#red one

Ordinary Magic: Ride Home

Jack O'Malley x fem!Reader Status: Complete Drabble Summary: Love grows quietly in the space we choose to make for each other. Warnings: Slight fluff.

You sat in the auditorium for your step-nephew's jazz recital, smiling as the band settled into their first song. Dylan was a good kid, and every performance he seemed a little more confident on stage.

Beside you sat your brother Craig, his wife Olivia, and Dylan's dad, Jack O'Malley. Jack was a bit of a mystery. The two of you saw each other at every family gathering now, but he always seemed to keep his distance while somehow making sure there was room for you. It was maddening. Still, what you had seen of him, you liked despite his gruff demeanor.

Shaking the thought away, you turned your attention back to the stage just as Dylan stepped forward for his solo. A smile spread across your face. He really was becoming good.

When the recital ended, the four of you made your way backstage with the rest of the families. Dylan spotted all of you immediately and hurried over. He hugged his dad first.

Jack ruffled his hair with one hand. "You nailed that solo."

Dylan beamed. "You think so?"

Jack answered with a crooked grin. "Wouldn't have said it if I didn't."

You smiled to yourself as Dylan turned to hug his mom, then Craig, before wrapping his arms around you.

You squeezed him tightly. "You did great, kiddo."

"Thanks." He stepped back, already looking toward the lobby. "They're having cookies and cocoa out front."

Olivia nodded. "Then let's go rescue some before they're gone."

The lobby buzzed with proud parents and excited students. Dylan disappeared to celebrate with his bandmates while the four of you drifted from conversation to conversation.

More than one single mother drifted in Jack's direction. He answered each one politely enough until one woman refused to take the hint. Whatever he said finally convinced her to leave because she walked away with an offended huff. You hid a smile behind your cup of cocoa.

Eventually the crowd began to thin. You hugged Craig, Olivia, and Dylan goodbye. Jack, however, was nowhere to be found. Ignoring the small pang that came with not getting to say goodbye, you pulled out your phone and opened your rideshare app.

Over your shoulder you heard—

"…Hell."

Footsteps approached. You turned to find Jack walking toward you, one hand shoved into his coat pocket, his keys dangling from the other. "You need a ride?"

You almost declined out of habit. Instead you closed the app. "Um… sure." You smiled. "Thanks."

He waved it off. "Don't mention it."

You followed him out into the cold. A light dusting of snow covered the parking lot, crunching beneath your boots as he led you to his SUV. Once inside, he started the engine and turned the heater up while the windshield slowly began to defrost.

A few seconds later soft jazz Christmas music drifted from the speakers. Jack's ears turned faintly pink. "You can change it if you want."

You smiled. "No." You settled back in your seat. "It's nice."

He only grunted before wiping another patch of frost from the windshield with his sleeve. Once he could see well enough, he checked his mirrors, waited until your seatbelt clicked into place, and eased out of the parking lot.

You noticed something after only a few turns. He had never asked where you lived. Yet every turn he made was the right one. Curiosity finally won. "How do you know where my apartment is?"

Jack shrugged without looking away from the road. "I know things about people."

You snickered. "That explains absolutely nothing."

He stopped at a red light. "I track people." He shrugged. "It's kind of my job."

You laughed quietly. "Right. I forgot about that."

The light turned green. He eased back onto the road.

"But…" You glanced over at him. "Why me?"

His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.

Your voice grew a little quieter. "You always seem to avoid me."

He was quiet long enough that you wondered if he would answer. "Wasn't avoiding you."

You looked back out the window. "Fine."

A heavy sigh filled the SUV. "Was trying not to make a mess."

Your head turned back toward him. "Of what, Jack?"

He rubbed the back of his neck before letting his hand fall back to the steering wheel. "I don't want to be the reason Dylan loses someone."

You frowned. "I think you skipped a few steps there."

He pulled up to a stop sign and stared through the windshield for a moment before finally looking over at you. "If I get as close as I want…" He swallowed once. "And things go bad…" His voice grew quieter. "Dylan's the one who loses."

Your breath caught. Oh. That should not have made your heart flutter. But it did. Softly you asked, "Is that why you always make room for me?"

Jack looked away again. "I never…" He let out a quiet breath. "I was just there."

The words settled over you. You smiled despite yourself. "You always made me feel like I belonged."

The corners of his mouth twitched. "Dylan loves you." He shrugged one shoulder. "Of course I made room for you." The next words were barely above a mumble. "Wanted to."

By the time you looked at him again, he had already pulled into the parking lot outside your apartment building. He shifted the SUV into park. Neither of you reached for the door. The heater hummed softly while a trumpet drifted through the speakers. For the first time all evening, the silence between you felt easy.

You unbuckled your seatbelt and reached for your bag. Then, before you could talk yourself out of it, you leaned across the console and kissed him. It lasted only a moment. When you pulled back, heat rushed into your cheeks. "I shouldn't have done that."

Jack blinked once. His lips were still parted. "Then why did you?"

Your eyes dropped to your hands twisting together in your lap. "Because I wanted to kiss you."

He shook his head, laughing quietly under his breath. "Would've been useful information."

Before you could answer, one hand slid gently into your hair. He drew you back toward him and kissed you again. There was nothing hurried about it this time. His lips lingered against yours, warm and certain, until you forgot why you had pulled away in the first place.

When he finally leaned back, your foreheads rested together. A crooked smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Ask me up."

You blinked.

He rolled his eyes. "Not like that." Another quiet laugh. "For coffee or somethin'."

You smiled so hard your cheeks hurt. "Wanna come up?"

This time he smiled without holding it back. "I'd love to."

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