Chapter 61:

"Oh," Sharon said shortly and for a moment she didn't say anything else. Flynn watched her, leaning on his elbow and waiting for her to decide whether she wanted to answer him or not.

"You know what? Forget about it, it's okay," he said eventually in a gentle voice.

"No, it's fine. He's got Asperger syndrome," she said at once, and Flynn noticed a sudden sadness in her eyes.

"That's it?" he asked in confusion.

"What do you mean 'that's it'?" she squinted at him.

"You were so secretive about it, I thought he murdered someone or something," Flynn said lightly.

Sharon examined his face for a moment, frowning. His reaction baffled her. She expected pity or rejection, like she was used to whenever people found out.

"I wasn't secretive about it, I just don't like to talk about him," she said finally.

"Why not? Are you ashamed of him?"

"No!" she said firmly. "I guess I always feel the need to protect him. He suffered a lot in his life."

Flynn looked down at her, thinking about what she had just said. Her head was still resting on his arm and her sad, green eyes were mostly fixed on the ceiling, occasionally landing on his face as she talked. He moved just a few inches towards her and his lips touched her cheek for a brief kiss. She looked at him and smiled.

"So, where is he now?" he asked.

"Living with my parents. He fixes watches in a store that belongs to my father's friend."

"Has he ever lived on his own?"

"No, my parents always preferred having him with them, but I'm pretty sure he could live on his own."

"Why don't you invite him over once?" he suggested. She looked at him quickly, shaking her head, and he rolled his eyes in response. "Why not? What's his name, anyway?"

"Sean, and I don't know, I'll think about it."

"Sharon and Sean… yeah, I can imagine you two as kids walking back from school with your heavy backpacks," he said and Sharon chuckled.

"More like me picking him up from school. There's a big age difference between us, ten years."

"Really? Why?"

"My mother couldn't get pregnant for a long time after she had me," she looked at the clock hanging on the wall to her right and her eyes widened in shock. "I have to go," she sat up, holding the blanket against her chest. Flynn moved his hand down her bare back, causing her to jump a little.

"Already?" he asked and she nodded.

"It's almost 9pm. I don't want to leave Rusty alone with my mother for too long," she picked up her underwear from the floor and put them on quickly as she got up to collect her bra from the armchair. Flynn watched her as she put it on and looked at him.

"Are you enjoying the show?" she asked coldly.

"Very," he smiled, "but I'd enjoy it more if you were taking your clothes off."

"Well…" she put her pants on and then started to button her blouse just as he got up and approached her. He took the edges of the blouse in his hands and she let go, watching him dealing with the buttons for her.

"Do you realize we only spent one whole night together?" he asked quietly.

"We knew what we were getting ourselves into when we started this… affair," she said. "I have responsibilities, and –"

"I know, it's okay. I just wish we could spend more time together," he let go of her shirt, leaving enough buttons untouched so she had a deep cleavage. "There."

"Ha ha," she said monotonically and finished with the last buttons as he smiled at her. While she put her shoes on, he quickly wore his pants and shirt, but didn't bother to zip and button. Sharon looked up when she finished with her shoes and smile at the sloppy sight of him. Eventually they walked to the door, and Flynn grabbed her arm and turned her to him just before she opened it.

"Sharon…" he half-whispered gently, and his unambiguous tone told her exactly what was coming.

"Andy… don't."

"I love you," he said and she dropped her forehead to his chest in frustration. His body heat was comforting as always and she felt reluctant to move. "Why the hell is it so hard for you?" he asked and wrapped his arms around her. By now, he was used to her almost-inability to say those three words.

"I don't know…" she muttered, her voice muffled by his body. After a few seconds she lifted her head from his chest and looked at him. "You're supposed to be a cynical person, not a… care-bear," she said desperately and he laughed.

"Can't I be both?" he asked just as they heard a ring from her purse and she inserted her hand inside it to search for her iPhone.

"Damn it, it's my mother," she said with her eyes on the little screen. "I hope everything's okay."