A/N – "Thoughts"

Chapter 4 – Flirting

Wednesday night, Gordo was standing at one of the windows in Lizzie's apartment watching the flurries fall outside. Even though he was from southern California, he had seen snow before but even now as an adult he still got a kick of just watching it snow.

Even though it wasn't a blizzard coming though, the front was expected to drop an inch or two on the city tonight. Hearing the door open and then slam shut, Gordo glanced over his shoulder at Lizzie. He watched as she was muttering to herself as she tried to get the snow off of her.

"You all right?" he asked concerned. He was greeted by Lizzie's head practically whipping up and her usually soft hazel eyes were now frustrated. "What is it?" he asked walking away from the window.

"I have a stupid office holiday party on Friday that I have to go to that I completely forgot about. I don't have a dress or shoes. Then to top it all off, this stupid little cold front practically ruined my hair by the time I got to the office and I almost slipped on some ice, twisting my ankle. If I had been wearing heels, I prolly would've broken it," she snarled.

Gordo walked behind her and took her jacket off her as Lizzie started to pull of her snow boots. After dumping her bag into her room, she sank into one of the table chairs and started rubbing her neck.

He pushed her hand off of her neck and gently started massaging her shoulders. Lizzie practically melted as she felt her muscles loosen up under his touch. "The worst part is I don't even have a date," she whined.

"I'll go."

Lizzie leaned her head back and gazed up at him, "I can't ask you to do that. These parties are boring and dull and,"

"Lizzie, shut up," Gordo said smiling down at her.

Smiling back at him, she put a hand over one of his that rested on her shoulder, "Thanks."

"Anytime McGuire."

Lizzie watched him as he came from behind her and sat in the chair next to her. As she was thinking, and almost fantasizing, about her quasi-date with Gordo, she suddenly remembered something. Something she had blissfully forgotten ever since Gordo showed up. "So, umm, how's Steph?" She watched in surprise as Gordo flinched a little. "Gordo?"

Gordo let out a sarcastic laugh, something Lizzie knew was a cover for him to try and show that it didn't bother him. "We broke up. It just wasn't working."

Lizzie narrowed her eyes at him, "Gordo."

Sighing, "We wanted different things. She wasn't interested in a serious relationship."

"I'm sorry," Lizzie said. Even though she hated Steph, only having really met her a few times, she hated seeing Gordo hurt. "When did you guys breakup?"

"Like beginning of November."

"Shit! I knew I should've come home for Thanksgiving." Reaching out, he gently put her hand over his. "I'm so sorry I wasn't home."

Turning his hand over underneath her's, he smiled as he gently squeezed her hand. "Don't worry about it. I know you were with your family. We're adults and we have different commitments now. Besides Miranda was there, stuffing me full of Mexican food." The two shared a small laugh. "I'm fine. Things hadn't been working between us for awhile and I broke up with her."

"But still,"

"Liz, I'm fine. Really."

"How can anyone not want to have Gordo there's? He's the sweetest guy I've ever known. They'd have to be stupid to let him go." she thought. Then suddenly another thought ran through her mind, "Than you're the dumbest of them all. You could be married to him by know if you hadn't fucked it up."

"Lizzie?" Gordo asked as she was just staring into his eyes.

"Uh?" She quickly snapped out of her thoughts. "Sorry, thinking about something." Lizzie looked down and smiled a little seeing they were still holding hands. "Umm, have you ever thought about coming out here? I mean as a change of scenery. Maybe try something new."

He shrugged, "I hadn't given much thought to moving."

"Well think about it," Lizzie said trying not to smile too much. "You'll always have a couch to crash on."

"Thanks."

As Lizzie was ticking through the things she'd need for the party, she wondered about something. "Do you have any dress clothes?"

"I got what I wore to my meeting, I just need to clean it. White dress shirt, black pants, and a black jacket."

Lizzie nodded. "I'm gonna work out of the office tomorrow," she said with a wry grin, "and shop for my dress. I'll pick up a tie for you. There's a laundromat next door and you can wash your clothes tomorrow."

"Sounds like a plan. You want some company shopping?"

Laughing softly, "You wanna go shopping?" she teased. Gordo just shrugged. "Nah. Besides, I want you to be surprised. How about we go out to eat tomorrow night. Just the two of us," she said, looking at him with a small smile.

"Sounds nice," Gordo said as he looked back into her eyes. The phone ringing snapped them out of their moment.

The next night, Lizzie sat across from Gordo in a small Italian place a few blocks away from her apartment. Not really realizing it but she was staring at Gordo as she slowly twirled a breadstick in her hand.

"You look nice," Gordo said as he took a sip of his soda.

"Thanks," Lizzie said as she took a bite of the breadstick. She was wearing a white top underneath a soft pink sweater and jeans. "You don't look so bad yourself." she shot back with a grin.

Gordo had on a dark gray mock turtleneck and jeans. "You've eaten here before?"

"Yea. Me and Suzy, a friend of mine, had lunch here a couple of times. The foods pretty good, plus it's not too expensive." A few minutes later, they're food arrived.

"Its gonna suck leaving Saturday," Gordo said as he stuck his fork in his pasta.

"You can stay longer if you want?" Lizzie offered, wincing slightly as she sounded like a lost little girl.

He snickered softly, "As much as I like staying with you, I do need to get home, if at least for a little while." Lizzie tried not to look too disappointed. Gordo looked up at her and smiled, "Besides, you'll be back in Hill Ridge in two weeks for Christmas. Right?"

"Yea. I fly in on the twenty-third and stay till after New Year's," she told him as she ate her own pasta.

"If you want, you can stay with me," he offered. "But of course I don't have the nice, cozy, little apartment you do."

Lizzie laughed, "Shut up."

"So you find your dress?" he asked in between bites.

"Yup," was all she said.

After eating and paying, Lizzie and Gordo walked out of the restaurant. As they walked home, it started to snow lightly. With a small smile, Gordo offered her his arm and smiling back at him, Lizzie looped her arm through.

"It's a beautiful night," Lizzie said softly. Hearing Gordo laugh softly, she turned her head and looked up at him, "What?"

"Nothing. Its just," he paused, a little embarrassed. "I like how the snowflakes are making your hair look." Both blushed a little and continued their walk back to the apartment. As they walked down the sidewalk, Gordo could hear the clicking of Lizzie's heeled boots on the pavement. A small smile tugged at his lips as he kept taking glances at her.

Lizzie happened to glance up at him and caught him looking at her, "What?"

"You look really beautiful," Gordo said softly.

She hoped her whole body wasn't turning red as she smiled shyly, "Th, Thanks." Unlinking their arms, they slowly slid them around each other's waists. As they walked, Lizzie rested her head against Gordo's shoulder.

To everyone they passed, they looked like a happy couple strolling through the streets. On the inside, neither realized that they both wanted that very thing to be true.