Chapter 6
Amanda peeked out of her bedroom door and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Olivia's door shut. She walked into the kitchen and was surprised, "Morning! I figured I would run with you this morning." Amanda smiled that fake smile. "I made you a smoothie and figured when we were done, we could shower and grab breakfast." Amanda shook off the feeling of being in a shower with her. Amanda knew she didn't have a chance. Her and Olivia were total opposites.
Amanda sat and looked at her smoothie, "It's green." Olivia pushed it closer, "It's healthy. You like to run so I thought health was important to you. I'm taking chances here because you don't tell me much." Amanda thought if Olivia only knew how unhealthy she was. Amanda smiled again and took a sip. "Ummm, what's in it?" Olivia smirked, "Healthy stuff." Olivia finished her whole smoothie and sat across from Amanda waiting. "I'm glad you're staying. Can I ask you something?"
Amanda drank and shook her head, "Why do smile, when you don't want to? Why do you continue to drink that when it's absolutely disgusting? When are you going to be honest with me about everything?" Olivia waited and she observed Amanda's behavior. She wasn't going to string her along and act like she didn't know. Amanda needed to make a decision. This was a new place and a new start, maybe she should do something new.
Amanda answered all of her questions but never looked at her. "I guess I smile, to keep from saying how I feel. I keep drinking this because you scare me a little and no one scares me. And I'm not ready to be honest." She saw Olivia get up, take her glass, and wash it. "Ok! Let's run." Olivia got what she needed so she wasn't going to push just yet. She had a feeling that answering those 3 questions was a lot for Amanda.
They headed to the gym. "Don't let me slow you down. I'm an old woman, remember." Amanda laughed, "In that body, yeah right!" Olivia raised her eyebrow and saw Amanda's real smile, until she realized what she said. Amanda ran hard. Olivia kept up with her, it wasn't like she wasn't used to it. She had worked her way back from Noah. "Liv, you run? Why didn't you say something?" Olivia laughed as she hit the elevator button, "I ran to get back in shape. I have a 3 month old you know. But I didn't tell you because I absolutely hate running. But if you love it, I can run with you."
Olivia opened the door and saw Lucy, "Ummm where are you going? We're headed to breakfast and you're never up early on the weekends, I don't have Noah." Lucy was nervous, "I have a breakfast date." Olivia stopped her, "The waiter that gave you his number last night? Luce, that's fast." Amanda shook her head watching. "He goes to my school and his name is Dominick Carisi. He's studying to be a lawyer. I've talked to him before." Olivia shook her head, "Ok. Have fun and be safe." Lucy hugged her, "Yes mom!" Olivia yelled, "I should beat your butt." Amanda looked up at that comment.
They took a shower separately of course and went to breakfast. "This is my favorite cafe. What are you going to have?" Amanda looked at the menu, "I'll have the blueberry pancakes." Olivia ordered the Belgium waffle. Amanda ate everything, "Hmmm I found something you like. I make decent pancakes." Olivia reached for her wallet, "Ohhhh I can get mine." Olivia snatched the bill, "Not a chance." She paid for their meal. "So, I'm baby free this weekend. What do you want to do?"
Amanda sighed, "I think I should look for an apartment." Olivia thought that was a rush, "I know you're staying, but I'm not kicking you out or anything. You can also look for apartments online at any time. It's the weekend Amanda. I meant doing something fun." Amanda didn't have fun, not even in Atlanta. Plus her idea of fun would totally scare Olivia.
They left and Olivia thought it would be fun to walk and check out some sightseeing. "What about your stuff in Atlanta?" Amanda's eyes were wide looking at the big city. "I don't have anything." Olivia grabbed her arm, "What do you mean, you don't have anything?" Amanda tried to change the subject, "Can we go to this store?" They went to the store and they both picked up a few things. Olivia waited but she would get the answer to her question.
Olivia thought Amanda was cute. She had never been on the subway or in a taxi cab. She took pictures on her cell phone. Olivia got Chinese take out for the three of them. They walked in and since the light was on she knew Lucy was home. "Luce, I've got dinner!" She came running like a kid. "Hey!" Amanda smiled, "How was the date?" Lucy smiled wide and Olivia laughed, "That good huh!" Olivia kissed her head, "Do we need to talk about birth control? I think Noah is enough."
Lucy rolled her eyes, "Oh gosh. Not yet." Olivia sat down, "Ok let me know." They enjoyed dinner and like a teenager Lucy disappeared. Amanda did the dishes, while Olivia put up the leftovers. "You two have a nice relationship." Olivia shook her head, "David and her father are best friends. I've known her for a while. Her mother died when she was 16 and she had to pick up and go live with her dad and stepmom." Amanda knew, "Ohhhh the evil stepmother?" Olivia shrugged, "Yeah something like that."
They sat on the couch. "I had to go on bed rest and David wanted someone with me, so I got Lucy. She's young, but so responsible. I offered her a job with Noah and to live here. When she's finished with school, Noah can go to daycare. We have a plan."
Olivia reached over and grabbed a box, "I have something for you." Amanda opened the box and saw a New York keychain with a key. "You don't have to leave right away. I want you to take your time, get to know the city, and find a place you like. No rush. I also wanted you to have a key to come and go as you please. You don't have to be scared of me. You're young, but you're not my kid. I will worry about you because New York is not Atlanta." Amanda smiled a real smile, "Thanks Liv." Olivia rubbed her back and watched Amanda's face change, "Now, what do you mean you don't have anything in Atlanta?"
Amanda turned to see her waiting. "You've held that question all day?" Olivia shook her head, "My parents and sister were my only family and they're all dead. Whether I got the job here or not. I wasn't going back. I sold all my stuff, which wasn't much anyway and gave up my apartment." Amanda looked at Olivia. "Wow you said a lot. Ok, well even more reason to stay. You can't just get an apartment with nothing to put in it."
Amanda waited until everyone was in their bed and at 9:45 she snuck out. She felt like a kid doing something wrong, but she needed this. She called for a cab and took it to this club. The club was underground and she paid big to get in. It had a bar and gambling. Amanda looked but she knew better. As a cop it was totally wrong. She wasn't going to gamble like in Atlanta, but these clubs were good places to meet people. She ordered a shot and downed it just as the guy next to her winked. He moved closer. "I'm Nate Davis." Amanda smirked, "Ok."
He smiled, "Usually if I give someone my name, they give me their name back." Amanda figured she would be honest, "I'm only here for a drink and a hard fuck." Nate smirked and Amanda called for a second shot. "I have my own drink, so if you can't help me with the other thing, move on." Amanda felt like she hit rock bottom when he pulled her pants down in the abandoned building next door, but it didn't stop her. "Condom!"
She did what she always did, zoned out. She felt her back slamming against the brick and she laughed. Nate kept pounding, "Shit you're wild." He bent her down, over, and bent arm behind her. Amanda was hoping his fingers wouldn't leave a mark. When he was done and zipping up his pants. She patted his back, "Thanks Nate!" Nate held up his hands, "No name and number?" Amanda smiled, "Sorry, I don't do seconds."
When Amanda got in the elevator, she took her jacket off and looked at her back in the elevator mirror. "Shit, that's bad." She rolled up her sleeves and saw fingerprints beginning to bruise. She thought she was ok since it was October. She walked in the door at 11:12. It was dark and quiet and she smiled as she entered her room and turned on the light. "Ohhhh that's how we get a real smile out of Amanda Rollins." Amanda's smile left quickly.
She saw Olivia holding Noah and a crib. That's when she realized she was in the wrong room. "Liv, I just needed…" Olivia held up her hand, "You aren't my kid. However you are in his room. Did you drink that much? I gave you a key to come and go." Amanda bolted out of the room. Olivia was pissed when she realized Amanda snuck out. She thought giving her a key was an invitation to at least say, "I'm going out." She didn't want to run her away. Noah was asleep and Olivia put him in the crib.
She went to Amanda's room. "Amanda, David got a call so Noah is…" Olivia saw Amanda's arm, "Jesus! Your arm! Who did that?" Amanda knew Olivia wouldn't understand, it was her tone, the worry. She pulled away, "I'm good! Some drunk guy got a little out of control." Amanda looked at her face to see if she was buying it. Amanda couldn't read her, "So David got a call?"
Olivia didn't know what this was, but she knew her reaction was everything. She pretended to be normal. "Yeah Noah is here until morning, so I hope we don't have a screaming baby. He's usually good. I just didn't know if that sort of thing bothered you." Amanda smiled, "It's fine." Olivia pointed, "You're good? I don't have to go handle someone at the bar?" Amanda laughed, "I'm good! I promise." Olivia went to bed, but she was worried. Sunday was a lazy day and Olivia didn't push, but she watched her closely.
