"So there's something I wanna ask you" Dylan held out a mug of hot chocolate for her later that night
"Sounds ominous?" she grinned taking the mug, lifting it to her lips and taking a sip she moaned as the warm liquid made her feel warm and fuzzy
"It's not bad, promise" he took up his seat next to her on the couch
"Okay.."
"I have a game tomorrow afternoon and I was kinda hoping you'd come?"
"A game, as in like an actual game, game?"
"Yeah an actual game, game"
"I thought the season wasn't starting for another few months?" she took another sip of her drink
"Technically it's a warm up game with the team from across town but I thought it could be fun we could make a day out of it with Theo?"
"I don't.."
"Every time we have our annual warm-up game with the rebels they make it a fun day for the kids, there'll be a jumping castle, food stalls, other cool attractions and we even take time to train the sprouts how to play"
"I don't know, Monday's are pretty busy for me with work and taking Theo to kinder, I just don't have the time"
"Right.." Dylan cleared his throat, placing his mug on the coffee table
"Your upset" Kate shifted forward placing her own next to his
"A little yeah"
"I'm sorry, it's just the way things are right now"
"I know"
"Theo's into this routine now and disrupting that.."
"It's fine"
"Dylan.." she reached out placing a hand on his thigh
"You don't need to explain, it's not as if this has a label stating you have to come to my games" he patted her hand before removing it and moving to stand
"You're leaving?"
"I haven't been home for a few days and I kinda have a cat that needs feeding, can't always rely on my eighty-seven-year-old neighbour"
"You have a cat?" she raised an eyebrow
"I'll call you" he ignored her question
"Please don't be mad.."
"I'm not I promise, I just kinda miss my bed your pillows are way too hard"
"Seriously?"
"Seriously" he nodded, leaning down he placed a kiss on her cheek "I'll see you whenever you decide to make time" he forced a smile, moving back he walked towards the front door
"Dylan!" Kate called after him getting no answer but the sound of a door closing.
Arising from the couch Kate ran a hand through her hair in annoyance, part of her annoyed at him and the other part at herself for the way she acted.
Looking across at the couch her eyes caught something that was tucked near the foot of the coffee table, taking a few steps forward she reached down for what seemed to be a bag.
Using her free hand to take out the piece of red fabric that was rolled up she dropped the bag onto the couch,
unravelling the fabric she held it up with two hands her's eyes widening when she saw the number '25' on the back along with 'Mulholland' looking at the size of it she knew it couldn't be a woman's then with a sharp pain to the heart it hit her,
the jersey was Dylan's and the reason he was asking her to his game was because he wanted her to wear his jersey to become his exclusively.
He was right they hadn't put a label on what they were between the sex and Mike's drama neither one of them had, had the opportunity to sit down and discuss what was going on between them.
Scrunching up the jersey she lifted it to her nose and inhaled a small tear falling down her cheek when she was met with the scent that was distinctly him.
Sitting on the edge of the coffee table to took in a deep breath, jumping slightly when a hand came to tap her shoulder,
"You should be asleep" she placed the jersey next to her, her hands wrapping around Theo pilling him into her lap
"Are you okay Mummy?" he gave her a concerned look
"Yeah baby I'm fine"
"Nana Flynn says that when you cry small fairies come and collect your tears"
"Is that right?"
"She said they take them to water their garden"
"Did she really tell you that?"
"No" Theo giggled "Emma at Kinder told me when I asked her why she was crying, but it made you smile so.."
"You're a true kind of special munchkin" Kate smiled running a finger down his nose
"Are you and Dylan breaking up?"
"Baby Dylan an I we're not.."
"But you kiss"
"Sometimes people kiss"
"Does that mean I can kiss Emma?"
"Ah no, you mister have to wait until your at least eighteen"
"But that's ages away!" he groaned in protest when Kate stood with him in his arms
"Exactly, I'm not ready for my little munchkin to be kissing girls"
"But I still can kiss you though right?"
"Of course"
"Good!" he planted a big sloppy kiss on her cheek, leaving behind a wet spot grinning widely at his Mother when he pulled back
"Let's get you back to bed Munchkin" she laughed while walking towards the hall
"Can I sleep with you?"
"Just this once, then it's back to your own bed tomorrow" she continued past Theo's room and entered her own.
...
Sitting on his back patio Dylan lifted the beer to his lips while overlooking the rolling hills, his house was situated on the outskirts of town and he'd had it build when he'd first been drafted into the AFL.
6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a pool, big backyard with enough room to play footy and a man cave in the newly refurbished pool house, even his cat Jinx had her own special room at the back of the laundry with a kitty door where she come and go as she pleased.
Swallowing his mouthful of beer he placed the now empty bottle of the table "It was practically like she was telling me this meant nothing" he said through the silence
"Ah mate, your overthinking it" Jerry his Eighty-seven-year-old neighbour replied from his spot in the other patio chair
"Am I? you didn't see the look in her eyes Jerry, it was like the look of defences going up"
"You got to give her time"
"I thought we'd come along way, finally starting to trust one another give into those feelings that have been there since the day I met her"
"This girl has had a rough life Dyl, her boyfriend getting killed, her ex cheating on her, having to raise her son as a single Mum it can't be easy on her, hell it wouldn't be easy on anyone"
"I'm not like her Ex, I'm not going to break her"
"And I'm sure she knows that but you gotta remember she isn't like those AFL girls your used to banging and never seeing again"
"I know that.."
"I'm not finished" Jerry held his hand up "you younglings have no respect for your elders"
"Sorry" Dylan gave a sad smile
"As I was saying, Kate's an independent woman she's being all this alone since her ex left what if she's just afraid to get to close because she's worried her heart can't take another beating? Or what if the real reason she said no is because her schedule is actually super busy and that you took it as a rejection because your just as scared"
"I.."
"Because you're in love with this woman and that scares you to death more then anything else"
"Sometimes I really hate that you know me so well" Dylan looked across at him just as Jinx came out through her kitty door
"No you don't" he laughed pushing himself up to stand he grabbed his walking stick "Jinx has been fed and now I'm gonna head home for a feed of my own"
"Thanks Jerry"
"Anytime, I'll see you later" he walked past him towards the back gate that was split between their properties.
When he was alone Jinx jumping up and onto his lap "Hi girl" Dylan scratched behind her ear getting a soft purr in reply,
holding her in his arms he arose from his chair and made his way along the grass towards the Pool house at the end of the yard, Jinx holding onto his shoulder tightly with her claws.