Okay, here's chapter 3! Let me know your thoughts!
It hadn't taken long for Harvey and Mike to finish up with the hot tub preparations. It was almost 5pm and according to the manual, it would take another 2 hours to reach the optimum temperature.
"I hope you're going to shower before we get in the hot tub" Mike was only half joking as he looked towards Harvey. "You're sweating so bad" he added, mocking disgust.
Harvey looked down at his t-shirt to see it was clinging to his frame. "That's because I've done all of the hard work" he responded, throwing Mike a quick sarcastic smile as he handed him his bottle of beer in order to free himself from his sweat covered t-shirt. He ran the fabric over his face to remove the excess sweat from his forehead. In his defence, he had been throwing heavy logs into a hot tub burner all afternoon and the sun hadn't stopped shining all day. Mike eyed the actions of his best friend.
"You keep that hidden, don't you?" Mike laughs, beer bottle angling towards his bare torso to point out the toned chest and stomach.
That made Harvey laugh out loud. "Well I can't walk around half naked at work, Mike. I'm not sure a judge would appreciate that in court" he shook his hand, taking the bottle back from Mike and placing the t-shirt over his right shoulder "Well, not all of them" he joked.
"Wait, you haven't actually slept with a judge before, have you?"
"I decline to answer" Harvey winked, enjoying the questioning look on his friend's face. He turned on his heels and started to head inside. "Come on. I need that shower and I'm so hungry". Mike followed with no objections; he was hungry too. As they entered through the cabin doors, the smell of cooking enticed their senses, a rich tomato smell that felt homely and cosy. Mike was the first to spot the women, backs turned to them, leaning over the stove, chatting and giggling away about a recipe Rachel had learned from her grandmother. Mike smiled at the sight of the pair, clearly, they'd already had a few wines, he loved drunk Rachel, and was quite excited to see a drunk Donna.
"Don't let us interrupt" Mike spoke loud enough to grab their attention, walking over to where they were standing and leaving Harvey behind at the dining table. Both women turned around simultaneously. Mike greeted Rachel with a soft kiss to the cheek and then peered over her shoulder.
"Spaghetti Bolognese?" he asked, arms circling the waist of his fiancée.
"You betcha" Rachel said, sparkling eyes staring back up at him. Donna silently watched the exchange and she couldn't shake the feeling of jealousy. She longed for someone to look at her that way, to hold her that close. Someone to love her as equally as she loved them, and as if on cue, Harvey clears his throat. She didn't notice he was there. Donna looks up, eyes widening at the sight of his bare, muscular body, hazel eyes glued to his toned physique, not once looking at his face. Clearly he'd been working out, a lot. She'd seen his body only a few times before, once to check a mole on his back years ago, and obviously there was the other time. But she had to admit, although he had always worked out and looked good, he had never looked this good. Heart racing and palms sweating she looks away quickly, praying he hadn't just noticed the way she had looked at him.
He did notice.
And now his heart was racing too, his lips threatening to form a smirk, instead he speaks shyly, "I'm just going to jump in the shower before dinner" and with that he turns and leaves. No one speaks for a while. They all stand in silence, Donna fiddling with a loose thread of the tea-towel in her hand, Mike and Rachel stood shoulder to shoulder. They hear the lock of the bathroom door, followed by the noise of the water hitting the tiles in the shower and Mike breaks the silence.
"Looks good, doesn't he?" he dares, cocky grin aimed at Donna.
She turns to him, instantly swatting him on the arm with the tea-towel. "Shut up, Mike" she retorts. And he does, satisfied enough with his comment. He was their biggest fan and had been rooting for them since day one. He wasn't about to stop the teasing now.
Xxxxxxxxxxx
The dinner hadn't been as awkward as Donna and Harvey had imagined it would be. Although they were seated across from each other and it was the first time they'd been so close in over a week, they were joined by Mike and Rachel, who luckily for them, had lots to tell them. Harvey and Donna allowed their best friends to do all of the talking, mostly about their plans for Seattle and showing them photos of their new house. It sounded great, Donna thought as she took in every word her friends said. She was excited for them. Harvey, however, was a little distracted. He was interested in what Mike and Rachel were saying, but if he were being completely honest, he didn't have much interest for houses or interior design, not like Donna did. And so he often found himself looking at her. Looking at the way her eyes creased at the corners when she laughed at something Mike said. He stole glances in her direction as she sipped on her wine, lips tentatively sitting on the rim of the glass. Lips that had graced his own not too long ago. Lips he could still feel pressed against his when he closed his eyes to sleep at night. He didn't quite understand his inability to forget how she felt and how she had tasted, and he was angry that he was clearly affected by this, more than he had initially thought. He silently cursed himself for letting things get so far, disappointed that he was unable to bring himself to speak to her, joke with her, comment on her inability to pick up spaghetti with a fork. It was cute, he thought, the way she fought with the spaghetti to remain on her fork, the way she had silently admitted defeat and collected a spoon from the kitchen, without informing anyone of her struggle. They finished up their dinner, and Harvey loaded the dishwasher as the other three continued a conversation about the typical weather in Seattle.
"So it rains all of the time" Donna states matter-of-factly, a hint of humour lacing her tone.
"Well not all of the time" Mike answered, "but most of the time" he finished quickly. Everyone laughed, including Harvey who was still in the kitchen trying to figure out how to start the dishwasher. Donna was watching him from the corner of her eye, and she wasn't sure if it was the wine or her own confidence that spurs her on, but before she has time to realise what she's doing, she's looking directly at him.
"You need to press the red button first" she says it softly, but it's loud enough for him to hear. Harvey registers the voice immediately, and without looking at her, follows the instruction. He clears his throat as he straightens up, the voice in his head shouting at him to say something, to do something. Anything.
"Thanks" he says, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. It was sincere and Donna knew it. Her heart warmed a little. Good, she thought. That's the first remotely positive interaction we've had for a while. Maybe we can move on. And she's trying not to get her hopes up, but she's watching him retake his seat across from her, and she sees him smile again in her direction, and yes, she's definitely got her hopes up. Maybe things would be okay.
Xxxxxxxxxxx
It was almost 7pm and Harvey and Mike had checked the temperature of the hot tub, changed into some swim shorts and caved into the temptation of the bubbling water whilst Donna and Rachel were inside somewhere. The hot tub was perfectly sized for 4 people, albeit likely to be cosy when at full capacity, but comfortable enough nonetheless. There were seats placed in the water at each corner of the sqaure tub, and along the top of the tub were four drinks holders. Perfect for the four of them. With a beer in hand, Mike and Harvey caught up on firm-related gossip, talking about Louis' latest antics and one of Harvey's upcoming cases, before settling into a brief silence. The sun had cast a warm orange glow over the countryside hills that surrounded them, and Harvey couldn't remember the last time he felt so relaxed. He appreciated the red hues that adorned the sky as the sun started to set and the fresh smell of grass from the surrounding fields. He knew this weekend away was going to be somewhat complicated, but Mike had been right about one thing, it was a good distraction from the stress of their jobs. Harvey loved his work, loved the hustle and bustle of the city, but there was something about the way he could clear his mind out in the countryside, breathing in clean air and taking in breath-taking views. He felt happy, for the first time since he had fought with Donna. Maybe it was partly because of his small exchange with Donna earlier. An exchange that warmed him inside and sparked potential for making-up. Harvey was lost in his own thoughts, staring out into the distance, when Mike had broken the silence.
"Huh?" Harvey said. He hadn't been paying attention, too isolated in his own mind.
"I said" Mike repeated, "I wonder what Rachel and Donna are up to. Probably asleep on the sofa because of the wine"
Harvey laughed. "I doubt it. Donna isn't much of a tired drunk. If anything, she gets a little giddy. She'll be keeping Rachel awake by rambling on about something" he smiled to himself then, recollecting the times he's been lucky enough to see Donna drunk, remembering how silly and uncharacteristically clumsy she becomes after one too many drinks. Donna doesn't let him mention any of her antics the day after the night before. In fact, it's become an unwritten rule that the pair of them don't mention anything that happened because they both knew it could be embarrassing, and they also knew the other had a story just as bad to seek revenge with. So they always kept their drunken tales a secret. Something shared between only the two of them. Mike doesn't miss the way Harvey's face lights up with familiarity when he speaks about Donna. The way he speaks about her like she's the only person to exist in his life.
Mike smiles into his beer as he takes a small drink. "God only knows what they're up to then".
Xxxxxxxxxxxx
"We have definitely had too much wine" Rachel exclaimed between fits of hysterical laughter.
"There's no such thing as too much wine, Rachel!" Donna mock scolded. Both girls were laid out on Donna's bed, both unable to recall what they were laughing at, but whatever it was, it just kept getting funnier. It had taken at least 10 minutes for them to calm down, both wiping away tears from their cheeks, letting out a chuckle every now and then until completely composed.
"We should really join those two in the hot tub, they'll be wondering where we are. I'm just going to go change now. I'll be a minute" Rachel said as she stumbled out of Donna's room, arm reaching out for the frame of the door for stability. She laughed at herself as she glanced over her shoulder to see Donna laughing at her. "Too. Much. Wine". She mouthed as she walked away. Donna rolled her eyes and smiled. She really was having the best time. After a moment with her thoughts, Donna decided to also change, and she searched her suitcase for her bikini. She had just finished tightening the straps around her neck when Rachel re-entered the room.
"Well look at you, you sexy lady. I know there'll be a certain someone struggling to peel his eyes away" Rachel said. Donna blushed slightly. She had purposely packed this for that reason, but Harvey wasn't single and she shouldn't be thinking this way, and shit, she was really confused.
"Rachel", Donna warned. Rachel held her hands up in fake surrender.
"Hey, don't shoot the messenger. I'm just saying what everyone else is going to be thinking later".
"He's with Paula, remember. Plus, he doesn't see me that way, never has, never will. I'm just his.. Well, I'm just Donna". She had tried to not sound disappointed but the look she receives from Rachel confirms that she didn't succeed. She tries again, this time more enthusiastically as she ties her hair up away from her face, "as long as I've impressed you, that's all I care about" she says with a wink, and Rachel laughs.
"Oh I'm impressed" Rachel laughs. She knows Harvey will be too, but Donna was right, he was with Paula. Rachel mentally noted then to stop making suggestive comments to her about Harvey. It couldn't be easy for Donna to hear now that he wasn't single, and she really did just want her friend to be happy.
"As am I" Donna adds, motioning to Rachel as she walked past, making an attempt to wolf-whistle but failing, "let's go!"
"Get the wine first!" Rachel called after her, only to be met with a raise of Donna's left arm, already carrying the said bottle of alcohol, "why would I even doubt you?" she adds quietly, with a slight shake of her head.
Xxxxxxxxxxxx
Fuck.
That's the first thing Harvey thought when he saw Donna emerge outside. Fuck. She looked incredible.
"Holy shit" Mike spoke quietly, possibly unintentionally. Holy shit indeed, Harvey thought.
"Have we missed anything?" Rachel asked as she climbed the stairs into the hot-tub, immediately appreciating the warmth of the water around the bottom of her legs. Donna wasn't far behind, hair tied in a messy bun at the top of her head, long pale legs starting to dip into the water.
"Not really. I was just about to start a drunken game of sex, marry, avoid with Harvey, considering he missed the game on the way here". Mike joked, earning a chuckle from Rachel and Donna as they recalled the game they played earlier.
"How old are you guys again?" Harvey remarked, a smirk spreading across his face. A smirk that did things to Donna. She cursed him mentally. Stop being so goddamn sexy.
"Harv, honestly it was hilarious. I think we spent half of the journey laughing at Donna saying she'd have sex wi-"
"Okay, Mike. Let's not start it again" Donna interrupted, half of her wanting to keep it from Harvey, and the other half wanting to have a break from laughing so hard today. She's sure the laughing was doing more for her physique than the yoga. Rachel was chuckling away between the pair of them, already thinking about the story.
Harvey glanced between the three of them before settling his eyes on Donna. She was radiating beauty. The colours of sky reflecting in a glow over her shoulders and her make-up free face, and in that moment, he forgot about everything. He forgot he was angry with her and he forgot about the tension that had been suffocating them both for a week. He was drunk though. Maybe it was the alcohol levels in his system increasing his confidence levels, or maybe it was the need he had for normality. For Harvey and Donna. But whatever it was, he found himself interjecting, involving himself in the group joke, looking straight into her eyes, "Okay now I have to know. You cannot leave me hanging with that"
Donna was surprised. Was he trying to be friends? Or was he just trying to make the weekend a little easier? She didn't care. She was happy he was finally speaking to her, hell, she was happy he could finally look at her. And if it meant it was just for the weekend, then so be it. "In my defence, the options I were given were terrib-" she started.
Mike interrupted her, unable to let her justify it. He found it hilarious and he wasn't going to let her explanations make it less comical. "Basically, she said she'd have sexy with Harold". And with that, all four of them burst out laughing. Donna glanced to her left to see Harvey was laughing too, an honest laugh that she had seen him express with few people. She relaxed. Things seemed normal anyway. She felt happy. The happiest she's felt in a long time.
"Yeah" she drew out the word a little for emphasis, "I'm never living that down, am I?"
Xxxxxxxxxxxx
One hour or so had passed and Harvey, Donna, Mike and Rachel had consumed more drinks than they could count, but were all having the best time. The dusky sky had fallen dark and the moon was now glowing above them, a slight chill was in the air.
"I still can't believe there was that much weed in there" Harvey laughed.
"And you hired me anyway" Mike hummed in response.
They were reminiscing on the day of Mike's interview during a round of questions. Mike had asked Harvey about one of the most unexpected days of his career, and he had responded with the moment the weed had escaped that briefcase.
"Worst decision I ever made" Harvey joked, earning him a splash from Mike and a laugh from the girls.
"Yeah yeah, whatever you say old man". Mike replied. "Hey, I've got an idea" the younger man added, "why don't we make this questions thing a little more exciting?"
"How?" Donna asked, genuine intrigue evident on her face.
"Well, why don't we take it in turns to ask someone a question. You either have to answer or down your entire drink. Including the wine, girls. You're not getting out of this. BUT" he emphasised, "we need to all agree now that we won't lie". The girls eyed Mike a little suspiciously, only to be met with a cheeky smile. They nodded in agreement.
"Fine" Harvey said, caving in to the desire of asking Mike an embarrassing question.
"Rachel. Shoot. You go first"
She nodded, taking a moment to process and think of a question. Her eyes scanned her three companions, torment etched across her face. Donna started to feel nervous. She knew Rachel was drunk and had been teasing her about Harvey all day. She was scared Rachel was going to spring a Harvey-related question on her and having to awkwardly answer or drink a rather large glass of red wine. Her heart rate started increasing rapidly, thumping against her delicate body as she heard the sound of her name from the mouth of her best friend.
"Donna" Rachel smirked. Oh shit, Donna thought, here we go. "what is your biggest turn on?"
Donna laughed, feigning annoyance at her friend. It wasn't going to be the easiest question, purely because it was a little awkward to answer but at least it wasn't Harvey-specific. "Straight in there with the personal questions" she blurted to Rachel, "no holding back" she laughed.
"Mike said it had to be exciting sooooo, out with it Miss Paulsen" Rachel teased.
Neck kisses, Harvey said inside his own head.
"Probably when they kiss my neck" she says confidently, but with a slight blush to her cheeks.
Harvey's eyes shot up. He was right. It had been over 10 years since the other time and he couldn't help but feel satisfied at knowing the answer. At knowing so confidently what turned her on, when no one else did. He remains silent, eyes ogling the beautiful redhead and her pink cheeks at the side of him. Why couldn't he stop himself from thinking about her today? Was it because he wasn't supposed to be, because he was supposed to be angry? Or was it because of that red bikini she was wearing so perfectly?
Mike laughed lightly, "interesting insight into the mysterious Donna Paulsen there" he says. They all laugh.
"Mysterious?" Donna repeats. "I like it". She finishes with a smirk. "Okay. My turn to ask, who will it be?" she teases, her finger moving slowly back and forth between her three friends as a pointer, before settling on Mike. He raises his eyebrows to challenge her. "Mr Ross" she says playfully, "what is your most embarrassing sexual story?".
Mike huffs. Good question, he thinks. Aware that is fiancée is sat beside him and knowing Harvey is a sucker for taking the piss, he opts out of answering. Not worth it, he thinks. He glances at the full bottle of beer in his hand, and he feels slightly nauseous at the thought of downing it, he was insanely drunk and already fearing the hangover tomorrow. He looks up, eyes boring into Donna's, "I decline to answer" he says and before anyone can reply, he's downing his drink.
"Gotta say Mike. I'm a little disappointed" Harvey says smugly, the comment causing Mike to smile and dribble the drink down his face. Rachel laughs at the sight.
"Wow, I can't wait to listen to this baby nurse a hangover tomorrow" Rachel scoffed.
Mike finishes his drink, a small burp escaping. "Not. A. Baby" he struggles.
Harvey laughs out loud, "you sure about that, buddy?"
Mike turned to face his friend, determination for revenge written all over his face. "Oh but Harvey" Mike sung, "It's my turn, and I'm asking you" he stated, a smirk tugging at his lips as he saw the expression in Harvey's eyes turn from cocky to worried. "Who's the best you've ever had?"
Donna's eyes shot in the direction of Rachel's, to find her best friend's eyes already staring back. They were both thinking the same thing. WHY had Mike asked that when he knew Donna and Harvey had slept together before. This was awkward. Donna knew she wouldn't even cross his mind, but still. Anyway, surely, he had to say his current girlfriend was the best he'd had? Donna couldn't settle her eyes anywhere, too embarrassed to look at Mike, too shy to look at Harvey. But Harvey was just sitting there, staring into the water, watching the colour change from red, to blue, to green, to purple as the light at the bottom of the tub flicked through each colour setting. Shit. How does he answer this? On one hand he wanted to answer just to wipe that smug smile away from Mike's face. Mike had played him here, but he had to give the kid some credit. He knew what he was doing, knew that he was throwing in him the deep end for mocking him. On the other hand, the question was personal and a bit too close to home. He knew the answer, of course, but that didn't mean he wanted to share it. It would be weird. He considered the option of lying, of making up the name of a girl, but he couldn't. He was a man of his word and he had promised not to lie. That left him with one option. He glanced at his bottle and took a deep breath, and just as he was about to start drinking, Mike interrupts, "you're taking a long time to think about this, man. What's up? Can't remember the names of the girls you've slept with?"
Harvey laughed; Mike was such a torment. He was enjoying the chance to mock Harvey and Harvey liked that Mike could give it as well as take it, and so he wasn't at all bothered about the remark. Instead, it just made him think about how much he would miss the banter he and Mike share, when they move to Seattle. Donna, however, felt her heart drop at the mention of other girls. She knew Harvey had slept around a lot, hell, she'd scheduled most of the meetings back in her secretarial days, but it still hurt to be reminded, especially now things were different for her. After kissing him, everything had made finally sense to her. She felt it instantly when their lips touched. It felt right, it felt exhilarating and scary and it warmed her body entirely all at once... until she had seen the look in his eyes. She had definitely felt something more when she kissed him. She had this Harvey-shaped hole in her heart. You're my everything, she thought, and to you I'm just another number. Tears threatened to fall. How had she gone from laughing hysterically to being on the verge of tears in a matter of minutes? She was relieved to see all eyes were fixed on Harvey as he started to drink his beer. Well at least I don't have to hear him swoon over his girlfriend, she thinks. Unable to shake away the thoughts, Donna chooses to excuse herself to go to the bathroom. Rachel recognises a sadness in Donna's eyes and she contemplates following her. Just as she's about to say she'll join her, Donna gives her a knowing look. Donna knew. Of course she did, she's Donna. Rachel eases at the look from her friend. The girls knew each other well to communicate with looks alone, and so Rachel could infer easily that Donna was fine, but needed a moment to herself. And so she focuses her eyes back to Harvey, who was wiping his face as he removed the bottle from his lips.
"Looks like we're going to need more beers considering the men have trouble answering a few personal questions" she mocks, eyes darting between the pair in accusation.
They chuckle. "I'll go grab some more from inside" Mike says, and soon he's following the footsteps of the redhead, shivering as he exits the hot tub and grabs a towel from the seated area beside them. Rachel had spent the last minute and a half looking at Harvey. He had noticed she was staring after around 30 seconds but hadn't questioned it. Now it was getting annoying.
"Out with it, Rachel" he says with a small, yet shy laugh.
"What?" she opts to feign ignorance.
He raises an eyebrow. "Stop pretending like you haven't been staring at me for the last 2 minutes. You're dying to say something, so, out with it".
"Nothing" she lies, but he's not falling for it.
"Look" he starts "I know Donna's told you everything so if you want to ask me about that then just do it" he laughs. He doesn't know why he just said that, or why he's laughing, because now his heart is beating fast because he's scared that she's going to. He chooses to avoid eye contact, staring at the cabin doors, willing Donna or Mike to appear so he can get out of this situation.
He gets lucky.
"No. I mean, yes, she told me, only today though, but I think she covered the full story" she says, a little accusation in her tone. She hadn't meant to sound so direct, maybe it was just an instinct to defend her best friend.
Harvey's heart ached with guilt. He hadn't really experienced the feeling of guilt regarding that night until today. He dismisses the thought, in hopes he can dismiss the guilt too. "Then what?" he asks. There was definitely something she wanted to say. He knew it.
"i just can't believe you didn't say your girlfriend was the best you ever had" she jokes, "if Mike had done that I'd have given him this ring back" she laughs.
"Girlfriend?" Harvey asks, confused. Mike told Rachel everything. The kid couldn't hold his own piss.
"Paula?" Rachel asked, both amused and bewildered.
"Don't tell me the kid has finally started to keep my secrets?" he asks jokingly, only to be met with a face that told him Rachel had absolutely no idea what he was talking about. Fuck it, he thinks. They'd find out eventually. "Paula and I broke up" he states, and before she can reply, Donna and Mike are falling out of the cabin into the garden, laughing as Mike stumbles into the giant swing outside of the doors. Rachel's mind was still processing the news from Harvey, a thousand questions on the tip of her tongue. She inwardly cursed the impeccable timing of her best friend and husband to be.
Holy shit. Harvey was single and Donna had no idea. She needed to tell her. Now.
