Chapter 5

It was around four o'clock when Eddie decided to start getting ready for dinner with Jamie and his college friends. She wondered if they would like her, if his ex Dana would be there. She couldn't help but feel jealous as she thought this but he wouldn't have invited her if he didn't want her there. She had gone shopping with her niece and ended up buying the dress she was going to wear. It was a short black dress with a sheer neckline paired with blush colored heels. She decided to curl her hair and wear a light pink lipstick. By the time she was done Jamie was knocking on her door.

Eddie opened the door and Jamie couldn't speak at first because he couldn't get over how beautiful he thought Eddie looked. Eddie couldn't help but notice that Jamie wasn't saying anything "Take a picture it'll last longer Reagan now let's go before we're late." Finally Jamie snapped out of it

" Eddie you do look really beautiful."

"Well Reagan I dress to impress and I want your friends to like me."

"Of course they'll like you. And even they don't it won't matter to me. It's their loss."

Eddie couldn't believe how special Jamie made her feel. Ever since she met Jamie she felt something she hadn't felt in a long time, worth. Jamie wasn't even her boyfriend so why was it every time she went out on a date she always turned them down? Could it be that she was in love with Jamie? Ever since that kiss she couldn't help but imagine what it would be like to have Jamie as her boyfriend. She couldn't help but smile and they joked and laughed the whole cab ride to the restaurant. They walked in and saw Spencer sitting with a fairly small group of people, maybe 5 or 6.

Eddie couldn't help but laugh under her breathe when she saw Spencer. It reminded her of the night of their double date. She found it funny that Jamie had ended up walking her home and kissing her outside of her building instead of him. Jamie was so excited to see his friends that neither him nor Eddie noticed that sitting behind them across the restaurant was his Dad, Erin, and Henry having dinner. Erin looked up from her menu and almost burst out laughing. Frank noticed "Erin what on earth are you giggling at?"

"Dad remember how I said Jamie couldn't come because he had dinner with some of his college friends?"

"And?"

"Look who is sitting across the restaurant, more importantly look who's sitting next to Jamie"

Frank and Henry both looked up and saw Jamie sitting with a couple of his college friends and seated next to him was Eddie.

Henry had to do a double take when he saw Jamie's partner " I almost didn't recognize her! She looks completely different when she isn't in uniform. Now I understand what Jamie sees in her!"

Frank almost choked on his scotch " Pop she wears the uniform just like everybody else there's no need to go there."

Henry was quick to answer " All I'm saying Francis is she is a beautiful, young lady and I can understand why he seems to like her so much and I bet she has a good head on her shoulders ."

Erin wasn't one to gossip but she didn't know if she could keep what she knew a secret.

"Dad, grandpa Jamie is going to tell Eddie he loves her." She said in an excited whisper

Henry looked over at his grandson laughing at something Eddie had said and he noticed the look he had in his eyes. It was the same look he saw in Francis when Mary was still alive. The same look Danny gave Linda. A look of adoration and love. He couldn't help but smile at Erin's news.

"So when can we expect her at Sunday dinner and what should we have?"

"Soon Pop, soon"

They spent the rest of the evening trying to ignore Jamie and Eddie and let them have a normal night out without interfering.

Meanwhile on the other side of the restaurant…

"Jamie that so isn't true!" Eddie exclaimed as Jamie told a story of the time they arrested a man for public indecency. Jamie claimed that Eddie found him attractive.

Eddie couldn't help but comeback with the story of the time Jamie had a not so secret admirer that would wait for him when they were on tour. The whole table erupted with laughter as Eddie and Jamie told the story.

Soon dinner was over and they all parted ways to go home. Jamie insisted on taking Eddie home.

He was nervous but after tonight he couldn't wait to tell her.

They stopped outside her building. He couldn't help but laugh at the fact that a year ago they stood in this same spot and kissed. Now he was going to tell her he loved her. They have come a long way.

Eddie could sense Jamie had something he wanted to say and it was killing her.

"Reagan you have something you wanna say? You look like you're going to burst."

Jamie looked into her eyes and Eddie could tell this was something serious.

"Can we talk about this inside?"

They walked up to Eddie's apartment and sat down on the couch.

"Whatever is Jamie you can tell me."

This was it…

"Eddie ever since I met you I knew you would become an important part of my life. I didn't know then but I know now that every time we went out on tour, going for drinks, spending our days off doing nothing but watch tv and talk, to our late night breakfast trips only brought us closer together. Truth be told I can't imagine my life without you in it. You've always had my back on the job and off. And after everything that has happened in two days I finally realized that there may be a day when we aren't partners anymore but that doesn't mean I can't be a part of your life. What I've been trying to say is… Eddie, I love you."

Eddie couldn't believe it..she couldn't even bring herself to answer Jamie right away.

"Jamie I love you too."

Jamie was smiling the biggest smile she had ever seen and then he took her face in his hands and kissed her. When they broke apart Eddie looked at Jamie and couldn't remember a time where she felt so loved.

They looked into each other's eyes and they didn't speak they didn't have to. Eventually they ended up in Eddie's room and that night they finally made love.

Later they were lying in bed, wrapped up sheets and Jamie watched as Eddie slept in his embrace. He could stay like this with her forever. He drifted off to sleep with a smile on his face because he finally felt complete.