Companion piece to:

Bloody - John meets his soulmate during a bloody day in the ED.

All Work, No Play - You're suprised when John asks you out on a date.

Prequel to:

Flowers - John leaves you a birthday gift.

Ms Independant - Your history causes you to struggle when John asks to take care of you.

Such a Good Boy - John is confronted with a face from his past.

Our Little Secret - Ainsley traps John in a position he really doesn't want to be in.

On The Roof - John opens up to you about what happened.

You’re terrible at bowling, the worst that John has ever seen. He isn’t sure how you do it but you seem to gutter ball every single shot up the alley. The worst part is he can see how disheartened you’re getting, its in the way your cheeks redden, your shoulders slump you watch the ball hurtle into the divot.

“Bailey.” He says kindly. “Can I show you?”

“You know what? I gotta get going.” You say picking up your jacket, forcing your arms into your sleeves. “There’s a paper I need to be working on.”

“At least let me call an Uber.” He offers but you hold up your phone.

“It’s already here.” You say, untucking your hair from the collar. “Have a great rest of your night John.”

He watches as you walk away with a sinking feeling in his chest before he sits down in the hard plastic chair staring at the score. This was meant to be fun to be something fun, something relaxing to do after work. He hadn’t meant to humiliate you.

The next day after his shift instead of going home, he detours via your office. You’re working late, just like he suspected. He gets the feeling that this is what you do, drown yourself in the work so you don’t have to deal with the other stuff, the stuff that hurts you, confuses you.

 “Hey.” He says leaning in the doorway and you look up from your desk, your thumb clicking the end of your pen. “I messed up last night.”

“No. You didn’t.” You say with a sigh, sagging back into your seat. “I’m just not wired like other people. It was a nice idea but…”

“Not for you.” John summarises. “I should have asked-”

You shake your head.

“It’s fine honestly.”  You say, you gaze lowering to your laptop. John understands he’s being dismissed, that you’re letting him off the hook but the thing is John doesn’t want to be off the hook. He wants to spend time with you, to get to know you.

“Bailey…” He says softly. “I like you and I want to find something that works for us. Axe throwing, mug painting, ice skating…”

Your head tips up then and a smile crosses his handsome features.

“I think the rink might be open tonight if you can take a break from your paper.” John says, jerking his thumb at the elevator. “I’ll even buy the hot chocolate afterwards.”

“I can give you an hour.” You say as you raise to your feet, taking your coat off the hook. “Just one hour and then I’ve got to get back to work.”

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