Author's Note: You readers out there continue to be awesome! I'm taking a much needed vacation starting tomorrow, and I won't have access to a computer. Fear not, regular updates will continue when I get back next week! Hint...solving Olivia's problem isn't going to be nearly as easy as this chapter may indicate.
Alex woke up and stretched out in her bed. After mentally reviewing the events of the prior evening, she figured she should get up and check on Olivia.
Olivia was lying in the exact same position from that night, and it didn't look like she would be waking up anytime soon.
Alex was hungry. She decided to get some bagels and coffee from the deli on the corner. She threw on a tank top and thin sweatpants, then quickly washed her face and brushed her teeth. Alex was only going to be gone for a few minutes, so she felt no need to put much effort into her appearance.
Olivia hadn't stirred at all. Alex left a short note on the side table explaining where she was, just in case Olivia woke up.
"I bet this is the longest Olivia has slept in ages," Alex thought as she walked to the kitchen. She spread cream cheese on a salted bagel and set the bagel and her coffee on the kitchen table. She opened her copy of that morning's New York Times and began reading.
Alex was halfway through the "Arts" section when she heard movement from the couch. She went into the living room.
Olivia was still laying on the couch, but she was awake.
"Good morning. How are you feeling?" Alex asked.
Olivia slowly sat up and faced Alex. "A little banged up, but I'm fine."
"I bought coffee and bagels. Do you feel like having any?"
"You are a lifesaver, Alex. Yes, I'll have a plain bagel with nothing on it and black coffee."
"Sure thing," Alex replied.
"I'm going to use the bathroom," Olivia said.
"Of course. There are some toothbrushes in the bottom cabinet and feel free to use anything I have in there. Also, last night I got you some sweats and a t-shirt and left them on the counter. You might feel a bit more comfortable if you changed," Alex offered.
"Thank you. You are amazing!" Olivia headed to the bathroom. She wasn't nauseous from the alcohol, but she felt sick to her stomach about what may have happened last night. She tried to run through everything, but there were a few significant gaps.
Olivia's self criticism went into overdrive. "You are an idiot, Liv. You lost control again and probably ruined any chance you may have had with her. She should have kicked you out last night. Alex is way too good for you. You're nothing but a worthless alcoholic, just like your mother!"
Olivia's internal tirade was interrupted by Alex knocking on the door.
"Your breakfast is ready. Are you OK in there?"
"Yep, I'm fine. Just finishing up. I'll be right out." Olivia changed her clothes, splashed some water on her face and checked out her reflection. "I look relatively human," she thought and then returned to the living room.
Olivia drank her coffee and took small bites of her bagel. Alex sat on the other side of the couch, working on the Times crossword puzzle.
"Liv, would you happen to know the name of a Lee Harvey Oswald victim that's not JFK? Six letters, third letter is 'P'."
"Tippit, with two 'I's'. J.D. Tippit. He was a Dallas police officer on patrol that day. He saw that Oswald fit the description of JFK's shooter and tried to investigate. When Tippit got out of his car, Oswald shot him dead," Olivia confidently answered.
"Thanks," Alex said, as she filled in the boxes. "You aren't one of those conspiracy nuts, are you?" she teased.
"Well, I certainly don't think that Oswald acted alone. There is no way he could have gotten those three shots off in that short amount of time and have been accurate enough to kill JFK. But we'll never know the true story, so I've begrudgingly accepted the 'official' theory," Olivia explained.
"Interesting. I've never really read much about it, but I know that there is a ton of controversy surrounding the assassination," Alex responded. She continued to work on her crossword while Olivia finished her breakfast.
After she polished off her coffee, Olivia knew that she had to address the elephant in the room.
"Alex..." she began.
"Yes, Liv?" Alex put down the newspaper and gave Olivia her undivided attention.
Olivia paused before speaking. "I need to apologize for last night. I was ecstatic when you asked me out, and I wanted to celebrate. But I took it way too far. I'm so, so sorry. I hope you can forgive me, but I understand if you can't."
"Liv, it's fine. I know you were just trying to have a good time. We've all had nights like those. I'd be lying if I said that I've never drank too much and regretted it," Alex admitted.
"I hate being out of control, and I hate not remembering everything. Was I incredibly obnoxious?"
"No more than usual." Alex grinned at Olivia. "Seriously though, you were somewhat belligerent when I refused you more alcohol, but you were more goofy than anything. It was cute, actually."
"Cute, huh? I'd rather be sophisticated and witty, but there are worse adjectives I suppose." Olivia looked down at the floor before speaking again.
"Alex, it's just...I don't ever want to turn into my mother. Her drinking ruined her life, and almost ruined mine. I've always had a healthy respect for alcohol, but lately...lately, I've been worried about my own drinking. I haven't been very responsible with my intake lately."
Alex moved over until she was right next to Olivia and pulled her into an embrace. "That cannot have been easy to admit. Maybe you do need to cut down or even stop completely. I don't know about your drinking habits, aside from what I observed last night. I'll fully support whatever decision you make, as long as it's in your best interest."
"Right now, I think I need a complete break from alcohol," Olivia confessed. "But you're an adult, and I don't want my problems to interfere with your life. I know you like your wine."
"Liv, I'll do anything it takes to help you. If I have to make a choice between alcohol and you, you will win every time."
Hot tears sprung to Olivia's eyes. "You don't have to do this."
Alex released the embrace and lifted Olivia's chin so that they were looking directly into each others eyes. "I know I don't have to. I want to. I want to be in a relationship with you, and I'm willing to take the good with the bad. I'm not perfect either, you know."
A small smile formed on Olivia's lips. "Tell me about it. Your knowledge of JFK's assassination is ridiculously weak."
Alex laughed. "That's true. I'll let you in on another secret. I failed calculus during my second semester at college. I had to retake it over the summer. I think I passed the second time solely because my professor felt sorry for me. I really did try my best, but I was terrible at it. To this day, I have no clue what a hyperbola is."
Olivia gasped in mock horror. "I am shocked, Ms. Cabot!"
"I am a woman of many talents. Advanced math is not one of them."
"Well," Olivia said, "if the Times crossword requires any calculations, I'm happy to do them for you." She took Alex's hands. "Alex...thank you. I want to be the girlfriend that you deserve. So I'll stop drinking for now, before I become just like my mother"
Alex shook her head. "Olivia...you will never be like her. I never met her, but from what you've told me, I can only see the complete opposite qualities in you. Maybe you do need to be more careful with alcohol than most people, but that in no way makes you any less of a person."
Olivia was relieved. She was still a bit hungover, but the pit in her stomach had disappeared.
"You know, Liv, we did forget to do one thing last night."
"Oh really? What was it?"
"This." Alex leaned in and kissed Olivia. As soon as their lips touched, both women knew that they wanted more. The kiss deepened, and it was a few minutes before they came up for air.
"That was amazing. I have wanted to do that for so long," Alex stated.
"Me too," Olivia agreed.
"So what do you want to do now?" Alex asked. "I don't have any plans for the day."
"Well, I figured I'd lay low for the day and recover. I can go home and do that, or..." Olivia looked hopefully at Alex.
"You can stay here. We can have a lazy Saturday. Is there a Mets game today? We can watch it together."
"Yes, all teams play on Saturday and Sunday, so the Mets will be on. But we don't have to watch the game if it's going to bore you," Olivia said.
"I know how much you love baseball, so I'm happy to watch with you. Maybe I'll enjoy it more if you explain it to me," Alex suggested.
"Sure thing," Olivia promised. "And if you're not busy tomorrow, maybe we can do something that you enjoy."
"That would be great, and I know just the thing. There's a special Cezanne exhibit at the MOMA. I would love to see it."
"Perfect," Olivia agreed. "I enjoy looking at art, even if I can barely draw stick figures. It's a date!"
The two women snuggled close together on the couch and began their quiet, low-key Saturday.