The party and barbeque went smoothly after Sean and I had our showdown inside. No one was the wiser, and eventually I noticed that he'd made it outside too. Bash was having a great time, trying beer pong, and not doing horribly, but still getting a little tipsy. I was standing nearby watching him play when I felt someone on my left side.

"So you and Seb?" Norman asked, watching the game with me.

I shook my head. "Everyone thinks so, but no." I glanced up at him. "He's one of my best friends. Think of me as his beard, you know the person who takes the flack while he's dating someone else. Bash hasn't found the someone else, but I fill the blanks." I shrugged, turning back to watch Bash laugh as he won another round.

"Who is it then?" He asked, and my brows furrowed. "That you're dating?" He finished.

I laughed. "No one." I glanced at him again, still giggling. "Not much of a dater, thought you said he told you all about me." Sean was up against Bash now, and I watched, laughing at the two of them. All bark and no bite.

"He told me about your time together, and that you weren't like anyone he'd ever met." Norman said, turning to watch the two men play a round. "Some specifics, but nothing you'd have the need to blush about."

I nodded. Didn't think that Sean would kiss and tell, at least not graphically. "I don't really date." I said, shrugging again. "Not that great at it."

He gave a nod, but still looked a little confused. "There's been no one since Sean?" He asked, voice low so only I could hear. I giggled loudly enough for Bash and Sean to look at me.

Smothering my laughter with my hand, I shook my head at the two of them, poised to play with their mouths open. "Keep going, boys!" I shouted and looked at Norman. "You two really are more alike than I gave you credit for being. When we met, he couldn't grasp that being single and not dating for close to twenty years meant CELIBATE for that long. So yes, to answer your question, there have been others since Sean, but no relationships. I'm not good at those."

Bash didn't beat Sean, so I commiserate with his tipsy ass, as we wandered away. He was leaning into me and I could feel the stares against our backs. Screw them, I thought. No one had to understand our friendship, or my relationship status. That was ours, and mine. Fuck the rest of the world.

As I drove Bash home, listening as he giggled through a tale I watched unfold with my own eyes, I was shocked when he told me he'd given Norman my number. "What the hell would possess you to do that?" I asked him, as he leaned against the door.

"Asked me for it." He said, grinning and singing a song that bore no resemblance to any I'd ever heard.

Great, I thought, this drunk fool just gave my number out when anyone asked for it. I shook my head and opened my window, praying he'd be able to keep his stomach contents inside until we reached home. Getting him up the shallow steps to the front door was hindered by the fact that the man weighs a ton, muscle is heavier than fat after all, and he kept trying to get me to dance.

"Damn it, Bash, stop fighting me." I said, elbowing him into the door. "Let's get inside, and then I'll dance with you all across the damn house. Fruit loop." He let me open the door and followed me inside, but I nearly missed closing it when he wrapped me up in his enormous arms.

"Said you'd dance wit' me, Jessa." He whispered into my hair. "So let's dance."

I groaned, and reached my toes out to close the door. "Let me lock up, Bash, fuck, could you let go for like a minute?" I danced him backward so I could turn the locks. "You're crazy!" I laughed, as he rocked us back and forth. "Lucky I love ya, Bash, now let's dance to the living room."

When I finally got him to the sofa, I pushed and he landed in a heap. The dogs ran forward, licking his face and hands and he was a giggling mess. "Hey, puppies." He sighed, lying back on the sofa as I pulled off his shoes. My littlest dog, Ali was nuzzling him and I swear making sure he wasn't dying. "Aww...they're kissin' me, Jess." He sighed and it turned into a snore.

I shooed the dogs down and rolled Bash onto his side, with a trash can under his face. Figuring he wouldn't need a blanket, since he was still fully clothed, I did grab him some ice water and a couple of ibuprofen. Those set in arm reach, I turned off the lights, except for the hall one, so he could find the bathroom if necessary. Dropping a quick kiss on his lightly sweating forehead, I smiled at the goof and called for the dogs to go out one last time before bed.

Once everyone was finished their last potty, the dogs and I went to my bedroom. As I got ready for bed, I heard the ding of a text message. Thinking it was Mackey checking on Bash, or even Sean making sure I was serious, I didn't recognize the number. The message made it click for me.

Making sure you got Seb's drunk ass home safe. Let me know that you made it?

Norman Reedus. Thanks to Bash he had my cell number. It was sweet that he was checking on us though, so I sent back an affirmative and my thanks for his checking in. Then another ding as I was washing up and pulling on my nightclothes.

Good. Want to have lunch this week?

I sighed, wondering why he'd want to have lunch, then thinking it was another set up to have Sean and I in the same room. I was about to answer when another message came in.

He's leaving tomorrow. Has to get home. Just you and me.

I groaned, and considered my options. At least Sean would be back with his wife and kids, but why did Norman want lunch with me? I wasn't needed on set constantly, but I still wasn't sure about why he wanted to share a meal. Then I realized that I was putting way too much emphasis on myself. Like I was so important. Fuck it, I thought.

Sure. When and where?