A Match to Remember
Chapter 9
It's been a while since I updated this story…... sorry.
Let's put yesterday behind us.
Most people, NOT ALL, are confused when they wake up in an unfamiliar bed. When we wake up in a bed that is not the one we are familiar with or the room where we usually sleep it takes a moment to answer that where am I and how did I get here..
It there is a window where there shouldn't be one, we hesitate. And, when there is no window, same reaction. Sometimes it's the feel of the pillow, the color of the room the feel of the sheets or even the smell.
When Olivia woke up it was "all the above", in addition to a tenderness in an area she has not felt tender in a very long time and she was lying in someone's arms. She tensed before she looked down and saw the tattoos and relaxed. It was all good.
"Relax Olivia you are safe…. You are lying, in my arms and we are in Iowa "a voice that she identified as belonging to those tattooed arms said.
The entire time she was planning this, what would happen she still had not reconciled what it would be like the morning after. Waking up, naked, in a bed that's not your own carries a lot of possibilities. What do we do now? Will she have to make the walk of shame all the way back to the airplane? Is this it.
"Stop over thinking this Olivia I can hear the gears in your brain shifting. We are in bed together after an awesome night that I really enjoyed. I enjoyed every moment and I hope we will have repeat of last night as soon as possible. Now we can cuddle for a while then decide when and where to have breakfast I'm not going anywhere, and neither are you."
Olivia relaxed into Fitz' arms as he pulled her closer to him.
"If you want to go out and eat we are going to have to get up and get dressed OR if you want to lie here in bed I will make the coffee run or call room service. Not sure the quality of the food. Your choice, let me know"
Fitz started to kiss her neck and nibble on her ear which relaxed her.
"'To be honest, I was about as nervous as you when I first woke up. Waking up with a woman in a hotel bed is not something I do, I am as bashful as you. You can see from last night, it's been a while. I hope I did not disappoint you."
Disappoint…...who could be disappointed by this man. I could scream from the rooftops…that was a pole worth riding, the best all night lollypop I ever had. Dammmm even remembering seems like a dream. Olivia thought but did not dare say.
Olivia turned in the bed to face him, she gave him a quick kiss and said "I don't think either of us was disappointed. I know I wasn't,. and you?"
'" need you ask, I'm ready for a repeat whenever you are."
''Fitz, I'm not sure if we could ever repeat last night but I would really like to try Olivia thought.
''you are right, but I am more than willing." ...
"'Let's get cleaned up and have some food…. we both will need the calories later. '"
"That sounds like a workable plan. Not sure what kind of menu they have. Do you want to go out or do you want to wait here.?"
"Let's go out Fitz…..., take a walk I want to see what all the hoopla about Iowa is."
"Ok we will go out. Should we call Mary and Marcus?"
"Nope, they have a car. We will call them when we get back if we haven't heard from them."
The two showered together, which took longer than either thought it would. By the time they got to the restaurant breakfast was long over, so they settled for the lightest thing on the menu.
"See Olivia….., no morning of shame. We woke up together and neither freaked out and no one turned into a mouse. We showered together, we've are about to have a meal together . I think we are good. We are both over the first FF syndrome"
"FF?"
"FF syndrome" , he gave her that look of, you know what I mean.
"OH…...FF" a response that brought a smile to both .
They got directions to a market where they picked up some snacks and fruit and another box of condoms.
"Another box, how many do we need Fitz?"
"I guess you did not check to see how many we have left in the box."
"How many?"
"I won't say, check for yourself when we get back to the hotel. How long will you be here?'
"We will be here until Thursday…... Marcus is flying back to DC….. I'm flying back to Chicago."
"We will go to my place tomorrow night, is that ok. I want to enjoy us for another day."
"I think either we both should stay with you or I stay with Mary and Marcus with you. Let's protect Mary's reputation."
"Mary can hold her own."
"I'm sure but let's not do more damage than necessary on the first visit… you guys will have to live here after we leave..."
"Ok….," …Futz threw another box or condoms in the shopping basket.
"Looks like someone is trying to make sure he is well stocked.,"
"Liv…not stocked….it's my hope every box will be empty when you leave."
They took a drive around the small but busy town then returned to the hotel..
Later after another intimate session Fitz decided to tackle the subject he dreaded. Fitz did not want to have this conversation he knew was necessary, so he jumped right in. The two sat in bed with food spread on a towel munching on assorted deli meats and cheese. Olivia had managed to find some fruits. The entire scene mimicked a picnic…indoor picnic since they both were completely nude, Fitz insisted . Olivia pulled the sheet to her waist…Fitz remained totally nude without even his feet covered. Olivia loved a man that is comfortable with himself and he had a number of very good reason to be comfortable she concluded as she took frequent peeks at his bare body. DaMm WTF where has this been hiding and what took me so long to look under this rock. Fitz saw Olivia when she snuck her looks at him but he did not say anything his smirk said it all
"Marcus is going back to DC Thursday and you to Chicago….., when are you returning to DC?".
"I'm not… at least for a while, there isn't anything I really need there so it's Chicago for me… I'm staying."
"You are not moving back to DC?"
"Nope… I have something to tell you,… Marcus and I decided to open a firm in Chicago."
"You are staying, and you did not say anything?"
"I thought telling you in person would be better."
"So how would it work, what happened?".
"So much it's hard to believe. It was being in the right place at the right time and meeting the right people at the right time. My aunt bought a house and funded a startup business for us. We have a house, and an office about 2 blocks from the house near the university where James is."
"Your aunt funded it?"
"Yes, my aunt and uncle with an anonymous donor contributing 20%."
"20% of how much?"
"There is an investment gift of 500k, the loan is 500k we have access to. . The loan must be paid back, the gift doesn't."
"Where did you aunt and uncle get that kind of money?"
"It's legal, I will tell you later ok."
"Ok, what about the 20% from the anonymous donor. Do you know anything about him?"
"My aunt knows "him" …. it's all on the up and up nothing illegal..."
Fitz wasn't convinced. Things just don't happen that way, he needed more answers. He had fallen in love with Olivia Pope and he did not want her involved in anything that was in any way illegal.
"What kind of firm?"
"Right now non-profit work. Both Marcus and I have to pass the Illinois bar so James will be our legal arm until that's done. Just before we left Ms. Smith, who I will tell you about and is our greatest benefactor, had a slight problem caused by someone piggybacking her internet service. I called Huck and he was able to straighten things up in short time. She said she did not realize she would get a return on her investment that quickly."
"What return on what investment?"
"We can talk more about it on the drive to your place. I think in addition to non-profits we may pick up some clients from the building where Ms. Smith is now living. She lives in an upscale seniors building near the lake . Morgan Place is a pretty good place for some easy cases. The building has some well-heeled residents it would be a good place to build up an early client base ."
We will need a couple more staff members but maybe, just maybe we lucked upon something good. We need a tech person for sure and maybe two other people. I thought I would ask Cyrus for a referral from among his students."
"Did you talk to Huck about your past history together and then looking for you for me ?"
"Nope….. No need. Everything he did was above board he was trying to help both of us so what is there to talk about…I understand ?"
"You are not upset?"
"Should I be?"
"Nope, but that's how I feel, I was not sure if you would feel the same way."
"Fitz, we have lost enough time and I am sure there are bigger obstacles ahead, let's leave yesterday where it belongs, in the past. Ok"
"Olivia…. what did I do to deserve you?"
"Should I name the top five,''''''' the question should be what did we do to deserve each other?"
" we both lucked out, right place, right time sitting in the right seats."
Right seats and those very conspicuous tattoos .I wondered how far up they went and boy did I find out and had a lot of fun doing it… Olivia thought with a sly smile
Fitz saw the smile and asked "anything you want to share with me?"
"I will….in time."
As they enjoyed their snack both their phones began to ring. Checking their respective phones… Marcus was calling her Fitz mother was calling him. They were both calling about Mary but for two different reasons.. Both told their caller they were out of range and would call back when they got to a better location . Fitz moved his call from the bed to a spot near the window..
From Marcus
"Hi Olivia… just checking in. I turned my phone off last night I hope you were not worried."
"Nope you were with Mary …..we went out but we are back in our room ….did you eat yet?"
"Nope we are trying to decide now where to go….did you ?"
"Yes …not a big selection …"
"'Mary is talking about buying an electric pan and making breakfast in the room."
"Nix that…..I saw a truck stop during our tour around town …they usually have a twenty-four hour breakfast menu. . Try that before you two burn the hotel down."
"'Ill tell Mary….how is Fitz?"
"He's fine ….I think he is talking to his family. Let me find out what has happened so we will have the same story. Did Mary also turn her phone off?"
"yes she did…..,it got heavy fast and lasted all night and I am not bragging or complaining."
"I think her family was worried I know I would be if I were in their shoes….let me see what has happened I'll get back. Tell Mary to leave her phone off until I call back."
From Fitz
"Hi mom ."
"Fitz where are you and is Mary with you?"
"Mary is with me…we took a quick road trip. We are at the airport picking up Olivia Pope and her co-worker Marcus. They came in to thank everyone for the contributions to the relief fund and to let you know how the money was spent. "
"Is that usual …meeting with small donors like us?"
"Ms. Pope is that type of person and our donation was not small."
"How do you know what kind of person she is you only met her once."
"That is what my Grant gut told me. Didn't you always say Grants can size a person up the first five minutes?"
'If you say so….are they coming back with you and when?"
"Mom if they were not coming to thank everyone in person why come …we will stay the night here and come home tomorrow….all of us.."
"Are they sharing a room…..,how many rooms do I need to prepare ?"
"No mom they are not sharing a room ….. and it's easier if they stay with me since I have the room ."
"Are you sure….you don't cook …is your house clean enough for company?"
" Nope my house is not clean enough for company….by your standards… so I guess you will be heading that way as soon as you hang up. I will bring enough food for the night with me . If we get back early enough we can have a cook-out that way it's a less formal meet and greet."
"Fitz…tell your sister to turn her phone on….and next time let someone know if she decides to leave."
"Will do… I will have her call you she went out for some personal items she forgot to bring.…we will be back tomorrow we hope by noon or soon after. You can start the side dishes I will pick up the meat on the way in., Bye mom."
Fitz looked up to see Olivia handing him a glass of scotch.
'"How bad was that conversation and how many fabrications did you have to make?"
"Not a lot of fabrications….. The only necessary fabrication was her out shopping for personal items. I need to talk to Mary so she can call mom."
Fitz made a call to Mary via Marcus' phone..
"Mr. Grant…what are the plans?"
"We stay here tonight so I can try to recreate last night. Home tomorrow…. I'm taking your advice you and Marcus will stay with me.. We will have a meet and greet over the grill tomorrow evening. That's it. Is that ok?"
"I say yes….let's enjoy each other tonight and join your family tomorrow. We will check with Mary and Marcus and see if they agree. Now in the meantime."
Fitz took Olivia's hand and pulled her into his arms, resting her head on his chest
.
"Olivia we have to talk."
"Talk about?"
"Talk about us….how do you want me to introduce you?"
Olivia turned her head so she was looking at Fitz
"How do you want to introduce me Fitz?"
"We are talking in circles Olivia….…..The people we met last summer thought we were dating maybe even married. I like you a lot and I want us to have time to develop a relationship, that is if that is what you want …... I want to see if we can become an us ….. I want you to be my special friend…... A special friend that will develop into something much more….., a girlfriend . We need time. I don't want us to not be whatever we want to be because of outside forces."
Olivia listened to Fitz…..so much he wasn't saying but he was saying what she had felt …the reason she decided they had no chance together. Like the fish who falls in love with the bird.. they can fall in love but where do they build their nest. Fitz was facing her perceived fear head on. She did not know if they would have a problem….neither did he but he was letting her know he wanted to let them decide if they would make a life together. That decision was theirs and only theirs..
"What do we do…..how do we handle meeting your family…..what do you want.?"
"Olivia I am not going to present you as less important to me than you are. I will not hide my attraction to you from my family. …I will not lie to my family about you . If you want to be in my life…if you want me in yours we can either jump in the deep end of the pool or slowly wade in from the shallow end as long as I am mot asked to lie."
" Fitz we also need to talk to Mary and Marcus , let's see how Mary and Marcus are planning on handling their relationship.. whatever it is this .. I never being in love could be so complicated."
"Olivia love isn't complicated…..it's people who are complicated."
This chapter does not make up for my long absence but this chapter , I hope will be a good foundation for the chapters to come. Both realize they have a lot of obsticals ahead .