Jensen

ME: Where are you?
ME: I want to kiss you before I leave.
TEDDY: Ooh is it time for your bro date?
ME: Babe. It's not a bro date.
TEDDY: Are you going out with your bro?
ME: Babe.
ME: Just tell me where you are.
TEDDY: Turn around.

Teddy is strollingtoward me as I stand outside of my office building, and the sight of her literally takes my breath away. I clutch my phone as I take in the sight of her. She's wearing cut-off jean shorts and a fitted tank top, an outfit that reminds me of the curves she hides under her usual uniform of jeans and hoodies.

Thank God for the month of June and the return of warm temperatures. Her skin is already starting to tan from all her time spent outside. Instead of her signature braid, her hair is piled high in a messy bun with loose tendrils blowing around her face.

Fuck, she's beautiful.

"You weren't wearing that this morning," I observe when she stops in front of me.

Shrugging, she says, "I got hot."

"Yeah, you did." My eyes graze her body up and down again. "You know, I'm pretty sure there's a dress code for the boss' girlfriend. It's pretty strictly enforced too. You need to be covered from head to toe. No skin showing."

"You'd rather I die of a heat stroke than show any skin?" Her teasing smirk stirs familiar feelings in my gut. It's almost impossible not to be affected by this woman, no matter how much contact I have with her on a daily basis.

I trap the flyaway hairs with my hands, curling them behind her ears, as I cup her face. I can't seem to stop the grin I can feel spreading across my face. "I can get you one of those misting fans to keep you cool. Plus, regular hose downs in my shower throughout the day can be arranged."

"Or," she says with a laugh, "I could just dress appropriately for the weather."

"Or," I mimic her playful tone, "you could ask Marg to make you one of her big tent dresses. Pick out a really fun pattern. Maybe have one custom made with my face all over it."

"Oh my god, Jensen." She drops her forehead onto my chest, her shoulders shaking with laughter. "You really are the most ridiculous man I've ever met."

I lift her face with my finger under her chin, studying the way she looks just like this. Happiness looks good on her. She traces my lips with her finger, almost as if she's studying me, too. "What?" I whisper against her finger.

"Your face looks different when it's not grumpy. I like it."

Instead of responding, I dip my head to kiss her. It's a soft kiss, gentle presses against her lips. "You make me happy, Teddy. I can't help my face when I'm around you."

She rakes a hand into my hair and guides my mouth back onto hers. I follow her lead since I'm slightly addicted to the way she kisses me, the shallow dips of her tongue into my mouth, followed by longer sweeps, all the while making this low hum at the back of her throat that I'm almost certain she isn't aware of.

When she pulls away, I note the pinkness dotting her cheeks and I run my thumbs over them. "I'll be home later. You'll be there, right? Otherwise, I'll go to your place and drag you back."

Rolling her eyes, she replies, "Yes, J, I'll be there."

With a forceful grab of her ass, I haul her against me. "Good girl." I press a hard kiss onto her lips before backing away.

"Have fun on your bro date!" she calls to my retreating form. I shake my head, not even bothering to attempt to wipe the smile off my face. It's fruitless at this point.

-

THE DRINKING HOLE ON A LATE MID-WEEK afternoon is a different experience than a weekend evening at Roxy's. Kelly picked the place, and I can only assume he wanted some place quieter with a more casual atmosphere.

I glance around the bar to search for Teddy's dad since it's his usual drinking spot. I haven't stepped foot inside since the night I dragged a very drunk Larry home. I sigh in relief when I don't see him.

Kelly and I situate ourselves in a creaky booth in the corner of the bar, and I twirl my beer bottle around on the table. I have a feeling my friend has a specific agenda for inviting me out and it's more than the lame excuse he gave for wanting to hang out since I've been busy with my new girlfriend. Kelly and I are close, but we don't have the type of relationship where we gab about all our feelings.

"How the latest flip?" I ask him after taking a long pull of my beer. Kelly runs a house-flipping business, and he's always knee-deep in projects.

"Just finishing up on this current one before I can finally start on the next one." The way he says it clues me in that he's downplaying his excitement level on "the next one."

"What's the next one?" I watch as he dips his head, pink coloring his cheeks. He looks off into the distance as if searching for someone or, more likely, an answer that covers up the truth he's trying to hide from me.

"Just a house I've had my eye on for a while," he finally answers, bringing his gaze back to me. He drums his fingers over the table, and I realize that's all the information I'm going to get.

"So..." he hedges, "you and Teddy, huh? It's getting pretty serious."

It isn't a question, but the statement feels like he's implying something. I wait for him to elaborate, clue me in on the double meaning, and when he doesn't, I finally nod my head. "Yep. It's serious, man."

He studies me for a few silent moments and then nods. After taking a swig of his beer, he asks, "Have you talked to her about Caroline?"

I blow out a breath, blindsided by the question. "Shit, Kelly," I groan.

"J," he says in a tone that's both defensive and accusatory, "you know you have to talk to her about it."

I scrub a hand down my face trying to avoid both the statement and his tense expression. "Yeah, I know I do."

"It's Teddy," he says, his tone still as sharp. "It isn't some random chick. And if it's as serious as I'm assuming it is with her, then she deserves to know. You deserve for her to know. Otherwise, it'll just be this deadly thing between you two. I know you know this."

"Fuck, K," I spit out, my head falling back against the booth. "I know. Fuck, of course I know. It's just..." I halt my confession to gather my thoughts. Once I straighten back up in the seat, I focus my attention on my oldest friend. "It's just that I've tucked that whole thing away years ago and I don't really want to drag it back out. But of course Teddy needs to know. I need her to know."

He nods his head once and slaps a hand on the table as if concluding that area of business. "Good. Want to play darts?"

I blow out a breath, grateful to drop the subject. It's been hanging over my head for weeks, and my best friend forcing me to face it is like a punch to the gut. Tonight. I'll talk to Teddy tonight.

-

I PAUSE OUTSIDE MY APARTMENT DOOR listening to the sounds drifting out from inside. I can hear Teddy's laughter and loud pattering across the floor. I smile despite the nerves clawing at my stomach. It'll never get old having her in my space.

Once I open the door, I'm assaulted by a furry creature circling around my feet. Scout loses interest in me quickly, bolting for his favorite rope toy that Teddy must have just thrown for him. He trots to her with the rope in his mouth and drops it in front of her. She's sitting on the floor in the living room with her back against the couch.

"Hey," she says with a bright smile before chucking the rope across the open space. It slides across the hardwood floor, stopping by my feet. I step on it, halting the dog in mid-bite before he can take off with it again. I grab it and dangle it just out of his reach, and he jumps on his hind legs trying to steal it back.

I toss it into the kitchen to give us a few seconds reprieve from the dog's energy, and I look back to my girlfriend who is now standing. She's still wearing the same cut-offs and tank top from earlier, but her feet are bare. I watch them as they saunter across the floor toward me.

"Hey," I say softly, pulling her in for a hug. I brush my lips across her hair, inhaling the intoxicating scent, and I sigh against her. "Have you eaten yet?"

"Yeah, Rylie and I met for burgers at The 365 Diner. Did you?" She pulls out of my arms to look up at me, her face scrunching under the inspection. She runs a finger between my eyes and down my nose as if ironing out the wrinkles.

I snatch her hand, kissing the inside of her wrist, and I nod in answer to her question. "We ordered a pizza at The Drinking Hole."

"Is something wrong? You seem off."

I lean down to capture her mouth with mine for a slow, sensual kiss. When we break apart, I ask, "Can we talk?"

Her eyes widen and her sudden alarm sets off my nerves anew. "Umm," she stammers. "Ok. Is everything ok?"

I place another soft kiss on her lips. "Yeah, baby. There's just something I need to tell you."