#proof fic

Her office door was closed. I stood at the bottom of the stairs and debated heading up, ultimately deciding to start breakfast instead. I had practice in an hour and I was famished from the night’s festivities. Thoughts of her smooth, soft skin surfaced as I cracked two eggs into a hot pan. My muscles ached and I raised my hands over my head to stretch, freezing when Lucia whistled long and low. 

I slipped into my bedroom and pulled on a pair of leggings, stopping to look at myself in the mirror for a moment. Between my lopsided ponytail, frazzled bangs, and tomato-red face I looked like hell. My skin was warm and clammy from our tryst in the kitchen and I blew out a heavy breath before reaching for the door handle. 

“The redhead?” 

“No-no, it was definitely that one girl. What’s her name? The girl who handles our Twitter?” 

“Katie?” 

“Yeah, Katie! She seems like she would.” 

“What are you guys talking about?” 

“Trying to figure out who’s been sucking on Lindy’s neck.” Matt slid a cup of coffee across the island and nodded to the table where Elias and Johnny were sitting. I took one of the open seats and grabbed a bagel from the bag, tearing it into two pieces. Matt took the other chair and turned to me. “Do you take cream?” 

It was a loaded question considering the time and place but I shook my head and pulled the lid off of my cup. “Just sugar.” 

I grabbed two packets and tore them open with my teeth, keeping my eyes on Elias as I stirred my coffee. He watched me with a smile as our guests debated his possible mystery girl. 

“LeighAnne?” 

“She’s engaged.” 

“Danielle?” 

“Married. To a woman.” 

“Really?” Johnny chewed thoughtfully and nodded before swallowing. “Good for her. Was it Maggie?” 

“You can guess all you want, guys.” He stood and grabbed the pan from the stove, piling the two eggs he’d made onto his bagel. “I’m not telling.” 

“C’mon man, give us a hint.” Matt turned to me and leaned close. “Did you see her?” 

“I was in my office all night. But I heard her.” 

“And?” 

“Sounded like someone was skinning a cat. I almost called the police.” 

Elias choked out a laugh as the guys chided him, both celebrating his conquest. I picked at my bagel and listened to them talk for a few minutes as my mind drifted back to what happened on the table before they got here. Johnny nudged my foot with his and waved a hand in my face. 

“Yes or no?” 

“Hmm?” 

“Clubbing tonight. Yes or no?” 

“What time?” He told me and I shook my head. “Sorry, I’m swamped with work right now.” 

“Didn’t you say you worked all night?” 

“It’s a big project.” 

“Take a break, Looch. Come with us.” Johnny was insistent and he continued before I could answer him. “It’ll be good for you to go out, meet some people.” 

“John-” 

“You’re coming.” 

I stuffed the rest of my bagel into my mouth and stood, grabbing my coffee as I did. All eyes were on me as I turned to leave, making a point to slam my office door when I got to the top of the stairs. Overstuffed pillows cushioned my fall onto the couch and I stared at the ceiling fan until my eyes crossed. 

“Working hard?” I jumped and Johnny laughed, ambling over to sit on the arm of my sofa. I kicked my feet onto his lap and he slipped into the spot under them, running a hand over my ankle. “When’s the last time you shaved?” 

“Do you need something?” 

“Are you mad at me? For what I said downstairs?” I decided to let him stew for a minute and sat silent, setting my eyes back on the fan. “Because I just... I’m worried about you, Looch. You were so much fun back in Boston. We’d go out all the time, parties and games. It seems like you’ve shut down since you got here.” 

I pulled myself up and settled against the opposite side of the couch to watch him. 

“And I don’t know if it’s... I know you haven’t been feeling your best self since you gained-” 

“Excuse me?” I crossed my arms over my chest and glared. “What are you saying, Johnny?” 

“I’m not saying anything, I just- you mentioned that you’d wanted to lose a few pounds. If that’s why you keep blowing me off, I-I’m trying to help.” 

“By calling me fat?” 

“I’m not calling you fat!” 

“Sounded like it.” 

“Looch, you know that’s not what I meant. You’re- you look beautiful.” His eyes were wide and his cheeks reddened as he backtracked, leaning back as I stood. “I’m sorry, I didn’t think.”

“Yeah, you didn’t.” 

“I just miss you. I miss the old you.” 

“I’m the same person I’ve always been, Johnny.” 

“Then come out with us!” I stopped in front of him and frowned. “Give me a good reason why not. And don’t say work! Work doesn’t count.” 

I didn’t have one and so I turned on my heel, dropping into my desk chair without a word. He ambled over and dropped his head onto my shoulder. 

“C’monnnn Looch, it’ll be fun.” 

“Why are you being such an ass about this?” 

“Why are you hiding in your office? You said you were here all night, right?” He spun me around and leaned in until his nose was touching mine. “Elias has been here for a month, if that, and he’d already got more friends than you. He fucked somebody. When’s the last time you did?” 

“I think we need boundaries in our relationship.” 

“That long?” I pushed him away and he continued. “When was the last time you went on a date? Last one night stand?” 

“Not counting your mom?” 

“Very funny. Come out with us.” 

“I’m not a club person.” 

“Then we’ll go to a bar. An arcade. A golf course. Pick one, Lucia. The choice is yours.”

I sank into my chair and crossed my legs, bouncing my foot for a moment. Elias called him from downstairs and he looked at his watch, mumbling about practice as he started towards the door. He stopped and turned back to look at me. 

“Please?” 

Her door was still shut. I stopped at the bottom of the staircase and looked up for a long moment before dropping my bag and starting up. I could hear her shuffling around in her studio and stopped a few steps away. 

“Looch?” 

The noise stopped for a second and I saw the door handle move once, stopping with a moment of hesitation before opening up. She looked at me with wide eyes and flushed cheeks, hair braided haphazardly and hanging down over her left shoulder. I took a second to just look at her before forcing a smile. 

“How’s it going?” 

“Good.” 

“Good. What are you up to?” 

“Work.” 

“Are you ever gonna talk to me again?” 

The one word answers were killing me and I tightened my grip on the railing I was holding on to, sighing long and low before taking another step. She rested her hip against the door and looked down at me. 

“Elias-” 

“Because I miss you.” 

I kept my eyes on hers until she turned, leaving the door open as she slipped back inside. I took it as an invitation and followed suit, dropping onto the couch and leaning onto my elbows. I watched her at her desk as she saved her work, switching between screens for a minute before she spoke. 

“Do you believe in signs?” She didn’t turn to look at me so I didn’t answer. “Like, divine intervention?” 

“What do you mean?” 

“I went into college as a law major. Registered for all my classes, met with all my advisers, thought I knew exactly what I was doing. I’d gotten into the program but I had one more exam to take before I could sign up for orientation. I was sweating this test like you wouldn’t believe, studied night and day an entire month leading up to it. I skipped graduation parties and the senior cruise, all because this test was so damn important to me. And I was miserable.”

Her shoulders tensed for a moment and I could see her reflection in one of her monitors, eyes far off as she stilled. 

“When the day of the test came, we had a power outage in the middle of the night. My alarm never went off. By the time I woke up, it was too late.” She spun around to look at me and smiled gently. “Everyone had finished and the hall was clearing out.” 

“What did you do?” 

“I took a seat in the front row, right in the middle, and I just sat. Just kept my hands in my lap and sat there, wallowing in what I thought was the biggest fuck up of my life.” She let out a breathy laugh and shook her head. “And then Professor Cameron walked in to set up for another meeting. He introduced himself and invited me to stay for the session. And he was my adviser for the four years I was in Boston. He got me my first job, continues to send work my way... What I thought was the biggest mistake of my life turned into the best thing that’s ever happened to me. And it probably saved me a lot of heartache.” 

She seemed to sink in her chair at the word heartache and I put two and two together. 

“So you think that Johnny walking in when you and I were... you think that was a sign?” She nodded and stood, taking the seat next to me and tucking her legs under her. “A sign that we should or that we shouldn’t?” 

The way her face fell put a pit in my stomach and I suddenly wished I hadn’t come up. Not knowing how she felt seemed so much better than finding out she wasn’t on the same page as I was. 

“I’m sorry Elias, I just-” 

“No, no apologies. Please Lucia, don’t apologize.” 

“Do you understand where I’m coming from?” 

“Of course.” I stood and started towards the door, stopping with my hand on the knob. “I get it.” 

“I just... I don’t think it’s meant to be.” 

I stopped short and turned to her, the words coming faster than I could manage. 

“Can I say something?” 

“Sure.” 

“I think you’re looking for a sign. And I think it’s bullshit.” 

“Excuse me?” 

“I’m sorry, I get where you’re coming from, especially with the whole law school thing, that  seems like a sign you could sink your teeth into. But Johnny coming back to the hotel was chance, nothing more.” 

Her cheeks reddened as she scoffed but I couldn’t stop myself. 

“We’ve had these incredible conversations a-and I don’t know what to do because anytime we get close to anything more, you leave. If you don’t want this, you can tell me, I’d rather you be honest so we can go back to normal, but Looch, until you do... I like you. I like talking to you and I want to be with you. If that’s not enough of a sign for you then I don’t know what you want.” 

I turned on a heel and left her studio, bounding down the stairs and slipping into my room. There was a loud knock on my door as soon as I shut it and I flung it open to find Lucia on the other side, brow furrowed and chest heaving. 

“Are you fucking kidding me? You can’t just say shit like that and leave, who are you? Fallon Carrington?” 

“Who?” 

She pushed past me and started pacing my room, gesturing wildly as she spoke. 

“You don’t know me, Elias! You and I have lived together for what, three months? That’s nothing!” 

I dropped onto the bed and just watched her as she yelled, going on and on about how out of line I was. 

“And maybe I don’t want to tell you I don’t want this! Have you ever thought of that? I’m not used to this.” She nodded to me and my stomach flipped as she took a step closer. 

“What are you saying, Lucia?” 

I took her hand in mine and pulled her a bit closer, looking up at her flushed cheeks. She took a deep breath and avoided my eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose for a minute. 

“You scare me.” 

“Why?” 

“I don’t know.” 

“Yes you do.” 

She stamped her foot as I stood, letting me brush a strand of hair back from her face and pull her chin up until her gaze leveled with mine. 

“C’mon Lucia. Tell me you want me or tell me you don’t. Just don’t lie to me.” 

“I...” she didn’t finish, instead wrapping a hand around the back of my neck and pulling me down to kiss her. It was euphoric, such a stark contrast from the lazy drunken moment we’d shared a few weeks prior. I grabbed at her waist and she seemed to melt into me with a contented sigh. 

She pulled back with a sharp breath and kept her eyes closed, her free hand bunching my shirt up in a tight fist. I could feel the warmth of her body through her this clothing and the fact that she was so close, pressed against me so beautifully, hit me like a ton of bricks. 

“And then what?” 

“He left. He was gone when I woke up.” 

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I heard my nephew shout in the background and Anna covered the receiver poorly as she apologized to him. “Dominic, mommy’s sorry. She said a bad word.” 

His voice was somehow shrill and muffled and I stifled a laugh as she grumbled. “Hang on, Lucia. I’ve got to find a quarter to put in the swear jar.” 

“I thought we were calling that Number Five’s College Fund.” 

“We were until Number Five decided to play FIFA with my ribcage.” I heard her strain as if on cue and I frowned. “There she goes, my little Mia Hamm.” 

“That bad?” 

“Worse than the boys.” 

“How much longer?” 

“Four months.” 

“Hey, you’re more than halfway done. I swear, between you, Maria, and Cassandra, I can’t keep up. When people ask me how many nieces and nephews I have I just shrug.” 

“You have nine. Soon to be ten- eleven actually. I forgot about Cass.” 

“We all do sometimes.” 

She snorted a laugh and scolded me, a lightness in her voice that I loved. It reminded me that under all that maternal maturity, I still had my sister. We settled into a sweet silence before she spoke again, a bit more serious this time. 

“So what are you gonna do?” 

“About what?” 

“Elijah!” 

“I’m not going to do anything. And it’s Elias.” 

“What’s his last name?” 

“Lindholm.” 

I could hear her tapping on her phone followed by a quiet gasp. “Lucia! Oh my gosh, Looch, are you fucking serious?” 

“What?” 

“MOMMY!” 

“Dammit! Sorry Dom!” 

“That’s another two quarters.” 

“I put in a dollar so I technically have one more and, if I may, I’d like to use it.” 

“Go for it.” 

“Daaaaaaaaaammmmmnnnnnnn! You didn’t tell me he was gorgeous.” 

“He’s not-” 

“He looks like a J. Crew model. He looks like a contestant on The Bachelor. He is stunning.” I heard a door slam on her end and she covered the receiver again, coming back a moment later with a chirp in her voice. “Charlie just got home. I’m gonna put you on speaker.” 

“Hi Lucia!” 

“Hey Charlie, how’s it going?” 

“No complaints.” Anna mumbled something I couldn’t quite hear and he cleared his throat. “Holy shit!” 

“Dad!” 

“I know, I know!” There was a quiet clang of change dropping into the swear jar followed by a laugh. “Is that your new guy?” 

“No-” 

“Yes!”

“Anna!” 

“They kissed Charlie!” 

“You did?” He was just as excited as her and I couldn’t help but grin. “That’s exciting Looch!” 

“It’s- we were drunk. It was nothing.” 

“Doesn’t sound like nothing to me.” 

“Nobody asked you Anna.” My cheeks burned furiously as I fought to keep myself from indulging in the idea that it meant anything at all. We’d been drinking, watching a romantic movie, it was practically the plot to a subpar fanfiction on it’s own. “And it was stupid. We were drunk. It’s... yeah.” 

Charlie and Anna were silent on the other end and I could practically see the look they were exchanging and I rolled my eyes. 

“But I’ve got a client meeting in about half an hour. Can I call you tonight?” 

“Of course. But-” 

I hung up before she could finish her thought and shook my head, standing up slowly and with a low groan. My body ached from a sleepless night and I rolled my shoulders back before padding down to the kitchen. I’d been eating nothing but junk food since the day the guys left for their road trip and my stomach was crying for something good. 

Elias had left groceries in the fridge and I shifted everything around until I found enough to make a meal. The stove heated up quickly and the smell of Italian herbs filled the house, my mouth watering as I layered the lasagna, sprinkling a generous portion of cheese on top. I snapped a picture and deleted it, tucking my phone away before kicking myself for being so weird. The second picture got sent to Elias and I leaned against the counter before hitting send, adding Johnny to the group chat to settle my nerves. 

There was a blast of hot air as I opened the oven and I savored it, considering starting a fire to eat in front of. I set the timer and grabbed a bottle of wine from the rack, searching for a corkscrew and coming up short as the phone rang. 

“Hello?” 

“Did you make that lasagna?” 

“I did.” 

“It... I thought you couldn’t cook.” 

“I can, I just choose not to.” He grunted a response and I changed the subject. “Do you know where the corkscrew is?” 

“It’s not in the drawer by the fridge?” I shook my head and heard him hum quietly in thought. “Did you check the dishwasher?” 

“We have a dishwasher?” 

His laugh was deep and tired and I took a seat at the breakfast bar, watching the timer count down as I chose my words. 

“You sound exhausted.” 

“Is it that obvious?” I heard the creak of a mattress and he groaned, deep and throaty. It sent a tingle down my back and I shivered where I sat, shaking my head and distracting myself with opening mail. “I haven’t been sleeping well.” 

“Jet lag?” 

“Maybe. To be completely honest, I’ve had a lot on my mind this week.” 

“Anything I can help with?” He was quiet for a minute, a minute and forty seconds to be exact. The oven timer ticked down and I cleared my throat quietly. “Elias?” 

“We kissed.” 

“We did.”

I pictured an elephant squeezing itself between the fridge and the island and smiled, shaking my head. The bottle of wine sat on the counter and I stood to grab it, plucking a knife out of the carving block and reclaiming my seat.

Neither one of us spoke and I put him on speaker as I busied myself with chipping away at the cork. It was his turn to break the silence and he seemed timid when he spoke. 

“I can’t stop thinking about it.” 

“Really?” 

“Really.” 

“I’m sorry.” 

“Please don’t apologize.” 

“Sorry.” He chuckled and I covered my face with my hand. “Sor- dammit Elias, I can’t stop!” 

I set the paring knife down and laughed, leaning back in the chair. The cork was halfway gone and I dove back into my endeavor as I sobered. I finally just stabbed at it until it dropped into the bottle with a satisfying plop, a few drops landing on the tile in front of me. 

“What are you doing?” 

“Hmm? Oh, I’m gonna pour a glass of wine.” 

“You found the corkscrew?” 

“I improvised.” 

“That makes me nervous. You don’t have any work tonight?” 

“None that I plan on doing.” 

“So your evening is-” 

“Wide open. What about you?” 

“About the same. Some of the guys went out after the game but I wasn’t feeling it.” 

“So you’re alone?” My voice was shrill and full of hope, a few octaves higher than usual. I hoped he hadn’t heard it but his was deeper when he answered me, an edge to it that wasn’t there before. 

“I am. Are you?” 

“I fucking hope so.” I stood up and checked the front door, sliding in the deadbolt as he laughed again. A quick scan of the immediate area gave me a bit of ease and I nodded to Jones where he lay on his dog bed. “I am.” 

“Good.” 

“Good.” 

“Good.” 

“Elias...” 

“Sorry.” 

“Don’t apologize.” I could picture him smiling in his hotel room, sprawled out on the duvet with his legs splayed. He took in a sharp breath and I waited for him, every nerve in my body lit up as I moved to the couch. 

“What... what are you wearing?” 

“A sweatshirt.” 

“And?” 

“That’s it.” 

“Fuck.” His voice was barely more than a rasp and I squeezed my eyes shut. “Lucia, what are you doing to me?” 

“You tell me.” 

“I’m... you want this?” 

More than you know. 

“Do you?” 

I heard the door creak open behind me and spun around in my chair, smiling when Elias poked his head in. His hair was damp from the shower and he was sporting a deep pink flush on his cheeks. 

“You busy?” 

I shook my head and nodded to the couch for him to sit down, reaching back to save my work before giving him my attention. He dropped down and loosened his tie before leaning back. 

“How was the game?” 

“Not too bad. We lost in overtime.” 

“I’m sorry to hear that. Beautiful goal in the second though.” 

“You watched?” I nodded again and he raised an eyebrow. “You should’ve come.” 

“I wanted to but I’m swamped with work. And, no offense, but I wanted a night in.” 

“That’s fair. What are you working on?”

“Just some local commercial. Nothing special but I keep getting edits from the company.” I rolled my eyes and he smiled. “Have you eaten yet? Wanna order out?” 

“Sure.” 

“What are you in the mood for?” 

“Pizza?” 

My stomach growled as he said it and I pulled up my phone to order online, scanning through the specials with hungry eyes. Everything looked good so I handed it to Elias to decide, turning my attention to my computer screen until he cleared his throat. 

“Ordered. I got garlic bread too. I hope you don’t mind.” 

“Has anyone ever told you that you’re an angel?” 

“I get it all the time. They’ll be here in half an hour. I’m gonna go change.” 

“Sounds good.” 

He moved to the door and stopped short, leaning against it with his hand on the knob. “Oh, Johnny wanted me to tell you that he can’t make ‘girls night’ tonight. He pulled something in his back so he’s working with a trainer.” 

I could feel my face fall and I frowned, wrinkling my nose. “That’s a bummer.” 

“You look disappointed.” 

I waved it off and smiled. “It’s all good. Another time.” 

“What were you guys gonna do?” I shook my head and he pressed it. “C’mon, what was it?” 

“It’s stupid but we were gonna do face masks and stuff. Drink wine all night, watch shitty movies, hair treatments. We did it a few times in college but- it’s all good.” 

He pursed his lips for a moment and kept his eyes on me. “Let’s do it.” 

“What?” 

“Girls night. It sounds fun, let’s do it.” 

“Really?” 

“Why not?” He ran his fingers over the stubble on his chin and shrugged. “I could definitely use it.” 

I couldn’t help but smile when he did and I nodded, watching him leave and listening to his footsteps on the stairs. Turning my attention back to my work, I tried, and failed, to focus on the screen in front of me. My cheeks felt hot to the touch and I chided myself for freaking out over something so silly. I couldn’t help but think about the way he’d looked at me after the last game, how he’d told me I looked beautiful. 

“Chill out Looch, it’s just a crush.” 

“A what?” 

I jumped in my chair and spun towards him, feigning confusion as I shrugged. “Hmm? Oh, just thinking out loud.” 

He cleared his throat but seemed satisfied, pointing to the stairs behind him. “I uh, I have Netflix pulled up if you want to come pick a movie.” 

I pulled my robe tight around me and stood, slipping past him and starting towards the living room. He followed and took a seat on the couch next to the dog, rubbing behind his ears as I grabbed the remote. 

“Do you have anything in mind? Comedy? Horror? Bad romance?” 

“You can never go wrong with the last one.” 

“Fair enough.” I scrolled through the movies and found one that seemed solid, looking in his direction as the poster popped up on the screen. It had a man and a woman leaning against opposite sides of a Christmas tree, his arms folded over his chest and her hands on her hips. They were eyeing each other with wry smiles and there was mistletoe in the top corner. 

“The Greatest Present? Looks terrible. Let’s do it.” I hit play and the opening credits started, Elias reaching out to pause it after a minute or two, looking at me expectantly. “I believe wine and masks were promised.” 

“Y-yeah, of course.” 

I made my way to my bathroom and started rifling through the cabinet, putting hands on a few different options. He studied the tubes as I set them down and raised an eyebrow before putting them back. 

“Which do you recommend?” 

“Well, that one has avocado in it- which is great for moisturizing. The black mask is charcoal and it’s for deep cleansing clogged pores.” 

“What about the one with honey?” He smiled and pointed to the bumble bee on the bottle, uncapping it to sniff it once. 

“Honey is antibacterial, cleanses as well. But it’s a peel off mask and you’ve... you’re uh-” 

“Hairy?” 

“Yep.” 

“Is it gonna hurt?” 

“It might. How pain-sensitive are you?” I reached out to pinch him and he didn’t even flinch. “You’re gonna be fine.” 

“Cool. Which one are you using?” 

“Green one. My skin gets dry in winter.” 

“Sounds fair.” 

“Are you going with the honey mask?” 

He nodded happily and pointed to the bee again. I handed him a facial wipe and started using my own, pulling my hair into a ponytail to keep it out of my face. He brushed his own hair back and frowned when it flopped forwards again, groaning as he repeated the process. 

“Here.” I grabbed a hair-tie and pulled his hair back, securing it in a small bun at the top of his head and pulling tight before scrubbing my face again. He toyed with it for a minute before laughing, nodding quickly and watching it bob. “Having fun?” 

“I’ve never had a ponytail before. I like it.” 

“Yeah?” 

“Yeah. So what do I do?” He threw his towelette in the trash and grabbed the mask, squeezing a bit onto his fingertips and studying it. “Just put it on your face?” 

“Pretty much. Try not to get any in your beard or brows if you can.” 

“Sounds good.” 

He started in and hummed quietly as he massaged his face, stopping periodically to study his hands. “It’s really sticky.” 

“It’ll dry down.” 

He stole a glance in my direction and burst out laughing, holding his arms up like a surgeon scrubbing in as he doubled over. 

“What?” I nudged him with my elbow and he shook his head. “What’s so funny?”

“You- your face!” 

I had to admit the bright green was startling and he reached out to swipe at it, rubbing it between his fingers before bringing it to his nose. 

“Will you stop smelling everything?” 

He shrugged and leaned forward to wash his hands, disappearing after he deemed them clean. I finished applying my mask and put everything away before joining him in the kitchen. He held out a glass of wine and grinned as I took it, lifting his own for a casual toast. 

“To girls night?” 

“I’ll drink to that.” 

The doorbell rang as I took a sip and Elias went to answer it, returning with a couple of boxes and a wide grin on his face. The smell was overwhelming and we dug in, taking seats on opposite ends of the couch and falling into silence as the movie ran on. The whole tone was light and cheesy until about fifteen minutes in, the music shifting as the scene changed. 

I cleared my throat and buried my face in my wine glass as the camera panned to the main character, naked as the day is long. Elias cleared his throat next to me and the tension in the room built, neither one of us making eye contact during the unexpected sex. 

“I um, I’m gonna go wash this off.” 

“Yeah, that- same.” 

We both hopped up without pausing the movie, heading to our respective rooms without a word. I scrubbed my face clean and stood up, listening until I heard the television. The music hadn’t changed and I didn’t want to risk another awkward moment so I grabbed a deep conditioner, massaging it into my hair. 

I flipped my head over to wrap it into a bun and Elias was in the doorway when I righted myself, watching me intently. He grabbed the bottle I’d been using and studied it, reading the ingredients on the back. 

“More avocado?” 

“Mhmm. You want to use some?” 

“What is it?” 

“Same thing you used on your face, just for your hair.” 

“Can I use it in my beard?” 

I nodded and he squeezed a bunch out, attacking his roots with furrowed brows. He was concentrating hard and frowned when he ran out, reaching for the bottle again. 

“Wait- can I?” 

“Sure.” He squatted down and let me run my fingers through his hair, shivering as my nails grazed his scalp. “Can we get a chair?” 

I moved to go to the living room and sat down, scooting back as he settled between my knees. The film was back to a cheery moment, a party scene at Christmastime, and I zoned out watching it and playing with his hair. 

He groaned quietly and leaned back, looking up at me with soft eyes. “That feels so good.” 

“You want me to keep going?” 

He nodded and fell back against me, wrapping an arm around my calf and setting his hand on my ankle. I fought to convince myself that the touch was innocent but derailed when he groaned again, hopping up with more energy than intended. 

“More wine?” 

Grabbing his glass without waiting for an answer and sprinted into the kitchen, downing the rest of my glass and pouring another haphazardly. I threw that back too and started on another before giving up and drinking straight from the bottle. My stomach flipped as I uncorked a fresh bottle, taking it and our two glasses back to the living room. Elias had claimed a seat on the couch and looked up at me with a tentative smile. 

“I paused the movie.” 

“Thanks.” 

“Everything alright?” 

“I uh, had to open a new bottle so... that’s why I took so long.” 

“Oh, okay.” There was an awkward tension between us and I dampened it with more alcohol, watching him take a sip before I took my spot back. He grabbed the remote and hesitated a moment before he turned to me. “Drink every time she says ‘love’?” 

I nodded excitedly and he hit play, both of us focused on the dialogue now. The aforementioned tension dissolved quickly and we were cackling by the time the credits rolled. 

He stood on unsteady feet and held out a hand for me, pulling me up with a dopey grin. 

“We should wash this out of our hair.” 

“We should.” 

He didn’t move so I took the lead, stumbling a bit as I tried to go around him. Elias reached out and wrapped an arm around me to keep me from falling, chuckling as I grabbed onto him and righted myself. His brow was furrowed as he studied me and I realized how close we were, his chest against mine and his hand on my waist. 

“Elias...” 

He leaned in ever so slightly, lips warm as they brushed against mine. The feel of his stubble against my skin was enough to knock me off of my feet and his arm tightened around my waist as I melted into him. 

A moan I didn’t recognize came out of my mouth and I pulled back in an instant, sobering as the moment landed. He smiled softly and dropped his hand without saying anything, pushing his hair back slowly. I watched him wince as he pulled away, rubbing his now greasy fingers together with a frown. 

“So I just rinse it out?” 

“Mhmm.” 

“Alright. Well... have a good night.” 

“You look uncomfortable.” 

“I am.” I watched her pull her cardigan closer to her body as she shivered. The rink was colder than usual with the weather outside and I slid my suit jacket off to wrap around her shoulders. She thanked me with a curt smile and looked down at herself, her brows furrowed when she met my eyes again. “I’m not really a dress person.” 

“I get it. Neither am I.” 

Her laugh bounced off of the walls in the small hallway and I leaned into it, savoring the way she tossed her head back. She looked absolutely stunning in a short black dress that hugged her body. I shifted my bag on my shoulder as she looked over my shoulder, her smile widening when she saw Johnny. He lit up and nodded in our direction before stopping to talk to Gio.

“So, you wanna head home?” 

“I thought you’d never ask.” 

I nodded towards the garage and we started off, stopping when I heard my name. 

“Hey man, wait up!” Johnny jogged over and stopped next to us, Gio and Sean on either side. “We were gonna grab some dinner, celebrate the win. You coming?” 

I turned to Lucia and raised an eyebrow, watching her wave me off. “Go ahead, have fun. I know the way home.” 

“She’s coming. You’re coming, right Looch?”

“Wasn’t planning on it.” 

“Then I’ll just head home-” 

“You’re coming.” Johnny cut me off with a firm voice and I kept my eyes on her. 

 She pursed her lips and shook her head, reaching for the push bar on the door. Johnny opened his mouth to say something but she mumbled a fast goodbye and slipped out. 

We watched her for a second before he dropped his bag to follow her, disappearing into the stairwell and shouting her name. Gio nudged me with an elbow and grinned when I turned towards him. 

“Two goals tonight? Where the hell did that come from?” 

“Yeah, never saw any of that in Carolina.” 

We started talking about the game and I found myself beaming, savoring the four point win with my new team. The trade to Calgary felt like a clean slate and I couldn’t hide my excitement in getting off on the right foot, starting with a bang. My phone buzzed in my pocket and I pulled it out to find Johnny calling, a bit out of breath as he spoke. 

“Hey, we’re coming- damn Looch, stop walking so fast!” The line was just heavy breathing and shuffling until he came back. “We’ll meet you at the restaurant.” 

“Lucia coming?” 

“Yes.” 

“No!” I stifled laughter as I heard her shout in the background. 

“We’re going! We’ll see you there.” 

He hung up and I filled the guys in, thanking Gio when he offered me a ride. The restaurant was right around the corner and Johnny was out front with Lucia as we pulled up. 

“Where’d you guys get off to?” 

“Give her a minute, Mony. She’s in a mood.” 

She rolled her eyes at Sean’s teasing and headed inside, turning back to count us before she spoke to the hostess. Johnny set a hand on her arm and she bristled and shook him off, leading the group to a booth in the back and stopping short of getting in. 

“I’m going to use the restroom.”

“What do you want to drink?” Johnny asked. 

“Do they serve alcohol here?” 

There was an unnerving tension between the two of them and she blinked a few times before turning on her heel. He took a seat in the corner and sighed, shaking his head. 

“What’s going on with her?” 

“She’s mad at me.” 

“Why?” 

The waitress came by to take our drink order and we all fell silent. I watched Johnny unwrap his napkin and start fiddling with his silverware before he spoke again. 

“She thinks I tell her what to do all the time.” 

“Do you?” Sean leaned forward and set his elbows on the table, studying him intently with a frown. Gio snorted beside him and nodded, shaking his head. 

“Of course he does! You’ve seen him.” 

“I do not!” 

“You do too. You’re always bossing her around. You heard her tonight, she didn’t want to come out.” 

“She has to.” 

“Why?”

“I... it’s hard to explain. She’s had a lot of weird stuff going on lately, her roommate leaving and her parents getting divorced. She gets in her own head a lot.” He took a sip of his water as the waitress set it in front of him and swallowed hard. “She used to be so outgoing and spontaneous. I dunno, she’s just changed.” 

“Maybe she’s just growing up.” 

“No, it’s not that. It may be that but I- I just want the old Looch back.” 

“What are you guys talking about?” 

All of us looked up when she appeared, one hand on her hip with one eyebrow raised. I stole a glance and Johnny and watched his cheeks redden as she stared at him expectantly. 

“Weather.” 

“Sports.” 

Gio and I spoke at the same time and she shook her head, seemingly waving off the uncomfortable silence. I shifted to the side waiting for Sean to follow suit to make room but he stood and stepped aside. 

“Monahan-” 

“I need to be on the end.” 

“Why?” 

“You know why!” 

She rolled her eyes, dropping into the booth with a sigh. He slipped in behind her and shifted a bit until he settled back against the leather seat, slinging an arm over the back and nodding. 

“What are we getting?” 

He, Johnny, and Gio all started discussing the menu, arguing about which cut of steak was a better choice while Lucia sat quietly. I leaned over and nudged her gently, smiling when she looked up. 

“You know what you’re getting?” She nodded slowly. “Have you been here before?” 

“I bring clients here all the time.” 

“Any recommendations?” 

She rested her chin on her hand and shrugged, her eyes scanning the menu in front of her. I watched her as she spoke about the options I had, pointing out a few with excitement. 

“I guess it all depends on what you’re in the mood for. See anything you like?” 

It was a loaded question if I’d ever heard one and I selected at random, passing it on to the waitress when she came to take our order. The food came quickly and Lucia groaned as a plate was set in front of Sean. 

“Here we go.” 

“What?” 

“Wait for it.” 

She scooted towards me and tucked herself into my side, her knee bumping mine in the process. Her apology was brief before she turned her attention back to Sean, all of us following suit. 

He grabbed a knife and fork and hunched down, extending his elbows all the way out as he started cutting his steak. Lucia slid even closer to avoid taking a hit and I warmed as her thigh came flush with mine. All eyes at the table were on the display of Jurassic proportions but I couldn’t stop staring at her. 

“Is that why you need the end seat?” Gio asked, scowling as he nodded. “Where’d you learn to eat like that?” 

“How do you eat steak?” 

“Like a human being.” 

She laughed beside me, tossing her hair over her shoulder as she doubled over. It was such a sweet thing to hear that I joined in a second later, happy to see her smiling. Johnny grinned from across the table and winked at me when I locked eyes with him, chuckling himself when she snorted loudly. 

“Oh god, I’m so- I’m so sorry.” She held a hand to her chest and blushed furiously. 

All of us watching her now seemed to spur her into another laughing fit and the air in the room lightened. Her demeanor changed and I picked at my plate absentmindedly, mesmerized by everything she did. She was bubbly and sweet with an edge I didn’t see coming. Dinner flew by with dirty jokes and anecdotes from her college days with Johnny, both of them adding on to each others’ stories. 

The check came before I knew what happened and Gio picked it up, ignoring all of our protests as he scrawled on the receipt. He said something about a captain taking care of his team and raised his glass in a half-assed toast. 

“To a hell of a season!” 

“Here here!” 

We all downed our drinks and Lucia excused herself for a minute, disappearing into the bathroom again. Johnny stopped us all as we stood, a dopey grin on his face as he leaned in. 

“That’s the Lucia I know.” 

We ambled towards the door and she met us there, still wrapped in my jacket from earlier. I found myself staring again as we waited for the valet. She caught me this time and furrowed her brow, nudging me with the tip of her shoe. 

“Stop that.” 

“What?” 

“You’re looking at me funny.” 

“Sorry, I just...” The rest of the group had migrated towards the booth, leaving the two of us a bit isolated, and I took the chance I’d wanted to take all night. “You look beautiful tonight.” 

“Elias-”

“I mean it. You really do.” 

She dropped her eyes and shifted in her heels as our car pulled up. I opened her door and she thanked me quietly before sliding into the backseat, leaving the passenger side for me to take. The ride home was silent until we neared our neighborhood, Johnny clearing his throat loudly. 

“Why so quiet? Looch? You alright back there?” 

“I’m fine.” 

“Did you have fun tonight?” 

She hesitated for a minute as we came to a stop, the townhouse lit up by street lights. I could hear her dog barking from inside and I reached for the door handle, still waiting for her answer. 

“I did.” 

“Didn’t I tell you? Didn’t I say you’d have a good time?” 

“Bite me.” She said it with a smile in her voice and he chuckled as she climbed out, rolling his window down as she walked around. I followed her lead and waited by the front door as she planted a kiss on his cheek before coming towards me. 

Jones was jumping, happy to see us, and she grabbed his leash from the cabinet by the door. 

“I’ll take him.” 

“You don’t have to.” 

I shook my head and took the lead from her, taking a moment to glance at my watch. “It’s almost two in the morning. Not safe for you to be outside alone.”

“I’m more than capable of taking care of myself Elias.” There was a hint of indignation in her voice and she softened as I frowned. “B

“But you’re more than welcome to join us on our walk.” 

“I’d be honored to.” 

“Let me go change real quick.” She bounded up the stairs and stopped as I called her name, turning back on the very top step. “What’s up?” 

“I meant what I said. You look beautiful in that dress.” 

“Thank you. You can borrow it if you want.” 

“I may have to take you up on that.”  The coy smile on her lips sent a shiver through me and I laughed. “But I’m glad you came out with us.” 

She pursed her lips and nodded, rapping her knuckles on the banister as she thought for a moment.