Liv and Marisa sat on the deck drinking wine and laughing at the boys antics. They threw around a football, were drinking beer. When they eventually came up they were talking about going to a party down the street, but Jackson was in no shape do to anything but go to bed. Fitz helped him back on the deck and laughed at how he couldn't handle his alcohol.

"You can have fun with that tonight!"

"Ugh, I should've stayed down there to babysit him! Fitz, you are in charge of him after tonight, you're lucky it is your birthday."

He laughed and shook his head helping Marisa get him into bed.

"Yo Fitz, you coming with us to the party?"

He looked from the guys to Liv and smiled "I don't think so, I'll stay here and hang out with Livy and keep an eye on Jackson."

Olivia's heart skipped a beat as she heard him call her that name and choose to stay with her.

He joined her on the padded bench seat, lifting up her legs and sitting them back on his lap. He covered her legs back up with a blanket and squeezed her foot, smiling as he did. She winked at him and smiled back, both of them oblivious to the four football players watching this unfold.

"Taylor Swift? I thought you'd be more of a Beyoncé girl, being a Queen, slaying and laying down the law… Taylor is kinda whiney."

"First of all I am more a Janet girl, however Taylor has a few good songs."

"Whatever you say."

The song switched to Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran's "Everything Has Changed."

"Ok, I guess this song is ok, but only because of Ed Sheeran."

"Whatever you say Fitz," she giggled and rolled her eyes as she mocked him and he began to tickle her legs.

"What are you drinking?" She asked curiously.

"Well young lady, I'm a high class man, so I 'borrowed' some scotch from Edward" he gave her a devilish grin and she picked up her bottle of wine tipping it to him in a toast.

"I define high class old man! I guess I am borrowing some of my father's wine then," they both started to laugh. She raised her glass towards him "To your birthday," then clinking their glasses they both took a drink.

They sat in silence as he rubbed her leg that was under the blanket. Both of them were caught up in their thoughts until Fitz spoke.

"Why do you run?" he felt like there was so much about her he needed to know.

"Freedom…. When I run I'm free, free from expectations, from my thoughts, the pressures... free from everything. It's just me and the road and I am the only person I compete against so I constantly push harder. It's the one time I can get out of my head and not overthink things.," she smiled and took a swig of wine.

Fitz stared at this fascinating woman and could feel himself being pulled to her, it was as if she was the gravity pulling him back to earth. Her answer was beautifully heartfelt, almost poetic.

"Freedom, I like that. I guess I feel that way with football. I have in my mind that no one can stop me and I'll run over anyone who tries to. I think that mindset helps me be successful."

"You're a quarterback, you don't run people over," she teased him.

"Wow, you have such a low opinion of quarterback toughness," he paused reminiscing "I broke a kid's collarbone once, a safety came to hit me but I hit him harder and went into the endzone. I felt bad but I guess that's the name of the game."

"You're quite proud of that aren't you?" She giggled "I guess you are a big tough quarterback then," she wrapped her hand around his bicep as he playfully flexed.

They continued to playfully tease each other until they were face to face. At that moment the song changed to Beyonce's "XO."

"Kiss me."

He touched her lips, the followed by kissing her, soft, and slow, letting his lips linger afterwards.

"Fitz, I'm scared…" She whispered so only he could hear.

He cupped her cheek "I'm scared too, but you know what, it's how you react to fear that matters, you can't let it control you, sometimes you need to take risks and you never know how those risks might bring you the greatest rewards in your life. ….you don't need to be scared of me Olivia, I am just glad you're giving me the chance to be my friend"...he paused and choose the next words carefully. "I promise I'd never do anything that would bring you pain." he let go of her cheek and took her hand grabbed her hand, she smiled and didn't pull away.

She shook her head and took another drink of her we sat there in silence again She finished her glass and got up "I'll be right back, I have something for you.".

"Happy birthday Fitz, I hope you had fun tonight," she kissed him softly on the cheek and placed the gifts in my lap then took a seat next to him.

"You didn't have to get my anything, bringing me here was enough."

"Well half of it is homemade so don't worry I didn't spend too much. Go ahead and open it"

The smaller gift contained two homemade CDs. The first one said Olivia's favorite classic rock covers and the second one said songs that remind me of you.

"I made the first one after the day of swimming, I figured I'd share some of my favorite and less known songs, then I made you the second one this afternoon. We're actually listening to the playlist right now on my phone."

The other two gifts which were both books. The first one was short inspirational sports stories and the second one was a Steve Prefontaine biography. Inside the cover was a small note from Olivia. I read this biography when I was in 8th grade and it inspired me to be a runner and push myself to be the best at everything. Don't ever stop pushing yourself Fitz. -3 Livy

"Thank you Livy, I love all of it," he gave her a crooked smile.

"Can I sit with you Fitz?"

"Of course," he lifted the blanket and allowed her to in between his legs, leaning back into his chest as he wrapped his arms and blanket around them.

They talked for another two hours, sharing stories from their childhood along with hopes and fears for the future. Eventually they grew quiet and Livy was yawning and fighting to keep her eyes open. Fitz stood, picking her up as he did while she laid her head against his chest. She breathed in his sent, want to ingrain it into her memory. He walked her into her room and laid her on her bed. He left getting her water and tucking her in. She grabbed his arm and pulled him close to her.

"Fitz, I wanna fall in love with you too," she whispers with her eyes closed.

"I know Livy, I know," he bent down and place a kiss on her forehead "Get some rest, I'll see you in the morning."

He walked upstairs and changed into a pair of Nike shorts and laid on the bed. He doubt Olivia would remember the last part of their conversation because she had drank a lot of wine, but he knew he wouldn't forget it. He laid back in bed and let thoughts of a future with Olivia lead him into a deep sleep.