Thank you guys so much for your comments!!! =)I hope you'll enjoy this chapter.
I apologize in advance for the lack of Loker, Torres and bet in this chapter as well as in the next two at least. I'll make it up to you, promise! In the meantime, think I should start a poll for you to participate to the bet? ^^
"Just like a distant star" is from "Wintersong" by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson.
Chapter 3: Just like a distant star
When Gillian entered the kitchen, Cal was busy carving the roast beef. He looked up when she walked in and smiled.
« Hey. »
« Hey. Emily let me in. I dropped by my place to pick up your presents. »
« And what are those? »
« Not telling. »
She took a paper-wrapped candy from the bowl set on the island and sat on a stool.
« Why aren't you wearing your lovely apron? »
« It's not nice to mock, love. »
« I wouldn't dare. »
« You're not supposed to eat sweets before dinner you know. »
She glared at him and purposefully slid the candy between her lips. He tried hard not to stare and concentrated instead on the roast beef.
« Need any help with anything? »
« Are you just being polite or do you really want to give a hand? »
« Can't you tell? »
« Well I'm not looking at you right now. »
She sighed and got up.
« I'm just going to set the table. »
« It's already set. »
« Really? »
« Yes, in the dinning room. Em' did it. Go take a look. »
She went and froze upon seeing the table. Emily definitely went all out. Candles, silverware, red and gold napkins, holly all over the ceiling light, and mistletoe just above the doorframe. She rolled her eyes and stepped away from it. No way she was getting cornered like that by a teenager. She got back to the kitchen and leaned against the counter while Cal was mashing potatoes.
« Everything is beautiful. »
« Well, you can tell her that yourself. She'll be happy to hear it. Where is she, anyway? »
« Said she had to wrap some last minute presents. »
« Of course… »
« Something's wrong? »
« My daughter's view of the world. »
« What? »
« Nothing. »
« Ok… »
She frowned at him. It was not as he could see it since he was not looking at her. Sensing that it had something to do with the episode in the elevator, she pushed her luck.
« Did you see the mistletoe above the doorframe? »
« She hung mistletoe above the doorframe? »
She at least got him to look up. And she saw his anger at Emily.
« I guess she did. »
« I'm going to kill her. »
He made a move to leave the kitchen but she caught him by the elbow.
« Okay now that's enough. What is wrong with you? Why are you mad at Emily? And why did you give me the cold shoulder in the parking lot? »
« It's nothing. »
« You may be a good liar but I'm not an idiot Cal. What did Emily say to get you wind up like that? Is it about what happened in the elevator? »
« Aren't you the one always nagging me about your bloody line, Foster? »
« What? »
« Just let it go. »
He walked away from her but she went and stood right before him.
« I'm not letting this go. What is this all about? We were casually joking about my virginity and suddenly you're telling you daughter to watch it? »
Her attempt at lightening the mood got him to smile briefly. She stepped closer to him.
« Cal? »
They both stepped away from each other and turned to the door when they heard Emily storm in. When seeing them both, she took a step back to leave the kitchen.
« Oi! Emily! »
She stopped in the living room and waited for him, her arms crossed over her chest. He approached her and spoke up, his voice low and threatening.
« What are you doing hanging mistletoe, Em? »
« Oh. That. »
« I told you. You stay out of my relationship with Gillian. »
« What relationship? »
He winced at her daring tone.
« Whatever it is, it's none of your business. »
« Fine! Whatever. »
She raised her hands in surrender and left. He went back to the kitchen and stared a moment at Gillian. She was sitting on a stool, playing with the wrapper of her candy, a pensive look on her face. He walked up to her and she raised her face.
« She's trying to play matchmaker, isn't she? »
He stopped and sighed.
« That she is, love. »
« What did you tell her? »
« To back off. »
After a moment of silence, she spoke up, her eyes down, her hands folded in her lap, her voice full of shyness.
« What did she say? »
« She surrendered, saying fine. But you know her she… »
« No, I mean, what did she say about us? »
He kicked an imaginary rock on the clean tiled floor of the kitchen.
« She says you make me happy. She says seeing us together makes her happy. »
« Tried to play you by the feelings I see. »
« It's your bloody line, Foster! »
She looked up at his sudden outburst and frowned.
« What do you mean by that? »
« Nothing. I don't know. »
Reading his unguarded face, she felt her heart skip a beat and frowned deeper from confusion. She swallowed before speaking.
« Do you want us to be together? »
He briefly looked at her, and shoved his hands in his pockets. If she weren't that petrified, she would have smiled and found this cute. She stood up and took a few steps closer to him.
« Cal? »
« Do you? »
« That's such an amateur deflection. »
He looked up and flashed a smile.
« We're both single now, love. What's stopping us? »
« You mean apart from us being best friends and partners and the risk of screwing this all up? It's too… »
Silent filled the room when he suddenly walked to her and kissed her. She froze a second before kissing him back. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he put his hands on her hips. He pushed her gently and she broke away from the kiss when she her back hit the counter. She looked down, trying to calm her shallow breathing. She brushed her thumb against the corner of her mouth, Cal's eyes following the movement.
« I'm sorry, love. I just wanted to kiss you. »
Her cheeks reddened and he found it utterly adorable. But then she surprised him by walking away and taking the platter of meat.
« We should go eat. »
She left the room and he heard her call out for Emily. He hid anger and disappointment from his face, took the bottle of wine and the mashed potatoes and joined them.
TBC.