Doe

Bloody hell, did Gladys look embarrassed. The pink in his sister’s cheeks didn’t really surprise Davey at all, but honestly he didn’t think he and Doe had been doing anything that bad. Okay, sure, they’d almost kissed. So what? There were worse things they could have been doing. Worse things that Davey definitely wanted to do later, as a matter of fact, but that was the kind of thought he did not need to be having around his little sister. But really her being here while his arm was around Doe shouldn’t be that weird. Maybe it was just because Gladys looked up to Doe. Davey felt a tiny bit bad about that, if he was gonna make Gladys feel uncomfortable around the older bird. But that felt like a Gladys problem, so he didn’t feel that badly about it. She’d get over it. Or she could try to excuse herself. What? Davey frowned slightly, although actually the thought of getting to keep Doe to himself for a bit longer wasn’t too bad. Or –…okay. Davey looked back and forth between the two girls, mildly confused by what was happening. Were they both leaving now? Was Davey somehow missing something for not feeling nearly as awkward as Doe and Gladys seemed to be? Bloody hell, birds were weird. Fortunately Davey was spared having to figure out how to get at least one of them to stay with him, though spared suddenly didn’t feel like quite the right word when Doe mentioned the application he’d really hoped she hadn’t seen. So much for her not saying anything about it, bloody hell! His eyes widened slightly as he looked quickly back over at Doe. “I was gonna tell you,” he told her quickly, though his expression grew slightly sheepish, eyes flickering to the table as he tacked on, “…If I got it.” Bloody hell, don’t be a loser! He looked back up quickly, sheepish smile pulling at his lips as he reluctantly pulled his arm away from her, but not before giving her shoulder a light squeeze. “I uh…guess I should let ya go, then. I’ll er…I’ll owl you?” He asked, because tonight or tomorrow he definitely didn’t want to wait longer than that before he saw Doe again, and he didn’t think those were plans either of them wanted to make in front of his little sister. 

It wasn’t that Dorcas felt awkward as it was that Gladys definitely seemed to feel awkward and she didn’t want Gladys running off on her account. Her and Davey could just meet up after, maybe. Doe certainly hoped Davey took the hint of her heading home and didn’t wait till tomorrow or whenever. It was sort of cute what his answer was to her mentioning the application. Hopefully, he didn’t forget what she’d said earlier that it didn’t matter to her what his job was. Gladys started to say something again when Davey went to say goodbye and Dorcas shook her head at the younger girl. “No, really. You stay, encourage your brother about the application. I think he needs it.” She smiled at Gladys and then Davey. “Yeah, owl me,” she told Davey, squeezing his knee lightly. “I believe you had something to ask me, since you didn’t get around to that.” Right, not flirting in front of his sister. Bloody hell. Dorcas looked back over at Gladys with a smile. “It was great seeing you again, Gladys. I hope when the classes start back up next month I’ll see you there.” With that Dorcas got up giving Davey one last smile. She still had her friends to face because sadly she couldn’t just leave without saying anything to them. Might as well get it over with, kill a little time while Davey was having a drink with his sister.

middlegudgeon:

Had Davey been thinking clearly, he might have questioned his decision to kiss Dorcas Meadowes on the mouth in a public place. Even if that public place was just some bar where he was sure plenty of other people had kissed before. It wasn’t something Davey saw a problem with – but it was something he could very easily see Doe having a problem with. But Davey wasn’t thinking clearly. He hadn’t been since Doe ran her hand down his tie, put her hand on his knee and smiled at him like that, making his pulse go crazy and his collar feel much too tight. And bloody hell, now she was licking her lips and Davey couldn’t stop thinking how much he wanted to be the one doing that to her mouth. A girl couldn’t do stuff like that and not expect to be kissed. Especially not when she was squeezing his knee and leaning in to meet him, clearly just as into it as he was – until his mouth caught her cheek. Uh. What? Davey paused, a frown creasing his brows. Fuck. Had she not wanted him to kiss her? Fuck. He was an arsehole. Fortunately before he could get farther than that Doe was whispering to him, her tone of voice relaxing him before he even processed her words because she sounded disappointed. Okay. That was good. Well – it wasn’t, obviously, but Davey hated the idea he’d been trying to kiss a girl who didn’t want it even more. A thought that was completely forgotten once he registered what Doe had said. Gladys was here. Bloody hell, she had awful timing. He grimaced as he pulled back from Doe, letting out a slow breath and very much wishing someone would just dump a bucket of ice water over his head before he had to turn and face his little sister. He gave Doe an apologetic smile and then cleared his throat before he looked over his shoulder, pulling his hand from Doe’s cheek and using it to give Gladys a small wave. 

“Ah – hey, Gladys,” he greeted her as enthusiastically as he could manage, which was not very. “Sorry ‘bout that,” he added sheepishly, waving her over before he glanced back at Doe, his arm still around her shoulder. “Doe, did you wanna hang out with us for a bit? Or have you got to get back to your friends?” Truthfully Davey wasn’t sure which option he’d prefer. He’d meant it when he said he’d missed Doe, but he wasn’t sure how much fun it was gonna be for either of them if Gladys kept looking at them like she was doing right now all night. Although on the other hand if Doe stayed maybe Davey could get out of whatever questions he knew were coming from the younger girl. Questions he would probably have to answer with mostly lies. Great!

Gladys hadn’t expected to walk into the bar only to find her brother cozied up to Dorcas Meadowes. Wow! They really were flirting? How weird! She should leave. Except Davey was expecting her, wasnt’ he? Gladys didn’t want to leave and make Davey worry. If he ever remembered he was supposed to be meeting her that was. Gladys stared, moved to leave, changed her mind, stared again. She’d gone through the cycle several times before Dorcas saw her. Crap! Gladys still didn’t know what to do so she just stood there trying not to look as awkward as she felt. And now Davey was waving at her so Gladys had to go over. He could at least remove himself from Dorcas but apparently not. Cheeks red in embarrassment Gladys made her way over. “Hi!” Yeah totally not awkward. Davey wanted Dorcas to stay, Doe he was calling her. Wow. Gladys definitely felt like a third wheel and she’d just sat down. “Um actually I um I have studying I should be doing. I should go and um….study!” Yeah, that sounded plausible. Studying. Maybe she could still catch Noah at the hospital. Well that made her feel more awkward. Noah was not someone she wanted to think about in front of her brother.

Dorcas did her best to pretend she wasn’t disappointed to see Gladys. Giving her a warm-ish smile and a little wave. She should probably move her hand, well Gladys couldn't see it so maybe not. It was just his knee. Dorcas got ready to say her goodbyes when Davey surprised her by asking if she wanted to stay. Oh! Doe looked at him surprised but then Gladys was speaking up and Doe was looking at her surprised. “Oh no! I should go. You should stay. I was thinking of heading home soon anyway.” Doe had to stop herself from smiling over at Davey she said that. Bloody hell don’t flirt with him in front of his little sister. “Anyway don’t let me run you off, Gladys. Maybe your brother will tell you about his application.” This time she did look at Davey since he hadn’t told her anything about it.

A strange surge of excitement and something that felt a lot like pride shot through Davey when Doe started giggling again. Yeah, that was not gonna get old. Nothing about Doe Meadowes was likely to get old, though that wasn’t what Davey was thinking about then. It was hard to hold onto many coherent thoughts at all when she was smiling at him like that and talking about a hot date. Emphasis on the hot. Any other bloke was immediately forgotten, as was just about everything else in Davey’s brain. Especially when she started talking about how far away tomorrow was and – oh. Fuck, maybe wearing a tie wasn’t so bad, if it meant Doe Meadowes running her hand down it like that. And then dropping it to his knee. Bloody hell. Davey let out a soft, stuttered exhale, certain the temperature in the bar had just risen by a few degrees. Or maybe that was just Doe and the fact that she was making his heart hammer against his chest. “Yeah, it is,” he agreed, his voice giving away just how much she was affecting him already. Gladys is coming, he reminded himself. Doe is here with friends. Doe – wasn’t training anyone right now. Godric, she was hot. “Excellent point,” he murmured, his grin widening before his eyes flickered down to her lips. Lips he’d been thinking about since that day they’d kissed at headquarters. He wondered if they would still taste at all like oranges, or if they would just taste like the wine she’d been drinking. Davey had never been much of a wine drinker, but he had a feeling he’d like it on Doe. His eyes moved back up to hers, grin sloping sideways again. She wasn’t training him right now. She thought tomorrow was too long to wait. Her hand was on his bloody knee! “Guess that means I can do this, then.” Davey didn’t think about it. Instead he just acted, moving his free arm to cup her cheek gently as he leaned in closer to kiss her. 

There was a limit to the amount of PDA that Dorcas found acceptable. A hand on the knee, or knees brushing, finger tips brushing against a shirt sleeve, or running down a tie —which was kinda pushing it—, a cheek kiss, even a peck on the lips were all acceptable. Anything more was just ridiculous, an inability to control oneself which was not attractive at all. Except Doe wasn’t thinking about that when Davey murmured like that, eyes on her lips. She found herself licking them quickly as she thought about Davey kissing her again. Had she mentioned how happy she was she hadn’t glued his tongue to the roof of his mouth because yeah that was an excellent thing. Controlling herself wasn’t something she wanted to do with Davey. Her heart felt like it was trying to escape as he spoke up again. Oh Rowena! Squeezing his knee lightly she leaned in to kiss him. Except they were in public and Davey’s little sister was looking at them and then looking awkwardly away. Bloody hell! Dorcas moved so Davey’s lips got not hers but her cheek. “Your sister’s here,” she whispered, disappointment clear in her voice. She liked Gladys, really, but her timing was awful. Or maybe good considering who knew how heated their kiss might have gotten, in public no less. Doe wasn’t sure which. Right now she just felt disappointed and maybe in need of a cold shower.

Davey’s grin widened when Doe looked up at him with that smile, his heart suddenly racing from just how close she was. And from just how much he liked this, sitting here with his arm around her. It was nice. Really nice. Even though it almost didn’t feel real, Dorcas Meadowes willingly letting him sit as close as he was. More than that, she’d said she wanted him to. And then she was giggling and Davey’s smile widened even more. Bloody hell, he liked that sound, especially knowing that he’d pulled it out of her. He was pretty positive she didn’t giggle like that around just anybody. He certainly hoped Ministry Bloke hadn’t made her giggle like that, but he didn’t seem like the type to have any sense of humor at all. A thought Davey couldn’t believe he’d thought about Doe when he first met her. Bloody hell had he been off about her. And yet she’d still been in his head, throwing him off balance since that first defense class when she’d accused him of showing off. Weird that something so annoying at the time suddenly struck him as such a fond memory. “Oh really?” He questioned when she answered him, his grin sloping sideways. Wow, he liked the way she’d said that. “He should definitely fix that. Maybe after your hot date tomorrow,” he teased, though now he thought about it he really did hope he was right in just assuming she wasn’t going to go on said date. Of course she wasn’t. Right? It didn’t really feel like his place to ask. Brushing the thought aside he quickly added, still teasing, “Or is that still not allowed till training’s done?”

Wow, that sloping grin of his was too cute. Hot when it was paired with those glasses and a button up he should really wear more. Sleeves pushed up in a way that had always been weirdly hot. All with a tie that she was having trouble not grabbing and pulling him even closer. Bloody hell. The temperature was going up again. Doe found herself giggling again, something she was certain if anyone who knew her heard they’d be surprised. “Shame he hasn’t asked me on a hot date,” she told him, Jay all but forgotten now. Besides that date probably wouldn’t have been hot. Definitely not hot in the way a date with Davey would be. “Tomorrow’s such a long time too.” Doe gave him a smile as her hand ran down his tie before she dropped it to his knee. Her smile only growing as he teased her some more. “I’m not training anyone right now, remember. Penny is.” It wasn’t that Dorcas was throwing the rules out the window. But really had she just shagged him when she decided she wanted to who knew where they’d be right then. Possibly could have avoided a lot of the confusion they both seemed to have felt. Maybe rules weren’t always good things to have. Dorcas wasn’t sure she liked that thought but it was hard to focus on rules when Davey was so close looking so hot. Hard to focus on anything actually.

“I don’t know what I want anymore.”

Oh. Okay. Surprise flickered across Davey’s face, his own embarrassment momentarily forgotten. That was – well, that was certainly a sentiment he could relate to, but it sounded weird coming from Doe. She was the opposite of Davey: ambitious where he was aimless, sure of what she wanted where Davey might as well have been floating out in the cosmos. He couldn’t help a faint tug of guilt, like maybe she was only feeling this was now because of him. Like maybe he was dragging her down or something. Before he could say anything she was talking again and – oh. Fuck. It was because of him. Sort of. Davey’s eyes widened slightly as he processed what she was saying. She’d been thinking about him, when Mr. Perfect-Suit-Perfect-Job-Perfect-Haircut had ben asking her on a date. …That she’d said yes to anyways, which sort of dulled the thrill of that one. Though it came back a second later when she started talking about his clothes. Bloody hell, okay, maybe he was pulling the look off. 

And Doe wasn’t done yet. His face didn’t change as she spoke, Davey listening carefully in mild disbelief the more she said. He’d been convinced her dad’s reaction to him would have made her rethink even wanting to shag him, despite how she’d acted towards him that day. She’d been on potions; it didn’t count, not if she didn’t want it to. He’d been even more certain of that after she said she was going on a date with Yaxley, Ministry Prat Extraordinaire. But – she didn’t care. And she’d been glad he came to visit. And – she wanted him to sit next to her. Davey was already floored, but that was nothing to the last thing she said. She didn’t want to go out with Yaxley. She fancied someone else.

That had to be him, right? Davey felt like a moron for even having to ask himself that, but he couldn’t stop thinking about what might have happened if he hadn’t run into her tonight. He’d never been one to overthink things before, not until he met Doe, but bloody hell did she make him think. It went beyond the fact she confused him to no end. She’d made him think more about he wanted in life than he ever had before. She’d made him think about where he was going, really think about it, even beyond the first real important decision he’d ever made: to join the Order. She was the reason he was sitting there in a button-up and a tie with an application to work at the bloody Ministry of Magic! Quickly he threw all thoughts of Yaxley away; Davey knew all about not knowing what he wanted. The truth was, he’d been unsure of exactly what he wanted from Doe until he saw her getting flirted with by Yaxley. Now he knew what he wanted. And it seemed like she did, too. A smile pulled at his lips and he wordlessly got up, moving to slide into the booth next to Meadowes and hesitating only a second before he dared to put an arm around her – he liked to think he was pretty smooth, but sadly he was no McKinnon (the bloody show-offs). His small hesitation didn’t stop him grinning cheekily down at her. She fancied him. “So, uh, this bloke you fancy. Just how impressive is he?”

Dorcas was sure that surprise on his face was because he was realizing what a terrible person she was. Doe herself was realizing it. Telling Jay yes had been wrong. She’d been confused, he’d said everything exactly right and it had been easy to think Davey only wanted to shag her despite everything. But that was no excuse. She’d let a nice bloke think she might be interested in him, and without Davey in the picture she would have been. Jay was no Davey. Sure he’d made her breath catch, flattered her, maybe even made it easy to decide that she could push aside what she felt for Davey. But Davey made her heart race. Made her uncertain of herself which wasn’t a pleasant feeling but she sort of didn’t mind it. Davey affected her, had from the start when she’d been so fussed about him and wanted to permanently stick his tongue to the roof of his mouth. Which she was very glad she hadn’t. Only now he was going to use that tongue to say something awful and leave. She deserved it. It was hard to look at him but Doe forced herself to face whatever Davey’s reaction would be.

She was surprised to find that reaction included a smile. Okay. And then he was sliding into place beside her and she couldn’t help smiling back. Her smile only growing when he put his arm around her. Oh. Bloody hell, she was a tart. It’s exactly what she’d have thought of anyone else who did what she was doing right then. But it was hard to care that she was a tart. Or that she was now going to have to break off a date with a bloke who would probably be a Minister of Magic and possibly her boss. Jay was far from her thoughts as Davey grinned cheekily at her like that. A giggle left her lips as he spoke up. “I dunno, he hasn’t shown me yet,” a clear invitation to do just that in her words and smile. Jay had asked what a bloke had to do to get her thinking he might be the one and she’d said a date. But all Davey had to do was switch places at the table and grin cheekily at her. Maybe she wasn’t so unsure of what she wanted after all, or at least not about what bloke she wanted.

Once again Doe caught Davey by surprise when she answered him. She could come back for training sooner. She would come back sooner. For him. It had to be for him, didn’t it? Or maybe she was just going stir-crazy, looking for any excuse to get back to work. Yeah, that made more sense. If she’d actually missed him she wouldn’t be making plans to go out with another bloke. Another bloke who was basically the opposite of Davey, which also meant he seemed like exactly Doe’s type. Even if she didn’t sound as excited as maybe she should have. But fucking hell, Davey did not need to sit here and hear about how bloody great Jay Yaxley was. Of course her parents had heard of him, bloody hell, what the fuck did the bloke even do? Yeah, Davey didn’t need this. It was time to leave. But before he could excuse himself Doe was speaking again and – “What? Hang on, they were back to his missing her again? How in the hell had they gotten back to that again? “Well – both,” he couldn’t seem to stop himself pointing out, as surprised and sort of miffed by the question as he was. Davey thought he’d made himself pretty clear, or as clear as he wanted to be given the fact that she’d been out planning a date with another bloke. 

He let out a breath and raked a hand through his hair, frustrated and confused. What the hell did she want from him? “I – of course I missed you, Doe, do you really have to ask me that?” Sincerity and confusion were clear on his face, in his voice. Hadn’t he just told her he’d missed her? “Of course I’ve bloody missed you. I’ve even missed –” Davey paused a moment, trying to find words for it before he finally gestured between the two of them and let out a chuckle in spite of himself. “This, I’ve missed how bloody confusing you are, because I’ve been sitting here thinking that while I’d been busy missing you and waiting for you to come back and thinking you would actually care if I got a more impressive job or not, you were out setting up dates with blokes in suits with really impressive jobs that your parents are gonna like a hell of a lot more than they would ever like me. Only now it seems like you want me to give you a reason not to,” he finished, suddenly realizing that maybe that was exactly what she wanted from him. But – no. He wasn’t her type. She just wanted to shag him. But then why did she care so much whether he missed her or not? 

“Don’t go out with him,” Davey blurted out, immediately wanting to kick himself. He frowned. Fuck, he sounded like an arse saying that. “I mean – that’s not – I’m not gonna tell you not to go out with him, that’s –well it’s shitty and it’s not really my call at all.” It wasn’t; Davey hadn’t grown up with Gwen Jones around constantly without picking up a thing or two. But that hadn’t been the point he was trying to make, so he quickly continued, “All I mean is – you’re an amazing bird, Doe. You’re so smart, and talented, and brave, and bloody determined, more than anyone I’ve ever met. And I don’t think you need some bloke in a suit with a fancy job title.” This was probably the part where he was supposed to insert that he was the bloke she needed to be with – but that didn’t feel quite right either, as much as he’d like it to be true. As much as he thought maybe it could be true. He couldn’t stop himself adding on, “But I also think you know what you want better than anybody, so…if that is what you want, then he’s a really, really lucky bloke. And – I’ll be very disappointed,” he admitted softly, because he was still hoping maybe that wasn’t what Doe wanted, and that was why she was still here talking to him in the first place. 

Doe had inadvertently given Jay an opening earlier and he’d wasted no time taking it. Now she was clearly giving Davey one and it felt like he wasn’t. Disappointment flooded over her and she didn’t think she’d ever felt as embarrassed, not even when Ben Bones thought she’d been knocked up. What was she doing? Before she had a chance to do or think much else Davey was speaking up and Dorcas looked back up at him. Yes she did because she wanted him to miss her in a different way then everyone missing her. Doe didn’t say that, didn’t have a chance even if she wanted to. A slight smile played on her lips as he talked only it slipped again. Guilt coming up again. Maybe she’d blown it accepting the date with Jay. Or not. Davey’s blurted out words had her smile coming back, that’s what she wanted to hear. Normally she never would have wanted someone to tell her what to do. Would have been furious at a bloke who wasn’t her boyfriend trying to tell her not to see someone. But tonight she wanted Davey to say that and he had. He didn’t stop there. Her smile widened as he continued. At least until he got to the part where she was supposed to know what she wanted. Did she? Dorcas couldn’t help thinking that maybe everything she’d thought she wanted she didn’t. Not just a bloke but her career as well. It was something she’d been pushing aside, so busy it was easy to do just that. In the hospital she'd had nothing but time. Yet all that thinking had left her just more confused.

“I don’t know what I want anymore,” she confessed softly, not something she’d normally tell anyone but maybe Penny. “Jay’s everything I’m supposed to want, everything I thought I wanted. But I kept thinking about you when he was chatting me up.” That was a shitty thing to admit to. Doe couldn’t help thinking that maybe she was just a really horrible person that no one else should want. “That was even before I saw you in a button up and tie.” Which had caused her to forget Jay even existed. Fucking hell, she really was a terrible person. “I don’t care if you have an impressive job or not, Davey. The way you refused to be intimidated by my dad, told him what you did for a living without sounding ashamed of it and didn’t cower or lie or anything was way more impressive then a job title. I was really embarrassed how I acted at the hospital and wanted to blame it on the potions but actually I was really happy when you came to visit. It was sweet and thoughtful and I’m disappointed my family interrupted us. Just like I was disappointed you sat there and not beside me.” Doe wasn't sure what she was saying anymore or why she was saying it, but she couldn’t seem to stop talking. “You were right, I wanted you to give me a reason not to go out with him. He’s not who I want to go out with. I fancy a much more impressive bloke.”

And there it was. Doe fancied him. It wasn’t that she wanted to shag him. Well that too but it wasn’t only that. She had no idea how Davey had ended up getting her to fancy him. Except he was amazing. Brilliant and sweet. Brave. Maybe not ambitious but that didn’t seem to matter. Dorcas didn’t care if Davey worked at the Ministry or not. Doe had told Jay she was looking for a partner, an equal, someone who shared her goals. Her biggest goal was the end of this war, the safety of her fellow wizards as well as the muggles so unfairly affected by this. As fa as she could tell that wasn’t something Jay cared enough about to do something. But Davey had. Even before he knew about the Order he’d been willing to risk his life for someone he barely knew. Maybe she did know what she wanted after all and she’d just been looking in the wrong place. Regardless she’d just admitted to thinking of one bloke while making a date with another, that was awful. She was awful. Davey was probably going to laugh at her and walk off. She couldn’t blame him if he did.

Doe had asked about him. When she’d surely had plenty to worry about after what had happened to her other than whatever her Order trainee was doing – she’d asked about him. The thought made a small smile tug at the corners of his lips, at least until he opened his mouth again like an idiot. Or maybe what he’d said hadn’t been that bad after all. Davey’s heart leapt at the way her smile grew when he said he missed her, but a second later and it was gone. Because Davey couldn’t just leave it at that, and now he was left feeling like he couldn’t do anything right this evening. He frowned, brows furrowing at her answer. A person short. Did she really think he’d meant it like that, even when he’d added on that everyone missed her? Once again he spoke without thinking. “No, not like – I missed you.” He held her gaze for a moment, wondering how she could think he’d meant any different. He wasn’t sure what he wanted from her, was even less sure what she wanted from him, but he’d thought he made it clear when he came to see her at the hospital that he cared about her. Of course he’d missed her. But maybe that wasn’t what she wanted to hear right now. A moment passed and he cleared his throat. “I mean uh – we missed you. Everyone missed you. It’s just – it’s not the same, not having you around.” His gaze flickered down to the table for a second before coming back up to meet hers. 

Davey wished he could say he didn’t know why he felt so off right now, but he knew perfectly well why. And he couldn’t keep his mouth shut about it either. But fuck, the surprise on her face when he asked it made him wish he hadn’t. Not nearly as much as her answer, though. A date. Jay Yaxley was taking her on a date. Tomorrow. “…Oh.” Davey answered after a long moment, his voice quiet, hurt, disappointed. Which was stupid. She’d never expressed interest in anything other than shagging him, something she didn’t even want to do until she was done training him. This was Davey’s own fault, this feeling like he’d just been rejected. How could he be rejected when he’d never asked her on a date himself? When he hadn’t know whether or not he wanted to – and he’d thought he had at least another month before he’d even be allowed to act on it either way. Jay Yaxley didn’t have to wait. Jay Yaxley wasn’t someone she wasn’t supposed to be fooling around with. In fact, he seemed like exactly the person she was supposed to be fooling around with. Davey had been kidding himself, to think a girl like Doe would ever want anything more than a shag from him. Fuck, he was an idiot. And he still hadn’t said anything. What was there to say? A small voice in the back of his head couldn’t help but wonder why Doe hadn’t sounded more excited about her date, but everything else in him made it too easy to write that off. She probably just felt sorry for him, pathetic loser that he was. “I um.” Davey forced himself to look up at her again. “That’s uh – good for you,” he managed to spit out, even though he couldn’t quite make himself sound like he meant it. “I’m sure your dad will like him,” As usual the words fell past his lips at the same moment Davey thought them, before he could try to censor himself, and as soon as they did he bit his lip and looked down at the table. Fuck, he was an idiot! “…Sorry,” he mumbled, wishing very much for Gladys to show up so he could leave. 

Doe’s breath caught in her throat at his words, the way he held her gaze. He had missed her. Before she had a chance to say anything about it he was ruining it again. Only this time instead of feeling stupid she felt annoyed. What did Davey want from her? Did he like her or not? And if he did why couldn’t he just say so instead of ruining it like that? Dorcas bit back her annoyance. “Just a few more days and I’ll be back. But I could probably come back for training sooner.” Why had she added that? Maybe because she missed it. Classes, training, even the Order, feeling like she was accomplishing something instead of sitting around feeling confused. But she also missed Davey and despite how badly she didn’t want that to be true it was. Even if right now she just wanted to hit him for being so dumb and hiding his feelings. If he even had any. Except maybe he had a good reason to. She was the one going on a date tomorrow with another bloke. Only Davey hadn’t asked her out so she wasn’t doing anything wrong. Even if she did feel sick with guilt like she was.

“Yeah, it is,” she agreed, not even managing to do so half-heartedly because was it? And there was that reminder of why she was going out with Jay Yaxley. Her dad would love him. Both her parents would. Her sisters would be envious. Her friends, well except Penny, would too. “My parents think very highly of Jay.” She sounded far too much like she was trying to convince herself that he was a catch instead of anything else. Only she didn’t want Davey thinking she’d introduced them to Jay already. “They know of him from the Ministry,” she added quickly. Dorcas didn’t want to talk about Jay anymore. Or her parents. Or any of the people who’d be thrilled that Dorcas was dating Jay. She wanted Davey to stop acting jealous and hurt. Or if he was jealous and hurt she wanted him to say something. Except when he had he’d just covered over it like it wasn’t what she thought it was. Her earlier annoyance came back only this time she didn’t let the guilt stop her from speaking up. “Did you miss me or did everyone miss me, which is it Davey?” She was tired of this guessing game and the confusion she was filled with. If Davey wanted her then he needed to say so, to go for it, to take the opening she was giving him.

Surprise flickered across Davey’s face when Doe answered him, mingled with confusion because – she sounded hurt. But why? Because he hadn’t told her what his errand was? That couldn’t be it. Obviously she was far more interested in that Ministry bloke she’d been all cozied up with than she was in Davey. Not to mention if Doe really wanted to know what he’d been up to, Davey was pretty positive nothing would stop her from just asking him. It was one of the things he liked about her. So he just nodded as she sipped from a glass of wine he couldn’t help wondering if she’d gotten for herself or if it was from that bloke. Bloody hell, why had he even sat down? She didn’t even seem like she wanted him here, especially not given the next thing she said. She was here with friends. Friends whom she’d clearly left to go get all cozy with that Ministry bloke, and probably wanted to get back to now. At least Davey thought that was where she’d been going when she brought them up. Instead she was asking him about training? Huh. Okay. 

“Oh. Uh. Does she?” He couldn’t help asking, mildly surprise. More that Penny and Doe had been talking about him than anything else. “Penny’s great, yeah,” he nodded. It was true. She was a cool bird, a good teacher. Similar to Doe in a lot of ways, only…different. She had focus and drive, certainly, but not in the same way that Doe did. Doe Meadowes was something singular. Not to mention the obvious added bonus that came from training with her, even if they weren’t allowed to act on the obvious sexual tension between them. Or maybe that was past tense, now. But then why was she still sitting here? Did she feel sorry for him? She was the one who’d sounded hurt. Fucking hell, this was confusing. He should really keep talking. “I’ve missed you,” he blurted out before he could think it through, instantly regretting the words. Yeah, now she was gonna think him even more of a loser. “I mean uh – we’ve all missed you,” he tacked on quickly, his fingers picking at a loose bit of string on the leather of the notebook. He had missed her, though. Turned out she just hadn’t missed him. “Who was that bloke?” Davey couldn’t stop the words as much as he wished he could have, biting back his regret as soon as he spoke. He was already certain he didn’t want to hear the answer – but maybe hearing it would help him get his head back on straight. Or maybe he was still clinging to the hope that whatever he’d witnessed somehow wasn’t what it looked like. Yeah, right. 

“Yeah,” she told him softly. There was nothing to be embarrassed about admitting she’d talked to Penny about him. She’d just been inquiring about her trainee. Nothing weird about that. Never mind the smile on Penny’s face when she’d brought him up. Which was nothing to the amused looked she’d gotten from her friend when she’d found out about the visit and the flowers. Penny was just being a brat. Clearly there was nothing between her and Davey, nothing a shag wouldn’t end. He wasn’t interested in anything else obviously. And Doe wasn’t the least bit worried that he might like training with Penny better. Penny was amazing. She was an auror. Who wouldn’t choose an auror over a non-auror, only someone stupid and Davey wasn’t that. Her polite smile grew into something a lot more at his blurted words. “Oh,” she breathed out, surprised and pleased. Except. Right. Fuck! She was an idiot. Her smile fell for a moment as she felt really embarrassed to have ever even thought that he’d meant it in any other way. But it was back, or the polite one was. “Of course, I’m sure it’s difficult being a person short. I should be back next week.”

Dorcas took another sip of wine and nearly choked on it when Davey spoke up again. Was he jealous? He’d sounded it earlier. But that was dumb. He just wanted to shag her. “Jay Yaxley,” she tried to sound casual, “he’s….” What was he? Her date for tomorrow night. But that didn’t give him claim to her. Not yet. Even if they’d spoken like tomorrow night could be just the beginning. But calling him just a colleague or a friend felt like lying. “He’s taking me on a date tomorrow night.” Dorcas confessed, her voice couldn’t sound less like a bird who’d just gotten asked out by the perfect bloke if she’d tried. She should be excited and instead she felt guilty and embarrassed. Confused. And slightly disappointed. Doe looked down at the table, unsure of herself and what she was doing. She should leave. This was stupid. She felt stupid. Dorcas didn’t even want to go join her friends anymore. She just wanted to stop feeling so confused about what she was doing. So guilty about it like she was doing something wrong. It was dumb. If Davey had wanted more than a shag he should have asked her out. Except she only wanted a shag from him. Only it was a lot harder to tell herself that now when shagging him seemed like it wasn’t going to happen.

Davey felt a weird tug of guilt at the way Doe’s smile dropped as soon as he opened his mouth. Or maybe the guilt was because he was glad to see her looking like that after he brought up the other bloke. Only that was stupid, because she was free to cozy up to whomever she damn well pleased and it was none of Davey’s business and he didn’t even care in the first place! Except he couldn’t really convince himself of that one when he was standing here looking at her and caring very much about who that bloke was and what they’d been talking about and if he knew that Doe’s lips tasted like orange tea and she liked being called Doe instead of Dorcas or Meadowes when she was being kissed and she was probably going to single-handedly change the world someday.

Well, fuck. That wasn’t what Davey wanted to be thinking. He especially didn’t want to be thinking it while he was standing there like a bloody loser not even able to keep his mouth shut about the dumb bloke she’d very obviously been flirting with. Her invitation caught him off guard, especially given the way she’d looked when he started talking and the fact that he sort of felt like a dick even though he really hadn’t wanted to comment on the bloke at all. It had just slipped out, because he was an idiot. A jealous idiot. Yeah, Davey was not liking this at all. But again his mouth was functioning without consulting his brain. “Oh. Uh…yeah, okay. Thanks,” he answered, sliding into the seat across from her and setting the notebook on the table, application sticking out just a touch. Bloody hell, why had he done that? He should leave. Neither of them really wanted him to be here right now. 

At her question he glanced down at the notebook, quickly tucking the paper back out of view before he looked up at her again. Davey found himself wishing he had a hot date waiting for him he could oh-so-casually mention to her, but that was stupid. She obviously wouldn’t care about that either way, would she? She’d found herself the perfect boring, overly-groomed Ministry bloke that Davey was never going to be. That he never wanted to be, even with the application he’d picked up today. That was never going to be him, no matter what he did, and he suddenly felt like an idiot for even thinking that working there might be a good idea. “Oh, um…no.” Wait, that wasn’t true. “Well – Gladys, but she won’t be here for a bit. I was just ah…running an errand,” he finished lamely, as if that explained why he was dressed as he was. Even before he’d seen Doe with that other bloke he hadn’t been sure he wanted her to know what he was doing, if only because he didn’t want her to know if he got turned down. Now the whole thing felt even more stupid, the differences between himself and the kind of blokes who got jobs at the Ministry even more pronounced.

There was a slight disappointment when Davey sat down. But she shouldn’t be disappointed he’d sat across from her. Why would he sit next to her. Especially not after someone else had just left that position. There was that guilt again. Fuck. She had nothing to be guilty about. She hadn’t done anything wrong. Yet Dorcas couldn’t help feeling like she’d been caught with her hand in the cookie jar or something. Only Jay wasn’t the cookie jar. Jay was who she was supposed to be with. If anyone was the cookie jar it was Davey. What? No! Why was her head going there? Because she wanted to shag Davey. Right, that had to be it. Especially the way he looked right then. It was easy to get distracted by that, by how he looked. Not so distracted that she hadn’t seen the application when he looked down before he had a chance to tuck it out of her view. Any other time she might have called him on it but she didn’t feel like it tonight. Instead she felt hurt by it. He didn’t want her to know. Of course not. She was just a bird he wanted to shag.

“An errand, right,” she replied, her voice holding just enough hurt to notice. Dorcas took another sip of her wine, confused and upset at herself. “You and Gladys are welcome to this table, I’m uh here with friends and they have a table already.” Friends she’d yet join. And this would have been a perfect opportunity to. She could get up, say goodbye, and join them. But she wasn’t and she didn’t know why she wasn’t. “How are things going with Penny? She says you’re doing really well.” That wasn’t something that couldn’t have waited. Wasn’t something they could really talk about here either, except broadly. So why had she brought it up? Why had she stayed at this table with him just to talk about something that they couldn’t? What was wrong with her? She had a date with an incredible bloke who wanted more than just one date. She had a table full of friends who were waiting to find out what Jay had wanted. Instead she was here with a bloke who didn’t even want to tell her he’d picked up an application today. Bloody hell!

Jay bit back a smirk at the surprise that passed over her when he suggested going out tomorrow. But why waste time, when he finally had her right where he wanted her? In more ways than she could possible know. “What can I say? I don’t like wasting time. And something tells me you don’t either,” he answered her with a grin, unabashed by her surprise. Even less so when she agreed to the date. Perfect. “Brilliant!” He answered with a wider smile. “I’m looking forward to it,” he added for good measure. “Now, as much as I’d love to keep you all to myself, I should probably let you get back to your friends.” Jay had accomplished all he needed for tonight. He didn’t want to come off as more eager than he already had. But that didn’t stop him from leaning in closer to give her a soft peck on the cheek. He didn’t want to be so easily forgotten, either. “Have a great night, Dorcas,” he murmured while his lips were still close to her ear, dropping his arm so that his fingers could brush ever so lightly across her knee. A silent promise that with any lucky, tomorrow night would be even better than this one was. 

Dorcas had to smile at his answer, he really was perfect for her wasn’t he. “No, I don’t.” Which was why this was great. She’d wasted enough hadn’t she? But not anymore. She’d go on the date and…well she’d see. It was just a date. Dorcas wasn’t planning their wedding or Ministry takeover already. Even if Jay just seemed so bloody perfect. Even now, letting her go back to her girls’ night instead of trying to keep her there with him. That would be tomorrow. The soft kiss was sweet but the way he murmured his words so close like that, fingers brushing across her knee, had her breath catching slightly. He was making it really easy for her to look forward to their date. To nearly forget why it was she was so confused about what she wanted. “Thanks, you too,” she whispered softly. And then after she had a moment to breath again. “I’m looking forward to tomorrow as well. See you at 7, Jay.” Dorcas let her fingers brush against his hand this time as she moved to leave, a smile on her lips. He was a really attractive bloke. And very successful. Interesting. A catch. That it looked like she caught. This was great. Why wasn’t she more excited?

Jay was preparing himself for Dorcas to give him some coy answer, another test, another puzzle to solve. Already thinking ahead to how he would answer it, though truthfully he wasn’t sure how many more games he felt like playing. As much as he liked the idea of toying with her some before she got what was coming to her, it would only be fun if she thought she was getting something good out of it, too. Jay wasn’t about to spend his time chasing after a bird who’d sadly turned out to be a bloody fool. But then – oh? A date. Now there was something he could work with. Looked like she wasn’t entirely a fool. Jay smiled, letting his mild surprise flicker over his features. “A date? I think I can manage that. How about tomorrow night? 7 o’clock?” Straight to business, because that seemed to be the way Dorcas liked it. And all the better for Jay; the less time he had to invest into getting to play with her the better. For him. If Dorcas was smart she’d stay far away, but if she was smart then Jay wouldn’t be a threat to her at all, because they’d be on the same side. Maybe then they really would have been able to change the world together. Such a waste.

The surprise she saw on his features was probably because he’d been expecting a coy answer. Dorcas had been a little coy with him, even if she hadn’t meant to. At least she assumed her indecision could be taken as coy. But now she’d made her choice. As if there had been one to make. Jay was everything she wanted. Everything. It was easy to tell herself that. To smile at how eager he seemed to be for that date. Tomorrow. Still mild surprise flickered over her face at how quickly he wanted that date. Maybe he had thought about this a while before deciding now was the time to make his move. “I’m glad.” She was! “You’re not wasting any time,” she told him with a slight laugh. Probably not enough to talk herself out of it, not that she would because she wanted this. “I like it. Tomorrow at 7 sounds perfect.” Dorcas did like a bloke who knew what he wanted and went for it. She’d given him the opening and he’d stepped fully in. This was great. Maybe the start of something even greater. Right.

Huh. She wasn’t biting. At least not the way Jay was hoping she would, though she clearly wasn’t turned off by anything he’d said or done so far. But he didn’t miss that flicker of uncertainty in her eyes, clouding her expression. Something was giving her pause. Something about him? A wave of uncertainty washed over Jay. He’d gone this long without getting got, without even a sliver of suspicious, and he couldn’t imagine anything he’d said tonight giving her reason to doubt him. No – it had nothing to do with that, he decided. Maybe with him personally – maybe he wasn’t her type after all, no matter how careful he’d been to say all the right things up to this point – but she didn’t know his secret and that was the most important thing in the end. If he did think she knew, she’d have to be dealt with immediately. Not the worst thing, but Jay wanted to avoid getting his hands dirty for as long as he could help it. There were too many witnesses here. A table full of girls who would remember seeing their friend with Jay Yaxley tonight. It was something he didn’t want to have to deal with tonight, and he was pleased to see he wouldn’t have to when her smile returned, almost as quickly as it had faltered. “Oh? And what’s a bloke have to do for you to decide he’s the right one?” Jay asked, as if he had any interest in doing anything more to win her over. She would likely believe it, too, as highly as he thought of herself. Bloody hell it was going to be a disappointment if he didn’t manage to get her in bed before he killed her, to see that look of shock on her face as she finally realized – too late – how stupid she’d been all along. 

It was flattering that Jay hadn’t given up yet. She had to admit she liked the way he was going about things too. Not too pushy, still hopeful. And why shouldn’t he be, maybe he hadn’t had a lot of experience with birds but he had to know he was a catch. Possibly even saw how good they could be together like she did. Good enough to possibly change the face of the wizarding world and wasn’t that an intoxicating thought. Dorcas wanted real changes to happen, huge changes. She wanted to be a part of that too. Didn’t have to be the person making the changes but that wouldn’t hurt. Nor would she mind being part of the pair that did that. Dorcas didn’t know if she should shut him down right now or keep the possibility open. Except a possibility wasn't what Jay was looking for. He seemed to want something more concrete. Something Dorcas should have been able to give him if she wasn’t so confused as to what she wanted. Dorcas laughed softly, despite her inner confusion. She could have played coy here, given him a line about how that would be telling but Dorcas wasn’t coy. Which meant she needed to give him a real answer, to make a choice. “A date would be a good start,” she told him, making the decision to move forward. The confusion was probably just because she wasn’t completely recovered. Plus Penny getting engaged had made her feel as if she were missing something. Maybe it was time for Dorcas to be the sort of bird people thought she was, the sort who wasn’t afraid to have it all. Maybe it was fear and not anything else that had held her back from a relationship. Maybe it was time to find out if she could actually have it all. To stop thinking about shagging and start thinking about her future and a relationship.

His grin widened as she leaned closer, just as he’d hoped she would do. And then she was smiling at the way he touched his knee against hers, a good sign if there ever was one. The temptation was there to let a hand drop to her knee, to see just how far his boundaries went, but Jay was nothing if not a master of self-control. Now was not quite the time for that, he decided. He was toeing a very delicate line right now, letting her think him shy and sweet – but not so shy he was afraid to go after what he wanted. Afraid to make bold choices when necessary, both in work and in wine. Ha. But now was the time for listening, and he was genuinely – if not slightly morbidly – interested in what she had to say. “No, I don’t think I would be,” he answered her remark honestly, though the grin curling at his lips was anything but. Dorcas Meadowes was not intimidating; she’d stopped being so after it became clear how foolish she was. Of course she would still think she was, though. Jay kept his mouth shut and listened quietly, keeping his amusement to himself when she expressed what she wanted. If that was what she was after, she’d better get moving quick. Any man who shared the same goals as she did was going to be just as dead as she was, too, in a matter of time. That didn’t mean he couldn’t let her think the man she described was out there. That maybe it was him. Ha. “I’m sorry to hear that,” he answered softly when she insisted she wasn’t looking for a man. Her fingers on his arm suggested otherwise. “Though I can’t say it surprises me. And I can certainly respect it,” he added, as if he actually mean it. But he wasn’t here to just tell her she was doing it right and be on his way. There was no fun in that. “But then,” he added, giving her a small smile yet again, “You’ve always struck me as the type of girl who isn’t afraid to try to have it all.” He could have made a move, then. Gone for a hand on her leg, or moved just a little closer to her. Instead he waited. If anything did happen here, it would be so much more amusing if it was her idea. 

His grin widened as she leaned closer, just as he’d hoped she would do. And then she was smiling at the way he touched his knee against hers, a good sign if there ever was one. The temptation was there to let a hand drop to her knee, to see just how far his boundaries went, but Jay was nothing if not a master of self-control. Now was not quite the time for that, he decided. He was toeing a very delicate line right now, letting her think him shy and sweet – but not so shy he was afraid to go after what he wanted. Afraid to make bold choices when necessary, both in work and in wine. Ha. But now was the time for listening, and he was genuinely – if not slightly morbidly – interested in what she had to say. “No, I don’t think I would be,” he answered her remark honestly, though the grin curling at his lips was anything but. Dorcas Meadowes was not intimidating; she’d stopped being so after it became clear how foolish she was. Of course she would still think she was, though. Jay kept his mouth shut and listened quietly, keeping his amusement to himself when she expressed what she wanted. If that was what she was after, she’d better get moving quick. Any man who shared the same goals as she did was going to be just as dead as she was, too, in a matter of time. That didn’t mean he couldn’t let her think the man she described was out there. That maybe it was him. Ha. “I’m sorry to hear that,” he answered softly when she insisted she wasn’t looking for a man. Her fingers on his arm suggested otherwise. “Though I can’t say it surprises me. And I can certainly respect it,” he added, as if he actually mean it. But he wasn’t here to just tell her she was doing it right and be on his way. There was no fun in that. “But then,” he added, giving her a small smile yet again, “You’ve always struck me as the type of girl who isn’t afraid to try to have it all.” He could have made a move, then. Gone for a hand on her leg, or moved just a little closer to her. Instead he waited. If anything did happen here, it would be so much more amusing if it was her idea. 

The truth was, this was something Jay had thought about before. Not exactly like this, of course. But him and Dorcas. Back at school, she’d seemed like the perfect bird. Intelligent. Put-together. From an very respectable family, but also the youngest just like him. Surely she felt it, too, that overwhelming drive to prove he was the best of them all even though he was the youngest, always a step behind. But where Jay had kept his eyes and ears open for the smartest path to achieve greatness, Dorcas Meadowes had instead let herself get suckered into the losing side of the war. Unable to ignore whatever morals made her feel better about herself. Such a waste. Obviously she was not nearly as intelligent as she thought herself. As Jay had thought she was, before he and Barty had discovered the truth. Case in point; she should be terrified of where she was right now. Instead she was smiling at him, her fingers brushing against his sleeve. A thrill ran down Jay’s spine at the light touch. That’s right, Dorcas. His smile widened at her words. “So am I,” he answered in a slightly lower voice, intended to make it so she would have to lean just a little closer to hear him. As he spoke he moved his leg slightly, letting his knee brush against hers. “Though I must admit, I can’t for the life of me figure out why a girl like you doesn’t have a very jealous boyfriend waiting on her right now,” he kept his voice soft, small, shy smile in place as if he was still very aware of how he was putting himself out there, and very invested in what she had to say. As if he cared why there was no boyfriend, as if he was actually interested in dating her. 

Had she known who she was cozying up to Dorcas would have felt ill. Angry. Disgusted. But as far as she knew Jay Yaxley was just an ambitious Ministry worker. A smart bloke who’d managed to get himself into a position to achieve his dreams. Putting in his time in a better position then most but putting in his time regardless. The Ministry was big on that. One of dozens of Ministry workers who were confident enough in the Ministry to put their faith in the auror department to solve the Death Eater problem. Because that’s how they saw it, a problem not a war. Her own family included. Didn’t meant they were terrible people, they were just not aware enough. Dorcas didn’t hold it against them. Could even understand it a bit. Just because Jay wasn’t doing more didn’t mean he wouldn’t if he was able. Didn’t mean he was a bad bloke. She leaned in closer as he lowered his voice, her smile widening a touch at the feel of his knee brush against hers. His words making her laugh softly, clearly taking them as a compliment. “You’d be surprised at the number of blokes who find an ambitious woman intimidating,” Dorcas rolled her eyes lightly. “I’m not interested in a bloke looking for a bird to make him look good at Ministry gatherings. I want a real partner. Someone who will support me and my goals while I in turn support theirs. An equal.” Dorcas wanted what Penny had. Mike McKinnon couldn’t possibly be the only bloke in the world who wouldn’t be intimidated by his girlfriend being intelligent, strong, and just as ambitious. She didn’t see any need in dancing around it either. Dorcas had always known what she wanted in life, in her career, and in love. Someone like Jay, with obvious ambitions of his own could use a bird who was his equal. But most blokes, even the ones who seemed smart, didn’t want to risk being overshadowed by their bird. Never mind that even if Jay was looking for an equal dating would never work, not now. “But I’m still at a point in my career that finding a bloke isn’t a priority. I’m more focused on career right now.” Mostly true. She was. And the outcome of the war would have a big impact on her career. It wasn’t as if she’d be the head of anything stuck in a cell in Azkaban or dead.

“Brilliant,” Jay answered, pleased when she let him lead her over to a table. His ever action, his every word deliberate and calculated. Dorcas Meadowes thought she was so smart, but bloody hell was she easy to figure out. Jay knew what she wanted, and he knew how to make himself into that. Or at least how to make her think that he was, and that was all that really mattered. Rather than sitting across from her, he slid into the booth next to her. He didn’t want to give her any room to doubt what he was after, but he was also careful to keep a respectful space between them so he wouldn’t come across as too aggressive – that had never been an image he’d projected, nor had he ever been particularly aggressive up until he and Barty started to figure out their best path to take in life. It was too easy, to give her a slightly flustered smile as he sat next to her, to make her think this was something new for him, trying it just for her. He had no doubt she would believe it; Dorcas Meadowes thought much too highly of herself. And it seemed she was beginning to think more and more highly of him, too. Jay noted the lack of surprise in her voice and smiled wider. He’d passed her test, then. “I’m flattered you think so,” he answered, lifting his own glass and angling it towards her. “Cheers. To your good health.” Jay couldn’t resist that one, far too amused at his own private joke. Quickly he took a sip of his wine and added, “If it’s not too forward of me, may I say you look beautiful tonight?” She’d looked better. Loads better. But she didn’t need to know Jay thought that; birds loved to be called beautiful, and Dorcas seemed like the type who would believe it when he said so. Who wouldn’t, when he was giving her his sweetest smile, ducking his head just the slightest bit as if he’d just embarrassed himself – then quickly daring to meet her eyes again, because of course he’d meant it. 

It was a surprise when Jay sat down beside her instead of across from her. This wasn’t just a friendly drink with a little light flirting it seemed. That was fine. Wasn’t like Dorcas had any reason not to be doing any of this. It was sort of sweet too the way he still looked a little flustered like he was new at this. But not too flustered, thankfully. Just the right amount of flustered and confident. Enough to make Dorcas wonder if this was something Jay had wanted to do before. Maybe spurred into action by recent events if his toast was a hint. Dorcas raised her own glass, “Cheers.” She took a second sip of her wine, this was turning out to be more of an interesting evening then she’d originally thought it would be. Oh. That was sweet. She was positive she’d looked better. But she had looked worse very recently. It was funny, the difference between how Jay told her she looked beautiful and how Davey had. Fucking hell. Focus on the bloke beside you, Dorcas. “Not at all. It’s very sweet of you.” Dorcas gave him another smile. “I’m glad we ran into each other tonight,” her fingertips brushed against his sleeve softly as she spoke.