Rookie

by JL Paul

  “Drunk?” she finished. “Yeah, they did. Because they are my friends – nothing more.”

  “But I was your friend, too, remember?” he asked as he turned around.

  Lifting her chin, she bared her soul. “You were never just my friend, Rob. You were always something more.”

  A smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “Back at you, Rookie.”

  Her brow lifted as confusion crossed her face. He stepped closer, rubbing the back of his neck. “Hell, Sid, how do I say it?”

  “Say what?”

  He cupped her chin, lifting her eyes to his. “I love you, Sid. I’m in love with you. I told Mel that but she’d already sort of figured it out.”

  Sidney’s eyes widened as her heart began to sing. “I love you, too.”

  He pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “I don’t want to scare you off, or anything. I mean, things haven’t exactly been easy for us.”

  She shook her head, her body trembling. “No, not exactly.”

  “And I want to do this right,” he said, stroking her cheek with his thumb. “I don’t want to mess up again.”

  “What do you have in mind?” she asked, holding her breath.

  Dropping his hand from her face, he wrapped her in his arms and tugged her to his body. She nestled her head under his chin, closing her eyes. She’d stay there forever if he’d let her.

  “I think we need to take it slow,” he said. “I don’t want us to just jump into something. I want to do this right. I think you should stay in your room and me in mine.”

  He leaned back to look into her face.

  “Unless you need me or something.”

  She smiled, her heart filling with love. “Okay.”

  “So, what do you think? Do you want to give this a shot?”

  She grinned. “Absolutely.”

  He kissed her to seal the deal.

  Epilogue

  Knocking on his door, she waited for his response before walking in. He was stretched on his bed, wearing shorts and a t-shirt, remote in hand. He muted the TV when he spotted her and smiled.

  “What’s up?”

  “Nothing,” she said as she crossed the room. He patted the spot next to him so she hopped on the bed and snuggled into his side. “What are you watching?”

  “Was watching the news,” he said. “But I’ve had enough of death and destruction. Can’t sleep?”

  She lifted a shoulder as she considered what she wanted to say.

  It had been three months since she’d moved back into his house. She’d considered finding a new apartment or even moving back into the cottage once the damage was fixed, but Rob convinced her to stay.

  So, she had.

  And he’d kept true to his word. He dated her – took her out a few times a week. They’d go for dinner or to the movies and he’d hold her hand. When they’d return home, he’d kiss her goodnight and they’d part for their separate bedrooms.

  Things seemed to be falling back into place, though not quickly enough for Sidney. Her relationship with Lexie strengthened. They decided to have a girl’s night, sending Chad to Rob’s for the evening so they could spend time together and talk. After putting everything on the table, and after a tearful, tense conversation, they managed to move forward and were becoming very good friends.

  Melanie opted to return to the home store in San Francisco. She’d gone to dinner with Rob one night to explain her decision. They decided that, in order for both of them to move on with their lives, they needed to put some miles between them.

  Lexie had a hard time with it, but she understood and welcomed the growing relationship between her cousin and Sidney.

  Although Sidney was living in Rob’s house, they hadn’t engaged in anything more than heavy kissing sessions. She was touched by his determination to wine and dine her and do things right, but she was getting tired of waiting.

  “You know, it’s been three months,” Sidney said, resting her chin on his chest.

  A smirk toyed with the corners of his mouth as he played with her hair. “I know.”

  “You said we should take it slow and we have.”

  “Yep,” he said, prodding her frustration.

  “Well, I don’t want to wait anymore.”

  He lifted a brow as his hand froze in her hair. “Hmm. You think?”

  She lifted her chin and scooted up his body. “I know.”

  He pulled her closer, his lips on hers. “Far be it from me to disappoint a beautiful woman.”

  She smiled as her body tingled in anticipation. His kiss deepened as he shifted so that she was underneath him. She clung to his body, waiting, shivering. Finally, he broke the kiss and lifted her shirt over her head. He continued to kiss her, starting with her lips and moving to her neck.

  As he removed the rest of her clothes, he sighed, placing his mouth near her ear.

  “I’ve missed you, Sid.”

  When it was over, he held her to his chest. She closed her eyes, a soft smile on her face.

  “What am I going to call you now?” he asked.

  She nestled into his chest. “What do you mean?”

  “Well, you’ve been with the company for awhile now,” he said. “Rookie doesn’t seem to fit anymore.”

  “I don’t know,” she said around a yawn.

  “I was thinking,” he said, pausing. “Maybe we should call you Mrs. Ross.”

  Her head snapped up, her jaw unhinged. “Rob, um, it’s a little soon, don’t you think?”

  He kissed her and cupped her cheek. “You said you were tired of waiting.”

  “Tired of waiting for this,” she said, pointing at their naked bodies.

  “Okay, fine,” he said with a wink. “We’ll wait a little longer for that, then.”

  “Yes, that’s a good idea.”

  She placed her head on the pillow next to him as her body relaxed and drowsiness washed over her in waves.

  “But I’m not waiting long,” he whispered as he turned off the TV and pulled her closer.