Chapter 4
~oOo~
When Olivia had suggested meeting at the restaurant several blocks from the precinct, Peter had assumed they'd be discussing more than their current case. He'd thought they'd made a connection. She'd certainly seemed interested when he'd been changing his shirt in his office.
She was a beautiful woman. He didn't mind her son. And they worked well together.
Olivia hadn't specifically mentioned having a meal together. She'd asked him to drop off some paperwork. But he'd read between the lines.
A few minutes late to the restaurant, Peter was pointed towards the back, where he spotted her sitting at a small table. There were two glasses of wine at the table, but the chair across from her was empty, obviously meant for him.
He took a seat, setting the file on the table. "Sorry, I'm late."
"Peter." Olivia frowned. She seemed a little surprised that he'd sat down, even more so when he reached for the glass of wine and took a sip. "That's…"
"Not bad wine." He took a longer sip. She'd gone from confused to sporting a smirk that made him a little uneasy. "So, what are we having?"
"I'm not sure what you're having aside from my wine."
Peter's head snapped around at the deep, gravelly voice behind him. He had to look up from his seated position at the man who smirked down at him. A similar grin to Olivia's. "Can I help you?"
"Yeah, get the fuck out of my seat." He paused when Olivia muttered, 'be nice.' His grin seemed to grow a little darker. "Please get the fuck out of my seat. That better, baby?"
Baby?
Peter glanced between the two. He narrowed his eyes. Something about the man was familiar. "Elliot Stabler."
"That's me."
"Your old partner." Peter's gaze drifted back to Olivia. "I thought he'd left the city."
"Elliot would never leave me." She sounded absolutely certain.
"Why would I?" Stabler tapped his knuckles against the back of the chair. "You mind? You're interrupting our date."
Peter slowly rose to his feet. He squared off briefly against Stabler, who was slightly shorter but seemed immensely larger. "I wasn't aware you were dating."
"I don't share my personal life with colleagues." Olivia picked up the file that he'd placed on the table. "Thanks for this. I'll be sure to let you know what we find."
It was a dismissal.
It was more of a dismissal than Stabler pushing by him and taking a seat. She had eyes for one man. And it wasn't him.
"Enjoy your meal." Peter turned to go. He refused to show any signs of the embarrassment he felt over his assumptions.
"Stone."
He paused mid-step, glancing back to find Stabler walking towards him. "Yes?"
"Your wine." Stabler held the glass out to him. "I imagine it's the only thing our lips will ever have in common because yours are never getting close to my Olivia's."
"I…"
"Enjoy the wine. The least I can do is buy you a drink so you can drown your sorrows." Stabler snorted in obvious amusement. "You have a good night, Stone. Don't take it personally. She's only ever had space in her life for one partner. And it was never going to be you."
