Hey guys! Happy One Chicago Wednesday!

Here's a little something to wait until tonight. Hope you like and thank you so much for reading and reviewing. It means a lot!

Happy reading!

Xoxo

Nina

Disclaimer: I own nothing except my imagination.

"You said you wanted to get to know me. So, what do you want to know?" She asked. The alcohol accumulating in her organism was loosening her up.

"What are you willing to share?"

"Well, I'm a teacher, but you obviously know that, and I absolutely love it. Although it can get super challenging at times, I swear it's completely worth it." She looked so full and happy when she talked about her job, she was so enamoured by it that she was able to transmit that feeling to whoever was listening to her. Adam was just lost, not only was he deeply listening to her, but he was paying attention to every single one of her muscles as she spoke and moved and how her eyes were an open window that showed everything that she felt deep down in her soul. "Sylvie is one of my best friends, we even work together. She's the best, I'm so grateful to have her in my life."

"She sounds amazing."

"She really is."

"I would love to get to hang out with her sometime."

"Who knows. Maybe you will." The comment caused him to smile.

"You know? I Have a Sylvie too."

"You do? That's great, because we should all have a Sylvie in our lives." The way she said that and the tone of voice she used, made Adam pay careful attention. Was she jealous?

"I do. Except mine is that huge guy over there and his name is Kevin." He said with a smile as he extended his hand where his friend was, the glass of scotch never leaving his grip. "He's one in a million that guy. I can always count on him to have my back." Kim seemed relieved, or at least that's how Adam wanted to read the whole situation. "We work together too. We're currently partners and he's one of the best I've had."

"That's nice."

"Yeah. I'm really lucky to be honest. My last partner was more like a mentor to me, I owe so much to that guy." He sighed but quickly continued, he didn't want to get emotional and carried away by that topic, that was not the mood he wanted this conversation to have. "I've been a cop for a while now, I'm in the CPD Intelligence unit and I love every single bit of what I do." Kim could easily see the passion in his eyes as he talked about all of this. "I guess the cop thing kind of runs in the family."

"Gracie never mentioned her dad being a cop, too."

"He's not. He's a lawyer actually." His tone and his frame totally changed when he mentioned his brother. "Kit wanted to approach the justice thing through a different path." He finished and he immediately took another sip of scotch.

"And how's taking care of Grace treating you?"

"It's a challenge, but I like it. I'm trying my best, I really am and she seems to be having fun so far, so…"

"She is having fun, and if it counts for anything she always mentions you even before all this started she would always share some story about you."

"Really?" His eyes were shining now. He knows that his niece and him had a really cool bond, but he didn't know that she actually talked about him on a regular basis.

"Mm hmm. You're the cool uncle." He laughed.

"And you are the hot teacher." Flirt mode was back on for Adam Ruzek.

"I doubt Grace thinks that."

"She loves you. Literally. Her parents love you too and that is pretty hard to accomplish."

"Grace is amazing. I shouldn't be saying this because all my kids are great and I love them all so much, but Grace is special. Maybe you think it's stupid, but I feel like I really connect with her." She shrugged, her expression was relaxed and easy and he knew just how honest she was being right now.

"Why would I think that's stupid?"

"Because I'm just her teacher, and if you think about it in the end we are just strangers."

"That doesn't mean you can't build a strong connection with someone. I remember her telling me how you were so much like Ms. Honey from Matilda and she is convinced that you are Ms. B because you look so much like princess Belle. So I'm totally sure this bond and connection is reciprocal." Kim just smiled, wasn't that the cutest girl or what? Adam put his glass down on the table and looked at her from the top of his eyes. "I'm really glad she has you to look out for her in school. Sometimes I worry if she has all the support she needs."

"She does. You can rest assured about that. And if we ever see something that calls our attention we will contact you. So don't be too hard on yourself. It's only a business trip, right?"

"Yeah." He took another drink and avoided her eyes. "Yeah, you're right."

"And…" she spoke timidly, she wasn't sure she wanted to cross that line. But maybe her friend was right, maybe she needed to be a little crazy sometimes. "If there's anything I can do to help, you can always ask." Her warm smile gave him all the confidence he needed.

"You mean, like calling the school and asking for you?" She laughed, she knew that was his way of asking for her number.

"Yeah, exactly like that." They both laughed and grabbed their glasses at the same time. "I don't know detective, you keep on running into me, I'm sure you'll find a way around my number."

The lopsided smirk on his face was beginning to melt her. Right now she was cursing Sylvie for interrupting their make out sesh those nights ago.

"Challenge accepted." Kim immediately opened up her eyes in delight.

"I love Barney Stinson!" She said enthusiastically.

"Best character in the series."

"Without a doubt."

"See? We have so much in common. We should totally go out on a date." Kim smiled again. Apparently it was something she didn't stop doing since he started talking to her.

"We are not going there Adam." The warm smile was still tattooed on her face. She so wanted to go there.

"You and I both know that we are going to end up right there." He went to grab his glass but instead he brushed his fingers with her, and again she didn't pull away. "And for the record. The only reason why I'm not kissing your lips right now is because I promised I wouldn't and I'm a complete gentleman. I am also going to completely regret it later." They chuckled again.

"We'll, if it's any consolation I'm usually attracted to gentlemen." Shyly, she was beginning to put her flirt game on.

"That's the best news I heard all day."

They both got another round of drinks and just talked and goofed around for a while. Adam loved how fun she was and enjoyed discovering every little sexy trait that she was revealing and Kim without knowing was being slowly blown away by his charm and his amazing personality. They were so into each other that they forgot about their friends, but neither Sylvie nor Kevin lost sight of them for the whole night.

Sylvie was delighted to see the brunette loosen up, have fun and enjoy life again. Kevin was exactly on the same page, still a little protective but happy to see his friend was finally taking a break from all the stress he had been through lately. He didn't want to interrupt but he had no other choice. Kevin walked close to Adam's booth and waited for the perfect moment to speak, but he didn't even have to wait too long, he had his own grand entrance.

"Oh look! Your Sylvie is here!"

"Your what?" Kevin didn't understand what the hell the woman was talking about. Adam quickly turned around and wrapped his arm over Kevin's shoulder.

"Kevin, my man! Kim, this is my partner and best bud Kevin Atwater."

"Nice to meet you, Kevin." Kim was still laughing at Adam, and even though she politely looked at Kevin to greet him, her eyes instantly swiveled back to Ruzek.

"Kev, this is Kimberly Burgess." Kim rolled her eyes.

"Can you quit that? I already told you I hate being called Kimberly."

"I just wanted to keep it formal." He said as he closed his eyes and shook his head with a totally smart ass face. "Kev, this is Kim."

"A pleasure to finally meet you princess Belle." Kim blushed.

"Hey, back off man. I'm working so hard to get her to go on a date with me, don't you come here with all your charm and try to sweep her away from me." He joked playfully, making both Kevin and Kim chuckle.

"Don't worry man. I just came to tell you that I'm about to leave. You two can stay."

"Oh no. No, no. I'm the one who's leaving, you guys stay." Kim started to look around the bar to find Sylvie.

"No." Adam shook his head. "You're both staying, please. Who knows when I'll get another night off, with no responsible guardian duties to fulfill."

"Ok, then. Next round is on me." Kevin stood up and went to get refills for everyone.

The rest of the night was a blast, it was probably the most fun she had had in a very long time. She completely lost sight of her friend, because she was immersed in the stories and jokes both cops had to share. Anyone looking over at their booth would say that the trio were lifelong friends.

That night Kim went to bed with a huge smile on her face.

The next day was great, or maybe it was her good mood that was making it feel like that, even the kids were quiet and there were no problems in the classroom whatsoever. Well, except when Susie decided to give herself bangs 5 minutes after she was handed the scissors.

"Please tell me everything about yeaterday. I think I saw you make some new friends last night." Kim rolled her eyes as she grabbed her bottle of water. Her and Sylvie decided to hit the gym after school, they were well overdue for a good workout. The last few weeks at school were hectic and they had abandoned the gym for a while, but a good dose of endorphins was just what she needed to feel even better.

"You totally knew he was going to be there, didn't you?" Kim asked her friend.

"I did not."

"Sylvia Brett, do not lie to me."

"I'm not lying. I didn't know he was going to be there, but I did know that the CPD was going to be there." Kim gave her a killer stare. "Hey, don't look at me like that. You had fun."

"I did."

"That's good! And I also saw you stare at his card in the staff room. Why don't you just write to him?"

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"Well, to start with there is Grace."

"Grace is just the easiest excuse you have. He's not her dad, there's nothing the school can say about that."

Kim sighed, she knew her friend had a fair point.

"It still isn't ethical."

"You know there's more than that."

"Sylvie, I don't know if I can do this."

"Sure you can."

"You have no idea of everything that's running in my mind right now. A part of me wants to try to feel better, to open up and move on and another part is just paralyzed."

"I know babe and I don't want to push you, but I also don't want you to close yourself up and to push opportunities aways. For all we know this Adam person could be a complete douchebag or a really great guy and I don't want you to lose the chance of getting to know that."

"I know you have my best interest, and I'm trying. I really am." She sounded sad and frustrated. "But I think I need a little more time."

"Ok, then just let it play out."

"Do you think that's ok?"

"I think you need to do what you want to."

"I also want to try."

"Then let it play out, and you'll know when to do or say something different."

"Thank you for pushing me. I know you do it with love."

"Awww. I do!" The blonde went closer to her friend and hugged her. "I love you and I'm here for whatever you need and I'm so sure you're gonna make it." Tears began to roll down Kim's cheeks, she was still a bit sensitive and her friend's words went straight to her heart.

She was definitely gonna make it.