Takes place right after Chapter 3.
Told from Sharon's POV.
Enjoy!
~~~~~~~~~ERSL~~~~~~~~
"…I-Hop would have the best pancakes!" I tease as I turn the car off and smile at him.
"What? They do!" He says getting out the car and walking around to my side of the car.
Even with injuries he proves to be more of a gentleman, than Jack has been in the latter part of my marriage.
He smiles as he opens the door, I tell him, "Thank you." We walk to inside and the aroma of food makes me feel nauseous and hungry at the same time. "That hangover still lingering, eh?" He whispers as the hostess takes us to our seat. "Definitely." I say as we sit down and he orders us both black coffees.
"So, friend, how is your team going to feel about us being newfound friends?" I ask. I couldn't hold that thought in any longer.
"Well, friend, they probably will hate it, but they haven't seen the real you. So, they wouldn't understand." He replies looking over the menu.
"You haven't seen the real me, either. You saw the drunken me, the embarrassed me, and the hungover me." I say as he looks up at me from his menu.
"Well, you know how the saying goes 'a drunk man' well in your case woman 'tells no tales,' therefore I have seen the honest side of you, which sadly was the most heartbreaking side, but it explains so much. It also gives new reason for me to respect you more. Now that I know you aren't just a hard-ass who likes to make trouble for her fellow cops, I have a new appreciation for the woman sitting in front of me." He says as the waitress sits our coffee down. She swiftly walks away due to our conversation.
"Oh ok." Is all that I can say. I want to say so much more. Like, have you always wanted to have appreciation for me or do you feel bad for me because I have a shitty marriage?
"You forgot one part of you I saw." He says before raising his coffee to his lips.
"Hmm, what was that?" I inquire looking away from him for a second.
"Your horny side." He whispers as he winks at me.
I blush immediately, "Really, Flynn?" "Yes, really! It was actually kind of funny, because you were so determined." He teases as I feel my entire face and neck flushing. "Well, for the record I would like to say that the red wine was determined, not Sharon." I rasp out quickly as the waitress returns. He smiles and shakes his head.
"What can I get for you two?"
"I would like a two chocolate chip pancakes, and two strawberry pancakes. With a side of vegan bacon and fruit bowl, please." Andy says as if he comes here often.
"Umm, I would like the Berry Berry Brioche French Toast, with a side of fries, two scrambled eggs and 1 sausage patty, and a glass of orange juice." I say as I see Andy out the corner of my eye, looking at me in amazement.
"Alright, I'll put that in, and it will be right up." The waitress says as she writes the last of it down.
"I will be right back with some more coffee and your orange juice, ma'am." She says before walking away.
"Thank you." He and I say in unison. He is still looking at me in amazement.
"What?" I ask smiling at him.
"That is a lot of food!" He exclaims.
"I'm aware. Just because I'm skinny doesn't mean I don't eat! Granted I don't eat like this every day, but my usual Greek yogurt, bagel and fruit is not going to get rid of this hangover, so I shall indulge." I say before taking another sip of my coffee.
"Ah, I see!" He teases.
"You see, what?" I inquire looking at the mischief dancing in his eyes.
"You still are blaming the wine for your actions." He says winking at me.
"Oh, gosh Andy I am so sorry! How idiotic of me! Getting drunk, in front of an alcoholic! I'm so insensitive!" I say realizing how much of a jerk, I have been.
"Hey, hey calm down. I've been sober a little over 14 years, you didn't tempt me. If I can go to a bar with Provenza and not get tempted, then you have nothing to worry about." He says softly, as the waitress sits our coffee down and my orange juice.
"Andy, I really am sorry." I say again.
"There is nothing to be sorry for, Sharon." He says as he nods at the waitress before she walks away.
"Besides that wasn't what tempted me." He whispers, and there goes that mischief in his eyes, again.
I can't help but laugh, "You just can't let that go, can you?" I tease before taking a sip of my orange juice.
"Nope!" He says.
"Come on, Flynn, I'm sure you have had other women, come on to you when they were drunk. Especially considering your little reputation, that floats along the hallways of the LAPD." I say looking at his face get red. He thinks he is going to make me squirm, well two can play that game.
"Hey, that reputation is not important, right now." He says quickly.
"Why not, friend?" I tease.
"Because I said so, friend." He says.
"Alright, alright, don't get all defensive on me, because Lord, knows I deal with that enough at work." I say watching him simmer down some.
"You know just because we are friends now, that doesn't mean that is going to change." He teases.
"I didn't think it would." I retort.
"Good. In regards to your first statement, yes I've had plenty of drunken women come on to me, but none of them are as gorgeous as you are." He states as my eyes start blinking rapidly.
"Here you go." The waitress says. Whew, saved by the food! I feel like wiping the imaginary sweat off my brow!
"Thank you." I say as the waitress sits my food down in front of me. We both reach for the same syrup, and our hands touch, and I can feel a spark coursing through my veins. I retreat my hand quickly and he shakes his head at me. "So you aren't going to address what I just said?" He asks as he pours the syrup over my French toast. "Umm, that is enough." I say causing him to stop pouring the syrup. He starts pouring it on his pancakes, "So, still no reply?" He asks. "Mmm, this is so good." I say reveling in the bite of French toast and berries in my mouth. "Ok, ok, I get it, change the subject." He says sitting the syrup down. "Thank you." I say finally breathing a breath of relief.
"So, what made you want to buy me another jacket, friend?" He inquires, my eyes become wide instantly. Shit, I can't tell him that I always thought he was handsome as hell in it. Damn, why did he have to ask me this?
"Umm, a little birdie told me it was your favorite one. So, I figured you deserved a replacement." I lie, before taking a bite of my eggs.
"Oh ok." He says stealing one of my fries. I give him a chastised look, and he just shrugs his shoulder. I steal a piece of his cantaloupe. He flashes that handsome smile, as I bite into the fruit.
"So, is this birdie real or imaginary?" He asks.
"Why, does that matter?" I ask.
"It doesn't, I just like making you squirm." He teases, before taking a bite of his pancakes.
"Jerk." I mumble stealing another piece of fruit.
"Friend." He replies.
I really like the sound of the word, friend. I never would have thought he and I would be anything near friends. I think I like this budding friendship. He isn't as bad of a guy, as I once allowed myself to think he was. He is actually quite funny and quite the looker.
As we finish eating our breakfast, our conversation turns to him telling me hilarious stories of his and Provenza's adventures. We talk about our kids. We talk about our prejudgments of each other. Then out of nowhere he asks, "So are you ready to address it?" Really, Flynn, you just can't let it go can you?
"Umm, what am I supposed to say after you say that I'm gorgeous? I mean besides thank you. Which I forgot to say. So, thank you so much, Flynn, I'm glad to hear that you think I'm gorgeous." I tease.
"So, you want to be sarcastic about it?" He rasps, as he takes his medicine.
"Yes, I do friend! I tease, laughing at his expression of disbelief on his face.
"Well, it is nice to know, that I have a gorgeous andsarcastic friend, now!" He says as we get up and head to the register.
"Ha! You just love that word, gorgeous, don't you, friend?" I tease as he pays for the breakfast.
"I love speaking the truth, my friend." He declares as we walk to the car.
"Hmm, so now I have a truthful and flirty, friend." I tease as I get in the car. He gives me a thumbs up, before he closes my door.
I drive him back to his house and we laugh and talk like we have been friends forever. As he gets out the car, I say, "Maybe one day I will show you who actually makes the best pancakes ever!" He turns around and leans down and says, "I look forward to it, friend!" He walks away and up the steps he goes and then he disappears into his house. Wow, I just flirted with my friend! This shall be an interesting friendship, indeed!
TBC
~~~~~~~~~ERSL~~~~~~~~~
Sorry, I-Hop has been on my brain lately. I hope you all liked this little filler piece. Leave me some nuggets of love. I'm still planning this story out in my head, so I don't know exactly where they shall go, but I do look forward to writing some more, really soon.