'Are you free to talk?'
Sharon's text comes in at a late hour and has Andy completely baffled. It's unusual for her to be so…shy. Generally she just calls him.
Having resisted the urge to ask if he should come over, Andy types back, 'Yeah. Do you want me to call you?' hitting send with some trepidation.
Sharon's phone buzzes on the side-table beside her, and she is startled by its motion. Although she had been waiting for it, she'd become absorbed in her paperwork since sending Andy the message. Or, at least, she'd attempted to become absorbed in paperwork so that she could actively avoid the thoughts currently spinning in her mind. She casts her mind back to this morning and almost blushes at the thought of it.
It had been an awkward affair, waking up strewn across Andy's lap, her head effectively buried in his crotch as he'd blissfully slept on. Luckily, she'd been facing outwards, and she'd noticed that she'd fallen asleep on the couch immediately. Quietly, she'd gotten up, stretching after an admittedly good night's sleep. Gently, she'd lifted the blanket off of herself and used it to cover Andy until he woke up, glad that they'd both been able to sleep, but somewhat disconcerted that it had been on top of each other. Padding softly to her room, she'd hastened to change and make herself presentable, particularly as Rusty was liable to speculate at the appearance of Andy still in the apartment after last night. Returning to the kitchen, Sharon had put a pot of coffee on for herself and Rusty, including an extra helping for Andy, too. Rubbing her eyes, she returned her gaze to the couch, where it appeared that Andy had finally woken up, possibly roused by the smell of fresh coffee.
It had been awkward. Andy had decided not to stick around for breakfast, stopping long enough to finish his cup of coffee before bidding Sharon goodbye (infinitely relieved that Rusty was apparently still in bed). The morning had been silent, with neither one really knowing how to react to sleeping together but not actually sleeping together. It was a bizarre situation that neither of them had really anticipated. Having ushered Andy to the door, Sharon was surprised when he leaned down and kissed her on the cheek to thank her for dinner and the film. Surprised, and oddly pleased.
Now, she sits in the same spot she'd fallen asleep in last night, cradling a mug of herbal tea in her cold hands as she waits for Andy's call. Having texted back in the affirmative, she expected his call would come through any time now, and had abandoned the pretence of paperwork. Still, the phone's shrill ring startles her, and she very nearly drops her tea on the floor.
"Hello?" she answers cautiously, quietly assessing his mood.
"Is everything okay, Sharon?" Andy murmurs, his voice full of concern for her.
She berates herself mentally for making him worry, but is somehow still pleased that he actually cares enough to be concerned for her. That! That is the feeling she wanted to discuss with him! "I'm fine, it's just…about last night," she replies carefully.
"Sounds like I'm going to get broken up with," he jokes unceremoniously, hoping to set her at ease.
Laughing outright at the ridiculous notion that she could ever break up with him (if they were indeed dating), Sharon responds lightly, "no, nothing along that vein, Andy," she pauses as she weighs up what exactly she wants to say, "I just – what are we doing?" she asks with mild exasperation.
"As far as I'm aware, we're having a conversation on the phone," replies Andy with ease. Then, feigning ignorance, he asks, "or did you mean 'What are we doing' in relation to last night?"
"The second one, Einstein," chuckles Sharon, anxious but glad that Andy's doing his best to lighten the tone of the conversation.
"Well, in that case, I'd say that we're just enjoying each other's company. As friends." Andy says the last part hesitantly, trying his best not to sound too forward or presumptuous. At the same time, though, he's fairly certain that Sharon does consider them friends, but he's uncertain of her position with regard to them being more-than friends.
Sharon deflates slightly at his answer, aware that she should be happy that he views them as friends, but also (somewhat guiltily) upset that he didn't see them as anything more than that. Before she can stop herself, she prods him, "Just friends?"
At this, Andy is uncertain what to say. He has made it his mission to make her feel as comfortable as possible – that is, not to push her into any discussions or actions outside the boundaries of friendship if that's not what she wants. Now it seems that it might be exactly what she wants, and he's unsure of how to ease into that particular conversation.
"I'm not sure what to say, Sharon," he admits abashedly, "I genuinely care for you and would be open to something more than friends, but I need to know what you want first."
"I think," she replies, pausing heavily with uncertainty. She allows a lull to fall as she considers her options. Then, she exhales heavily, plucking up the courage before saying, "I think I want to date you." God, she hasn't done this since before marrying Jack – she has no fucking clue how to proceed from here. And she's just told him that she wants to date him in the most juvenile way possible. She sits silently, waiting for Andy's response, anxiety gnawing the pit of her stomach and feeling like a schoolgirl with an unrequited crush.
Though somewhat surprised by the revelation, Andy is elated. He has been aware of his feelings for her for some time now but has been tamping them down in her presence, wary of startling her. A date would certainly be a step in the right direction. "You're sure?"
"Sure of what?" she asks nervously.
"That you want to date me," he jokes, "I mean, a pretty young thing such as yourself, well…"
She laughs at his attempt at levity, recognising the fact that he is happy with her admission but doesn't want to scare her off. "I'm certain, Andy," she murmurs quietly, tenderly, even.
"Well, in that case, Friday night at eight?" he asks, a mocking salute to their conversation the day before.
"I'm impressed; you've managed to throw my own joke back at me," she teases fondly, "how about some originality?"
"Hm, give me a few hours and I'll come up with something," he says mischievously.
"A few hours granted, Lieutenant," she utters mockingly, her tone mirroring that which she uses at work.
"Thanks, Captain," he returns formally, "I'll make it worth your while."
Hey guys! Thanks so much for reading this chapter and for all the positive feedback you've given me on this - it means a lot to me! I'd like to thank those who I'm unable to PM with my thanks: Flagwoman, Guest, Deb57 and Maggles - all of the reviews, favourites and follows I've received are greatly appreciated! I hope you've enjoyed this chapter, and if you have, please leave a review! :)