Chapter 10
1691 Words
Reid POV
It’s been close to a month, living next door to Indie, Atlas and Bear. I have to admit, I really like waking up in the mornings and seeing Indie sitting on the patio in her egg chair, taking in the morning peace, watching the sunrise. Yesterday, she took to doing yoga out there. Dear, sweet baby Jesus. Those yoga pants on her…were so tight I could see every curve, every dip, every crevice. And she only wore a sports bra with those yoga pants. I had to go back to the bathroom to take another cold shower and take care of my raging f*****g hard on. These blue balls were going to be the death of me. But if watching her do yoga is the way I go out of this world, I'll die a very happy man.
I still went over for breakfast just about every day, unless I was out on club duty. And even with that, I would stop by and let Indie know I would be gone for a day or two, and to see if they would watch Boomer for me. My pittie. He’s an all-black pit bull with amber eyes. He’s gentle to those he loves, and vicious to any threat. I feel better knowing that Boomer is there when I can’t be. Walking next door, I had to, again, leave Boomer with Indie and his best little buddy Bear.
“Hey! Come in.” She beams at me. It’s been a long month, but she’s finally smiling at me like this. I could die a happy man. She’s so pretty when she smiles that smile. Walking into her living room, it looks homier than it did when she first came here. There are pictures of her and Bear, her dad and Bear. All of them having a picnic in a park. There are throw pillows and blankets everywhere. I can only imagine how many of these blankets anyone other than her or Bear has picked out. Que the eye roll. They probably haven't picked any. Those two are always wrapped up in them for movie nights, or cuddles, or whatever other reason they can come up with.
“Umm…I’m going to be gone for some club stuff for a couple of days. When I get back…umm… could I…,” I gulped. I was nervous. I rubbed the back of my neck, taking a deep breath, I looked at Indie in her beautiful Caribbean blue eyes that made me feel like I’m floating in the ocean, “would you like to go out with me?” My hands were sweating, and my heart was beating at a rate that felt like it would stop at any minute.
“Like a date?” She looked at me. Her eyes were big and curious.
“Yes. Can I be honest with you?” My heart hammering away in my chest like a jackhammer. God, I hope I don't die after this confession.
“Of course. I’d prefer that.”
“Okay," taking one final deep breath, I looked her in the eyes and let it all out. "I thought you were the most gorgeous woman I’d ever seen the first time I met you. You stole my breath and I thought my heart might stop, but that’d be okay because I’d seen an angel walking among us. I’ve tried not to push myself or my feelings on you because I don’t want to overwhelm you, but I would like to take you out. On a proper date. If that’s alright with you.”
“Can I let you know tonight? I’d like to think about it, and I don’t want to rush into something if I’m not ready for it. I think I'd also like to talk to my therapist, before making a decision. To make sure I'm in a good headspace for something like this.”
“That’s fine. You have my number.” I smiled at her, and waved as I walked out the door. I hope she says yes.
Indie POV
As I shut the front door behind Reid, I think I was in shock.
“Indie?!”
“Yeah?”
“You, okay? I’ve been calling your name. Didn’t you hear me?”
“I’m sorry, Kai.” I looked at my brother…fuck it. He should be able to help me figure this out. “Reid asked me out.” He spit out the cup of coffee he was currently drinking.
“What?!” He coughed out, “He asked you on a date? For when? What did you say? What are you going to wear?”
“Why do you assume I said yes?”
“Umm…the goo-goo eyes you get every time he walks into a room? Or the way he’s always watching you? Or the way he’s so good with Bear and I see the way it makes you melt?”
“Alright, alright.” I said, waving my hands at him. He has valid reasons. Expect the one about Reid watching me. “He doesn’t watch me though.”
Pulling out his phone, Kai called Leif. “Hey. Got a question for you.”
“Shoot.”
“Who’s the girl Reid is always watching, even when he’s supposed to be doing something else?”
“Duh. Your sister. Why?”
“Because she needed to hear from someone other than me.”
“Did something happen?”
“Maybe. Tell you later.” Kai pressed the red end button on his phone, setting it on the coffee table. “So. What’s it going to be?”
“You guys are worse than high school girls, you know that?” I asked, plopping down beside him. Bear and Dad were playing in the backyard, and I could hear Boomer barking at their antics through the screen door.
“You know what I think. I think it could be good. For both of you,” he mused, grabbing my hand and looking in my eyes. “Reid is a good guy who’s been through his own s**t. He’s also a gentleman who wouldn’t do anything you said no to.”
“So, you think I should go for it?”
“Yes. I think it would be good for you to open up to someone. And I think he could be that person. I also think that you’ve made excellent progress in therapy. Even your therapist told you last week, you could be ready to start slowly seeing someone. If you’re up for it. Because we both know you’d been checked out of your marriage since he laid his hands on you and started cheating. It has been over for years for you. You just finally left. So, don’t think that you have to ‘give yourself time’ because you already have.”
“That makes sense. Debra says, I checked out a long time ago, all that I’m really working through right now is the trauma of staying and what he did to me. What if I get triggered?” I asked in a small voice. I think that’s my deepest fear about going out on a date with Reid. He’s not just anyone. I’ve been attracted to him since I saw him. I certainly didn’t think he’d see me that way. I did think he was a little more than just a friendly neighbor. He was always around, always offering to help.
“If I say yes, will you and Dad watch Bear and be on call in case something triggers me?”
“Of course!” Kai says, chuckling and putting his arms around me. My big brother of 9 whole minutes truly is the best big brother ever.
“Okay. I’m going to call Debra's office to see if she can talk really quick about it, then I'm going to text him.”
“Not going to make him sweat some more?”
“No. Because I’m too excited.” As I pull out my phone, I am grinning ear to ear.
After getting off the phone with Debra, I felt better. That I'm ready. And since Reid has been here for literally every step of the way in my journey, he already knows my boundaries. Debra wants to talk about our date in our next session. Joy. Time to say yes to the date!
Indie: Hey. So, I’ve thought about it.
Reid: It’s a no, isn’t it? That’s alright. I know it was asking a lot. Your divorce isn’t even final yet, and you’ve still got a lot to work through in therapy. I jumped the gun.
Indie: I’d love to. Unless you’ve changed your mind?
Reid: NO!
Reid: I’d love to! Yes.
I didn’t know what to say and was in the middle of doing a happy dance when my phone pinged again with another text.
Reid: Please tell me I haven’t f****d this all up before I have even taken you out. Face palm.
Laughing, I text back, “You haven’t. I promise. I was being a super dork doing a happy dance, and couldn’t seem to get the smile off my face. I’m really excited.”
Reid: Is there anything you don’t want to do on a first date?
Indie: Well, I’d rather it was just us if that is okay? Maybe a movie night in the backyard after dinner? We can order in or I could cook?
Reid: No way are you cooking on our date. You cook enough delicious stuff for me. We’re ordering in. I ordered some fun stuff for my backyard, so maybe you guys could come visit me too.
Indie: You didn’t. What did you order?
Reid: One of those inflatable movie screens? A trampoline for Bear with a net around it. That’s for his birthday though. I am also going to have a pool put in next summer, so I’m getting the yard ready this year.
Indie: That’s smart. Maybe you can show me the plans after our date?
Reid: I’d love to.
This man made me smile. I hope our date goes smoothly.
- Writer
