(9)
Jay had been sitting in the same uncomfortable chair in the Med's Emergency Department for over three hours now, just waiting to get some sort of an update on Erin. He knew she was alright and there was nothing life-threatening about her injuries. He also knew that Chicago Med was a busy place with people going in and out but would it kill the staff to give the antsy and anxious boyfriend waiting in the corner a little update?
He checked his watch again and saw that it was now about to reach four hours of waiting time. He clucked his tongue, debating whether to go barging into her exam room. It wasn't as though he hadn't already tried to go inside the examination room with Erin but one very pointed glare from Erin made it crystal clear that his level of coddling wasn't appreciated or needed in the small room. So he huffed and gave in to Erin's silent demand. Then he stalked over to the nearest chair to plop himself down and crossed his arms petulantly, waiting for her to come out. He knew that despite everything that had changed between them in regards to their relationship status, Erin was still Erin. That no matter if she was somebody's girlfriend or somebody's wife, there would always be at least a little part of her that would just be too restrained, independent and self-sufficient.
He pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to ease some of the tension that had been coursing through him ever since Platt told them what happened. The pure rage towards Ray had subsided mostly but there was still an underlying current of it, now mixed with anxiousness. The tightness in his chest remained the same and he suspected that it'd remain there until Erin came out with an all-clear from the doctor. Apparently his clenched jaw and his feet that refused to remain still on the floor caught Maggie's attention because the nurse came over to him with a sympathetic look on her face.
"She'll be okay, detective," the nurse told him with a sympathetic smile, probably because she noticed how worried he looked. Jay appreciated the gesture even though it didn't do much to lessen the weight he felt in his chest. She sat down next to him and placed her hand lightly on his thigh.
"Yeah," he replied, exhaling. "I know but," he trailed off, shrugging his shoulders. Her smile shifted into an understanding one and she patted his thigh before returning to her work, leaving Jay once again with his thoughts.
They should've expected this to happen, that someone like Ray wouldn't go down easily. The guy had been lying in wait for the perfect opportunity to find out where his wife and daughter were hiding. Jay rubbed his face, feeling like shit when he thought about Julia and Emma. He hadn't even bothered to get an update for the mother and daughter since he dropped them off at the shelter with Erin. He had been too caught up with his own life that he hadn't taken the time to reach out or find out how they were doing. How they were coping at the shelter.
The buzzing of his phone interrupted his self-chastising party and he took it out of his pocket to find that it was Ruzek, telling him that Ray was being booked and wouldn't be making bail. Good, as far as Jay was concerned. The guy never should've gotten out of prison in the first place. Now he could rot in there for all Jay cared. No one hurt Erin and got away with it. He texted Ruzek a thanks for the update and shoved the phone back in his pocket, ignoring all of the other messages from the other members of the team. In his haste, he hadn't thought to keep his relationship with Erin discreet and now everyone in their life knew. Had found out abruptly that not only were he and Erin back together, they also lived next door to each other.
Jay had been so consumed by the worry and anger back at Erin's apartment that he didn't care to stop and gauge the reactions of everyone. But now that he had more than ample amount of time to think about it, he knew that they probably all had questions for him, wanted answers and explanations from him and were probably dying to ask him. But quite frankly, he just wasn't in the mood or the right state of mind to give them any. It really didn't matter to him because in the end, none of their opinions— good or bad— about his relationship was going to sway him in the slightest. He knew what he felt. He trusted his heart, knew that there was no one else for him. Erin was 'it' for him and he knew it.
He didn't need or want to hear Ruzek and Atwater grilling him about how everything went down, Rojas being clueless and having to be clued in on everything, Kim's effusive and sappy babbling about her views on love and second chances and Upton's snippy and patronizing sermon about how he was setting himself up for hurt. And mostly, he didn't want to give even a thought to Voight and what he was thinking right now. All those could be dealt another day. All he wanted right now was for Erin to be given the clearance by the doctor and Jay to take her home and just hold her until the crushing weight left his body.
He heard soft shuffling of feet and he looked up to find Erin walking over to him, a bandage wrapped on her arm. Her eyes looked tired but she managed to give him a small reassuring smile before he lept up, barely able to stop himself before he pulled her into a crushing hug.
"Thanks for waiting," she said softly, reaching over to rub his arm letting him know that she was fine. Jay just nodded, his eyes still studying her features closely to make sure. Aside from the bandage and a few bruises on her body, she seemed alright. Perhaps a little shaken up. Then his eyes landed on the bruise that had gotten darker around her neck, looking a lot like a handprint, and he felt the fury building up him again. His jaw twitched, his mind going on overdrive as it conjured up the horrific images of Ray with his hands around Erin, determined to choke the life out of her. He gritted his teeth, his hands forming into fists automatically, and he was too caught up in the storm raging in his head that he almost didn't notice Erin calling for his attention.
"Jay," she repeated, knowing exactly what he was thinking right now. "Jay." He tried to quell his anger down and give Erin what she needed from him. But the thought of someone hurting the most important person in his life made it near impossible for him to let bygones be bygones. He heard her sigh quietly before her hand found home on his chest, right over his heart. Then just like that as always, it was like the magic of her touch began seeping through his chest and brought him calm like nothing and no one else could. She rubbed his chest, soothing him, until his clenched jaw eased into a tight pull.
She was searching for his eyes and he couldn't deny her any longer so he met her gaze, seeing the concern shining in the depth of her hazel eyes. He gave her a small smile, making it as believable as possible, so she'd stop worrying about him. She returned a small smile of her own, her dimples presenting themselves in their usual places, and she pressed her palm more firmly on his chest.
"You okay?" he finally asked her, trying to keep the turmoil in his head out of his voice. She was the one injured and hurt, she shouldn't have to deal with his crap too.
"I'm all stitched up and in a week or so, I'll be good as news."
Jay nodded at her reply but he couldn't help but reach out to lightly graze the handprint bruising on her neck. When Erin flinched at the light contact, Jay's anger came back with a fury.
"I'm gonna kill him," Jay muttered under his breath, wanting to return the favor to Ray ten-fold. Erin grasped his hand and held his wrist, forcing him to look at her again.
"Hey, he's where he belongs. It's over," she reasoned with Jay, looking at him firmly. "I'm okay. Nothing that some ointment and time wouldn't cure." Jay pursed his lips together, dropping his head down. She bent her head down with him, seeking eye contact. "Hey," she called him, smiling when he met her eyes again. "I'll be fine."
Jay sighed, releasing some of the tightness in his chest and he stepped closer to Erin to pull her into his arms, tucking her under his chin. "I'm sorry," he apologized for not being able to keep his emotions in check.
"It's all good," she returned, lacing her fingers behind his back. "Now, can you take me home? I just want to crash."
There was no way Jay could refuse her.
When they got back to her place, Jay entered first to make sure that there wouldn't be anything inside to remind Erin of what happened earlier. Satisfied that everything looked in order, he waved her inside, Erin scoffing at him for being overprotective. But it was better safe than sorry.
Erin made a beeline to her bedroom and Jay followed, ready to help her out with whatever she needed.
"Are you hungry?" he asked, leaning against one of her dressers as she pulled out her ponytail and shook her hair free.
"No," Erin replied. "I don't think I can eat anything tonight."
Jay just nodded, expecting as much. He dropped his arms he had crossed across his chest and walked over to her to strand his fingers through her hair. "What do you need, Erin?"
She turned around, thinking. "I just want to get this hospital grime off of me and just go to bed."
"Okay."
"I can't get the dressing wet," Erin pointed out, glancing at the dressing on her arm to protect the sutures.
"How about a bath?" Jay offered. "I'll help you and you won't get your arm wet."
After Erin agreed, Jay sat her down on the bed while he got the bath ready. He ran the water in the bathtub, making sure that it was warm enough for Erin's liking. While the tub filled, he headed back inside her room and knelt down in front of her. He took off her socks before gesturing for Erin to stand up. He unbuttoned her pants before sliding it down her legs before slowly lifting off her shirt, Erin wincing as she moved her injured arm.
"Sorry babe," he apologized, kissing her forehead, before taking her inside the bathroom. He discarded the last of the garments covering her and led her to the bathtub. His plan was to sit at the edge of the tub and help Erin clean herself up but Erin had another plan, grabbing his arm before he could help her get inside the tub.
"Come in with me." As usual, he couldn't deny her so he got rid of his own clothes quickly before stepping inside the tub. Somehow, they managed to maneuver inside the small space so his back was resting on the tub while Erin's back was resting on him, his arms around her waist. She rested her injured arm on the edge of the tub, keeping it out of harm's way so it wouldn't get wet.
Erin sighed as she pressed herself closer to him and he pressed a kiss on the side of her head, enjoying the closeness with her.
"This is just what I needed," Erin said as Jay's thumb caressed her stomach, rubbing little circles on the smooth surface. He still had his lips pressed against her head and he closed his eyes, just letting himself take comfort in the fact that she was in his arms, her body pressed up against him. They remained in the tight embrace, wrapped up in each other as the daunting incident from the earlier slowly withered away.
Jay felt himself finally beginning to relax and he leaned back against the tub, his eyes closed. Erin shifted closer so her head was tucked up perfectly in the crevice of his neck, her hair tickling Jay's chin. But he wouldn't have it any other way.
"Jay?" her quiet voice pulled Jay back from completely drifting off.
"Yeah?"
"I need to tell Julia what happened in person," Erin began. "She needs to know about Ray." Jay nodded, agreeing with her. Julia needed to know that her estranged husband that she was hiding from got arrested and was in jail.
"Okay, we'll go and tell her together." Jay didn't even need Erin to ask him to accompany her. There was no way he was letting her go alone. Not to the shelter that held sensitive memories for Erin. In fact, he wasn't giving Erin the opportunity to keep him away from this. He was going to be there for her and for Julia and Emma.
Her hair brushed his chin again when she nodded, agreeing to have him come. Jay smiled, glad that she wasn't going back into her shell and keeping him at arm's length again. He had been worried that what happened earlier might cause her to pull back again and Erin would retreat back into herself. But Erin allowing Jay to go with her to talk to Julia was encouraging for him and he showed her his appreciation with a tender kiss on her hair.
(10)
There were a lot of things that had changed from his previous relationship with Erin and their current one. But one thing that hadn't was that Erin was still driving most of the time. Only this time instead of using her seniority at their job as the excuse for her to be behind the wheels, it was the superiority of her vehicle over his. So Jay just rolled his eyes indulgently and relented every time, falling in line like the good house husband that he was.
He saw Erin winced from the corner of his eyes and he frowned. "You okay?"
"Yeah," Erin replied, wincing again when she moved her arms. "It just stings whenever I move my arm and brushes up against my shirt."
"I should've drove," Jay muttered, shaking his head. Erin tossed him a dirty look from the side of her eyes at the thought of her having to be in the passenger seat for a change.
"No way!" she scoffed. "Besides you don't know where we're going anyway."
Jay frowned. "I thought we were going to the shelter to talk to Julia and Emma. I remember where the shelter is."
"Nope," was Erin's vague reply before she took a turn that was in the opposite direction of the shelter they took Julia and Emma to. Jay gave Erin a confused look, the question of where they were actually heading to ready to come out of his mouth. But before he could ask the question, they had arrived at their destination and Erin parked on the sidewalk. Jay looked out the car window and saw that they were at an unfamiliar apartment complex.
"What are we doing here?"
"We're here to talk to Julia and Emma, duh." Erin unlatched her seatbelt and exited the car, coming around to Jay's side and waited for him to get out. The confusion was still on his face as he followed Erin dutifully inside the apartment complex. They arrived at a unit that was on the second floor and Jay just lifted his brow in question as Erin knocked and they waited for the door to open.
"Erin?" Julia's timid voice broke Jay's eye contact on Erin and he turned to the side to find Julia's head popping out from behind the door. "What's going on? Is everything okay?" Julia asked, sounding scared.
"Yeah," Erin replied, smiling at Julia to calm her down. "Um, we need to talk to you though. Can we come in?"
Julia opened the door wider and waved them in. Jay stepped inside the small apartment and sat down in a makeshift couch in the living room, Erin sitting down next to him.
"What's going on? You said that you wouldn't be contacting me unless it's something important." Julia asked again, wrapping her sweater tighter around herself like it was some sort of protection. "Is it Ray? Did he find out where we are?"
"No," Erin quickly answered, shaking her head. "I promised you that Ray would never find out where you are and he won't." Erin shared a look with Jay before turning back to Julia. "But we do have something important to tell you." Erin wet her lips before continuing, telling Julia everything that happened with Ray, how he attacked Erin and how he was arrested and in jail without bail.
"What does that mean?" Julia questioned. "Does that mean he's going away and doing time? Or will he just be released on bail like last time?" there was a bitterness to her question. Not that Jay could blame her. Law and the justice system failed Julia and Emma the last time by protecting their abuser.
"They're not releasing him out on bail," Erin replied, reaching over with her good arm to hold Julia's hand. "They're going to prosecute him this time and charge him with assault and attempted murder towards an F.B.I agent."
"Really?"
"Yeah," Erin nodded, her lips pulling into a smile. "He can't get near you again. He's going to do time this time and he'll be locked up in prison where he belonged."
Julia teared up, the relief so evident on her face and body. She began to sob tears of joy and Erin didn't wait a moment before joining Julia on her side of the couch and pulling the woman into a hug.
"It's okay," Erin whispered as she continued rubbing Julia's back in comforting motion. "You and Emma are safe now."
Erin met Jay's eyes over Julia's shoulders and he gave her a smile— one that held all of his affection for the strong woman in his life. In his eyes, she was the definition of amazing. Brave, strong, and compassionate. Despite everything that she had been through in her life, Jay would always be proud of how Erin managed to come out an even better person. One that could turn her painful memories and terrifying ordeals into empathy, compassion and determination that someone else wouldn't have to go through what she did. And Jay considered himself the luckiest person in the world that he was the one she wanted by her side as she took the world on.
After reassuring Julia once again that everything would turn out okay and giving her advice on what to do now that Ray was in jail, they managed to squeeze in a little play time with Emma. Jay and Erin sat on the floor with Emma's toys surrounding them as the girl delved into an elaborate— and as Jay would begrudgingly admit, pretty fascinating— story involving her toys in a make believe world that only a young child that hadn't been dragged down by the harsh reality of the world could imagine. Erin played along with the little girl, ooh-ing and ahh-ing in all the right places, her excitement spurring Emma on even more. Jay reached over to hold Erin's hand that was resting on the floor, catching his girlfriend's attention. She gave him a blinding smile, matching the one that had been glued on his face since Emma joined them. And when she flipped her hand over so they could thread their fingers together, Jay just held on even more.
They were starving after they left Julia's place since neither of them ate last night and it was already ten in the morning. So they headed to the diner that they loved before, taking a seat in their usual booth by the windows.
"A stack of the chocolate chip pancakes," Erin began ordering. "Both bacon and sausage. Can I get the eggs scrambled and um….."
"Hash browns," Jay added, Erin looking at him with a raised brow. "You loved the hash browns here. You preferred them over country style potatoes."
"Right," Erin affirmed with a grin as the older waitress looked on entertained.
"I'll have the same. Two black coffee too, please." Jay added, completing their order. The waitress wrote their orders down, collected their menus and promised to have their food ready soon.
"What?" Erin asked, almost sounding suspicious. Probably because Jay was still looking at her with a smitten grin like a lovesick idiot. He shook himself out of his stupor and bit his lips, like it was the only way to contain his feelings inside. "What?"
"Nothing," Jay replied. "I'm just happy to see that your appetite is back."
"Is that a nice way of saying I ordered too much and I'm about to eat like a pig?" Erin retorted, lifting her eyebrows.
Jay laughed, tossing his head back. "No. That's my way of saying I'm happy that you're feeling like yourself again." Jay quickly realized his mistake. "I mean, not that your usual self is a pig or I'm comparing you to one. I'm just saying that you like to eat….like a lot and that's nice." Jay stammered, tripping over words and not getting the correct explanation out. He cringed, shutting his eyes and deciding to quit while he was still ahead. "You know...I meant…."
Erin was obviously enjoying the frenzy Jay worked himself into. "Jay. Jay. Just shut up." she advised, laughing. Jay nodded, taking her advice. She chuckled again, shaking her head fondly, reaching over to place her hand on his.
Jay found that shoving food into his mouth was the perfect way to keep himself from saying idiotic things so he happily shoved the pancake into his mouth. Erin was doing the same on the other side, going to town on the hash browns.
"When did Julia move into that apartment?" Jay asked after their hungers were sated. Jay had been curious as to when Julia and Emma left the shelter or how they got an apartment. He knew Julia didn't have a job and Ray kept her dependent on him for money and shelter. Jay knew that getting an apartment couldn't have been easy for her but she and Emma seemed to be doing quite well and seemed to have settled quite nicely in the small but safe apartment.
"About two months after they first left Ray," Erin replied, blowing on the cup of coffee. She saw the questions in Jay's eyes and she pursed her lips together, placing the cup down on the table. "Um. The shelter would've taken them for longer but it was getting too crowded in there. I know the shelter is doing the best they can and it's not easy. When I went to visit Julia and Emma the last time at the shelter, they were sharing a small room with four other people. One of the girls that was in there was around Emma's age. A little older and she was bullying her."
"So you helped them get the apartment," Jay concluded. Erin nodded, confirming his guesses.
"I co-signed the lease for them," Erin explained. "Maybe it was stupid, putting myself and my finances on the line for someone I didn't really know but I don't know," Erin shrugged. "I just couldn't watch Emma be in another bad situation after she had just gotten out of one."
"Have you been paying their rent too?"
"I helped them get settled in, yeah. You know that they had nothing when they left Ray, Jay. Only the clothes on their back. So yeah, I helped them with the first couple of months of rent as well as the basics so they'd be comfortable at home." Erin pressed her lips together. "What good is a federal paycheck I have if I don't help someone with it?"
Jay just looked at Erin, his feelings for her growing even more. He didn't know many people that would help someone— people who were practically strangers— out the way Erin had helped Julia and Emma. She was the reason why the mother and daughter were safe and comfortable. The reason why they had a nice and secure roof over their head and a place to call their own.
"Why didn't you take me with you?" Jay asked. He had no idea that all this had gone on with Julia and Emma. If he knew, he definitely wanted to help out. Or the very least, be there for Erin and support her.
"We weren't in the best place," Erin gave him an honest answer. "We were just up and down and I didn't think that you'd want to go."
"Maybe we weren't in the best place but that was then. You remember what I told you?" He held his hand out, Erin gazing down at it.
She brought her hand to join his, lacing their fingers together. "That I can always take your hand. It doesn't matter if I hate you or if we're in the worst fight of our lives, you'll be there."
Jay nodded, pleased that Erin remembered the promise he made to her. "So next time, take me with you. I want to go with you."
She nodded before changing the subject. "Julia got a job as a receptionist a little while ago and she makes good enough money to support herself and Emma," Erin added. "So I'm just the big fairy who brings toys by for Emma whenever I go visit them now."
"I'm sure Emma preferred that to before."
Erin chuckled. "Probably." Erin sighed. "I just wish that they get what they deserve after the whole case with Ray is over and done with. They deserved what they're owed for having to put up with an abusive piece of shit for years."
"They will," Jay reassured Erin. "But the most important thing is that they're free and they're safe. And you were a big part of that Erin." He held her hand, beaming at her with pride. "I'm so proud of you, you know? You're just…." Jay searched for the right word. The right word that could convey just how incredible he thought Erin was. How spectacular. "Just….you're everything."
Her face broke into a soft smile. They were locked in a gaze, looking at each other across the table and admiring each other. It wasn't until Jay's phone rang that broke them out of their moment. Jay pulled his phone out and frowned when he saw the caller I.D. He quickly pressed the ignore button and shoved his phone back in.
"You're not gonna answer that?" Erin asked, carefully watching his reaction. "Work?"
"Yeah. But don't worry about it. I called in for a personal day. That means I don't have to deal with work for the next 18 hours."
Erin just nodded. "I don't know if it's so much about work as much as they're probably calling to ask you for information." Jay just kept a neutral look on his face. "Come on, Jay. I know everyone is probably dying to ask you— ask us— questions about us getting back together. I'm surprised they're not blowing up your phone constantly."
"Are they calling you?"
"Kim did a couple of times. A few from Voight. I haven't really answered anyone except for Platt to let her know I was alright."
"Speaking of Platt, how did she find out about us?" Jay asked, flashing back to how Platt made a beeline to him last night after getting the radio call about Erin.
"What do you mean? She knows about us?" Erin returned his question with a question.
"Yeah. She had been giving me weird looks and comments for a while now but I just chalked it up to Platt being Platt. But yeah, she definitely knows. Before everyone else."
"Hmm," Erin hummed. "She's Platt?" Erin replied, more of a question than an answer. "Somehow she just seems to know everything."
Jay just nodded, having to agree with Erin. Somehow the desk sergeant just knew everything about everyone.
"So you're fine with people knowing about us?" Erin asked, sounding nervous. Jay looked up in surprise at the tone of her voice. She was nervous about his reaction? He was the one who was nervous about how she'd react now that their relationship was no longer private and everyone knew. He knew just how much Erin valued her privacy.
"Of course," he replied immediately. "I mean, are you?"
She gave him a smile and nodded. "Totally. It's kind of nice actually that everyone found out at the same time. Saves the trouble of having to come out to them or kills the risk of them finding me in just your shirt in your bed like Will did."
"Yeah," Jay agreed, laughing at the encounter with Will. "Will not shutting up about how good you looked in just a shirt is already enough. I don't want to have to punch Ruzek and Atwater too if they saw you the same way."
Erin scoffed, rolling her eyes at his jealousy and overprotectiveness. "So what are you saying? It's just for your eyes only?"
"Damn right." Erin's eyes widened, the retort of how she wasn't a belonging ready to spill out of her mouth. "Just like me naked is for your eyes only too," Jay added, preempting her anger. Erin wrinkled her nose, knowing that he was trying to soften her annoyance. Jay gave her a sheepish smile.
"Damn right," Erin declared, copying Jay's words. "So don't go getting naked around anyone else, Halstead."
"Wouldn't dream of it, Lindsay." Jay smiled, knowing that it was Erin's way of reaffirming the exclusivity of their relationship. Jay's phone buzzed again, him sighing in annoyance when he saw another message from Hailey. He turned his phone on silent and shoved it back into his pocket.
Erin frowned. "Someone really wants to talk to you."
"Don't worry about it. It's just Hailey, wondering why I wasn't coming in." Jay wondered in his head of why Hailey even felt the need to ask that. She was there last night and knew what happened to Erin. So she should put two and two together and realized that Jay was taking the day off to be with Erin. But apparently, his partner needed to talk to him. Jay would bet all the money he had on just what Hailey wanted to talk to him about.
"Hmm." Jay heard Erin's hum and he wondered what she was thinking in her head. He furrowed his brows after seeing Erin's face, looking like she had something to say to him.
"What?" Jay asked.
She bit her lips before sighing. "I know Kim would say about us and I'm pretty sure I can guess what Kevin and Adam would say," Erin began. "But what about your partner? What would she say about us getting back together?"
Jay narrowed his eyes in confusion, wondering why Erin was asking the question. "Why? Not like whatever she has to say matters right? It doesn't change anything between us."
"Of course not," Erin reassured him. "It's just….I don't want things to be awkward for you and Hailey. I mean, she's your partner. You have to work with her and ride around with her. You need to have a good, open and honest relationship if she's going to have your back and you're going to have hers. I'm just...I don't want us being together to be a problem for you at work."
"Erin," Jay called her name. "She...us…." Jay found himself at a loss for words, not knowing how to tell Erin that Hailey might have feelings that extended beyond a partnership for him. He didn't even want to put an ounce of doubt in Erin's mind that his partnership with Hailey ever went beyond anything professional.
"Jay, it's okay," Erin interrupted him, patting his hand. "I know that she has feelings for you."
Jay's eyes widened in surprise, Erin giving him a knowing grin. "What? How?"
"What? How did I know that Hailey liked you?" Erin supplied. "Please, it wasn't that hard to tell. I saw it when I came to the station a couple of times and I saw it the night we were all at Molly's."
"Okay but I swear Erin, nothing has happened between us. We're just partners, that's it."
Erin laughed, seeing the worry on his face and the way he was trying to reassure her. She reached over and grabbed his hand, getting his attention. "Jay, I know," she stated. "I know where you stand and what your feelings are. I'm not jealous or worried." He nodded, believing her completely when she said it. There was no hint of jealousy or doubt in her voice and he was glad for it. "I mean, I'd be kind of worried about her if she didn't get feelings for you," Erin added. "Have you looked at you lately?"
Jay laughed, rolling his eyes. "Oh yeah, I'm a huge catch." His face softened. "Too bad, I'm already taken though."
"How terrible for the women of the world," Erin quipped. "I hope you know that whoever caught you does think of herself as a very lucky woman."
"I know. I feel the same way."
They exchanged sappy grins over their empty plates of food, quietly chuckling at how ridiculous they were being. And once again, their moment was interrupted by Jay's phone.
"I swear to fucking god," Jay muttered under his breath as he quickly turned his phone off, not wanting any more messages or interruptions.
"You should talk to her," Erin suggested. "Like I said, your partnership is important too and it's better to just get everything out in the open."
"I will," Jay promised. "Tomorrow. When I have to go back to work. Today, I just want to put everything aside and just be with you."
So that was what they did. They paid for their food and decided to take a stroll through the small park next to the diner, hand in hand. The weather was becoming colder, summer quickly turning to fall. Even though the sun was high in the sky, the soft breeze was just perfect to keep things cool enough.
"Can I ask you something?" Erin asked as Jay had his arms around her shoulders.
"I think you just did," Jay teased, pressing his lips into her hair. Erin smacked his chest, not appreciating his lame joke. "What is it?"
"How come you never got together with Hailey?" Erin questioned, Jay pulling back to look at her. "I'm just curious," Erin quickly added, letting him know that she wasn't annoyed or threatened. "You guys work together and spend a lot of time with each other. I mean, that's how we got together. Not to mention, you haven't been with anyone seriously even though I'm sure you have many options. I'm just wondering why."
Jay sighed, thinking over her questions. "Honestly, it just never happened. It never even crossed my mind to take things beyond a professional partnership with Hailey. Yeah we're partners and we're together a lot but I just didn't even want to go there with another woman I work with."
Erin frowned. "Because your last experience with dating a woman you were partnered up with was a disaster?"
"Hey!" Jay protested, disapproving of the word Erin used for them. "Don't talk about my old partner like that." He stopped walking and turned to look at Erin. "She was perfect in every way that mattered," Jay said, looking into Erin's eyes. He brushed his finger over her lips. "Let's just say that she set the bar too high that no one else could reach it. Anyone else would just be a poor substitute."
Erin's eyes sparkled under the sun and she leaned in closer to kiss him. He smiled into the kiss, his hands quickly coming up to strand through her hair, pressing himself closer to her.
"Good," Erin whispered after they broke apart. "Because that's how I feel about you too."
"Not even Harrison?" Jay teased, a wry grin on his face.
He was expecting Erin to roll her eyes or maybe even smack him on his chest like always but the soft look remained on her face. She shook her head slowly.
"No. Definitely not." She promised him with another kiss. "Not even a little bit," she mumbled against his lips before catching them into a firm kiss.