The silence breaks as his phone buzzes on the side table, causing them both to crash back into reality sooner than they'd like.
She's quicker to the draw than he is as her head pops up off of his chest, looking him directly in the eye.
He sees her bed head messy red hair all bushy around her head and her cute crooked smile, but focuses more so on her amazing emerald green eyes.
She sees him staring at her, but says what she needs to say, what she's felt like she's needed to say for a while before she loses the nerve.
Hearing Olivia's voice in her head saying, be honest and communicate how you feel, nobody has time for guessing games.
As if to quiet the urging of the voice in her head, she blurts out, "I like you. Like really like you, allot."
The tone of her words is a bit rushed and feels more like an outburst than someone speaking in their regular voice, so he comically responds, "I think given our current condition that goes without saying."
She hates that he's joking with her, but can't be completely pissed off because she knows it's his nature. But that doesn't stop her from expressing her annoyance by trying to get up, as she quips, "whatever."
The problem however, is that he has her in his grip and isn't willing to let her go. So, when she tries to lift up, he grins as he continues to tease her by asking, "Where do you think you're going?"
Accepting defeat she gives up on the struggle and looks up at him. He sees the change in her facial expression and realizes she's annoyed with his remark.
But, he still refuses to let her go, and instead quickly says, "I'm sorry Red. You know sometimes I don't know when to stop playing."
She still stares at him, but says nothing, knowing he hates it when people go silent on him, it drives him crazy. And like clock work he impatiently responds, "Come on Red, I really am sorry, okay? Say something."
This time, she utters a response due to his caress of her cheek as he looks at her intensely. She doesn't show much emotion, but replies, "I accept your apology. Can I get up now?"
He figures he's not going to get much more out of her, he knows she's fully irritated with him so he loosens his grip on the covers, and admits how he feels as he says, "I like you too."
She shakes her head as she responds, "You don't have to say it back just because I said it H.' He resents her insinuation as he responds, "I'm not saying it because you said it first. I really do like you. If i didn't you'd know."
His words settle on her, she knows him well enough to know he's not kidding. He can be an ass when he wants to be, and to his credit, she has to admit he's gone above and beyond to be quite the gentleman the entire time they've been hooking up.
Therefore, maybe the annoyance he feels isn't about him at all, it's transference from her situation with Kevin.
He sees her in her head and asks, "Hey, you okay?" She sighs as she responds, "Yeah, I'm fine. I think this whole thing with Kevin has my mind a little rattled, sorry to take it out on you."
He sighs as he replies, "I don't blame you. Dude hid a whole family from you, and you only found out by happenstance. That shit's wild to me."
She agreeably responds, "Right! Who does that? And then acts like it's no big deal. What the fuck?"
He shrugs his shoulders as he replies, "Clearly he's had some luck in using that line, that's why he tried it on you. But you are too smart to fall for it."
She takes in his response and asks, "You think he's using a line?" He doesn't mean to. But answers her question with a question as he replies, "You don't?"
She thinks for a moment and replies, "I don't know if it's a line, or if its just a matter of him thinking I'm that slow to believe him to be honest."
He nods as he responds, "Good point. But the question is, does it matter which it is?" She shrugs her shoulders as she replies, "Not really. I don't have the energy to care enough to figure out his motive. That's why to his dismay I ended it."
He shakes his head as he responds, "As my sister would say, it's the audacity for me. He actually thinks he has a play to get back into your good graces. When in reality had you not pressed him about canceling on you the night of the party, who knows how long he would've kept the secret."
She agrees as she replies, "I think that's what really bothers me you know? He would've kept lying had I not pushed him to tell me the truth."
He sees the disappointment in her eyes and takes her hand as he responds, "You deserve better Red, and I'm glad you're choosing not to accept the bullshit he's pedaling even if you really liked him."
She smiles as she replies, "Thanks H. I appreciate you for saying that. Now if he'd just back off, that would be great."
His ears perk up as he asks, "Does he need some encouragement to do so?" She leans up as she replies, "What's that suppose to mean?"
He gives her a knowing look as he responds, "You know what it means Abs." She clears her throat, and tries to suppress that glint of fire she feels growing below, as she replies, "There's no need for that. I can handle him."
He nods as he calmly responds, "Cool, but if at any point you feel like you can't, or he does something that proves he's not willing to listen, promise me you'll let me know, okay."
She smiles as she jokingly replies, "Awe shit, maybe you really do like me. Sir yes sir." But she sees he's not smiling, and he reiterates, "I'm serious Abs, don't underestimate this guy. He's already shown that you really don't know him as well as you thought."
She has to admit he's right, and says, "Okay. If I feel like things are getting too intense I will let you know as well as the authorities, deal?"
He nods as he says, "Deal." They share a kiss and when it breaks he asks, "You ready to get up? I want to order coffee for everybody from Grand Escape."
She beams as she replies, "Great, I wa..." He cuts her off, "A pumpkin delight with steamed whole milk, two pumps of French Vanilla syrup, a dollop of sweetened whipped cream and three scoops of pistachio crumble, correct?"
She is floored by his accuracy and says as much as she replies, "Well damn, how'd you get all of that correct?" He plainly responds, "I listen and remember what's important."
He can tell she's impresses as she replies, "That you do. And it would appear very well at that." He laughs as he says, "I'll take that as a compliment."
She responds, "it was definitely meant as one."
He agrees, they again share a laugh as they get out of bed, shower and dress.
Admittedly they both have a very different impression of one another going forward and they're both looking forward to seeing where things lead.