"Well," she said. "Maybe this should be our last round." Then she leaned back into him once again. He practically growled in response.
"I can't wait to get you home and out of those clothes," he said with an almost predatory edge to his voice.
Before Olivia could respond, she heard a familiar clearing of the throat next to her and closed her eyes. Of all people to have overheard that, it had to be him.
"Barba," she breathed and then turned to look at the man who'd worked his way through the bar crowd and was now standing next to them. "I didn't know you were coming."
"Uh, hey Liv," Barba answered ignoring Tucker for the moment. "Carisi invited me, but I wasn't sure if I could make it."
"Well, I'm glad you did." Olivia said quickly before he could apologize or say anything else to make this situation more awkward.
Ed hadn't moved, so Olivia patted his arms at her waist signaling him to ease up. Instead he just gave her a squeeze. She fought the urge to roll her eyes and tapped his shin with the heel of her boot.
Just then, the bartender came over to take their order. Ed finally loosened his hold on her and leaned forward so his right elbow could rest on the bar. He kept one hand on her hips and twisted them slightly so they were sort of facing Barba.
"What are you having, Counselor?" Ed prompted when the bartender looked around their threesome for orders. "This round's on us."
Olivia ignored both men and ordered for everyone, including Barba. This round's on us. Like they shared some kind of funds. She knew Ed was just needling Barba unnecessarily, and it irked her.
Barba did roll his eyes, but he heard Liv order his standard scotch on the rocks along with a slew of other drinks. When the bartender returned with the last beer, Barba immediately handed him his credit card.
Olivia shook her head and grabbed two of the drinks from the bar. "Can each of you grab one of those and meet me at the table?" She nodded toward the remaining drinks on the bar. Ed immediately snatched up their two bourbons and followed her.
Barba was stuck waiting for his credit card, so he took a sip of his scotch and took a deep breath. This thing was hard enough for him to accept. He didn't need Tucker goading him on top of it.
Olivia passed two beers to Carisi and Rollins and explained that the rest were on their way. Ed was just behind her and slid her drink over to her before resuming his spot behind her barstool. This time, when he rested his arm on the back, she leaned forward away from him.
Before Ed could react, Barba showed up with the rest of their drinks. Fin and Rollins greeted him with surprise. Apparently Carisi made the invitation completely on his own.
Olivia laughed to herself. Carisi just wanted everything back to normal. She had no doubt that he purposefully kept his invitation to Barba quiet because the rest of them might not have reacted positively. She knew that her team was protective of her, and that like Ed, they partially blamed Barba for her temporary reassignment, right or wrong.
If Carisi only knew what had just transpired, what he'd inadvertently set up. After their brief hellos, an uneasy quiet settled over the table.
"So Counselor," Carisi said. "Glad you could make it after all."
"Thanks, Carisi." Barba said trying, unsuccessfully to hide his annoyance.
Fin turned to Rollins and started talking about a case. He wasn't about to get involved in the shit show unraveling in front of them.
Amanda was relieved, she didn't fully understand why, but she felt the tension ratchet up. She elbowed Carisi and asked him about a particular detail on the case knowing that would distract him. The trio ended up in a huddle on the opposite side of the table.
Barba's skin was crawling. Why the hell did he think this would be a good idea? He just wanted to hang out with them, try to get back some sense of normalcy. Admittedly, he didn't know that Tucker would be there, but he should have guessed as much.
Tucker stood rigid behind Olivia's barstool. When the other detectives pointedly left the group, she'd turned sideways on the chair and leaned onto the table. Ed caught her obvious move to keep the physical distance between them and clenched his jaw. Ten minutes ago, they'd been one drink away from ditching this crew and heading home to bed. Now, he'd be lucky if she even let him walk her to her apartment.
Olivia studied Barba and ignored Ed. Barba seemed incredibly uncomfortable. At this point, she couldn't take back what he'd heard here or seen earlier. It shouldn't matter, and she wanted to scream. Finally, she decided that the situation would best be resolved without her.
Ed stumbled back a step when Olivia abruptly hopped off the barstool and announced that she was going to step outside to check in with Lucy. Ed was about to offer to walk her out when she shot him a look.
"Why don't you two… talk," she said with an almost threatening tone in her voice. Neither man was going to argue with her, so they just watched her walk away.
Olivia pulled her cell phone out of her pocket as she headed for the door. She wasn't sure why. She didn't really need to check in with her nanny. Lucy had already texted her twenty minutes earlier that she'd go ahead and get Noah his bath and have him ready for bed in case Liv and Ed wanted to stay out later.
Olivia had originally texted back in the affirmative, thinking she and Ed might stop for a quiet dinner before heading in for the night. Now, she wasn't sure she wanted to invite him home. His behavior toward Barba was unnecessary, and it annoyed her.
Ed and Barba both watched in stunned silence as she walked right out the door. Then they turned back to each other.
"You just keep showing up at the least opportune times," Ed said dryly.
Barba didn't answer. He didn't know what to do about this situation anymore, and right now, he just wanted to smack that smirk off Tucker's face. He watched with intrigue as Tucker's smile faded and he shook his head.
"Barba," Tucker began. "You and I both care about Olivia, right?"
"Of course," Barba answered without hesitation.
"And you're not interested…" Ed stumbled over his words a little before continuing. "…in her beyond…"
"She's one of my closest friends," Barba interrupted. He knew what Ed was getting at. There was no use spelling it out.
"Okay, I'm not gonna pretend that I'm not still pissed at how you handled things," Tucker said trusting that Barba knew what he was referring to. "But, Olivia has forgiven you, so for her sake, I'll try to move on."
"That's fair," Barba said. "I just want her to be happy."
"Me, too." Ed said quickly.
Olivia stepped outside into the crisp air and flipped through her emails. Anything to get her mind off of whatever conversation was going on inside. She half expected Ed and Barba to come crashing through the door after her.
"That was awkward," Fin said startling her.
She cocked an eyebrow at him wondering why he followed her. He just shrugged.
"Thought you could use some neutral company," he said with his signature coolness under any circumstance.
"So it's that obvious?" She asked wearily.
"I'm not sure what it is," he said suggestively. "But, yeah, it's obvious."
Olivia sighed. She didn't really want to talk to Fin about this, but the two people that she would normally talk to about such things were the problem.
"Ed's not ready to forgive Barba for turning us in," she said. "And Barba thinks my relationship with Ed is going to end our friendship."
"Jealousy is an ugly thing, just let them work it out." Fin said. He was on Liv's side. Period. He didn't think she should worry herself with two men who didn't see that there wasn't a competition. Olivia had the biggest heart of anyone he knew, and he knew that she'd make room for all of them.
"But how can they be jealous of each other?" Olivia practically whined. They each had a totally different relationship with her, and she didn't understand why they seemed to think they had to be mutually exclusive.
"Liv, I'm gonna let you in on a little secret." Fin said and looked to the bar's exit to make sure they were still alone. "People, especially male people, but pretty much all people, want to be important to you."
She scoffed. Fin held up a hand.
"Hear me out," he said. "The last couple years, you and Barba have been good friends."
She started to protest again thinking he meant there was more to it than there was. He just waved her off.
"He's like your once annoying, suddenly relevant and supportive brother," he continued. "I get it."
She laughed at that. She wasn't sure that was how Barba would have construed their relationship, but it was kind of accurate.
"This thing with Tucker though," he started.
Olivia braced herself. She and Fin hadn't talked about this at all, and she wasn't sure she wanted to know what he thought.
"It's cool, Liv," he assured her. "I may not get it, but I trust you."
She smiled at him. Why couldn't all the men in her life be this even-keeled?
"But it did kinda catch us all off guard," Fin continued.
"I know," she said. "I'm sorry, I just…"
"Hey, hey," he stopped her. "You don't have to explain or justify to me. I'm just saying, I get why Barba may have felt blindsided." She shook her head, and he just gave her another shrug.
"Do you think they'll ever be okay with each other?" She asked honestly.
"Yeah, they'll get there," Fin answered. "They both care too much about you to let each other get in the way."
"Hmm," she sighed. "I hope you're right."
"Trust me," he said and nodded toward the door. "We should get back in there before they give the bartender a reason to call the cops."
Olivia laughed and followed his lead. Fin was irreplaceable, ever practical and always had her back. She was lucky to have so many people in her life who cared about her. She knew it was that care that led to Ed's and Barba's issues, so she trusted Fin's instinct that they would work it out.
Olivia and Fin made their way back to their table to find Barba alone. Olivia's stomach knotted immediately.
"Tucker just went to the restroom," Barba offered, then he nodded toward the back. "And I think Amanda and Carisi are playing darts."
"Well, I think I'm gonna head out," Fin said seeing that there apparently wasn't a major confrontation. "Night's still young."
Olivia laughed at him and nodded. "Thanks Fin, have a good night." He gave a sly grin and disappeared into the crowded bar on his way back out.
"Liv," Barba began.
"Barba, wait," Olivia said.
"No, hear me out," Barba insisted. "Admittedly, my timing has sucked today."
She raised her eyebrows.
"But," he continued. "I'm going to start wearing a bell around my neck."
"Barba," she said with a laugh. "Actually, maybe you should do that."
He took her jibe. "I'm gonna head out."
"You don't have to go," she said.
"I know," Barba said. "It'll get easier. I'll get better at it."
"Thank you for sticking it out," she said with a hint of uncertainty.
"Liv, I'm your friend 'til we're 85, remember?" He teased. "You're not getting rid of me."
"I'm glad," she said sincerely.
He turned to leave, and she stopped him with a loose hug. He said something to her that caused her to laugh and shove him away. He was laughing, too as he turned to leave.
Across the bar, Ed watched their exchange and tried not to react. It was a simple hug. It didn't mean anything. He took a deep breath and steeled himself.
He thought he and Barba had reached an agreement. He didn't know why he felt so differently about Barba than he did about Fin. He hadn't missed Fin following Olivia out of the bar earlier, and he wasn't the least bit bothered by it.
However, seeing Barba hug her and make her throw her head back in laughter made Ed anger bubble back to the surface. Even after Olivia's and Barba's assurances that there was nothing more friendship there, Ed was jealous. Of what, he didn't even know. Nonetheless, he strode forward, one purpose in mind.
Barba left the bar and smiled to himself. He and Liv were finally somewhat normal. He still didn't feel that Tucker had fully forgiven him, but he took some solitude in their gentleman's agreement to play nice for Liv's sake. Maybe eventually they'd actually find neutral ground.
Unaware he was being followed, Barba decided to walk a while. He was a few dozen blocks from his condo, but right now he didn't care.