Hey guys!

Ok, so I didn't want to keep you waiting for so long and decide to update today.

I hope you enjoy this chapter and let me know what you think!!

Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. You're amazing!

Happy reading!!

Ps: I will be updating my other stories shortly.

Xoxo,

Nina

"Hey you" She greeted as she got in his truck. She continued talking as she buckled her seatbelt, paying more attention to that, than Adam himself. "I'm starving, so maybe we can go somewhere that's kind of fast." She chuckled to her own comment and shot her head up when she realized he hadn't said a word.

"I'm sorry, I lose my manners when I'm hungry." He laughed at her embarrassed face.

"I can see that." He unbuckled his own seat belt and leant in to press his lips against hers. She felt her whole body relax, she felt every stressful thought leave her body. She realized then that he was her anchor and it was both a beautiful and terrifying feeling. She cupped his cheek with her hand and gave in. She chose the beautiful feeling over the scary one. "Let's get you fed before you bite my arm off."

It was a pretty nice day, so they decided to get some sandwiches and drinks and go to the park to have a picnic style lunch. They thought it would be nice and for some reason in their minds, they thought the park was going to be more private.

"Your principal, Mrs. Quinn, she's the best. She really has been very supportive during this whole thing and this morning, I could really see that she was doing everything she could to help." Adam was picking on his sandwich's wrapper and the joy was plastered in his voice. He was really happy about how everything worked out and Kim loved seeing him like that.

"She really is amazing. She called me in right after you guys left." She said before taking a bite of her lunch. She really was hungry.

"Really? What did she say?"

"That she was proud of me." She sipped her juice and locked her eyes on his. "And to be careful, because people were going to be watching and rumors were going to spread." She shrugged at that last part, because she was determined not to care about negative comments and she knew some of those were coming her way. In fact, she felt Hailey's comment on Friday was one of those negative ones, and that was something that they were going to need to address at some point.

"Oh. I see. I guess I was so focused on Grace I never really considered that. How do you feel about it?" He was beginning to worry again, the least he wanted was for her to feel bad or uncomfortable.

"I'm not worried about it. I mean, people are always going to talk. As long as we know what we're doing, I'm fine." She chuckled at her own statement. "I'm not sure we know what we're doing though." She laughed while she was saying it, making him laugh too.

"I don't think we do, but and this is a big but, we're doing our best and that should be enough."

"Exactly. I'm sticking to that."

"Yeah, me too. So, speaking of all of this, do you want to come over after school and we talk to Grace or do you want to go out somewhere with her?"

"Um, I don't really mind. It's your call. Whatever you think it's best for her."

"Ok. You don't mind coming over then?" Kim smiled at his question. It was kind of cute how he was trying his best to make her feel good about all of this.

"Not at all. I'll be there."

"Good."

They just sat there eating and avoiding the elephant in the room, until Adam had the courage to speak up. "Um, about Friday night." Kim took her eyes away from her food and looked at him. "I don't want to jump to conclusions or think too much of myself right now, but did you leaving had anything to do with what Hailey said?"

"That was really straightforward." He laughed at her comment.

"Well, I don't want to be spinning around something that we could just talk about, because if it was about Hailey, I'm kind of responsible for that. She thought she was helping out. I might have mentioned something about not being sure whether you were interested in me or not before you came over for dinner last week. So, that's where she was coming from. Not saying it was the smartest move, just saying that she really meant no harm."

"I really appreciate you telling me all of this, and yeah her comment kind of caught me off guard. For a moment I thought she was marking her territory or something. But there was a little more to it than just Hailey."

"Hailey is kind of bossy, but she'd never approach you like that. She's a very nice person."

"She seems like she really cares about you." Adam chuckled.

"Are you jealous Ms. B?" He said with a little charming smile.

"Give me some credit here, will you? Her comment was all 'get away from ma' man.'" She wiggled her index finger and her neck around acting out the phrase she'd just said, making him laugh. "Plus, who wouldn't be jealous of the badass blonde hottie cop who's exes with the guy you're having a picnic with." Now she was laughing at the nonsense coming out of her mouth. "I know I'm laughing but you shouldn't be." She grabbed a paper napkin and made it into a ball and threw it at him.

"What? It's cute."

"Whatever." She rolled her eyes while sporting the biggest smile.

"Listen, it's true we used to date a while ago, and while it was fun and all, it just didn't work out. We're not cut for each other like that, but we are really good as friends. We're like family at the 21st and that really is all that Hailey is to me."

"Ok." That was all that Kim said.

"Plus, she's engaged to Halstead now. And, after spending all this time with Grace I can assure you there's no one more badass than you guys right there in those classrooms."

"You might have a point there." She smiled at him and the intimacy of that shared look kind of made her blush. She was feeling more and more at home with him, and knew it was the time to open up.

"Although I understand you wanting to leave Molly's, next time please talk to me. Ok?" She nodded and grabbed her phone. Adam didn't really get what she was doing until she left a picture open and slid the phone over to him.

It was a picture of Kim, hair down, huge smile and a very attractive guy next to her. His smile matching hers and his arm around her shoulders.

"He was also part of the reason I left on Friday. I think now it's my turn to own it, and you really deserve to have the full story."

"Oh, um… I didn't see this coming." He looked confused and uncomfortable.

"Wait, just listen to me for a second."

"I'm all ears." He had no idea what was going on, but if Kim had been jealous about Hailey, he was going through the same thing right now.

"Um, his name is Andrew and that's probably one of the last pictures we took together. We met 5 years ago at Sylvie's birthday party. I wasn't going to go. I don't even remember why, I think I had something to do with my family or something, but of course Sylvie convinced me to go and he was there. It was a surprise, no one expected him to be there. So it kind of shifted the attention off Sylvie and she was slightly pissed, and by slightly I mean really pissed." Kim chuckled at the memory, but Adam wasn't 100 percent sure about his feelings right now. "But, she missed him and loved him so all in all she was happy to see her cousin again. We hung out a lot that summer, one thing led to another and we ended up dating. I remember Sylvie being thrilled because we were officially family. We had such a connection, everything was so real between us, I felt like he really got me, you know? At least he got me in a way nobody ever did before."

"So, you guys broke up and he showed up again last week?" Adam was doing his best to follow her, but when he saw her watery eyes he knew something was off.

"No. He um… he passed away almost two years ago." The tears started rolling down her cheeks and he didn't know what to do, so he just moved closer to her and wrapped her in his arms.

"Oh my god, Kim. I'm so sorry."

She shook her head, but didn't try to break free from his hold. "It's ok, I mean you don't have to, it's not your fault. I feel so stupid, it's been long enough."

"Kim, no."

She wiped her tears with her hand and took a deep breath to calm herself. "He was a pilot, Air Force. He got stationed in Guam, died in the line of duty. They never told us exactly what mission he was on, or how it happened. I never got to say goodbye." She took a deep breath trying to hold her tears in place. "I'm not gonna lie to you, it was tough. Time just made it real, and forced me to embrace it, but I don't think it made it easier on any of us. Some days I'm pretty good about and then others I just snap. The smallest trigger and my head starts spinning."

"I'm guessing the trigger Friday night was Jay?"

"Yeah. His dog tag actually. Andrew's parents gave me his when they got all his stuff."

"I wish I'd known about this. I would have done something, I don't know."

"There's nothing you can do. I should have said something before, though. Maybe that would have helped you understand my very confusing and erratic behavior. It's just that I never really opened up about this with many people, especially guys. I didn't know what to say, or for you to feel sorry for me. I, I don't know. I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for. You did what you could. Now I know, now I understand. Just, talk to me, ok? I'm here for you, I want to help. Even if that means stepping back, give you space or time." She looked at him with big worried eyes when he said that last part.

"No. I don't want you to step back. You've triggered the first genuinely nice and real feeling I've felt in a very long time. I don't want that gone." She held on tighter to his arms. "I just might need a little help and a lot of patience."

"It looks like we'll be helping each other a lot." He pressed his forehead against hers and spoke. "You're the most badass person I've met and the most beautiful, inside and out and no one ever will top that. You're not alone, I've got you, ok?" She nodded and closed the distance between them, capturing his lips.

"Thank you."

"Shhh." That was the last thing he said before kissing her again. "Thanks for opening up to me."

"Sorry for not doing it before."

"You did it when you felt it was right and that's good enough for me."

The day was too much for them. A lot had gone on and as much as they both preferred to stay there together, their jobs were waiting for them.

Adam drove her back to school and squeezed her hand before she got off the truck. "Do you still wanna get together today?" He asked her not wanting to push her any further.

"Yes, of course. I'll be there."

"Ok. Looking forward to it."

"Me too." She smiled and moved in closer to kiss him. "See you later."

She got out of the truck and he watched carefully as she walked to the main entrance. Adam couldn't help but smile. He was incredibly thankful for everything Kim was doing for him and his niece, but what he felt was more than just gratitude, he couldn't name it, he couldn't really define his feelings, but he was certain it was more than just being thankful. He felt like the world stopped when she was there and she became so much in such a short amount of time that it was a bit overwhelming and, strangely, he liked that. At least it was better than the alternative, not having her at all.

The rest of the school day was pretty good, her students were calm, helping each other, listening carefully and raising their hands to speak. It was really a perfect afternoon and Kim really appreciated it since the morning was pretty intense.

As she hugged her kids goodbye, she started getting her things ready to go home for a shower and then head over to Adam's.

"What are your plans after school?" Sylvie just blurted out as she invaded Kim's classroom.

"Um, I'm going to Adam's to talk to Gracie." Kim smiled and rolled her eyes after Sylvie arched her eyebrows a couple of times making them almost touch her hairline.

"Shut up."

"What? I didn't say anything!" Sylvie defended herself as she helped her friend gather her things.

"You didn't have to. Your eyes don't need subtitles."

"Good, then you already know what I think is really going to happen tonight."

"None of those dirty thoughts running through your mind are going to happen tonight."

"Well I hope they do. Kim, you really need to get laid."

"Sylvia Brett! Be quiet would you?" The blonde laughed when she saw her friend's cheeks glowing in bright red.

"This is just your best friend wishing you happiness."

"Yeah, I can see how invested your are in my sex life. I appreciate it." She said ironically and they both laughed as they walked to the parking lot. "In fact if that ever happens, you will be the first to know."

"Not if, honey, when. When that happens I expect you to share that with me, just the way I shared with you stuff the captain and I do. And of course I'm invested, everyone deserves a healthy sex life." She shrugged as if she was stating the obvious, making Kim chuckle and shake her head.

"What plans do you have right now?" The brunette shot back.

"Nothing really."

"Ok, wanna come over? Have some coffee before I go to see Gracie and I'll tell you everything that went on this morning?"

"Hell yeah! That's the reason why I asked you about your plans in the first place."

"I know." Kim looked at her friend as she opened the left back door of her car to put her bag on the back seat. "Want a spoiler?"

"Please!"

"I told Adam about Andrew." Sylvie slammed the door shut and looked back at her friend.

"Oh my God, Kim. That's huge!" As soon as she saw the tears on Kim's eyes, her own tears started to wet her cheeks. She did the only thing she could, walk over to her friend and squeeze her in a tight hug. They both needed that support and comfort. "I am so glad you were finally able to take that step." Kim just nodded against her friend's shoulder. Sylvie took a step back and wiped her eyes while Kim did the same. "I'm proud of you and Andrew would be too." Yeah it was useless to wipe off her tears because there was Kim crying again. Sylvie squeezed her arm before speaking. "Take a deep breath boo, nice and slow and let's go to your place so you can tell me everything about today."