Friends & Lovers
He'd called her to go for a walk after his conversation with Louise Cornish. He understood the woman's heartbreak but didn't understand her bitterness toward love. Or perhaps it was because he'd finally acknowledged his feelings for Laura and all he wanted to be was happy.
As he walked, he thought about her, about their dinner the night before. He'd wanted her to know he was ready. Ready for her, for them, ready to let nature takes its course. He didn't really know how to tell her everything. It had been a long time since he'd had to do this. Hopefully, she understood his meaning.
Thinking about the kiss at the end of the night, he smiled. Her lips were soft. He wasn't sure he'd ever really thought about how tiny she was until she had to push up to kiss him. The smile bloomed some more, thinking about how much he would have liked to have continued the kiss.
"What are you thinking about that's making you smile?"
He turned, his heart beating slightly faster for seeing her. "You."
She blushed, "Funny, I've been thinking about you most of the day too. I'm pretty sure Anne Marie thinks I am losing my hearing. She keeps having to repeat things to me." They fell into step, a comfortable silence falling between them. "How did your conversation with Louise Cornish go?"
"About as well as can be expected, I guess. It's not like anyone ever expects to hear their spouse is a drug dealer who's two-timing them with their business partner's wife, do they?"
Laura laughed, "No, I expect there is no special occasion card for that scenario."
Robbie stopped at the top of the bridge, leaning onto it, looking out over the river. Shaking his head, trying to understand, "Jack Cornish didn't just fall into drugs did he? Through poverty or a chaotic life? He walked in with his eyes wide open, knowing people are going to die, lives are going to be ruined, and he just didn't care.
Laura leaned into him, trying to offer some physical comfort, "Well, you'll put a stop to that."
He nodded, "Well we've closed the factory. Still got to nail Faulkner and his mates."
Smiling, she nodded, "You will."
Pushing back from the railing, he nodded his head at something in the distance. "And when I do, do you fancy a ride, one night after work?"
She was stunned at his suggestion. Hadn't really expected him to be quite so open. Smiling, incredulously at him, "A ride?"
He looked down at her, confused, "What?" Seeing the slight blush, it dawned on him how she might have interpreted what he said. "I mean a bike ride." Her laughter made him smile, then pull her into his arms. "There's a bike hire shop…"
Placing her hand on his chest, she let herself be pulled. "Oh, Robbie, you? On a bike?"
Pulling her even tighter he smiled down at her, "Believe it or not, I'm quite good on a bike."
"Only on a bike?" He inhaled, suddenly afraid of the conversation. Laura felt the change in his body, "Robbie, I'm sorry…"
"Don't be, I want this. I'm just a bit scared."
"Tell me."
"You're my best friend."
"I can be both you know."
"Both what?"
She smiled softly, a delicate blush crept across her cheeks. "Your friend and your lover. I'm not in this for a fling, Robbie. I want…"
He leaned down and kissed her, stopping her from talking. It wasn't the chaste kiss, filled with promise, from the previous night. It delivered on the promise suggested as he'd walked her to her car the night before.
They clung to each other, oblivious to anyone and anything around them. A desperate need for air pulled them apart, long before each was truly sated. Robbie rested his forehead against her, struggling to catch his breath.
"Was that what you wanted, Laura?"
Just before capturing his lips with another promising kiss, "It'll do for a start."
What would you say if I told you
I've always wanted to hold you
I don't know what we're afraid of
Nothing would change if we made love
So I'll be your friend and I'll be your lover
'Cause I know in our hearts we agree
We don't have to be one or the other
Oh no, we could be both to each other
And yes, it's a chance that we're taking
Somebody's heart may be breaking
But we can't stop what's inside us
Our love for each other will guide us
So I'll be your friend and I'll be your lover
'Cause I know in our hearts we agree
We don't have to be one or the other
There were a few death threats from the last chapter. It felt necessary to give you a happy chapter. I make no such promises on the one after.
I don't know about the rest of you but I always felt there was something left on the cutting room floor in that bridge scene. Not that his embarrassment about the "ride" wasn't cute but what happened which made him feel comfortable enough to pull her into his arms…
This was a song I often sang as a first dance at weddings. It wasn't my favorite but it definitely wasn't my least favorite. Friends & Lovers – Gloria Loring