It's Friday night.
Ophelia has to go spend the weekend with David. As long as they've been doing this it just never gets easier. The apartment is way too quiet when she's not around. This weekend though would be the exception.
She was going on a date.
With a hot NYPD Captain who she might- might let get a taste of the vanilla lipgloss on her lips.
They talk often. Plenty of times at pick up when they both make it, and witty texts back and forth later in the night when both their girls are down for bed. Sometimes he'll call her just to ask about her day too. He really was her friend. And she thinks that's what she appreciates about him the most.
…
"Daddy says we're gonna go to a fancy dinner tomorrow with Gigi and I can get a new dress. Can you come too?" Olivia groans internally at her daughter's nickname for David's girlfriend Giselle. She's not a hypocrite. They both should definitely be moving on with life after the divorce. It's the fact that Giselle is his secretary he told her not to worry about.
Ophelia is innocent in all of this but she wishes her daughter hated her just little.
"I wish I could but I have plans with Elliot remember?" She zips up the overnight bag she's packed with only her favorite blanket and stuffed animal since she thankfully has everything at David's. She rightfully should since it's the house she grew up in for four years. "But I want you to tell me all about it when you get back on Sunday," she holds her arms out for Ophelia to leave her spot she played on the ground and come over to her. She crawled up into her arms and Olivia snuggled her close, inhaling her scent deeply like mothers do and kissed the top of her head. It was always the longest two sleeps of her life when her baby was gone.
"I'm gonna miss you so much!" She hugs her close and squeezes her just a bit before they're interrupted by the buzzer of her door. "That must be daddy. Go get your shoes on," she places her back on her feet and goes to answer. It's been weeks since she last saw David and as long as it's been it's still hard to be face to face with him. They're civil for Ophelia but he somehow manages to sneak in a snarky remark towards her every time.
"Hey," she swings the door open and is surprised to see him in a pair of jeans instead of his usual slacks. "She's just putting her shoes on. She just learned to tie them so it'll take a minute," she laughs a bit and abandons the door to let him in.
"She's growing up so fast. I feel like I blink and I miss so much."
That and the fact you only see her every two weeks, she thinks but bites her tongue as she goes to take a seat on her sectional.
He closed the front door and moved to stand in her living room refusing to sit down. God forbid they act like two civil adults attempting to coparent.
"How is school going? She adjusting okay?"
"She's thriving," she takes a seat on her sofa with her feet tucked underneath her. "You know David, it would be helpful if you'd take her some mornings or pick her up. She misses you," she adds in. The last thing she wants to do is argue with their daughter down the hall but it's now or never. She can barely get in touch with him as it is.
"Don't start that shit Olivia," he shakes his head and laughs bitterly at her like she was a joke to him. She bites the inside of her cheek to hold back from saying something she's sure she'll regret.
"I'm not starting anything. I just wish you were more present in her life. You're her father for god's sake," her voice betrays her and cracks.
"I'm trying my best but in order for me to support you both I've gotta put in the work. How do you think this apartment gets paid for? Her school? Those overpriced ballet classes you take her to?" He stands across the room running his hand over his face as if he's the one suffering.
"You think any of that matters? Money can't buy love. It can't give your daughter back the time she's missed with you," she has to look away when she feels a tear find its way down her cheek. "She just wants to see her daddy more than a few times a month is all I'm asking. You can't just-"
"DAAAADDDDY!" Opie comes in like a breath of fresh air to clear the debris floating around the room. She's got her backpack on and her favorite stuffed animal in her arms as she runs to her father. Olivia is quick to look away to clear the tears on her face. Ophelia hasn't hardly seen her upset over the divorce and there's no use in starting now.
"Hi baby!" David turns it on for their daughter too. It's painful to see because she realizes one day Ophelia is gonna grow up and understand just how unhappy her parents actually were. But for now- they'll fake it if it means keeping her happy.
She runs into his arms and he's quick to scoop her up and squeeze her tight. The brightest laugh escapes her and it almost makes Olivia cry all over again. God she's gonna miss her this weekend but she needs this time with her father. No matter how big of an asshole she might think he is.
"Gigi went to the store and was thinking maybe you could make some cookies tonight. What do you think about that?" Olivia cringed inside at the thought of another woman spending time with her baby. But she has to play fair.
"Let's go!" She wiggled from his arms and ran to her mother to kiss her goodbye. "Bye mommy!" Olivia picks her up into her lap and holds her close. It's only two nights but she's not sure she can take the quiet that long.
"I love you," she floods her face with kisses like she always does and sends her off with David. She watches until they disappear into the elevator and closes the door behind her to disappear into the kitchen and pour herself a tall glass of wine.
She needs it.
…
Be ready at 7.
It was the message Elliot had sent her this morning.
He hadn't told her where exactly they were going but she was assuming somewhat of a nice dinner. It was their first date so she wanted to make a better impression than the denim shorts and T-shirt she wore to the park last weekend. She already knew he had an impressive collection of suits based on the attire he wore during the weekday alone. She had quite the expectation to live up to. Lucky for her she had a few dresses she kept in her wardrobe for those just in case moments.
She had decided on a navy chiffon wrap dress with a hue of floral print all over it. It was casual enough for dinner and sexy enough as it displayed the right amount of cleavage. She paired it with a pair of nude pumps and a matching high end bag she had splurged on after the divorce. It all flowed perfectly.
She sprayed perfume behind each ear and on her wrists before touching up her lips. It was exactly seven when she heard a knock on her door. She appreciated his promptness because she doesn't think her nerves could've waited around much longer. They were good nerves. She was excited to see him with no distractions tonight.
On the other side of the door he heard her heels clicking against the same wood floor that lined his apartment a few floors down and felt his mouth drop to the floor when the door swung open. She was incredibly breathtaking. He hadn't felt this way when he looked at another since….he takes a deep breath hoping to control the familiar stirring in his belly. Control yourself. He clears his throat and manages to place one foot in front of the other as he steps into her apartment.
"You look amazing," he chokes out and suddenly it's a challenge to keep his hands to himself. She's blushing and casts her eyes downward as the biggest grin spreads across her face. Olivia knew this dress would have him squirming a little but Elliot had become a blubbering idiot. She fights the urge to giggle and looks up at him.
"You look…underdressed. Are we not going to dinner?" Elliot sported a pair of dark denim and a fitted black v neck- a huge contrast to the dress she wore.
"I was thinking that bowling would be more fun and now that I know the view I'll see when you bend over to throw the ball-"
"Oh no, I'm changing," she tried to pivot but he managed to grab ahold of her hand before she could walk away.
"C'mon Liv, you look unbelievable. There's enough give in this dress for you to still kick my ass without the bumpers," he tries for humor and it makes her smile. Her thumb brushes against the back of his hand and she steps closer to him to close the distance.
"Fine," she stands a few inches from his face and looks into his sparkling blues. "But I plan the next date," her comment makes his unruly eyebrows raise and if she wasn't so keen on making him wait she would kiss him right now.
"The next date?" He pulls her even closer and she almost goes cross eyed trying to keep eye contact with him.
"Yeah- and I'll make sure that dress unzips a whole lot easier than this one," her three date rule is out the window fast as she feels her body warm at his proximity. There was no way she would be lasting until then.
….
The bowling alley is busy as ever for a Saturday night in the heart of Manhattan. The music rumbles the entire building and as she looks around she's starting to think they're a little too old for this place. Young adults surround them in outfits that are clearly for the clubs after and she feels old in her knee length dress.
She sipped on her drink and tried to shake the feeling- instead looking over at her hot date who was kicking her ass. She's starting to think bowling was less about watching her backside and more about him impressing her with his skill.
He's effortless as he tossed the ball and knocked over 11 pins, leaving one right in the middle. They both screamed at the tricky position and she watched as he focused a few feet away from the lane. Okay, maybe she was the one getting a gorgeous view. She didn't ever think of herself as a woman who liked a nice ass on a man but goddamn. Maybe she was.
"You are kicking my ass right now," she looked up at their scores on the screen. He was beating her by over 40 points already. "You only wanted to bowl to show off," she playfully rolled her eyes at him but her breath catches when he stalks towards her instead of grabbing his second ball.
"How about," he reaches his hand out for her to hold. She grabs onto it and follows him onto the platform. He grabs a light ball with her in mind and uses his free hand to grab onto her hip. She's moved in front of him and feels him breathe against her neck before he mutters "..you throw my second ball for me then," the ball is placed in her hands and she feels his other hand join her hips. "That way you get a chance to catch up," she swears she feels him almost turn to place a kiss to her neck but he refrains, opting for a sigh full of restraint. "You got it," he taps her hip and moves out of her way. She laughs before completely ruining his streak and aiming right for the gutter.
"You didn't think I was gonna let you seduce me into giving another point, did you?" She laughed again and he couldn't help but do the same. The worry about whoever was around them slips away.
Yeah, bowling had been the perfect date.
….
"Please tell me you're joking!" She laughs until there's almost tears in her eyes. They hung back at the bar inside the bowling alley to have one more drink before heading out.
"I wish I was," he's laughing with her until that familiar burn in his tummy starts. Elliot had told her his attempt to give Katie a ponytail with the vacuum just like the internet had shown him. And how terribly wrong it went. "It took her a week to let me touch her hair again," she laughs some more and he watches her in amusement. It's good to see her let loose finally.
"Oh poor baby," she shakes her head and dabs her eye with a cocktail napkin.
"We're strictly pony and pigtails now. I'm still trying to master the braid."
"I'll have to teach you," she takes a sip of her beer and peers over her cup at him trying to hide the stupid smile on her face. There's something about him being a father that cares so deeply for his little girl.
"I'll be betting on that. She'll need them for soccer in the spring."
He stares for a moment- unforgiving as he drinks in her beauty. She's gotten all dressed up for him. His mind reels at the thought that she picked this out just for his eyes only.
"You done?" She calls him out but he doesn't budge. Not an ounce of redness reaches his cheeks.
"Not really," he bites back. "How about a nightcap at my house?"
"Elliot, I'm not sleeping with you on the first date," she retorts.
"I don't want you to," he defends himself. "I just wanna spend some time with you. Is that alright?" His hand reaches for her knee and gives it a light squeeze.
"Yeah," she breathes realizing she had been holding her breath. "I'm sorry I just-"
"I know. Me too," he doesn't need her to finish her thought because he feels the same way. As much as they've agreed to take things slow, so much is moving fast between them. But what terrifies him the most is how he isn't scared off by it.
"You know I thought it would just be me and Ophelia for a while but I'm starting to feel different lately," her face becomes wistful as she looks over at him. "I'm almost positive David moved on long before he asked for a divorce. It's left me feeling like…I just- I just wasn't worth it. But with you it's…" she's nervous to say it out loud. "Just promise you won't hurt me," she confesses in the middle of this bar to him. This is only their first date but it feels like the hundredth. Everything between them moves effortlessly. She feels like she's known him- loved him many a year. And no, she's not in love with him. That would be an irrational feeling this soon but it's the love she has for him.
In two weeks time he's been a friend to her. A good one at that. She doesn't think they met for just any reason. Two single parents with unpredictable work schedules. They've barely got time for themselves let alone friends but they're making it work.
"I'd be a dead man before I ever let that happen," he reaches into his back pocket to pull out his wallet and throws money onto the counter. "Let's get out of here," he grabbed her purse for her and helped her step down from the barstool. Eager for the secludedness behind his apartment walls.
….
A nightcap.
She hasn't done one of these in god knows how long. Her stomach is full of flutters as they cross the threshold into his apartment. She's a little tipsy as she stumbles a little into his living room, but not drunk just yet. The few beers from the bowling alley had her feeling good and ready for this alone time with Elliot.
He turned on the side lamp next to his sofa and illuminated the room in a soft glow. His place is exactly what she thought it would be. The apartment is masked in masculinity with its dark wood theme and chocolate brown sofa, but with soft touches that evidence he's a father. Pictures of him and Katie in picture frames decorate the end tables along with a few of them with an older lady she assumes is his mother, Bernie. A few of her toys scattered across the room and she noticed a few of her drawings hanging on the fridge to her left.
Elliot grabbed a hold of her hand and led her further into the apartment towards the kitchen. She kicked off her heels and hopped onto the counter while he went on a search in the fridge for another beer but he only grabbed one. She watched him carefully as he moved over to the cabinet next to the fridge and grabbed a wine glass. Next, he grabbed a dark bottle from the wine rack that's nearly full and returned to the island next to her.
"I snooped through the small collection that's in your kitchen and noticed all the red wine you have so I stopped to grab you some," all she can do is sigh with a look of utmost contentment on her face. He continues to surprise her every time she sees him. "This is a lighter 2008 Sangiovese, it's a grape found in Southern Italy," an slight accent rolls off his tongue at the pronunciation of the wine and it makes her reel.
"This is the one time I'm okay with snooping," she takes a look at the wine for herself and is completely satisfied. "Lo adoro," the words roll off her tongue easily. It surprises not only him but her as well. It's not often she gets to use her multilingual skills outside of Spanish. And years since she had even stepped foot on the continent of Europe.
"You speak Italian?" He pops the top of the wine and pours a short glass for her to start. Elliot takes a sip before handing the glass to her and she hums when she tries a taste for herself. It's perfectly room temperature and sweet in her mouth.
"I dabble in it," she finally answers him. Just when he thinks he's got her figured out she surprises him even more. "You?"
"I lived there for a few years," he twists the top off his beer. "Sei bello," he moves to stand between her thighs to test the boundary. He's a perfect fit. She welcomes him by widening her legs to bring him closer. Her wine is soon abandoned on the counter so she can wrap her arms softly around his neck. Her fingers play along the nap of his neck. His body warms at her touch and feels like this is where they've belonged all along. He's bold again in his movements and drops his beer besides her wine glass to caress the curve of her hip. His hands have been aching all night to feel the softness of her filling his palms.
Slow
He reminds himself as he fights the urge to pull her closer to the edge of the counter. He's had to stare at her all night in this goddamn dress and be a gentleman the entire time. But now he's got her all to himself in the privacy of his home and he plans on tasting the wine on her lips.
"Olivia," he breathes and rests his forehead against hers. With every breath he releases it feels like she takes even more from him. One hand on his hip and the other reaches to caress her neck and finally get the tips of his fingers tangled into the roots of her hair. His thumbs swipes below her bottom lip begging for permission and she hums her approval, tilting her head up to meet him halfway.
His lips finally get a taste of hers as his slow burn kisses turn hasty. The sound of their lips smacking against one another echo in the silence of the apartment. His tongue finally penetrated her mouth and the sweetness of the wine left on her invites him to kiss her deeper. Her hands release their hold around his neck and move to his hips, pulling on his belt loops to bring him closer and help move her body closer to the edge of the counter.
His mouth on her feels so fucking good and she wishes they could spend the entire night like this. Hell she might just let him. The couch is so close yet so far away but she aches to move and get herself underneath him.
"This okay?" He pulls away and sighs lightly against her lips. She nods slightly and he continues little pecks at the corner of her mouth, down her jawline, and on her neck.
"Couch," she purrs and a groan leaves his mouth.
"Olivia," he says her name again with a struggle mangled behind his throat. There's no way he's maintaining any sense of control if they leave this countertop. "You know that's not a good idea," he pulls away to look at her. Both hands return to her hips and his fingers play with the fabric there. He wants more but he wants to earn it, work for it. Prove to her that he's not here to hurt her the way David did.
"Let's finish our drinks and maybe order some dessert, put on some shit tv and see where the night takes us. If that's okay with you?" He wraps a hand around her chin and brings her lips back to his to give her reassurance it wasn't rejection but an amazing invitation to take things slow. They deserved this and he didn't wanna fuck it up anytime soon.
"I like the sound of that too," she kisses him again.
"Good…good. Now let's get you into some sweats," he helps her hop down.
"What makes you think I don't want to get my own upstairs?" her eyebrow raises at him. She just can't help herself.
"Humor me a little? And plus you'll look so much better in mines. We can match," he grabs a hold of her hand and leads her to his bedroom. She laughs and indulges in him a little by taking him up on his offer.
They both deserve a little fun.
And a few more extra kisses tonight too.
