"Like this?" Karen asked.
"Here, let me show you again," Olivia said gently.
Karen nodded and handed her the makeup brush. Olivia held it for her again, showing her the correct way to hold the type of eyeshadow brush she had.
"Ohh! Okay. Yes, I see now," Karen nodded. "Sorry. I...I don't know very much about makeup."
"That's okay!" Olivia nodded. "You don't need to know much because you don't need to wear any! You're so cute just the way you are."
She blushed and giggled. "Thanks, Liv. But...you are pretty without it, too. You don't need to wear it either."
"Oh, K. You're so sweet. I just like makeup a lot; I love to wear it. Once you're a little older you can decide if you want to or not! It's all up to you."
"I want to when I'm older," Karen smiled. "Sometimes I like to watch my mom do hers, when she goes out for something other than her work. Because then it is...more fancier. When she has work, she doesn't wear a lot."
Yeah, Olivia knew that. She wondered how badly Mellie wished she could wear fancy makeup and designer clothes every day to work. Unfortunately, that probably wouldn't fly while simultaneously wearing scrubs at the hospital.
"Yeah, that makes sense," Olivia nodded. "Okay...what do you think? Should we go for it?"
"Yes!" she nodded.
"Do you want to sit in front of the mirror so you can see what I'm doing?"
"Yes!" she said happily.
"Okay," Olivia laughed.
She was currently about to do a practice run of Karen's Halloween costume makeup, because Olivia had mentioned she'd done some Halloween makeup in her day, so Karen had asked if she'd help her out.
Olivia used to be a hit with Halloween makeup even when she was young enough to go trick or treating. She'd always been pretty skilled with makeup. Both subtle, natural makeup, and all-out fun makeup.
So, Karen was taking her up on her offer, and Olivia was honored to do it.
Karen was being a panda for Halloween, so Fitz had taken the three of them to get some face makeup and brushes for her after they picked her up from her piano lesson that day.
It had been pretty comical. The three of them had gotten a little distracted looking at all of the different Halloween costumes the store had to offer.
And seeing Fitz put on a cat-eye mask? That was funny as hell.
He had been very attentive, listening to what Karen wanted. He had no idea what makeup to get her, though, which is where Olivia had come in and helped. So, they'd gotten a variety of things that they were now experimenting with.
Olivia had had an exam earlier that day, and that was the only important thing she really had going on that week, so she was content to take a small break from her homework and do some makeup. It was fun.
She put a little primer on Karen's face, as they sat at Karen's bedroom desk, which was currently being used as a vanity. They'd put her little mirror on top of it so she could see.
They also had some of Olivia's music going right now, which she'd very carefully selected. It had some Pentatonix on there, because Karen now loved them since Olivia had introduced them to her. It also included some of her old pop that she used to listen to when she was younger—just because that old pop was way more appropriate than the music she listened to now. And because Karen loved it.
It made Karen giggle when Olivia danced behind her in the mirror. Right now she was currently dancing to the clean version of "It Girl" by Jason Derulo, a throwback to 2011.
Most of the songs that played, Karen didn't even know, because she had been too little at the time of their release. So it was pretty funny when she really liked one of the songs. "Fire Burning" by Shawn Kingston was a huge hit with her. They had to play it twice!
Olivia was moving her hips back and forth to the song, although keeping still as she applied the final touches on Karen's panda makeup.
She looked so adorable. She had white powder spread evenly across her face. Olivia had used some of the black makeup crayon that they'd gotten, and skillfully applied it in large ovals around Karen's eyes—as pandas had. She made sure that the edges of the ovals weren't just perfectly round; she used a technique to make it appear as though there was "fur" there, too. She'd applied some dark sparkly eyeshadow to her eyelids as well, which made it pop out a bit. That was Karen's favorite part.
And of course, some of the black makeup crayon was used to create a little black nose at the tip of her own, and to lead it down to her lips, where she wore black lipstick to complete the look.
Olivia was pretty proud. She looked good!
"Look at you!" Olivia exclaimed.
"I'm really a panda, Olivia!" Karen exclaimed happily, looking herself over in the mirror.
"I know! It's gonna look so cute when you have your ears and your full costume on too! Do you like it?"
"Yes!" Karen nodded. "Thank you, thank you, thank you," she said, leaning in and giving her a little side hug as best she could, without smudging her face makeup.
"You're so welcome, sweetie," Olivia laughed, hugging her back. "Here, let's take some pictures okay? So I can make sure to copy it next week."
"Okay," Karen nodded. She smiled brightly for Olivia as she took some pictures with her phone.
But their little photoshoot was interrupted by their favorite guy.
Karen's door had been slightly open, so he probably had been hearing their music and their laughter for a while now. At least, Olivia assumed that was the case, because when he poked his head in, he was already smiling.
And then he gasped, seeing Karen's completed face makeup.
"Oh my goodness!" he exclaimed.
"Daddy, look! I'm really a panda! Olivia did this!" she said, pointing to her face.
"Wow! Olivia did a fantastic job. Come here, let me see you," he said, stepping into her bedroom.
She instantly ran to him and proudly showed off her makeup.
"My little panda bear," he chuckled, lifting her up in his arms.
Olivia was a smiling mess over by Karen's desk, watching the whole thing. Those two were so sweet together.
It was particularly cute seeing him lift her up. She wasn't short by any means, both of her parents were pretty tall, so Karen was on the taller side for her age. But she was still ultra little, too. Very skinny and very light. Olivia, who was pretty petite herself, actually had no problem lifting her up, so it was even easier for Fitz.
It always made Karen laugh when he did, only not this time. This time she was a little more cautious.
"Dad! Be careful! My makeup!" she exclaimed.
"Okay, okay, okay," he chuckled, putting her down and kissing the top of her head. "Dad doesn't want to ruin your makeup."
"Olivia took a picture so she can copy it on Halloween again," Karen smiled.
"Well isn't Olivia just..." he began, looking over at her. She was standing by Karen's desk, wearing a sweater and skinny jeans. Her jeans had rips in them. And no matter how hard he'd tried not to let them, they'd made his eyes wander today. And his mind.
He could see her smooth skin. Her thighs. It made him picture her legs without the jeans on, and it was a real, distracting problem.
So now he checked her out all over again, but focused mostly on her pretty face. Her gorgeous smile and her happy eyes.
What was he saying again?
Isn't Olivia just...
Beautiful? Perfect? Sweet? Sexy?
He snapped out of it.
"—the best?" he finished, giving her a smile.
"Yes!" Karen exclaimed, making her way back to Olivia.
"You two are too sweet. I'll send you the pictures, Fitz," Olivia said pulling out her phone again.
"Yes, please," he nodded. "I'll send them to grandma Jean, too, K."
Karen gasped. "Yay—grandma Jean!"
She did a little dance now, still listening to her beloved Sean Kingston song. Fitz took notice of it.
"What are you girls listening to?" he chuckled, pausing to listen to the song.
She's fire burning, fire burning on the dance floor,
that little shawty's fire burning on the dance floor.
Olivia was giggling, pointing to Karen.
"It's K's new favorite song now," Olivia said with a laugh.
"'Fire Burning' dad! Don't you know it?" she asked, as if she hadn't literally just learned of the song six minutes ago.
Fitz started laughing. "Not super well, I don't think."
"Olivia has good music," Karen nodded.
Olivia turned to Fitz and almost burst into laughter at the memory of the "Headband" incident that they both joked about now.
She could tell Fitz was trying equally hard not to burst into laughter. "Yes. Yes...she does."
Olivia could barely take it tonight—take him. God, she liked him so much. And it only grew every freaking day.
Luckily, she didn't have to worry about sitting there staring at him adoringly like an idiot, because he reminded Karen about her piano practice.
"Alright, remember, though, K. You need to practice your piano a little bit before you go to Casey's to work on your science project," he said.
"Yeah, okay," Karen nodded. "Can I keep my makeup on a little longer, though?"
"Sure you can," he chuckled. "Come on. I'll come listen to piano for a while."
She nodded and gave Olivia a little wave goodbye, which Olivia returned with a smile.
And then she skipped out the door, heading down to get her books set up so she could practice.
Olivia made sure all the Halloween makeup was put back and organized in the tub they'd put it in, and back on Karen's desk. Fitz waited outside Karen's door, smiling at her when she came to greet him.
"That little shawty's fire burning on the dance floor, huh?" he asked, smiling over at her.
She started to laugh. "Absolutely, she is. Now—wait, can you say 'shawty' again, because I think I'm gonna need to hear that from your mouth one more time."
"Absolutely not," he chuckled, putting his hands in his pockets.
"Come onnn, smiley," Olivia smirked.
"No," he laughed. "Now I'm embarrassed."
"I thought it was really cute, so," she whispered, looking back at him with a smile as they reached the stairs.
He let out an audible breath, looking over her body as she smiled back at him, starting to walk down the stairs.
Oh, man.
It had become so easy to just be their true selves when they were only in the presence of each other. When they were in the presence of both Mellie and Karen, the two barely looked at each other. They played it off well.
But now, with Mellie working a later shift tonight, and Karen on the other end of the house in the music room, it was so easy. It was so easy to just be there on the staircase, just the two of them.
And the fact that that was easy, made life harder.
The more comfortable they got, the closer they got—the happier they were when they were together.
But it made for a rough time when they were apart.
The sadness heightened. The guilt heightened. And for Olivia, so did the jealousy.
Knowing he went upstairs to his bedroom with Mellie every night. Hearing Mellie call him endearments in front of Karen that she wished she could call him. She'd known what she was getting herself into. Well...kind of. But God, it was hard.
But being with him, wasn't.
He reached out for her hand, and she reached out for his back.
He smirked at her, following her slowly down the stairs. Looking her up and down agonizingly, with every step he took. Beginning to hear Karen play the piano in the background. And now that it was just the two of them together, even if it was only briefly, she was the sole focus of his attention.
But their little moment couldn't last very long, if they wanted to be careful.
He leaned in and pressed a quiet kiss to her cheek when they reached the bottom of the steps. And then he was walking backward slowly on his way to the music room, watching her the whole time. Checking her out.
She felt a lot of satisfaction watching him do that, because the two hadn't gone any further than making out.
Not...yet.
But his eyes didn't lie. They gave him away, actually. She could see when he looked at her, and she could see where he looked. She knew he wanted to do more—not because he said so verbally, but because his body language and the way he responded to her told her everything she needed to know. And she was pretty sure he knew she was in the same boat. Both were just...hesitant. As if going further would make this even more real than it already was.
Plus, they hadn't exactly gotten many opportunities to do more. Not unless they actively sought out times to sneak around, which they absolutely did not do. Tonight would be kind of a first in which they'd be truly alone for a little while.
It was a weird situation. And it only got weirder with each passing day. Each passing day that feelings got stronger.
So sometimes, getting lost in those little brief moments with each other meant the world.
She watched Fitz with a smirk until he disappeared out of sight. She stood there smiling like an idiot, almost running into the corner of the wall when she finally started to head to the basement door.
Truly, a smiling idiot.
She took a deep breath, heading downstairs to start her own homework, now that she'd successfully helped Karen with her Halloween makeup run through.
Fitz was starting to infiltrate her brain more and more. But she tried to push him aside so she could focus on her homework.
She called her best friend while she did it, simply because if they were both free and it worked out, then they always tried to FaceTime.
That way they could catch up and be productive at the same time.
She wanted to tell Shawn so badly what was happening.
But she didn't. She knew Shawn would be supportive if she did. She trusted all of her friends here in New York, too. Huck, the most by far. But even though there were many people she trusted, this just wasn't something she felt like she should share, as the person who was interfering with someone's marriage.
It certainly wasn't something to be proud of. At all. And she wasn't.
That was part of the reason she kept quiet—no matter what she was feeling for him and how quickly those feelings were now developing, she was ashamed.
She hadn't ever been ashamed of anything in her life. Her life was an open book and she did things that made her proud. This, however, was the first time in her life that she didn't feel like a good person. And it made it extremely tough when she knew it was wrong, but her heart was telling her it was right.
And then there was the fear of it somehow getting out to others, and that's something that would not be acceptable. Not right now, that was for sure. She didn't even know what Fitz was to her. She didn't know how far this was going to go. But they were definitely at a point where having it come out would be a nightmare, because right now, their only plan was to be a team, and to take it one step at a time.
She dreamed about being with him in public. She dreamed about him divorcing Mellie and being with her, instead. But right now, that was all it was. A dream. She couldn't come here and obliterate his entire world after a couple months and then rationally expect him to leave everything he'd clearly tried very hard to stick it out for, and run away with her, or something. And she definitely didn't expect that. Right now, she wasn't sure what to expect, or if she could expect anything. All she knew was keeping all of these thoughts inside and solely to herself was hard, but it felt necessary for her.
She figured if she was in this—doing things she shouldn't be doing and feeling things she shouldn't be feeling with a married man, she deserved to feel every bit of pain it brought to her. She deserved all of it. She probably deserved worse.
This wasn't her. She wasn't this person—that's the thing, she knew she wasn't. But how could she even justify thinking that when...here she was, doing it.
So, she didn't even tell her closest friend in the entire world—who was like a sister to her.
Instead, she played it off, something she was actually pretty good at doing, and acted as if everything was completely normal here in New York. Fitz didn't come up in anything but normal conversation—perhaps about their commutes or about their workouts. Nothing out of the ordinary.
Ever since Shawn had realized that the potential feelings developing between the two had scared Olivia, she had vowed to drop the subject unless Olivia brought it up herself. So Olivia did appreciate that. She appreciated her best friend being able to see that something scared her, which didn't happen often, and let her talk about it if and when she was comfortable.
Olivia did all her homework for the next day, and even chipped away at some of her weekend homework before she decided to be done for the night. She eventually heard Karen stop playing the piano upstairs, and then heard the garage door shut, knowing Fitz had probably left to take her to Casey's. And around the same time, Shawn had to go pick up her little brother from his basketball practice and then grab dinner on the way back, so she had to say goodbye.
But after Olivia had plugged in her computer to charge, and laid back down to read a little before dinner, she heard Fitz return home. The first place he went was down the stairs. She heard.
When he knocked on her door, it brought a smile to her face. It always did.
"Housekeeping."
She giggled, shaking her head at him. "Come on in, housekeeper."
He peeked his head in, smiling at her on the bed.
"Hi, you."
"Hi, you," she replied, waving him inside. "Get Karen all dropped off?"
He shut the door gently and made his way over to her. "Yeah. We made sure to take off your beautiful panda bear makeup before we left, though."
Olivia laughed. "Probably smart. It smudges pretty easily I think."
"Yeah. You know, I have to admit, I didn't expect to hear 'dad, be careful, my makeup!' for at least a few more years," he laughed, sitting down on the edge of her bed.
"She's growing up," Olivia smiled.
"I know she is," he nodded. "And yet I still remember the day she was born like it was yesterday. She was...such a good baby."
"Awww, was she?" Olivia smiled.
"Yeah," he smiled back. "Rarely cried. Always smiling, and...pretty laid back."
"Well, I think I know where that smile comes from," Olivia giggled, nudging his thigh with her foot.
His smile grew larger and he began to blush. "She's like your...smiley jr."
"Yes, she is!" Olivia agreed with a laugh. "Doesn't hurt that she looks like you, too. It's no wonder she's so cute."
He looked down at his lap shyly, and then gave her a smile back.
"So did you see Karen's project at all?" Olivia asked.
"Yeah. She and Casey showed me their little poster board. It's about weather," he chuckled.
"That's so cute," Olivia laughed. "Her English project that's coming along is pretty cute too."
"I know," he smiled. "She and Mellie attached the uh...the googly eyes last night. To the...rabbit's face."
"Oh...right right, at the top of the board game," Olivia laughed. "She better get an A on that project or I'm rioting."
He was chuckling, smiling back at her. "I appreciate your willingness to riot for my daughter's grade."
"Of course!" Olivia replied. "She's a sweetheart."
Fitz's smile brightened. "Yes, she is. So...how are you?" he asked, putting his hand on her fuzzy socks. Beginning to rub her feet affectionately.
"I'm good," Olivia nodded. "Did some things I needed to do. Talked to Shawn for a bit. Now just...was reading a little bit before dinner."
He nodded. "Sorry for interrupting your reading. I do like the book of your choosing tonight, though."
She looked down at the book next to her, "To the Last Man." Another book that Fitz had loaned to her not long ago.
She smiled. "It's such a good book so far. And...you never have to apologize. You don't interrupt, ever. I always love talking to you."
"Me too," he said, rubbing her calf gently. "So...it'll just be us two for dinner; Mellie's shift is till eight today and she's picking Karen up from Casey's on her way home. You hungry for anything specific?"
"I'm good with anything! I can help you make it, though, if you want," she offered.
"Mkay," he nodded. "I'll take you up on that."
She eyed him up and down as he sat there at the foot of her bed. And then he cleared his throat, looking around like he wasn't sure if this would be okay. But he scooted upward on her bed and got on his knees, slowly extending his body over hers.
Her hands instinctively moved to cup his face, looking up at him with a soft smile.
He licked his lips and looked over her face, biting his bottom lip as he did so.
"The jeans you're wearing right now have made my life extremely hard today," he whispered.
She started to laugh and raise her eyebrows at him. She truly wanted to hear him expand on that because he'd never really given her that kind of compliment before. It wasn't really dirty at all—but certainly the "dirtiest" he'd given her, depending on what he was implying.
"Please enlighten me," she whispered, rubbing her thumbs gently across his cheeks. Which, were beginning to turn pink as he smiled.
"Ummm," he laughed nervously.
"Come onnn," she smiled. "You said it—now I'm curious."
"Ahhh," he laughed, leaning his head down into her shoulder. "They uh...they're nice."
"They're nice?" she giggled, kissing the side of his forehead. It was so easy, his face was right there next to hers.
He smiled, accepting her kiss gratefully. "Yeah," he chuckled, almost in a giggle, which had her idiotic smiling returning.
"You are so cute," she laughed, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug.
Her hugging him made him relax a little bit more, and settle down into her. Really settle down. He allowed himself to lay down, instead of propping himself up with his forearms and knees.
He was now fully on top of her, pressed into her. And she could have stayed like that all night—if the world let them.
It wouldn't. But she cherished it while it was happening, and brought her fingers up to his curly hair as he laid there, breathing softly into her shoulder.
But then he spoke up again.
"The jeans make me think things," he whispered.
He didn't look up at her, he stayed where he was—which was pretty comfortably nestled into her shoulder at the moment. But he didn't have to look at her for her heart to start beating faster, and for her cheeks to start feeling warm.
"Oh yeah?" she whispered.
"Yeah."
"What kinds of things?" she inquired.
"Things I...shouldn't think," he responded.
"Well. Unfortunately, I think we're far past that already," she admitted.
"Yeah. That's true," he agreed. "I guess sometimes I feel hesitant to say what I'm thinking. Because I don't...I just really want you to be comfortable. With me. I just...want you to feel comfortable with me."
"Oh, Fitz. I've never felt more comfortable with anyone in my life," she said, stroking his curls. "But I truly appreciate that so much. So thank you. That's all I want, too. I want you to feel comfortable with me, too."
He turned his head against her shoulder and laid on the right side of his face, so he could look up at her.
He looked at her with something she could only describe as adoration. He let out a quiet sigh, studying her face as she ran her fingers through his hair, and smiled at him.
And she couldn't help but notice something every time she showed him affection—like she was doing now. Close, personal affection. She noticed that the way he reacted was as if he'd never experienced it in his life. He looked relaxed, whenever she did it. He looked like he was in his happy place, and that made her feel good. And so did what he said next.
"I feel very comfortable with you," he said. "More than anyone else. I know...I get nervous about things sometimes. But...I really am so comfortable with you."
She smiled, kissing the tip of his nose gently.
"If you want...I can still...enlighten you," he whispered, peering up at her.
She smirked.
"Yes," she whispered back.
He lifted his head up, and then got on his knees again, revealing her ripped jeans to them both. He hovered above her slightly, and brought one hand down to the top of her thigh.
The second he touched her, she let out an audible breath. His hand was so big on top of her thigh, and so close to an area where her skin was uncovered because of a rip in the denim.
He looked up at her, running his hand downward and feeling her smooth skin in spots that were uncovered. He knew by the look on her face that she liked it. And he certainly knew that he liked it.
"They make me want to touch you. And they make me picture you...with them off."
She closed her eyes, leaning her head back against the headboard.
"You can touch me," she whispered. "You can...keep touching me—please."
He allowed his other hand to do the same on her other thigh, and with each trip up and down, his hands lingered on her upper thighs. Higher than he'd ever touched her before.
She couldn't help it. She felt her legs widening before him. She tried to stop, but his hands made it so hard. She ended up bending one leg at the knee beneath him because she couldn't take it, and that was better than just continuing to open her goddamn legs for him.
Which she desperately did want to do—and had been beginning to do without even thinking about it.
He took it as a sign that she couldn't handle that anymore, and was trying to keep it together. And he was more than okay with that, because he had long since felt himself hardening. And if he was hard just from his hands wandering up her legs, and she could barely keep it together, he feared their ability to stop.
He wanted the jeans off. He wanted them off so badly, but he definitely wasn't going to follow through with it. Not today. Although he wanted it, he still didn't think he felt ready to take another step. And more importantly, based on Olivia's attempt to keep herself in check, he didn't think she felt quite ready either.
So he distracted himself with her lips for a while. Because that, they both felt extremely comfortable with. And he knew what she liked. He knew how she liked to be kissed. He knew what it took to make her moan, which—also made his dick throb. He just hid it well.
He extended his body again so that he could meet her face-to-face, but she was already ahead of him, pulling his head down for a kiss immediately.
Her tongue found his as soon as he opened his mouth. And he opened it wide, not hesitating to let his tongue meet hers too.
He was, however, hesitant to lay back down on top of her as he'd been doing before, now that he was hard as fuck. So he didn't. Their legs were tangled together now on top of the covers, but he made sure not to press his hips into hers.
One step at a time.
Despite the fact that they were breathless, they made it last pretty long. Stretching it out to the point where it started to get sloppy, and there wasn't a moment in time that their tongues weren't in contact.
He had to pull away eventually, allowing them both to catch their breath while he focused on her neck. He hadn't given it enough attention, and it was something she thoroughly enjoyed.
She let out a quiet moan right in his ear—and his dick was made well aware of it.
"Oh...Liv," he whispered, running his hands down her sides. He simultaneously moved his mouth down her neck toward her chest. Letting his tongue brush against her skin, too.
Her chest was heaving, and he could feel her heart racing, which only made his race more in return.
His mouth ventured low on her chest. Probably too low. But she was holding his head against her now, like she couldn't bear for him to stop.
The sweater she had on was a round neck, and could easily be moved aside.
He gently pulled the neck of her sweater down a bit and did what he wanted to do—he kept kissing her.
Her skin was so soft. He looked up at her as his lips and tongue touched her skin over and over. Her eyes were closed, and she was panting. Encouraging him. She looked...good.
But he didn't let himself go too far. He started to slow down, adjusting her sweater back in place. He kissed his way back up slowly, placing a final few light kisses on her lips.
Her eyes opened slowly, looking breathlessly up at him. "Oh...my god."
"Yeah. You're right," he panted, rolling over on his back next to her. That had her giggling.
He desperately didn't want to get off of her. But he needed time for his dick to calm down now and that wasn't going to happen if he was continuously laying on her and watching her literally pant because of him.
He reached down and tried to subtly adjust himself through his jeans, and pulled the end of his shirt down as far as he could so it wasn't so damn obvious.
She reached over and held her hand out for him, and he clasped his fingers in hers immediately, bringing her hand up to kiss it.
"Fitz," she said.
"Yeah."
"I could kiss you all day."
He looked back at her, biting his lip as he studied her. "We might need, like...some chapstick or something."
That had her laughing again, and she rolled over, snuggling into his side.
"I could kiss you all day, too," he whispered. He leaned in and waited for her to touch her lips against his again.
"Mm," she murmured, pressing another to his lips.
He laid there, smiling at her. Touching his nose to hers while she tightened her grip on his hand.
He turned to look up at the ceiling briefly, and they laid in comfortable silence for a little bit. The only sound was the sound of their fast breathing. But then Olivia just about laughed so hard that she cried when he broke the silence with another line from "Fire Burning."
"She get it pop it, lock it, drop it, that birthday cake," he whispered in a sing-song voice.
"What?!" she laughed, leaning her head into his shoulder. "You did not just do that!"
"No. I did not," he shook his head casually.
"Oh my god," she giggled, wrapping her other arm around him. He was smiling, looking up at the ceiling. Happy that he'd made her laugh, because that was what he had aimed for. "So you do know that song."
"There's a possibility that I do know that song, yes," he nodded seriously.
"Karen's gonna be upset you didn't sing it to her, you know. She told me it's her favorite now, I think she'd want to hear her dad sing it."
"Mmm...I don't think she wants to hear her dad sing about dropping...'that birthday cake.' Regardless of if she understands that or not," he laughed.
"Okay, that's fair," she agreed with a laugh. "However, I want to. So will you sing it again?"
"Hmm...I don't—yeah, I don't think so," he chuckled. "I've definitely reached my daily limit of embarrassment now after that."
"Ugh. You're such a teaser," she groaned, smiling at him.
He raised his eyebrows and looked over at her with a smirk. "So...you don't like to be teased?"
She bit her lip. "Oh...I do."
"Hmmm," he smirked, squeezing her hand. "I'm going to...remember that."
Oh god, she could feel the effect his voice and his smirk had between her legs. Yes, for the love of God, please remember that.
She smirked back, pressing her lips to his again. He was quick to kiss her in return, allowing his tongue to brush hers all over again. He had calmed down a little bit now, thank god.
"Okay. We should probably do something productive now or else...we won't leave this room," she murmured against his lips.
"You know, that is a very good idea," he chuckled, squeezing her hand. "How about we go make some dinner."
"Yes. I think that sounds like a great idea," she nodded.
"Mkay," he replied, slowly getting up. "Your bed's pretty comfortable, by the way."
"It is, isn't it?" she asked. "Courtesy of...well, you."
"Yeah," he chuckled. "I honestly don't think I've ever slept in it before so I guess...I wouldn't know."
"Oh, you should, it's really comfortable," she said. And then she paused.
"Wait. I didn't mean...uh. I didn't mean, like, with me or anything. I just meant the bed was comfortable. Sorry, I just made that...really weird," she laughed.
He was blushing, but he pulled her out of bed, looking her up and down. "I don't think you made it weird. I'd take you up on that offer."
Her heart fluttered.
"You would?"
"Yeah," he nodded with a smile. She was standing by him now at the edge of the bed. Having to look up, because he was that much taller than her.
She winked at him in response. And all of a sudden, he was bending down, and she was being lifted up in his arms.
"Ah!" she laughed, clinging to his shoulders. "Fitz!"
He chuckled, adjusting her in his grip and smiling up at her.
She sighed, looking down at his sweet face. And she couldn't help but press another kiss to his lips.
He kissed her all the way out her room and to the bottom of the staircase, carrying her in his arms. Keeping his hands on the bottoms of her upper thighs.
Her legs were wrapped tightly around him, like she didn't want to let go of him.
She didn't want to. But she did, and he set her down reluctantly.
She did hold his hand all the way up the stairs though.
It felt like one of their moments got to last through the making and eating of their dinner. Only it didn't have to be as brief that time.
It got to be a couple hours, instead.
She didn't think she could have felt happier during those couple hours with him. Sitting on the counter next to him, watching him show her what he was doing.
Her preparing the quinoa salad they were having as a side dish, while he was preparing their steak to be seared.
Skillet seared steak and asparagus? Yes, please.
Making sure Hank was fed, and watching Fitz cut off a little piece of steak for him.
Such a happy, spoiled pup.
Hugging Fitz from behind while he stood at the stove. Wrapping her arms around his firm, muscular abdomen. Stealing kisses whenever she felt like it, and him doing the same.
It all kind of felt like...a date. An amazing, wonderful date, with the sweetest man she had ever known.
Except his wife and daughter would be home around 8:30, and then it would all have to end. It would have to go back to how it was supposed to be.
And reality came far too quickly.
Fitz went upstairs to shower, and Olivia went downstairs to start winding down for the evening, before Mellie and Karen returned home.
Mellie came home, still talking on the phone to what sounded like another nurse, based on the conversation Olivia heard.
Olivia had come upstairs shortly after they got home, especially because she knew Karen would likely be going to bed pretty soon.
Mellie gave her a happy wave while she was still on the phone, and preparing Karen's lunch for the next day. Olivia waved happily back as she passed through the kitchen.
Oh, the guilt.
"Olivia!" Karen exclaimed from upstairs. "Are you down there?"
"Shhh, your mom's on the phone, sweetie," Olivia called back, as quietly as she could as not to disturb Mellie.
She jogged up the stairs quickly to go meet Karen. She was standing at the top of the stairs, already in her pajamas.
"Oops," Karen said. "I just wanted to say goodnight to you before I go to bed. Mom already gave me my goodnight hug and kiss, and dad said he would be in in a minute. And I already said goodnight to my Hank. So...I am just missing you now!"
Olivia instantly smiled, putting her hand on her shoulder. "Well, you know what? I was just coming up here to say goodnight to you, too!"
"Oh!" Karen smiled.
"Here, come on. I'll tuck you in," Olivia offered.
Karen nodded happily and led her to her bedroom.
She crawled under the covers, allowing Olivia to pull them snugly over her.
"Goodnight Karen," Olivia said, leaning down to kiss her cheek.
"Goodnight, Olivia," she whispered. "When Casey and my weather poster board is done, I will show you a picture."
"That sounds perfect," Olivia nodded. "Because I would love to see it."
"Okay," Karen smiled. "See you tomorrow."
Olivia was about to reply when she heard Karen's bedroom door creak open a little further, and Fitz's head peek in.
Her heart. It always leaped at the sight of him.
He was in gym shorts and a gray T-shirt now after his shower, and his curls were damp and perfect. Sigh.
Olivia didn't let herself stare, though, and turned back to Karen. "Yes, I'll see you tomorrow!"
"Love you, Liv," Karen said softly.
Olivia's heart melted, and she smiled down at her. Seriously—she could have cried.
"I love you too, K," she whispered, smoothing the curls back from her sweet face. The face that so resembled the guy who was standing in the doorway with a big smile.
Because he had heard, and it meant the world to him, too.
Olivia got up, heading to the door so that Fitz could now come say goodnight too.
He gave her a smile as she passed him, and she returned it.
"Goodnight, Fitz."
"Goodnight, Olivia," he said back, watching her head down the stairs.
And then she was gone.
He went to go sit on Karen's bed, making sure she was cuddled up like she liked to be.
"Alright. Where's mister sunshine?"
She smiled, reaching under her covers and showing him the yellow fuzzy bear she'd had since she was a baby. The color of his fur—the color of sunshine.
"There he is," Fitz chuckled, tickling her little sides. She clutched the bear and laughed, squirming under the covers.
"Daddy!" she exclaimed.
"What?!" he asked.
"No tickles!" she exclaimed.
"Okay, okay," he chuckled. "No more tickles."
"I'm too old for your tickles, dad."
He gasped, looking down at her seriously. "What! That cannot be possible."
"Mmhm!" she giggled.
"See, I just don't think that's true. Nope, I don't think so," he said, reaching down to tickle her again. She was in a fit of laughter, and it was always contagious.
"You will never be too old for dad's tickles," he said, leaning down to kiss her cheek.
She was smiling, still trying to calm down from all the tickling. He riled her up sometimes before bed, he was guilty of it. But it made her laugh, and that made him happy.
"Never," she nodded in agreement, holding her arms open for him.
He smiled and leaned down, giving her the biggest hug he could as she laid in bed.
"I love you lots," he whispered, giving her another goodnight kiss.
"I love you lots, dad," she whispered back.
"Goodnight, sweetheart."
"Goodnight."
The next day was Friday. He truly preferred the weekdays to the weekends now, just because he got to spend more time with Olivia somewhat alone.
However, he was meeting Abby for drinks later that afternoon, and he was looking forward to it. So he had a more positive outlook about this weekend, at least.
He'd probably pay for it later, simply because whenever he went out with Abby, it made Mellie act even more difficult than she already was.
At this point, it wasn't jealousy anymore. He knew it had begun that way with her. But now it was just more of a childish dislike, and it annoyed the hell out of him.
He'd taken a lot of Mellie's shit, simply because he'd reached a point where most of the time, he didn't care enough to argue with her. Especially if it was about something dumb. But with Abby, he had never taken her shit. She was his best friend, and that wasn't ever going to change, despite how annoying it was to receive more glares from Mellie than usual, or to hear the comments she attempted to make about Abby whenever he went out with her.
Plus, Abby was one of the few people in the world that he had always trusted with everything in his life. His shit marriage. His job. Genuine advice. She was his go-to, along with her husband and his mother.
It made him wonder about possibly discussing Olivia with her. As of right now, that wasn't his plan. Because he genuinely feared anyone's reaction to the situation he had put himself in. Because he knew it was so wrong. And last time he'd seen Abby, Olivia had barely just gotten to New York and he hadn't really talked much about her. So he knew Abby would be completely blindsided by it, not only because he had been fooling around with someone else, but because Olivia was who he had been fooling around with.
But on the other hand, Olivia was important to him. So it weighed on his mind all day that day, whether or not this was something he needed to talk about with someone. He was an anxious enough person as is, and holding everything inside always made everything worse for him. So he went back and forth on it in his head, not being able to land on a solid decision.
Olivia, luckily, wanted to spend some more time editing her NYU application essay, so she had been content to stay and work on it after school while Fitz met up with Abby.
And on Fridays, Karen rode the bus home, and Mellie would be home around the same time as her, so he didn't need to worry about that.
He wouldn't stay long anyway, simply because he still had to drive later and would likely only have one drink. Plus, he didn't want to make Olivia wait long, either.
He took an Uber and met up with Abby around 3:30 at Bemelman's, one of their favorites on the Upper East Side.
She'd left a bit earlier than him as he'd been tied up in a meeting, and her office was a bit closer anyway, so she'd gotten a booth for them before he got there.
He stepped out of the car, buttoning his dress jacket and looking around the busy streets of New York City's Upper East Side.
He headed inside, locating Abby immediately.
She was in a pantsuit, her long red hair nicely curled today. She was studying the menu, which made him chuckle because he knew her order at Bemelman's was always the same.
He cleared his throat as he approached the table. "Abbs."
She looked up at him and immediately her face broke out into a smile.
"There you are!" she exclaimed standing up and wrapping her arms around him.
"Hey," he smiled, returning her hug and pecking her cheek. "How are you?"
"I'm good, how are you?" she asked, pulling back and looking him over.
"Good," he nodded with a smile.
"Your hair's, like, five inches longer than the last time I saw you. That tells me it's been far too long," she said, shaking her head.
He chuckled. "It has been far too long. How have you been?"
"Pretty good!" she nodded, sitting back down as he hung up his jacket on the hook near their booth. "David's been adjusting to his new job, so...that means I've been adjusting to his new job," she laughed.
"Right, he told me a little bit about it last time I saw him," Fitz nodded. "He liking it so far?"
"He loves it. I think it will be a good change for him, get back into what he really likes to do," Abby nodded. "He's happier, I can tell. So that's really good."
"Oh, that's so great," Fitz replied. "I'm glad he made the switch back into a more traditional legal role again. Back in your ballpark."
"Mmhm that's right," she nodded. "How about you? How's work been? How's my sweet Karen?"
"Work's been good lately. Been adjusting to Cyrus' move over to my division, which has been good. I can tell he likes me, so...that'll be helpful to me going forward."
"Oh, good, good. I was worried he was going to be...difficult to work with, based on what you've told me about him," Abby said.
"No, he's just the type of guy you've got to get to know well. Get to know how he works and how he likes things done. I think I've done a good job, so he's easier to understand now. And uh...Karen's great. She's got lots of projects going right now. Busy with her volleyball, which is almost over, and piano. And GT and science club, as always."
"As always, the perfect child," Abby smiled.
"I like to think so," Fitz agreed.
"Alright, and how's...bridezilla? I hate asking, but, you know. It's polite."
He chuckled and rolled his eyes. "The usual."
"Ah, wonderful," Abby nodded. "How much did she hate me this time around when you told her?"
"On a scale from one to normal, actually...I'd say a reasonable seven this time," Fitz nodded, looking down at his menu.
"Oh, would you look at that! Bridezilla's coming around!" Abby laughed sarcastically.
"Let's not get too ahead of ourselves, Abby," Fitz laughed.
"Mm, you're right, you're right," she agreed. "It'll be a ten next time."
"Very possible," Fitz nodded. "My wife, ladies and gentlemen."
"And the crowd goes...'boo,'" Abby said.
"Now, now," he chuckled, scanning the cocktail list.
She just shrugged. Abby didn't care for Mellie at all either. How could she, when she truly hadn't done anything to her, and yet Mellie had always been set on the fact that she didn't like Abby.
"So, what else is new with you? Oh—how's having that UNIS student at home been going? David told me after the last time you golfed that she was seeming to like it here. Sorry—I'm drawing a blank on her name."
"Olivia," Fitz said. Her name rolling off his tongue effortlessly. He loved the sound of her name.
"Olivia, that's right, that's right," Abby nodded.
"She's been...really good," Fitz nodded with a smile. "She does love it here."
"Well, that's good. I mean, considering Mellie barely gave you a warning about her coming, and yet you're the one taking her in every day. My god, I would be livid. So I'm glad she at least enjoys it here."
"No, yeah, it's...it's all good. She's...she's really good," he nodded. But he had been debating on telling her the whole truth, so the second the awkward response came out of his mouth, he knew he sounded questionable. He knew it sounded like there was something he wasn't saying. And she noticed.
Abby furrowed her eyebrows at him. "Why did you just get weird?"
And then he started having second thoughts again about telling her, so he tried to revert back.
"I...didn't get weird," Fitz shook his head.
"You did. You just got really weird," she nodded.
"What?" he asked nervously. Shit. Now he definitely knew he was being weird.
"Fitz..."
"Yeah...?" he asked. But his response was weak. So weak.
He needed to tell someone. He needed to. This all had been such a big change for him and his best friend was right there in front of him, inquiring more. This was his chance, as good as any.
She tilted her head at him, and he could see the wheels turning in her head. Thinking about the subject they were on, and his awkward, weird reaction to it.
"Wait a minute," she said, looking at him confusedly. "Fitz."
He rested his head in his hand on the table, looking down nervously at the wooden surface. As he looked back up at her, he felt his heart pounding.
"Okay. Am I...way off base right now or is what I'm thinking...actually...happening?" she asked.
"Whatever you're thinking...you're probably not wrong."
She studied him. His body language. The nervous look on his face.
"There's...no. No way. Absolutely no way."
He winced at her.
"Fuck," he sighed, running his hand through his hair.
She was bewildered.
"Oh my god," she said, leaning back in the booth and looking him over. "Oh my god!"
"Okay...okay," Fitz said, putting his hands up to her to try to quiet her.
"Are you serious?" she asked, looking at him in awe.
He sighed. "Yes."
She couldn't close her wide-open mouth. She just sat there and looked at him. And if he wasn't mistaken, he saw a hint of a smile.
"In your own house?" she exclaimed quietly.
He rubbed his eyes, feeling stressed. And thank God, their waiter came up to them just then, asking to take their order. He needed a drink.
He was grateful not only for the chance to order a drink, but also, for a second to regroup his thoughts. He could tell Abby was extremely flustered, and so was he—after actually just spilling that.
The second the waiter walked away, she turned right back to him.
"Okay. I'm sorry—forgive me for needing to make sure I've got this right, but...you. Fitzgerald Grant. The most...rule-following, non-rebellious man I know. Have been...screwing someone else in your own house," she said again, as if she wasn't understanding it right.
"Shhh—Abby, Jesus...Christ," he said quietly, looking around them nervously.
"I'm sorry. Sorry. I just...I'm having a hard time believing this right now," she said.
"Yeah," he nodded. "Me too."
"Okay—oh my lord...since when?" she asked him.
"Since...well. Last week, officially. But I've wanted this since about two days after I met her, probably," he admitted.
"And you didn't fucking tell me this?" she whispered. "You're fucking around on your wife of nine years and you didn't tell me?"
"No!" he exclaimed quietly. "I was...afraid enough as it is to tell you now. It's not...it's not something I really want to tell people, Abby, believe it or not."
She shook her head, putting her hand up to her mouth. She still couldn't believe it.
"Please tell me she's 18."
"She's…18, yes. She's old for her year. She seems even older than that, but," he sighed.
Abby let out a sigh of relief. She sat back and crossed her legs, having her drink ready in her hand.
"Okay. You need to tell me everything from the very beginning. Right now, no exceptions."
He let out a slow breath, and nodded. It made him nervous, but now he truly had nothing to lose, and he wanted to talk about it with someone he trusted, and she was it.
So he told her everything.
Starting right from the beginning. Meeting her, and getting to know her. The whole timeline of things that had happened. The signs they both read. The debacle with Mellie that led to him kissing her in her room last week. And the whole week of events since then. Pausing whenever someone walked by, or when the waiter brought their drinks. But he spilled it all.
And it kind of felt good.
"So...you're not screwing her," Abby said, taking a sip of her drink.
"No," he answered. "I'm not...screwing her."
"But man, oh man, you want to, don't you," Abby said.
He opened his mouth to respond, but then stopped, feeling himself blush. He didn't really talk about these things with Abby. She did, because she could care less, and she actually had a healthy sex life with her husband. But he certainly didn't have that, and he wasn't as...care free as she was about it.
He sighed, biting his lip. And he went for it anyway, because at this point, he'd already told her everything else, so why not.
"God...yes," he whispered, not meeting her eyes. "But it's so much more than that. This isn't just about that."
Abby smiled. "Keep going."
He let out a shaky breath, and tried to keep his glass of whiskey steady in his hand.
"She...makes me feel things. She makes me...feel, like I haven't ever before," he said. "And that makes it really hard when I'm also trying to be...a good man."
She nodded along, listening intently to him. Letting him continue to talk.
"When I'm with her..." he began, pausing briefly. "When I'm with her, I want more. I want more time, I want more of her, I want more everything. But I'm afraid of that. I'm afraid of what wanting more...means. And feeling what I feel for her doesn't change the fact that it's wrong. It doesn't change that...I still feel so guilty about it."
He took a sip of his drink and set it down, clenching his jaw.
"I haven't...I haven't physically let myself go any further with her. And she hasn't either. She feels just as conflicted as I do—she's said as much, and I can see it and feel it in her. She's...she's so kind, all the time. She never falters, not even with Mellie, and I know how hard that must be for her. She wouldn't hurt a fly. She's not...the type of person to do what we're doing, and...neither am I. We just feel...stuck. She said something to me last weekend. About...this being the worst situation to be in if you have a conscience and a heart at the same time. She's right. That's...that's what it feels like."
Abby sighed, giving him a sad look.
"You don't deserve this, Fitz."
"Maybe I do," he said. "I don't...I don't feel like a good man, Abby. I feel like a shitty man."
Abby shook her head immediately. "You are the opposite of shitty, and you know that."
"I don't know that," he shook his head. "Not anymore."
"Fitz," she began. "You and Mellie have stuck it out for ten years, for Karen. You sacrifice your own happiness, every single day, so that she can have what you didn't. What Mellie didn't. You would move mountains for that girl, and everyone knows it. And for ten years—you've never strayed. You've never so much as looked at anyone else. And you know what? Plenty of people in your guys' situation would," she said. "Everything you've done in your life, has been for others. So just because someone has come into your life now, that's making you feel these things—doesn't mean you're not a good man. It means...maybe it's about time you did something for you, now."
He sighed, looking down at the table. Yeah, he was doing this for him right now and it felt so selfish.
"You are a fantastic man," Abby assured him, reaching across the table and putting her hand on his forearm. "I mean for God's sake—it's been two months of secretly…I don't know, eye fucking; you spend every day together and you still can't even bring yourselves to get to...second base."
He couldn't help the smile that formed on his face, and the laugh that escaped his mouth, watching his best friend try to lighten his mood a little bit.
She laughed back, giving his arm a reassuring squeeze. "Seriously, dude. You've somehow managed to remain extremely innocent in your adultery, and I didn't think that was even possible."
"I don't think 'innocent' and 'adultery' can be used in the same sentence, Abby."
"Well—too late, I just made it happen," Abby shrugged.
He chuckled, running his hand through his hair. "My uh...my lips are still really fucking chapped from first base, so...I need a minute before I hit second," he said.
She was laughing again. "Seriously?"
"Yes," he nodded. "I've never made out with someone this much in my life. I mean, my God...it's constant."
"Alright—I take it back. You are...the most rebellious man I know," Abby joked.
"Oh…quiet," he chuckled, shaking his head.
"What I want to know is...how does Mr. rebellious hide all this from his wife in their own home?" Abby inquired.
Fitz just laughed. "Pfft. Abby. Since when does she pay attention to anything I do? Besides when she wants to discuss something about Karen, or..."
"Or when she has a super stressful day and needs to make a very rare dick appointment with you. Yeah. Good point," Abby nodded.
"I wouldn't have phrased it that way but…yes," he chuckled.
"Well, hey, at least she won't ask for a while now. You've got some time until you have to reject her next request."
"Oh…God. I just…don't even want to think about that yet. My mind's been…working in overdrive already," he cringed. "But, yeah, Liv and I also…just don't talk that much in front of her.
"Ah, yes, right, you save the talking for your car and the many rooms of the basement," Abby smirked. "Or should I say...the not talking."
He smirked back and took the last big swig of his drink. "No comment."
She rolled her eyes, finishing up her drink, too.
"So...we can't go this long without getting drinks again. Because I missed a lot this time around," she said.
"Yeah," he replied, shaking his head. "It's been...a lot."
She sighed, looking intently at him. Putting the jokes aside now, and returning back to the serious conversation that they both knew this was.
"You're still off your meds I assume?" she asked quietly.
He bit his lip, circling his finger around the rim of his glass. "Yes."
"Do you think you should be on them? Especially...given everything that you're dealing with right now?"
"No," he shook his head. "I hate them—every kind I've tried. And I do perfectly fine without them, I always have. I have other ways of dealing that don't make me feel tired, dizzy, or...cloudy."
"Yes, I know you hate them, Fitz, but this is just...a lot for anyone to deal with, let alone someone who has anxiety. I just wonder if they would help you more than hurt you right now."
"Nah. I'm okay," he replied. "I've always been okay."
She sighed at him.
"Alright, I won't push. You just make me nervous sometimes, that's all," she said, eyeing him.
He smiled at her. "I appreciate it, but you don't have to worry about me, Abbs. You sound like my mother."
"Well good—your mother is a very wonderful woman!" Abby exclaimed.
"Yes, she is," he chuckled.
"Have you been home recently?" Abby asked.
"No," he answered. "I need to plan a day trip one of these weekends to go see her, though. At least once before Thanksgiving, anyway, because I told her I would."
"Well, when you do, give her my best," Abby said.
"Of course," he nodded.
"Well," she sighed, looking around. "Should we head out?"
"Yeah, sure," he nodded. "You're meeting David for dinner after this, right?"
"Mhm. Paola's," she nodded. "What are your plans tonight?"
The thought of getting back to Olivia made him smile.
"Not much, I don't think. Gonna go meet her...by my office, and head home. Maybe we'll watch 'Game of Thrones' tonight," he shrugged.
"Mmm, so...HBO and chill?"
He blushed and shook his head. "More like...HBO and subtly cuddle."
She started to laugh again. "Oh my god. You know what, Fitz?"
"Hm?"
"I'm fucking rooting for you, dude. I don't care about anything else. I'm probably supposed to be telling you the opposite of what I'm telling you, but I honestly don't care, because this is different. I've known you a long time, and I've seen you struggle for too long. And I sure as hell know you wouldn't do something this...unlike you, unless it was real. So...I don't give a damn. You're a grown man and you can do whatever you damn well please—you don't need my support, I know that. But…if it does mean anything, I'm rooting for you."
His lips parted slightly and he smiled at her.
"Thanks, Abbs," he whispered. "I...appreciate that. I really do. It means a lot."
"Absolutely," she nodded and gave him a smile.
They paid for their drinks and headed out, planning to take separate Ubers. Until Fitz gave Olivia a brief call, just to have her start heading back toward J.P. Morgan so he could meet her there. He didn't think anything of it, but Abby, however, noticed everything.
"Hi, you," he smiled, looking down at the sidewalk.
Abby just stood there watching and listening, but he was only focused on Olivia.
"Yeah, I'm headed back now. I'll just meet you outside JPM like normal, if you want to start heading there," he nodded.
"Yeah. How've you been? You been getting things done?"
"Oh really?" he laughed, fiddling with the buttons on his coat.
"Yeah, it was good," he smiled. "I'll see you soon, okay."
"Okay," he chuckled. "Bye."
"Oh my god," Abby said, staring at him.
He pulled up his Uber app after hanging up, looking over at her confused. "What?"
"Alright—I have to meet her. I'm coming with you."
"What?" Fitz asked. "Aren't you going to Paola's? That's...that's the opposite way."
"Yeah, but I'll just take a cab or Uber back this way, I don't care," she said. "I have just...never seen you act the way you have tonight, and I need to meet the reason why."
"Uh...yeah. Okay," he chuckled.
"Hey, if I'm rooting for you, I need to meet her at some point," Abby pointed out. "This is so exciting."
"Oh God," he chuckled nervously. "Just...don't be weird, okay."
"Don't be weird? You're telling me not to be weird? You don't be weird," she said, shivering in the cold and looking down at his Uber app.
"Okay. Um...yeah, that's...that's fair," he agreed, scratching his head.
"Wait—she doesn't hate me already like Mellie, does she?" Abby asked.
"No," he chuckled. "She did say she would love to meet you sometime, actually."
"Aww. Look at her! Not being petty and hating me over a drunk kiss 11 years ago. How extremely rational of her," Abby said sweetly with a smile.
He shook his head and laughed. "Abby."
"Hey. Just...pointing things out," she shrugged. "I already liked her before but she just keeps earning more Abby points."
He smiled, looking down shyly. He was actually kind of excited for Abby to meet her now. The excited feeling that always developed when he knew was going to see her was even more prominent now, knowing his best friend in the world was going to see her too.
And he tried not to show it the entire ride there, but he couldn't help it. He was fidgeting with his hands, looking out the window anxiously as they neared his building. The driver let them out on the other side of the street as close as he could get them, but they still had a tiny bit of a walk.
He saw her right away; she was already standing near his building. The walk she had didn't take as long as their drive had taken, especially because of the traffic.
She stood near the edge of the building, hands in the pockets of her white coat that she loved. It fit her perfectly, with a belt tied around her petite waist.
She was wearing heeled boots, and her curly hair was completely down today.
Oh, she looked so good.
She was looking around, watching people as they passed, keeping an eye out for them. But they were on the other end of the street still, so she didn't see them yet.
"That's her," Fitz whispered, nodding toward JPM.
"Fitz, it is Friday night and we are in New York City, can you be a little more specific?" Abby asked, scanning the area by J.P. Morgan.
"Sorry, sorry," he stumbled with a laugh. "White coat. Dark jeans. Brown boots. Or maybe they're...gray? Fuck, I don't know what color they are, whatever."
Abby located her immediately based on his description. "Oh...good lord."
"What? What?" he asked under his breath.
"That's her?" she asked.
"Yes," he nodded.
"Alright. Now I'm definitely rooting for you. She's…a Goddess."
A smile instantly covered his face and he could feel the blushing again.
"And, Jesus, Fitzgerald, those boots are taupe," Abby whispered. "They're really cute, actually, you should ask her where she got those for me. Yeah. I like those."
"What the hell is taupe?" he asked, as they began to cross the street.
"A mix of brown and gray," Abby answered.
"Oh, well good, then I was right," he said proudly.
"No. You said they were brown—or gray. You were wrong twice; they're taupe."
"Oh my god, okay, sorry, they're taupe," he replied.
"Are you sure she's 18?" Abby asked.
"Uh...yes?" Fitz asked. "Why...?"
"She looks like she could be out of college," Abby answered. "I mean not that...not that she looks old, but…she's just very…womanly."
"Okay, you're being weird. You said I shouldn't be weird but now you're being weird."
"Sorry—that was the best word I could think of. Put-together. Elegant. Those are better. And I'm not being weird I'm being...observant," Abby said, looking her over again. "She's...wow. She's..."
"Perfect?" Fitz whispered.
"I was going to say gorgeous. But I like your word better," Abby smiled, nudging his arm.
He smiled back at her, looking ahead at Olivia. And it was just then, that she finally saw them amidst the crowded sidewalk of people.
He could tell she was surprised to see him with someone, because that hadn't been the plan when he called her. But her face broke out into an instant smile, because she knew it had to be Abby.
Her smile. Oh, he was weak.
"Oh my heart," Abby whispered. "She's so cute."
"I know, I know—shhh," he said under his breath, giving her a wave.
She happily waved back to them, and Abby waved to her too, as they all finally got close enough to one another.
"Hi!" Olivia said. "You must be Abby?" Olivia asked, reaching out her hand.
"Hi! Yes, that's me. It's so nice to meet you! I thought I'd come say hello," Abby said, shaking her hand.
"Oh, I'm so glad you did, Fitz has told me so much about you. It's great to finally meet you!" Olivia smiled.
Fitz smiled, looking back and forth between her and Abby. Two of the most important women in his life.
"He's told me so much about you, too!" Abby exclaimed, looking over at Fitz. He was standing there, smiling. Not doing anything else but smiling at her.
"Hey," Olivia laughed, reaching out her fist.
"Hey," he smiled, bumping it with his. Something they'd always done as both a greeting or a goodbye during their days. It had started pretty innocently, but now he was pretty sure it had become their equivalent to a kiss in public.
Abby watched them intently with a smile.
"So how were drinks?" Olivia asked them.
"Good," Fitz nodded, looking at Abby.
"Oh yes. Bemelman's, always a favorite," Abby nodded. "You know, Olivia, you should come along with us sometime."
Fitz's eyes widened, and he looked over at her as if to say "I thought I told you to stop being weird?"
But Abby just smiled innocently.
And Olivia seemed excited.
"Oh, that'd be really nice!" Olivia exclaimed. "Unfortunately, I wouldn't be able to uh...partake in the drinking aspect, but I'd love to come along if you'd like me there!
"I would love that. We'll have to set that up sometime, Fitz," Abby said, eyeing him.
"Yeah. Yeah, for sure," he nodded, smiling.
"Alright. Well—I do have reservations for dinner with my husband, so I should get going. I just wanted to take the chance to come and meet you," Abby smiled, reaching out her hand again.
Olivia smiled back and shook it once again. "Well, thank you so much for coming all this way. It was a pleasure."
Abby smiled back and turned to Fitz, and he leaned in for a hug. "Alright. Good to see you, Abbs."
"Good to see you," she nodded, patting his back. "Have a good night you two," she said, pointing at the two of them.
"You too!" Olivia said, waving at her.
"Will do," Fitz nodded.
And because Abby was Abby, she gave them both a wink as she turned and walked away.
He rolled his eyes, and couldn't help but chuckle quietly, before turning back to Olivia.
She was looking at him with raised eyebrows. It was clear she'd probably seen the smirk, and after being asked to come with them to get drinks sometime, she knew. She wasn't dumb.
He looked back at her and sighed, giving her a nod. Because he could see the question on Olivia's face, she didn't even have to ask it.
"Yeah," he nodded. "It just...it just happened. I didn't mean to—it wasn't necessarily my plan, but...she just knows me so well and—I'm sorry if that makes you uncomfortable. She's one of the people I trust most in the world. I would never have told her if I didn't—"
"Fitz, you don't have to apologize," Olivia interrupted with a laugh. "I know she's your best friend. I feel honored that you told her."
He sighed, giving her a smile. "She uh…she likes you a lot already. You have Abby points. Abby doesn't give out Abby points lightly."
"Aww. Well, I like her too," Olivia smiled back. "Was she serious about...me coming with to get drinks sometime?"
"Oh yes," Fitz nodded. "She wouldn't have suggested it if she wasn't."
"Wow," Olivia nodded. "So is it safe to say...I have best friend's approval?" she teased.
"Yes," he chuckled. "You had it before...she even met you. Oh—and she wants to know where your boots are from, by the way."
She looked down as they began to walk and laughed. "Oh! Tell her DSW."
He pulled out his phone immediately, and texted Abby as they walked.
Fitz: TAUPE boots—DSW.
She responded immediately.
Abby: Lol, thanks. Tell her she has great taste.
Fitz smiled, and Olivia noticed.
"What?"
"Abby says you have great taste," Fitz said, looking over at her.
"Aww!" Olivia replied. "Tell her she does too. She looked...fantastic. What does she do?"
Fitz texted her Abby "She says right back at you." and then put his phone away.
"She's an Associate General Counsel for Estée Lauder."
And Olivia's eyes could not have grown any wider.
"Estée Lauder? Like...like Estée Lauder, Estée Lauder?" Olivia asked.
"Uh-huh," he chuckled. "I think there's only...one Estée Lauder, Liv."
"Yeah. You're right. I'm just blown away," she laughed. "That's so amazing. If I didn't want to be a book editor, that's the kind of company I'd want to work for," she nodded.
"Yeah, she loves it," he nodded.
"Gosh. Everyone here is so...successful, everywhere I turn. This place is magic, I'm convinced," Olivia said.
"New York City?" he chuckled.
"Yes! It's full of...so many opportunities. It's beautiful. And it's got...you in it," she said. "That's...all I want."
He smiled brightly at her, wishing so desperately to reach out and hold her hand as they neared Grand Central. He knew he could have.
It was New York City, and there were so many people that nobody knew each other, or frankly, gave a damn. But he didn't.
He did however, respond back with the truth.
"That's all I want, too."
Well, things are slowly developing. They're getting there.
I hope you enjoyed meeting miss Abby Whelan. You will also get to meet Fitz's mother soon, as well!
They've got quite a road ahead of them. Glad you're all with me for the ride!
Read on!
~T