or genuinely does care; but simply for the sake of asking no doubt." She laughs as she responds, "You know her too well. By the way; can you tell me how'd you end up doing a beach gathering in the middle of the day anyway?"
He smiles as he responds, "Oh, we had a bunch of continuances in the afternoon. So they let us go by noon." Obviously envious, she says, "Wow, lucky duck." He grins as he replies, "When you consider the fact I didn't actually make it to the beach. I don't think I was too lucky."
She laughs as she responds, "Touché. But at least you had the option to go. That alone is enough for me to be jealous." He nods as he says, "That's fair."
Despite him answering her, she sees he's in thought and asks, "What's going on in that head of yours Mr. Grant? I can see your gears grinding." He chuckles as he replies, "It's just something I been thinking about for a bit. I just can't wrap my head around it right now, and it's bugging me."