A/N: Okay, not gonna lie - I forgot how much I love this chapter. The story's really getting going now and I hope you like it as much as I am pleased with it so far. As always, if you're reading this - let me know your thoughts. Also, I've just looked at the stats and am amazed with how many people have read this story so far so thank you, and come say hello please and tell me what you think :) P.S. Hope everyone is staying safe ... and in case you hadn't gathered, in this story the corona virus does not exist!

Chapter 6.

The pair had sobered up a little now as the cold Manhattan air had seeped through to their lungs. "So, how's your Mom?" Blake shifted her head towards him, displaying true care and concern through her complexion.

"She's doing great. She's taken up Yoga which she utterly adores." He chuckled softly at the thought, his eyes following his slow footsteps.

"Wow...I can totally see your Mom doing that!" They smiled in unison as Blake gathered a small stray hair from her face and placed it gently behind her ear.

"What about you - how's your family?" His words were almost endearing, they were so clearly full of compassion it struck a chord with her heart strings.

"All pretty good...it's so nice, Robyn's been staying with us for a few days, she left today but it's been amazing having her around." Blake's arms twitched ever so slightly, her movement almost unrecognisable, but, he noticed.

"Here.." he proceeded to remove his jacket from his broad shoulders and tentatively but firmly placed it over hers, his fingertips grazing her arms in the process. She shivered at the feeling, having his hands there felt so intimate.

"Thanks" she looked up at his deep brown eyes as they watched her closely. Their eyes began speaking a language of their own that neither of them dared translate.

"So tell me, how was Ryan after you told him about our various run ins? Did you have to endure days of silence?" he mocked.

She pondered, if he was asking her how Ryan had taken it that must mean that he told Domino? If he had, did that mean it had meant more to her than him? Stop overthinking Blake and answer the damn question.

"He….was fine. He was fine."

He looked at her. It was a simple look of sheer disbelief. "C'mon Blake, you really think I can't tell when you're lying?"

Why was it almost everything he had said to her tonight terrified her? Almost every sentence he had strung together had had some form of effect on her. She never would have imagined seeing him again would have affected her this way, she had really thought, really and truly thought, he wasn't the one.

"I guess I forgot you could do that" she murmured nonchalantly. She sighed. All evening they'd been playing with fire, overstepping lines and blurring physical boundaries. But now was the time for some clarity, some potentially life shattering clarity. Words not hidden behind sexual innuendo or playful banter. This was the cold hard truth.

"I….I didn't tell him. Or at least, I didn't tell him about the first time. I just...didn't. Then about last week, James told Ryan we'd ran into someone I knew, he wanted to know who it was...it was all...downhill from there."

"Uh, wow Blake." the reality was sinking in. This wasn't a small thing they were doing. The fact she hadn't told him actually meant something and he'd be lying if he said deep down he didn't want it to. He scratched his head in confusion "That's um…" he was struggling to contemplate the new found knowledge that his ex girlfriend had not once, but twice chosen to not tell her husband she'd seen him. That was a problem. "...Why?"

Such a simple word but it demanded such an unsimple answer.

"Because…" she took a deep breath, inhaling a concoction of air and courage "...I didn't know how he would react and I didn't want him to get mad over something that didn't really matter." Her eyes were still plastered to the city streets, she daren't look into his eyes for fear they would have judgement written all over them.

"Yeah but Blake, lying to your husband about seeing your ex boyfriend...I mean, I'm not meaning to judge but….I just can't help but feel if it didn't mean anything to you at all, you would have told him."

Blake chewed her lips as her fingers played with the silk of her dress.

He gave up waiting for a response "Or at least...did you tell him about tonight?" he looked over at her, his chocolate brown eyes were piercing, roaming the lines of her face for some kind of response, some kind of explanation.

Suddenly she felt the desperate need for more alcohol. Some sort of dutch courage to get her through this conversation.

She looked at him, their eyes met for the second time since they'd stepped outside and their feet slowly ground to a halt. Her eyes were seeking sympathy and understanding, they were almost apologetic. "I…." she hesitated, her parted lips came together in an almost guilt stricken pout. "No." she shook her head. "No, I didn't."

"God Blake" he was shaking his head too but not for the same reason. He let a quiet tut escape from his lips as he ran the palm of his hand through his thick brown hair. "I can't believe you didn't tell him."

She didn't appreciate the look he had on his face and her apologetic expression was soon turning into one of anger. "Hey, I don't appreciate you looking at me like that and judging me. Just because I didn't tell my husband about all this doesn't mean there's something going on between us."

Each time she spoke he found himself feeling even more irritated. "Trust me, I know, that's why it doesn't make any sense to me. I mean, I told Domino and she was fine."

"Well good for you!" Blake was getting hot under the collar, causing a hint of sarcasm to run through her lips.

"Look Blake, there's no need to be sarcastic. I just don't want you...you know. Thinking things you shouldn't."

"Like what?" He had angered her now and she was ready for a fight.

He gazed at her, his eyes telling her to drop this game she seemed to have started to play.

"Like what Penn, what would I think?" she was inquisitive and she wasn't letting this go unresolved.

He was exasperated at this point. He looked down to the pavement below him and twitched his feet as he contemplated his response. "Like nothing, Blake."

Air darted out of her nose, she was unimpressed and starting to feel manipulated.

"Like nothing? I think what you really mean is you don't want me getting the wrong idea that…" her words got caught in her throat. How did they end up here? "Something is going on between us." her eyes darted away from his reluctantly as she began biting her lip, nerves erupting in her stomach.

"Look, we had fun tonight, I'm not gonna insult your intelligence by disputing that but, that's it. I'm married. You're married. We're both happy. I don't know why you're pressing this." His eyes and eyebrows convulsed in unison as he spoke.

"That's it." She really was unimpressed. "Okay so if that's it then why did you say that clock had sentimental value?" Her eyes were on his face, watching intently. Not afraid of the unknown, not afraid of avoidance or dismissal. She was drunk enough to persue this frankly, dangerous yet stupid discussion, but sober enough to reamain cool and not do anything foolish or irresponsible.

"Blake..." he was tired and you could see it in his face. He didn't want this conversation but neither did she, he was desperate to put their discussion to bed.

She wasn't backing down and her eyes searched his desperately. They were almost hopeful but he wasn't sure what exactly she was hoping for.

He sighed reluctantly and rubbed his face slowly with his left hand, pressing his fingers deep into his cheeks in frustration. Breaking their eye contact he responded, "we can't be talking about this, Blake. It's…" he sighed once more. "I think I should go."

Her eyes rolled slightly and she debated whether to press further or to let him go. He was probably right afterall. What good would talking about this do them? She knew whatever happened she was going back to her husband who she loved unconditionally, so maybe this was irrelevant. Maybe this night had been irrelevant.

"Yeah...you're probably right." Blake sounded despondent. She cautiously removed his jacket from her shoulders and stretched her arms out to pass it to him. "Keep it." He said spontaneously.

Her cold pink lips curved into what looked like a small smile, her head shook tentatively. "C'mon you know I can't."

He looked at her, grinning almost. "I know that...but, just until you get back to the building okay? Then...ditch it or something."

She smiled in response, her twinkling eyes trying to meet his. They locked eyes and in that moment her heartbeat quickened. Blood running fast through her veins. "Okay well it was...really great to see you, Penn." Her smile was soft, warm and almost broken.

"You too, Blake." He too was gazing back at her, his lips pursed forwards in an enticing grin.

Their words were resigned but their eyes were still latched onto that magic they still shared.

He gulped, saying goodbye to her had never been easy.

The lulling alcohol erupted inside her as she took one final daring step. She moved slowly towards him, reaching her arms out, asking him to meet her for an embrace.

His grin widened as he enveloped her around him. His large hands landed softly at the base of her back while hers made their way around his shoulder blades, engulfing herself in him in the process. Her chin rested firmly on his shoulder, her hair lying loosely next to his ear. She intended their hug to last only for a few seconds, 10 at absolute most but somehow, it didn't.

His right hand rested gently over his left while his thumb leisurely rubbed her lower back. She clutched onto him tightly as they swayed slowly in the street. He inhaled the scent of her hair, her perfume, her. Filling his nostrils he breathed deeply and he pushed her further into his grip. She tilted her head slightly so it was laying gently on his supporting shoulders. She ached to move her hands up from the muscles at the top of his back into his hair but her hands twitched in resistance. They stood there for what felt like an eternity, the enormity of the goodbye was overpowering and they couldn't break their hold on each other. Maybe they never had.