Chapter 9

Felicity stood in front of her full length mirror, smoothing her hands over the soft, peacock blue material of her new dress. It was definitely gorgeous and showed her figure to advantage. The short hemline was offset by the modest boat neck and cap sleeve design, and the black, suede ankle boots she wore added inches to her height. They also did great things for the long expanse of leg she was showing off.

The dress was fantastic – it was the back that was now worrying her; or rather, the lack of one. The dress was completely backless down to the small of her back, and she'd never worn anything that revealing before. It made her feel practically naked. Just as she was wondering if she should change, the doorbell rang.

Felicity unlocked the door and opened it, expecting to see Lindsay. Instead, Oliver stood before her. He was more casually dressed than usual, wearing a dark blue button down shirt with jeans and his black leather jacket.

"Hi," he said, smiling. "You look nice."

"Thanks. Um, what are you doing here?" She stepped aside to let him in. When she turned to close it, she heard his quick, indrawn breath.

Felicity turned back to him, nibbling her lip nervously. She knew immediately he was reacting to her very naked back, and again the urge to change struck her. Oliver was looking at her differently – in a way that had butterflies squirming in her stomach. Stop. You're imagining it, she told herself.

"I told Lindsay I would pick you up," Oliver replied after a moment's pause.

Raising a brow, she asked, "Since when do you have Lindsay's number?"

"Since earlier today. She's your closest friend here in the city, so I thought exchanging contact information was a good idea. Are you ready?"

"Yes. I mean, I was thinking of changing…"

"Don't." Oliver's command was abrupt, and he cleared his throat. Stepping forward, he swept a lock of her wavy hair over her shoulder and allowed his hand to ghost down her back. "You look perfect."

Holy hell. Felicity swallowed hard against the fire licking across her nerve endings in the wake of his fingers. So not good.

Oliver kept Felicity close as they entered Starlight Estate. It was hard to miss the way men were noticing her, especially once they got a look at the back of her dress. She was beautiful, desirable, and it was clear he wasn't the only one who thought so.

The inside of the estate had been turned into a lounge with large areas for group seating as well as more intimate alcoves for those more inclined to socialize one on one. Tonight's private party was being hosted by the owner, and many of Starling City's elite had turned up for it. The hostess showed them to an area where most of the team were located, and Tyler stood to greet them. Oliver was forced to relinquish his hold on Felicity to shake Tyler's hand.

"Hey, glad you could make it," Tyler greeted him. Turning to Felicity, he simply said, "Wow."

"Thanks," Felicity answered with a smile, though she seemed a little embarrassed by the attention. "Is Lindsay here?"

"Yeah, she's talking to a guy over there. Something about an interview she's been trying to get?" He shook his head in amusement. "She always did have trouble letting the reporter instinct go in a social setting."

"Well, she claims that a large number of her interviews and tips come from social schmoozing," Felicity commented.

Tyler gestured for them to sit, and Oliver grasped Felicity's hand to lead her to a small sofa facing Tyler. She sat and seemed startled when he claimed the seat beside her, sitting closely enough that their knees brushed together and her perfume teased his senses. The waiter passed by and took their wine order, returning promptly with a bottle of red that Oliver felt sure Felicity would like. He removed the cork and poured the ruby liquid into their glasses before setting them aside.

"The wine should breathe for a few minutes," Oliver told her when Felicity looked at him.

"Breathe – right. I usually just dig right in." Her hand was nervously trailing up and down the side of her leg, and he put his hand over hers to still the distracting motion.

"Hey, you," Lindsay said as she walked up, squeezing Felicity's hand before sitting beside Tyler. "Wow – love the dress. I take it your shopping excursion was successful?"

Oliver sat back and observed quietly, enjoying seeing a different side of Felicity. And she was different with her friends, chatting confidently about a myriad of topics. She babbled more around him and Diggle, a habit he knew was born of nerves. A few of Tyler's team members wandered over, apparently eager for introductions to Lindsay and Felicity. Lindsay took the attention in stride as she was clearly used to it, but Felicity seemed less comfortable with it.

Tyler was reminiscing now, telling his teammates about his time with Lindsay and Felicity at university. Oliver felt a stab of something in his gut and realized it was jealousy. He'd felt it at the diner earlier too. Right or wrong, he didn't like the shared history between Tyler and Felicity. He wondered if Tyler was the reason Felicity had gone shopping for a new dress. As much as he didn't want to admit it, that idea bothered him.

Clearly he needed to sort out his feelings for Felicity. He liked her, and he wanted her. He recalled Felicity's accusations about misplaced curiosity and wondered if that was all it was. Looking at her tonight, and judging by the way he'd been feeling for the past couple of weeks, he really didn't think so.

Her words had forced him to take a hard look at emotions he wasn't comfortable dealing with – namely, his residual feelings for Laurel. Oliver knew he still cared for Laurel and likely always would, but the fire wasn't there anymore. He wasn't even sure when that had changed. He'd been so confused when he returned because the idea of Laurel was the only thing that kept him sane on the island. There was still a bittersweet pang when he saw Tommy and Laurel together, but one thing he now knew was that he wasn't looking to change things between them.

So then where did Felicity fit in? That was the billion dollar question. He cared about her, but it wasn't love. He valued her friendship, but he wanted to bump their relationship up a notch. He wanted her, period. However, the idea that it might affect their friendship and working relationship in a negative way gave him something else to consider.

He picked up their glasses of wine and passed one to Felicity. Then he allowed his arm to drape around her, smiling a little when she jumped and nearly choked on her wine.

"Sorry. Where's the ladies room?" Felicity asked.

Lindsay stood. "I'll show you."

In the ladies room, Lindsay turned to look at Felicity. "What is going on with you two?"

Felicity sighed. "Nothing." Nothing good, she mentally amended.

Lindsay laughed. "Felicity, you are such a bad liar. What I saw out there was not nothing – clearly you know that."

"We've been working together a lot more lately," Felicity explained. "And we're both single…"

"And here it comes – your proximity, availability and curiosity argument."

"Hey – it's a valid argument!" Felicity protested.

"Sure, in certain circumstances – this not being one of them," Lindsay told her. "He didn't have to come tonight – he certainly didn't have to pick you up. He didn't have to install that fancy new security system at your apartment, and don't even try to tell me he didn't do that. I didn't say anything because I could see that you didn't want to talk about it. But now that you've passed denial and have entered the land of self-delusion, I'm breaking my vow of non-interference. He likes you and he wants to sleep with you – simple as that."

Felicity shot her friend an irritated look and went into one of the stalls. She put the lid down, covered it with a couple of the paper seat covers, and sat gingerly before leaning her head on her hands. She saw Lindsay's feet on the other side of the door.

"Felicity, I'm not saying you should sleep with him. Frankly, given his reputation, it might not be the greatest idea."

"His reputation is pretty exaggerated," Felicity said with a sigh. "It's not his reputation I'm worried about." And that was the truth. Oliver would never treat her like a one night stand, and she knew that.

Lindsay knocked on the door. "I hate talking to you through doors, sweetie."

Felicity stood and unlocked the door, and they both walked over to the sitting area. A couple of other women had entered and were looking at them curiously, so they kept their voices down.

"What are you afraid of?"

Felicity started to push her glasses up and remembered she was wearing her contact lenses. "That my feelings will end up being stronger than his. I'm like halfway there already because he's not the man the media portrays." She stopped, unsure of how to express her thoughts without giving away too much information. "He's complicated."

Lindsay was quiet for a moment. "It's okay – I get it. And I trust your judgment because you've never been taken in by charm alone. If you say he's more than the public sees, I believe you. As far as I'm concerned, the fact that he sees what an amazing woman you are says a lot about him."

"I just don't think I'm ready for whatever this is," Felicity admitted. "Blind leaps have never been my thing, and I've been alone for a while. I just think it would be easy to let my hormones lead me down a path I'll end up regretting. Maybe he does feel… something. But I've gotten to know him pretty well these last few months, Lindsay. He's not really ready for the kind of relationship I'm pretty sure I want."

"So then play the field a little first and let him get his head straight," Lindsay advised. "And if he makes a move before you're ready? Be honest. I think he would respect that."

They rejoined the group, and Felicity allowed Lindsay to sit between her and Oliver. God knew she needed some distance.

Despite the underlying tension between her and Oliver, the group setting was friendly and relaxed. Felicity had to admit she was having fun, and while not entirely comfortable with the male attention she was getting, she did find it flattering.

An hour later they were mingling, and Oliver had reclaimed a position near her, his hand finding the bare skin of her back with alarming frequency. It set her on edge and kept her pulse thrumming, and she really, really wished he would stop. Because if he kept it up, she was pretty sure she was going to forget her very wise and mature decision to keep Oliver firmly in the friend zone – for now at least.

When Tyler took her hand to introduce her to someone, she allowed him to lead her away from Lindsay and Oliver. And when he put his arm around her in a manner that was a little more than friendly, she allowed that too. His touch didn't elicit the sparks that Oliver's did. There was no hum of sexual energy that made her heart rate kick into high gear. But it was warm, and it felt almost experimental since she'd never subscribed to the idea that attraction was always explosive straight from the word go.

When she finally glanced around the room for Oliver, she saw him talking to a tall, leggy brunette. A Laurel type, she thought wistfully. A Helena type, or a McKenna type. Oliver certainly had a proclivity for brunette beauties able to move with ease in the glittering world he occupied; a world Felicity had no idea how to navigate.

The woman turned to greet someone passing by them, and with a start Felicity realized it actually was Laurel. After a few moments the two were alone again, and Oliver led her over to a table. They were deep in discussion about something, and the familiar ease they exhibited with one another made Felicity's stomach clench.

When she put her hand to her stomach and took a breath, Tyler leaned down to look at her. "Hey – you okay?"

"Yeah," she replied. "I'm just tired. I didn't sleep well last night, and the hangover I had earlier didn't help matters."

"Well, I'm calling it a night soon," he said. "I can take you home on my way to the hotel."

Felicity glanced at Oliver and Laurel again. "Thanks. I should tell Oliver since he drove me here."

Laurel saw them first, her bright smile lighting up her pretty face. "Hey – Oliver was just about to look for you."

"Hi," Felicity said, smiling back. She introduced Laurel to Tyler before she continued. "Actually, I think we're heading out. It's been a long day."

Oliver stood up. "If you're ready to go, Felicity, I should…"

She interrupted him. "No, it's okay. Tyler is headed back to the hotel and he's offered to drive me home." She was very aware of Tyler's hand on her back; she was also very aware of the way Oliver's jaw clenched when he noticed it.

Though he didn't look happy about it, Oliver smiled tightly and offered Tyler his hand. "Okay then. I guess I'll see you tomorrow."

Other than giving Tyler her address, she remained silent on the drive back to her apartment. When they arrived, Tyler followed her upstairs. Felicity debated what to do next as they stood before her door.

"Would you like to come in?" she finally asked.

He accepted, and soon they were settled on her sofa with a bottle of wine. Felicity was getting some pretty clear signals from Tyler – signals that implied he would welcome a shift from friends to something more. After a third of the bottle was gone, he started being direct.

"If I hadn't had a girlfriend back at university, maybe things would have been different with us," he said as Felicity topped off their glasses.

"You must have known I had a crush," Felicity said. "It was kind of embarrassing, actually. But you were always so nice about it."

"Because it was flattering," he answered. "You were a literal genius, and you were cute and funny. But you were also a little young back then, and I had a girlfriend, so…"

"What happened between you and Gina?" Felicity ventured carefully. "I ran into her downtown about a year ago, and she told me that you two had just broken up."

"Honestly? Distance is a bitch in a relationship," Tyler explained in a matter of fact tone. "My training and game schedule made seeing each other on a regular basis difficult. So she moved to L.A. and things were okay for a while, but she wasn't happy there. I was busy a lot, and she wanted to set up her own interior design business. But the competition was just a little too fierce, and she missed her friends and family. I think she started to resent me for taking her away from Starling City."

"I'm sorry." It sounded like they had unresolved issues. Still, it had been a year – technically, that put him out of rebound territory. So when he leaned forward and kissed her, she didn't stop him.

Things got heated pretty quickly. The way she responded to Tyler was different from the way she felt when she was around Oliver, but it still felt good – it felt good to be close to someone again, to have someone want her. It felt nice, up to a point. And then Felicity eased back, not ready to take it any further.

"I'm sorry." Tyler expression was apologetic as she moved away from him. "I didn't mean for that to get so out of control."

"No, it's fine. I'm just not ready."

"Because of Oliver?" When her eyes met his, surprised, he said, "I couldn't help noticing how protective he is of you."

"We're friends," she finally said.

"No – I think we're friends, Felicity. As great as that was a minute ago, we weren't really…"

"Feeling it?" she finished the sentence. "Emotionally, right?"

"Yeah," he agreed a bit sheepishly. "To be honest, I've only been with one woman since Gina and I broke up, and it was a disaster. I wouldn't want to do that to you. And I get the feeling that I don't compare so favorably with Oliver, either."

"We are a pair, aren't we?" Felicity leaned her head against the cushions and sighed. "Why don't you ask Gina to come tomorrow? You never know – maybe you'll be able to reconnect. And even if you don't, it would probably be a form of closure for you."

Tyler rubbed his hands down his face and smiled, though he suddenly looked tired. "Closure would be nice." When he stood to leave, Felicity stopped him.

"Stay – it's late, and you've had wine." When she saw him eyeing the sofa dubiously, she laughed. "I know you're too big for the sofa. You can sleep with me. Just know that if your hands wander during the night, I might hurt you with the self-defense moves I've been studying with Oliver's bodyguard."

He laughed. "Hands to myself – promise."

Laurel followed Oliver and his bodyguard, John Diggle, into Verdant. The nightclub was busy, and she waved as they walked in to let Tommy know she was there. Oliver was scowling, an expression that seemed to have been permanently etched onto his face ever since Felicity left the winery with her friend, Tyler. Once again she wondered what exactly was going on between them.

She loved Tommy – of that she was certain. She loved him, and she'd made a concerted effort to put her feelings for Oliver firmly in the past where she felt they belonged. She was sure he'd made an effort to do the same for Tommy's sake. Still, she sometimes felt a little pang for what would never be, and seeing the way Oliver looked at Felicity tonight was one of those times.

She watched Oliver join Tommy behind the bar for a moment, looking over menu details, before pouring himself a scotch. She saw Mr. Diggle raise his brows at Oliver, obviously questioning the source of his pissy mood.

When Oliver headed over to greet a table of socialites, Tommy looked at Diggle. "What's wrong with him?"

Diggle shrugged. "He was like that when he left the winery."

Laurel took a sip of her wine. "I think it has something to do with Felicity leaving with Tyler Manning."

Tommy's brows rose. "Tyler Manning – as in the basketball player? I wouldn't have pegged Felicity for a ball groupie."

Diggle sent him a sharp look. "Felicity is not any kind of groupie. She and Tyler went to university together."

"Hey no offense," Tommy said, raising his hands in an appeasing gesture. "But I guess that explains the mood."

Aware that Diggle was obviously Felicity's friend, Laurel treaded carefully. "Felicity and Oliver are just friends though, right?"

"They're friends," Diggle confirmed, his tone indicating he was done with the topic.

When Diggle walked away, Tommy shook his head. "They're not just friends and co-workers. Or maybe they are, but it's heading in a different direction even if they don't see it yet."

Laurel raised a curious brow. "And how do you know that?"

"Because the only time I see glimpses of the Oliver I used to know is when he's with Felicity," Tommy said slowly, his eyes on the man currently posing for a photo with two women. "This Oliver? It's a sham, a show he's putting on to make everyone think he's fine. And the Oliver we've seen in the months since he's returned is another kind of show."

She didn't argue because she knew Tommy was right. She thought about the way Oliver had been with Felicity the night before. "He's more real with her, isn't he? Like he's not hiding anything."

Tommy shrugged. "She obviously cares about him, and he seems to confide in her. But I'd hate to see her get dragged into the mess his life is in even more than she already has been. She seems like a nice girl – she doesn't need the jet full of baggage Oliver brought back from the island."

Laurel continued to watch Oliver thoughtfully as she waited for Tommy to finish up. Oliver put on a good show, but Tommy was right – it was nothing but that. Why he felt the need to do so was a mystery to everyone except maybe Felicity. The fact that she'd chosen to leave with Tyler Manning had obviously upset Oliver; he'd been brooding and angry in the car, and those emotions were still idling under the surface of the image he was now projecting.

Maybe Felicity was in self-preservation mode. If she was, Laurel couldn't fault her for it. She knew first-hand how convincing he could be and how he could draw a girl in with a single look. But Oliver needed someone to ground him, to make him face up to emotions he now kept on a very tight leash. The leash loosened around Felicity though – Laurel and Tommy had both seen it. She was outside their circle, so there were no bad memories associated with her. Maybe that was exactly what he needed.

A/N: Okay, one chapter left! There will be a sequel to this story though – the title is 'Recreational Dating for Dummies' and picks up after the Glades fall with some adjustments to canon. I'll probably start posting the sequel after the season 2 premiere so I can decide how much I want to follow whatever they're setting in motion. Also, someone asked in a review if Oliver would meet Felicity's mother – the answer is yes. That happens in the sequel.

I want to take a moment to thank all of you who have reviewed or messaged me about the story. The response has been so awesome, and I only wish I had the time (and a reliable Internet signal) to respond to everyone. I'm behind on last chapter reviews, but I hope to catch up this week. My Internet was down the last few days but seems to be working again today. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed the update!