Teddy invited me for that dinner, a night before I was to meet Leah at her hotel, but I hadn't bargained on Leah being there when I entered the restaurant. Teddy had organised a dinner with a handful of her closest friends on the team and me. I recognised Avery, and of course Leah, and opposite was Bonnie and Aria.

I hesitated as the door shut behind me, and I debated backing up out of there before anyone spotted me, but of course her eyes fell on me instantly. Blue eyes I knew looked like the lagoons in Thailand, and eyes I had looked into as she had hitched up my dress at the wedding, her hands roaming up my flesh before she took me on the bathroom counter. Our first encounter, one that had been flirted to as we walked from the wedding dinner, and then as she pulled me into her bathroom, it was known, no flirting, only taking. I let her take me, before I took her, to an entirely different level myself.

She held up her hand to say hi and Teddy turned and jumped up "Morgan" she called coming over and hugging me.

"Teddy I see Leah... I thought I specifically said no Leah" I say whispering, eyebrows raised.

She smiles "did you" she asks playing coy "I don't remember that bit" she lies and she smiles and takes my hand "come meet the girls" she says and she places me down beside her. It was impossible to ever be annoyed with Teddy, because of those damn dimples and that charming smile.

"Hi" I greet, and they all smile and reintroduce themselves. Leah is a little quieter as she looks to me "It's nice to see you again" she offers.

I feel my heart start beating a little faster to see her so close up "and you" I return, not knowing what to say before the group begin their intense back and forth of discussion.
***

One night is all it took to see Leah as someone I was attracted to in more than one way. Physical attraction was obvious, but I liked her, her personality, and the way she was with her friends, her nature, the way she held herself. I loved the way she didn't ogle me, if anything it was as if looking at me was against the rules, so she tried to dance around me, her gaze flitting from Teddy on one side to Aria on the other and not lingering on me at all. In fact a girl could be offended by the lack of eye contact. I didn't know what was worse here, not enough or too much. I just didn't like zero.

"How are your beautiful girls Ted" I ask.

She takes a sip of her soda "good Morg... really good" she says looking to me with a twinkle in her eyes at the mention of them "Olympia is a complete limpet. I can't ever put her down, but my goodness she's the cutest thing you've ever seen" she says taking out her phone and scrolling to a photo of Olympia on Harpers shoulders, smiling and drooling on her head whilst Harper laughs, at I imagine, the sensation of it running down her neck.

"Oh Ted, she is quite literally your image"  I say smiling at the picture.

She scrolls further along "and look at Wren... she's getting so grown up" I shake my head and point to Harper "so much like her mama" I observe "honestly you are a lucky thing Theodora... you have it all" I say, nudging her a little "and I couldn't be more proud" I confess.

She places the phone in her pocket and leans in close "Leah can't even look at you...what on earth did you do to her that night"

I blush and take a sip of wine. "Nothing I'm sure you haven't done many times before Teddy..." I say eyeing her sideways "but yeah I noticed the weird vibe... do you think I terrify her" I ask playfully.

Teddy smiles wickedly as she looks to Leah opposite "I think that's the face of a girl who has seen a ghost and remembered exactly how the haunting went down. She can't look at you because she probably doesn't see you with clothes on" she says laughing.

I almost spray the wine in my mouth, forcing my hand over my lips and hiding, a little mortified.

Leah looks to us and narrows her eyes as if she is aware we are talking about her "what did Nomikos say" she asks.

I shake my head "nothing" I lie, trying to wipe my mouth, and the ice is broken because she's finally looked at me and spoken.

"Why don't we swap seats" Aria suggests to Leah. I swear she winks at her.

Leah smiles "no it's okay I'm good here"

I cock an eyebrow in response, and Teddy goes wide eyed "is this because I ghosted you for nine months" I ask, not breaking eye contact as everyone looks to us both.

"No" she replies honestly "I'm just sticking to the rules... and if I sat next to you we may not be deemed strangers" she suggests.

I am amused, the smile that slips onto my lips, shows it.

"I don't think strangers sit at the same table and eat dinner like this... so... I think the rules got broken the moment I walked in here and saw you sat there" I throw back.

She looks to me and her lips twitch with a smile " are you saying tomorrow..." she begins.

"Is dead on arrival... yeah" I confirm, and she shakes her head. The entire table is watching our back and forth with baited breath not knowing what to say or do as we go back and forth.

"Damn, if I had known I wouldn't have left my hotel room this weekend..." she retorts.

I take a sip of my wine "well I guess you can come and sit here then" I say, motioning to the seat beside me "since we are no longer playing together..."

"Holy shit the sexual tension at this table is making me feel like we should all exit left and let these two just have their date alone" Avery suggests, and everyone else nods or makes noises of agreement.

"Lets go" Teddy says, standing.

I grab her arm "wait... don't leave" I beg.

She leans down and squeezes my hand "just have fun. I will see you tomorrow instead... Leah and I can swap our names on your calendar" she says with a wink as the group leave us to it.

Leah looks to me a little surprised "we cleared the table"

"Well don't just sit there...come over here" I ask.

She gets up and slips around the table, taking the seat beside me.

"I can't believe I don't get to see you anymore" she says disappointedly.

I smile as I turn to face her "you are seeing me right now" I say amused.

She lingers on my lips for far too long before her eyes find mine waiting "I was looking forward to tomorrow... although" she says taking a breadstick from the centre of the table and snapping off the end in her mouth "this is kind of better" she muses:

My eyebrows knit together "is it" I ask.

She nods "yeah... I kind of want to know more. I mean I already met your body... but I never really met you did I" she says with an eye raise, and she sticks out her hand "Hi, I'm Leah" she says with a beautiful wide smile.

I sit up, my blonde hair falling back down my chest "hi Leah... it's nice to meet you. I'm Morgan"

And that was the moment our night began. There was zero sexual contact, and no under the clothes touching. The contact that there was, was brief, a slight brush of her hand against mine, and how could I forget the way her thumb brushes away a crumb upon my cheek. My heart beat ridiculously fast at the contact.

Leah was quite beautiful to anyone who looked her way, she was tall, with long brown hair that tonight she had up in a stylish messy bun, and she was feminine, but dressed a little masc. Infact the striking difference between her beauty and her style was extremely alluring. I liked it. She wore what she liked, and it made her even more attractive because her confidence was dripping from her. I knew Leah was popular on the scene, her fan base was large and the girls throwing themselves at her were never far, always a fan lurking around the next corner, and so I wasn't expecting her to actually want to hang out with me for anything but a hook up. I was pretty sure Leah hooked up with a bevvy of beautiful girls all the time. I bet her phone was filled with girls names.

What a jerk I was to think all of that bullshit, because it turned out Leah wasn't a player at all. She was married to the court, dated a little, but not majorly and hadn't had a girlfriend in a few years.

It was only one night, we walked and talked for hours. I found out all the random stuff about her that she probably didn't really tell anyone but I loved that stuff. What was your first pet called? Where did your mom and dad meet? What was your first love called? Do you like avocado? You don't? Thank god... what's your favourite pizza topping? Who broke your heart first? Do you still think about her? No? Thank the lord... that ticked that box. What's your ideal night? If you could watch one film forever what would it be?! What's your favourite colour? Sweet or salty? Favourite season? Most treasured memory? What colour are my eyes? ( I say closing my eyes immediately)

"Morgan they are the deepest blue I've ever seen..." she confirms.

I smile, but before I can open them again she leans in and kisses me. I almost pull back, but my goodness she tastes good, the strawberry and watermelon from her rosé wine she had tonight lingers on her lips. I lean into it, her hands cup my face, she smells sweet just like her kiss, and I push her back into the wall slowly, my body pressed into hers. Her hands don't even touch me, they linger at my sides like she is afraid to, and I take her hands and place them on my waist, her fingers curl into me with the invitation. I know this night would have ended a-lot differently if it hadn't been for the phone call, and the buzzing in my purse that made me pull away.

I reach into my purse and pull out the angry vibrating phone. I check the ID "it's my wife" I say not even thinking. Leah looks at me a little taken aback and I shake my head "no not my wife ... well technically...but we are separated" I confess, and then I look at her a little apologetically "I have to take this... it could be one of my children"

Her eyes widen. I hadn't mentioned that yet either, shit. I turn away and answer the phone "Annie" I ask.

"Morgan I just wanted to ask if you sent Asher's inhaler I can't find it..." she asks.

I hold my hand to my head and take a deep breath "it's in the front pocket of his backpack where it always is Annie"

She takes a moment before sighing "ah yes there it is"

I know very well she's not looking in the bag, shes just making an excuse to phone me.

"Is he okay" I ask.

"Yeah he's fine...What are you up to. You sound as if you are outside" she asks.

I close my eyes tightly "I cant talk right now"

She sounds a little annoyed "you're out with someone aren't you"

I look back to Leah whose kicking rocks along the pathway ahead, trying not to listen, and I realise that this is such an awful mistake to be out with Leah when Annie was still very much in the picture. My god I had no business enjoying this incredible woman's company, no business at all. She had many women who would happily date her, and I was in my early forties, getting divorced and had three kids. "I have to go"

"Morgan call me when you get in, so I know you got in safe" she asks.

I pause a moment "I will" and I click off.

"Leah I'm sorry about that" I apologise, walking back over to her.

She turns around and smiles softly, unsure. "So you are separated and you have kids"

I nod "I'm sorry I didn't say" I say regretfully.

She frowns "why would you ... we don't even know each other. I'm a stranger... right?" She asks.
I shake my head "you were, but I think knowing your first dogs name and your first love kind of makes us acquaintances...at the least"

"Shall we walk back" she asks.

I nod "we should... I have to go home"

"I figured" she returns disappointed.

I have no words of comfort or reassurance, because this was my mistake.

Why did my life have to be so complicated. I only wanted to spend time by myself, casually hooking up when I felt like it, and now Leah had shown up. I felt now like I didn't want this night together to end. It had been perfect, and it wasn't expected, but it made me feel a flicker of something I long thought lost ... hope.

"Morgan" Leah asks, taking my hand as we reach her hotel.

I turn and look to her "Yes" I return.

She gulps a little "Morgan you are without a doubt the most beautiful woman I have ever seen" she begins "but I bet you've heard that far too many times to count...so I retract that statement"

I raise my eyebrows "oh" I ask.

She nods "I think you are pretty amazing . I like the way your cheeks crease up beside your lips when you smile, the sparkle in your eyes, the dirty laugh you have, your sense of humour and the way you tease so effortlessly. You are a breath of fresh air. I'm used to women that behave like immature girls, and you are an absolute revelation with your confidence in your body and the way you don't give a shit what anyone around you thinks... I love it..."

I blush a little "I think you are a breath of fresh air too" I confess.

She smiles "you do" she asks.

I nod "I do" I confirm.

"Then can I see you again" she asks.

I frown, because here it comes, the thing I had so desperately tried to avoid, hurting her feelings or letting her down.

"Leah I'm just not in a place where I can give much of myself to anyone. I'm trying to figure myself out again. I've not been alone in forever...and so I'm not looking for anything serious"

"Did I say I wanted to marry you" she asks with a twinkle in her eye, and she pulls my hand closer bringing me toward her until my chest bumps hers, and my eyes rise up to meet her gaze "I'm just saying if I'm ever in town...or if you are in mine...can I see you again? That's all" she says, as if it is the most casual thing in the world.

"I guess, if it's with Teddy then it's probably a given I will see you again" I reply.

She rolls her eyes slightly "Morgan just say yes"

I smile as she cups my cheek "can I say .. il think about it" I tease.

She looks to me playfully defiant "no...you cannot"

"Then yes, perhaps we will see each other again...platonically" I tease.

She widens her eyes at me, cocking an eyebrow "God" she drags out frustratedly "can I kiss you" she asks "you know....platonically...to say goodbye incase we perhaps don't see each other again"

I nod, and she leans down. Her lips brush mine, mine open to her, accepting her caress as our lips explore. Her tongue softly brushed mine briefly, sending my belly into a frenzy of butterflies, way too many for a stranger. Oh god... there was a spark. I pull away instantly with the realisation, that Leah, if I let her, could become way more than a hook up or an acquaintance.

"I have to go" I say.

She accepts that begrudgingly, as I turn and leave. I leave so quickly it's as if I'm running in the opposite direction, and she is stood there, frozen to the spot like the kiss had paralysed her. Perhaps she felt it too... the undeniable way our bodies spoke to each other, a spark.

I threw water over that spark, and tried to pretend it hadn't existed, the moment I vanished up the road. The thought of Leah Mitchell though, it was now a terrifying one. I did everything in my power to avoid it...well ...unless you count the slip up two hours later after one too many wines.... But after that I most definitely avoided fanning the flame... until a night later... oh for gods sake I tried.

But it's hard to avoid something that is meant to be, it will find a way, it always does.