The Game Changer - ch 14 (Patreon)

I had figured that Rose/Abbie would likely win the poll, but I wanted to give everyone the final choice. Especially when I'm in the mood to write all of the options fairly equally.

So, here we go!

--------The Game Changer--------

Chapter Fourteen

Monday

“So… dating, huh?” Abbie asked, in a tone that sounded nonchalant, but was also… not?

She sat across from Rose in the desk chair that she’d started to think of as Abbie’s. For two reasons: because Abbie had been the one to break the original piece of furniture and had then made a quick comment about a replacement chair she liked when she’d looked at the options over Rose’s shoulder. Rose liked it, too, and it had already been a solid contender. But, yes, Abbie’s input had sealed the deal.

Also, because Abbie had taken to sitting across the desk from her at least three times a week during their lunch hour. Always in that same seat. Lounged the way Abbie managed, no matter where she was. Like she had no problem making herself comfortable.

Actually, the reality was even better: Abbie took up space. Not in an obtrusive way, but she settled into her physical space as if she had the right to be in it, and was never worried about what someone might think.

There was such a heady, attractive power in that. Rose, as an adult, was able to put a name to it at least. As a teenager, she’d just been so enamored and repressed, she hadn’t been able to realize what it was about Abbie’s whole… aura that appealed to her, but this was absolutely a part of it.

She blinked out of her thoughts, realizing that Abbie had asked about dating, and paused, mid-chew.

Mid-chew on the bite of chicken Caesar salad Abbie had brought her for lunch, after Rose had off-handed mentioned craving it at some point last week. So… Abbie of her.

Narrowing her eyes, dubiously, she swallowed her bite and studied Abbie.

Who gave nothing away, other than the fact that her “nonchalant” tone definitely wasn’t nonchalant. Those bright blue eyes were fixed on her, as Abbie didn’t touch her own salad. In fact, she’d placed it to the side and had leaned forward in her chair, expectantly. But she didn’t say anything else.

Rose finally decided she was done waiting for clarification, “… is that supposed to be a question I can answer?”

Abbie nodded. “Sure, yeah. You know, how’s it going?”

She waited another beat before answering, “You know how it’s going. I went on a date, and you babysat my daughter,” she reminded Abbie, even though she knew Abbie obviously remembered, but – what the hell was she supposed to say to that?

It had only been two days. It wasn’t like Rose had any significant updates. Or any updates, really.

“Okay, but you didn’t even really tell me any details. We’re friends, and all. That’s a part of female friendship.”

Rose pursed her lips and let out a quiet hum, as she leaned back in her desk chair. “I’m certain every friendship is different.”

Abbie let out a dramatic breath, hauling herself back against her own chair. “Come on, Elliston. Give me something, here.”

“We talked afterwards.”

“Barely!”

“We talked about it enough.”

Not only was she amused by Abbie’s attempt at getting more details on her date and not only did she enjoy the dramatics of Abbie’s huffing and puffing about it, but – those were all of the details Abbie would be getting.

Because the date had gone fine, truly.

And liked Jennifer, and Rose did think it was objectively good for her to go out and meet some new women.

But she and Jennifer had both agreed prior to the date that they weren’t looking for anything serious in the immediate future. And the date had only confirmed that.

Especially because the first conversation topic when they’d arrived at the wine bar had been Abbie.

“So, tell me more about your babysitter,” Jennifer had requested, eyeing Rose with curiosity.

Rose had nearly choked on the sip of wine she’d taken, just barely managing not to splutter the expensive rose everywhere. “Excuse me? My babysitter?”

Jennifer’s eyebrows furrowed suspiciously as she held her hands up in defense. “Hey, I’m just telling you how she referred to herself. I asked if I knew her from somewhere – she looks so familiar to me – and she was very cagey about the answer, and only identified herself as your babysitter.”

Rose had dabbed the napkin at her lips as she tried to decide whether to laugh at Abbie or roll her eyes. “Do you watch soccer?”

Jennifer tilted her head in thought. “Not avidly. The World Cup and the Olymp–” She cut herself off with a gasp. “She’s the hot goalie! I knew I knew her from somewhere.”

Hot goalie… yes, that was very apt. Rose nodded in confirmation. “Abbie is the hot goalie.”

So, so hot. Why did she have to look so hot even in the casual clothes she’d worn over after practice?

Probably because Rose was cursed to think Abbie was unduly attractive in just about everything.

Jennifer had continued to stare at her, eyes narrowed and intent. “Look, if “babysitting” was code for the fact that she’s your daughter’s other mother and she didn’t want to make things weird between us, I get it. I mean, I know you’re technically still married, and it’s not a dealbreaker if things are… messy between you two right now. But I do want to know what I’m stepping into.”

That time, Rose had choked on the wine she’d taken a sip of.

“I – what?”

“That thing between you two, before we left. In the doorway,” Jennifer had offered in explanation.

Rose had felt the heat slide through her at the reminder, which she’d done very well to push away on the way to their date. She and Abbie had stood so close, and she’d breathed Abbie in while feeling her warmth, and…

She let out a long, groaning sigh.

“No, Abbie is not my spouse that I’m divorcing. That’s… actually my soon-to-be ex-husband,” she haltingly explained.

Maybe there was something to what Abbie had said, in terms of the fact that Rose and Jennifer had only spoken for two days and hadn’t exchanged that much info before the date.

“Abbie and I are…” she’d trailed off, her eyebrows furrowing, almost at a loss.

How was she supposed to describe what she and Abbie were? More aptly, what Abbie was to her? On a date?

“We’re friends and colleagues. We’ve actually known one another for a long time.” There. She’d leave it at that.

Jennifer had arched her a skeptical look above the rim of her glass as she’d taken a sip of wine, and…

Yeah, Rose was not going to go into detail with Abbie about the fact that Jennifer had picked up on Rose’s latent feelings.

The thing was, Rose knew Abbie was nosy. There was a reason she hadn’t shared the news of being on dating apps with Abbie in the first place.

Well, also the fact that she… just… didn’t want to mix Abbie in with her dating thoughts. It was already difficult enough for Rose to hold that barrier in her mind; no need to make it any more difficult on herself.

“I didn’t tell you about dating in the first place, because I didn’t want to talk it to death,” Rose stated, quietly but firmly. And not unkindly, because she didn’t dislike Abbie’s penchant for wanting to talk. In fact, she liked it far too much. But not about this one thing.

Abbie accepted her words with a small nod, rolling her lips down in thought. “All right. Your prerogative. Just curious.”

And even though Abbie didn’t look or sound mad or sad – mostly contemplative? – Rose still felt a weird niggling feeling in her stomach at having shut her down so swiftly.

“Look, if there’s some sort of update or something interesting for you to know, you’ll know. All right?” She offered.

Abbie nodded again, a cute little half-smile sliding over her lips. “Deal. Now, what are your top five favorite movies of all time?”

Rose paused as she went to stab another bite of salad, sending Abbie an amused glance. “What? Why are you asking me that?”

“Curious minds want to know. I’ll also accept top favorite television shows and books as well.”

“Do I get a few minutes to think about it or should I be ready to fire them off now?”

Abbie glanced down at her watch. “We still have another twenty minutes left for lunch, so you have that time.”

“And the only reason you’re asking is because you’re suddenly curious?”

Abbie blinked back at her, looking for all of the world like she was trying to seem guileless. Which wasn’t a hard sell for Abbie, really. “Is it a crime to want to know more about you?”

“I suppose not…” she murmured, still studying Abbie through narrowed eyes.

But there was this sense she had that there was something else just below the surface and she couldn’t quite put her finger on it…

***

Tuesday

Rose halted as soon as she opened her office door in the morning, frowning when she saw the full, vibrant vase of flowers on the desk.

She glanced at Heidi, who was – as per usual – already at her desk by the time Rose came in. “Who’s been in my office? It’s barely seven-thirty.”

But someone obviously had been, because those flowers hadn’t been there the night before.

Heidi looked at her, eyebrows raised high on her forehead. “Your office? No one that I can think of.”

… huh.

Rose eyed them, skeptically, as she approached. Maybe a little hesitantly, too.

But who the hell was giving her flowers?

It wasn’t a special occasion. She hadn’t done anything for anyone to warrant a thank-you of some sort.

For a dreadful moment, she was worried they were from Jennifer. Which, dear god, would be fucking awful. Had she had the biggest possible change of heart and decided she wanted to go in the opposite direction of casual?

She set her jaw tightly, bracing herself.

Only to release her breath in a stomach-fluttering sigh even before she read the note; she recognized that handwriting.

Since you mentioned yesterday when listing me out all of your favorites that you love plants and flowers and this place was looking a little sparse on them! Besides, it also seems fitting to celebrate our win last week (belatedly)

Rose – 7:31A.M.… did you bring me flowers?

Abbie – 7:32A.M.I was getting some for my own office this morning, so I figured I’d grab some for you, too. I think they really brighten up the room

Rose – 7:32A.M.So, you broke into my office ridiculously early in the morning… to put flowers on my desk… just to “brighten up the room”?

Those little response bubbles popped up.

Then disappeared.

Then popped back up.

Then disappeared.

And finally Abbie came back with –

Abbie – 7:33A.M.Well, and to brighten up your day. I think your smile brightens up the room, too, so why not?

Also, given our recent win, I think I’ll promote you to co-coach, officially. Congratulations!!!

***

Wednesday

They walked into the parking lot after practice, and Abbie was twirling the ring for her car keys around her finger in the way that Rose found stupidly charming.

The late-October evening was a little chilly, and she huddled in slightly closer to Abbie, breathing her in. And she felt that unstoppable fluttering in her stomach when Abbie also leaned in a little closer.

It felt so natural, especially as they were both chuckling from a comment one of the girls had made at practice, and –

Abbie to come to an abrupt stop. “Jennifer.”

“What?” Rose’s laughter trailed off, as Abbie nodded her chin toward…

“Oh.”

There Jennifer, indeed, was. She’d parked next to Rose’s car, and Abbie’s was parked several spots away on the other side.  

She was looking between Rose and Abbie with a small, knowing smile, and it made Rose’s stomach twist.

God, she’d been so wrapped up in Abbie, she’d forgotten about this.

She wasn’t that surprised by where her attention had been diverted, but she was still, internally, rolling her eyes at herself.

She pursed her lips, glancing at Abbie. “Just – one minute.”

Abbie nodded, her lips tugging into a weird smile rather than the easy, natural, laughing one she’d just worn. “Yeah, no problem! I mean, I can just – I’m supposed to have dinner with my moms, so, I’ll just head out. I didn’t realize you had plans.”

“I don’t,” Rose informed her, far too quickly. Whatever. “She accidentally left her jacket in my car the other night; she’s just picking it up.”

Abbie lifted her eyebrows down at her, the expression on her face making Rose’s stomach squirm in a way she did not appreciate. Like Abbie knew something Rose didn’t.

“She accidentally left her jacket in your car?” Abbie’s hands fell to her hips.

“Yes…?” Rose bit back, folding her arms over her chest, defensively. “Whatever you have to say, just say it, Lemon.”

Abbie was clearly exasperated as she tipped her head back and let out a quiet, groaning laugh. “That is the oldest story in the book. Come on.”

She narrowed her eyes, working her jaw back and forth. So that was what Abbie thought she was missing. “If she wanted to see me again for a date, she could just text me about it.”

“But then it wouldn’t look all unintentional and adorably innocent,” Abbie shot back, as if she was saying the most obvious thing in the world. “It’s, like, dating one-oh-one.”

Rose eyed Abbie, her stomach churning again for an entirely new reason. “Oh, really? And how often have you ever done that?”

Because she hated how much she could picture it. Abbie being all big-blue-eyes and enchantingly guileless smiles and who wouldn’t fall for that? Who wouldn’t be charmed right into falling for her?

“I haven’t.” Abbie put her hand over her chest. “But, obviously, it’s a part of someone’s playbook.” She not-so-subtly looked over at Jennifer.

Reminding Rose that she was there, observing them.

Abbie took in a long, deep breath. “Well… I guess I’ll take my leave. Text me when you get home safe.”

If someone else wanted Rose to check in with her like that – barring Nathan, given their whole history and sharing a child – she wouldn’t particularly care for it, even if the sentiment was caring. But from Abbie, it evoked those swooping, warm feelings.

She nodded in agreement and, unfortunately, couldn’t allow herself to watch Abbie go to her car. Not while Jennifer was right there, and she’d already kept her waiting.

“I hope you haven’t been here too long,” she said, by way of apology.

“Not really. I pulled up just a few minutes before you walked out,” Jennifer answered, with an easy grin.

Rose flicked her eyes over to where Abbie was now situated in her car. But she hadn’t driven away yet, and was looking out the window over at them. Such a cute, nosy, hot-ass goalie.

As soon as they locked eyes, Abbie got that look on her face like she’d been caught. Then she waved.

Rose returned it – so did Jennifer.

And then, Abbie started to drive, slowly, out of the lot.

With that, she unlocked her car and reached in to grab the thin jacket that she’d folded upon finding it yesterday, before turning back to Jennifer.

“You didn’t do this as some sort of excuse to see me again. Right?” She asked, cutting straight to the point.

Jennifer accepted the jacket, clearly amused. “If I’d done that, I wouldn’t be picking it up from you in a drive-by at your school. It’s only a good excuse if it works to get another date or… more.”

“That’s what I thought,” she muttered, victoriously.

She couldn’t wait to text Abbie and let her know.

“And… you’re still sticking with the line of “there’s nothing going on between you two”?” Jennifer quoted Rose’s words back from their date.

“I…” She trailed off, eyebrows furrowing. “Yes.”

But she couldn’t help but wonder – was there nothing going on between her and Abbie?

It was incredibly difficult to figure out, really, because Rose’s own feelings for Abbie colored everything; she was conscientious enough to understand that.

She shouldn’t – couldn’t – dare let herself believe otherwise, not unless there was a clear and direct reason – something more concrete than attraction – or else she’d drive herself crazy.

And she was already crazy enough over Abbie Parker.

***

Thursday

Her lunch today didn’t hit quite the same as it usually did.

First, because she’d made it herself, given that she and Abbie weren’t able to have lunch together.

But mostly because she was looking down at her phone as she finished up her solitary lunch hour, clearing messages on her dating apps, only to land on Abbie’s fucking dating profile.

There was no denying it, even if the name didn’t reflect Abbie right back at her.

Those pictures – Abbie.

She liked soccer, dessert (baking it), dessert (eating it), mystery/thriller novels, cooking competition shows, and all holiday celebrations.

Yes, that was Abbie in a nut shell.

And now she was on the apps.

Abbie dating was a part of the reality of being her friend; logically, Rose knew that.

But to have it right in her face like this?

As if on cue, Abbie walked into her office without even a knock. As she’d taken to doing in the last month. Like she owned the place.

Well, Rose did, and she liked that Abbie didn’t knock.

But in this moment, she did not. She put her phone face-down with a little too much force as Abbie strolled in all easy and casual. Like she had nothing to hide.

Fine, she didn’t, but – hadn’t Abbie been all upset that Rose hadn’t shared the update of herself being on dating apps? Only to turn around and not tell Rose?!

“Hey! I know lunch break is almost over, but I figured you’d still have a few minutes.”

“Mhmm,” Rose hummed back, tightly, angling Abbie a look. “I thought you had a meeting with Elin?”

“I did.” Abbie waved her hand over her shoulder. “It was actually pretty interesting; we talked about softball season and some ideas she has for the team.”

Maybe Abbie would date her; Rose was pretttty sure Elin was queer and single. Obviously athletic. Would obviously fall over herself for Abbie. And Abbie was not only single, but clearly looking.

Rose cleared her throat. “I have to get ready for the afternoon. Is there something on your mind?”

This was something she had to get used to. She really, really did not want to jeopardize this relationship she’d been building with Abbie, not for any reason. So, the idea of Abbie with another woman had always made Rose feel feral; it was what it was.

But she was no longer a teenager, unable to process her feelings.

She was an adult… working on being able to process.

Abbie smiled at her, though, and it was enough to cut through the jagged feelings inside of Rose. God, that fucking smile.

“Sorry, I’ll make it quick.” Abbie brought the small cooler she had in her hands – the one she always brought their lunches in – over to the desk.

Rose eyed it. “I’m not sure you have the time to eat lunch, at this point.”

Abbie gave her a mock-gasp. “No, really?!”

Rose rolled her eyes back, even as she felt her lips tick into a small smile.

“I had lunch with Elin. But I wanted to bring you these.” With that, Abbie tugged a small bag out of the cooler and presented it to Rose.

She took it, reflexively. “What is it?”

She’d already asked the question before she took a closer look, and the realization was already dawning before Abbie answered, “Chocolate-covered bananas. Frozen. I made them last night. I mean, I knew we wouldn’t be able to have lunch together, but I wanted to give you a little pick me up, and I remembered that you liked them in high school.”

Something settled inside of Rose, warm and thick and heavy, and she flattened the bag over her desk, resting her hand over it.

Abbie’s sweetness was really going to be the end of her.

After a moment of Rose not speaking, Abbie reached up and scratched at the back of her head, seeming unsure. Which was fascinating because Abbie was fidgeting? Since when did Abbie fidget like that?

Finally, Abbie cleared her throat. “I mean, if you don’t want them–”

“I want them,” she cut in, pulling herself out of focusing on Abbie’s fidgeting and back into reality, placing her hand over the bananas.

Abbie had – for no particular reason – gone out of her way to make Rose one of her favorite sweets. Something she’d recalled from over a decade ago.

Yes, she wanted them.

“Okay. Great. Awesome.” Abbie’s face brightened into the sunniest, most breathtaking grin, and it was all Rose could do to stare up at her like she was looking into the sun.

She hoped so fucking much that when Abbie started dating someone else that she didn’t miss out on these moments. The thought was like a punch to the stomach.

Abbie tapped out a little rhythm against her thighs – weird, again – as she simply… stood there. Looking at Rose and smiling in a way that wasn’t totally abnormal but wasn’t really normal, either.

Even as her stomach fluttered, Rose slowly arched a sharp look at Abbie. “Is there something else…?”

Abbie blinked several times, as if snapping back into reality? “Like, um… like what, exactly?”

Rose narrowed her eyes, unsure if she was more suspicious, or amused, or concerned. “Like, anything? I mean, we both have meetings imminently, and you’re still in my office?”

 Her cheeks flushed and she darted her eyes, looking around, before finally glancing at her wrist. Though she was wearing her watch, the face of it didn’t even light up, Rose noticed, in the split-second that Abbie looked at it. “Right! Look at that. I should get back.”

“I wasn’t kicking you out, for the record,” she said, choosing to be amused more than anything.

Abbie hadn’t turned to walk out the door in a normal way. Instead, she’d started taking slow steps diagonally backwards. She held up her hands, quickly. “Oh, yeah, for sure. I get it. I mean, we both have work. Real, adult work jobs.”

She brought both of her hands up in front of her, mimicking typing on a keyboard.

So incredible bizarre, and she couldn’t decide if she was going to laugh or if she needed to send Abbie to the nurse.

And then the back of Abbie’s knees hit the table behind her, making her stumble, flailing her arms out.

Rose hopped up from her chair, the scoffing laughter dying in her throat as she hurried around her desk to reach Abbie in the event that she toppled over.

She didn’t, thankfully. She let out a yelp and managed to bend backwards far enough to land her hand on the table she’d knocked into, bracing herself. Which… Rose needed to not get caught up in.

Maybe later, when she wasn’t so alarmed.

She still reached Abbie’s side, studying her closely. “Are you all right?”

Abbie blinked at her, an embarrassed half-smile quirking at her lips. “What? Yeah, I’m fine. Just… you know, should have been looking where I was going. Oops.”

Rose remained unconvinced that Abbie was “fine” even after she’d left her office.

The flowers and the bananas and the fidgeting – which, when she was really thinking about it, Abbie had been doing a little more in the last few days, in general?

And it didn’t sit well with her, not at all.

Something was clearly going on. Knowing her own luck, Abbie was going over-the-top on sweet little things to break some bad luck to her imminently. Autumn soccer was ending in six weeks; maybe Abbie was gearing up to tell her that she was finishing out the season and then going back to her real life.

The one not in the Boston suburbs at a high school, living with her mothers, spending all of her time with her past bully, who was a single mother that needed to adhere to a child’s schedule.

Jesus fucking Christ. Rose felt like a stone had hit home, landing heavily in the pit of her stomach. If that wasn’t it, there must be something, right?

And what right did Rose have to “demand” answers to something she didn’t even know the scope of, when she’d made a point of keeping her own affairs – in dating, at least – from Abbie?

She whipped around to face the door when there was a light knock, ripping her from her awake nightmare. She had to roughly clear her throat, “Yes?”

Even though Abbie no longer knocked on her door, she wanted – badly – for it to be her, For Abbie to walk in and explain everything going on in her mind.

Disappointingly, it was Heidi who popped in. “Hey, just wanted to give you a quick heads-up – Jeff sent a last-minute memo about your meeting; it’s now going to be in Conference Room A.”

Which meant Rose needed to get herself together and leave to make it on time essentially now. Great.

Blowing out a long, deep breath, she managed a tight smile. “Thank you, Heidi.”

Heidi nodded at her, before disappearing from view.

All right. The blast into reality was good; Rose was good at making decisions. She wasn’t so good at being patient.

But she’d give Abbie through the remainder of the weekend – they had their game tomorrow, and Rose didn’t want to put any bad vibes out around the team, as they were all looking to build on their win from last week – and then Cassie’s birthday was Saturday, before she, Nathan, and Cassie were going to do a whole birthday extravaganza family day on Sunday.

If Abbie hadn’t returned to normal or come clean about whatever was bothering her by Monday, Rose was going to figure out why.

Shit, wait. No. Abbie had put in for PTO for the first few days next week, because there was a big soccer game that the USWNT would be playing in Florida on Monday, and she was going to see her teammates.

Maybe that was what this was about?

Regardless – the timer had started on Rose digging in, whether or not Abbie was aware of it.

***

Saturday

What Rose could have predicted for Cassie’s birthday party: a costume theme, given that her daughter’s birthday fell only days before Halloween, she loved a costume party. She’d have predicted that it would be held at Nathan’s house, because Cassie’s costume-birthday parties were typically at home.

What she couldn’t have predicted?

First, that she no longer lived in this home with Nathan.

Second, that Abbie would be here. In the house that she and Nathan used to share. In the kitchen, specifically, as she was baking cupcakes for the party.

Catastrophe had struck when one of the girls from Cassie’s soccer team had accidentally bumped into the leg of the table that her birthday cake was on… and had sent it tumbling to the ground.

Before Rose even had time to think about how to avert the disaster, though, Abbie had swept in, asking Nathan about what ingredients he had in the kitchen. Fortunately, he kept all of the staple items that Abbie, apparently, needed to make homemade cupcakes, claiming that they’d be done and ready for happy-birthday-singing in less than two hours.

Nathan turned to her from where they currently stood in the large archway looking into the living room. That had been totally transformed and setup as the ultimate kids’ party room.

“Those cupcakes smell amazing,” he said, sending a look over his shoulder down the small hallway that led to the kitchen. “And Abbie coming sweeping in, all I got this!” He nudged her with his shoulder. “She was a great get for you this year. I should sing her a song later; Cassie would love it.”

Rose groaned. “How about you don’t?”

Even though Cassie probably would love it; she adored when Nathan sang his made-up songs, typically to the tune of very well-known pop hits.

“And… I know she was a good get,” she murmured, sending her own stare down the hallway, as if she could see Abbie from her perch.

She couldn’t, but she wanted to. She wanted to lay eyes on Abbie, just to look at her.

She’d wanted to hang out with Abbie in the kitchen and keep her company while she’d saved Rose’s daughter’s party from disaster.

But there was the rub: this was her daughter’s birthday.

Abbie had showed up with far too many presents. She had been wearing her Olympic jersey as her “costume” because Cassie had asked her to earlier this week at practice. She had saved Nathan and Rose’s asses.

There wasn’t much else Abbie could have done today to really hit Rose over the head with the fact that the feelings she’d harbored for Abbie years ago were alive and well. Thriving. Today more than usual, which said something.

Rose needed to keep herself focused on Cassie, though. Today was her daughter’s day. It was Cassie’s weekend, as a matter of fact. Today was her literal birthday, as well as her party. Even after the party had ended, she’d be staying here late, because Cassie had requested that they have a “family movie night” tonight, before they went out tomorrow to the aquarium. And she was so incredibly thrilled she could do this, could still have a good relationship with Nathan, so they could do things as a family.

Only…

She studied Cassie for a few moments, noting that her daughter was having an incredible time. They were all playing in the indoor fort Nathan had constructed, and she could distinctly hear Cassie’s laughter.

With that, she cleared her throat. “I’m going to check on the status of the cupcakes.”

Nathan gave her a double-thumbs up.

She paused for a moment when she reached the kitchen, taking a beat to just… look at Abbie.

It was so strange, her worlds colliding like this. Having Abbie be here, in the home she’d shared with Nathan.

Abbie’s hair was half-up, half-down, and she had a little bit of flour on her cheek, as she wore a gorgeous small, victorious smile on her lips. She’d just put down a bowl on the counter after having mixed something in it.

And Rose then watched, transfixed, as Abbie reached for a small spatula and swiped it through the frosting she’d just made, and then flicked her tongue out to taste.

Everything inside of her thrummed with heat when Abbie’s eyes fluttered closed and she let out a throaty hum. Her daughter’s birthday party or not, she couldn’t control her reaction to that.

Despite the fact that she actually would, on a primal level, enjoy continuing to be a voyeur right now, she also knew that she couldn’t.

She cleared her throat, and Abbie startled, spinning around quickly. A smile flashed across her face. “Rose! I, um, assumed you’d be enjoying the party.”

“While I deeply love my daughter, you can imagine that I don’t necessarily enjoy being surrounded by the loud, squealing gaggle of children I did not raise,” she wryly shot back, keeping her voice down.

Just because it was the truth didn’t mean she needed any of the other parents to overhear it if they’d ventured down this way.

A chuckle left Abbie’s lips. “Yeah, I can imagine that pretty easily.”

Her own lips ticked into a smile. “I wanted to say thank you, again. For you coming today, which made Cassie’s day–”

Abbie’s eyebrows furrowed, so seriously. “I wouldn’t miss her birthday, that’s crazy. Why would I miss the birthday of my co-coach?”

Rose rolled her eyes. “Gee, I don’t know? Maybe because you’re leaving tonight to fly down to Florida to see your Olympic winning teammates?”

“Yeah, and my flight doesn’t leave for a few hours. Besides,” Abbie let out a pfft sound. “I have time for everyone that’s important to me.”

And if that didn’t just make Rose’s stomach flutter. Damn Abbie for it.

Shaking her head, she sidled over, and changed the subject, looking down at the frosting. “So, you made this from scratch?”

“It’s pretty simple, honestly. Only a few ingredients.”

Rose didn’t doubt her, but she also wouldn’t know. She’d learned the basics of cooking because… well, she needed to be a functional adult. But it had been a learning curve for both herself and Nathan in their earlier twenties, after having spent their adolescence living at Elliston, then moving to college. And while she didn’t hate cooking, she also didn’t take pleasure in it.

So the fact that Abbie did was fascinating to her, and so impressive.

“And…” Abbie turned to open the oven and pulled out two full trays of chocolate cupcakes that were apparently done, depositing them onto the stovetop, before she bent down again to pull out the tray of vanilla cupcakes.

In an effort to not stare at Abbie’s ass as she bent over, she reached for the spatula Abbie had used and swept it through the frosting to try for herself. As she tried it, all she could hear was Abbie’s low moan in her mind.

She let out her own quiet, approving moan because, yeah, wow, that was –

Abbie inhaled sharply, before she swore, “Fuck. Ow.”

She snapped her attention to Abbie, who quickly placed the vanilla cupcake tray onto the stovetop to cool, before she slid her hand out of the oven mitt, and grasped at her wrist.

“Did you burn yourself?” She asked, concern sluicing through her as she dropped the spatula and closed the distance between them, reaching for Abbie’s arm.

She was careful to avoid the skin of her inner wrist, where Abbie’s attention was focused, taking her by the elbow and leading her to the sink.

“It’s fine,” Abbie insisted, her voice tight. “I’m fine. Just – it’s barely there.”

Rose shot her a glare, as she ran the water lukewarm and gently slid her hand down, still avoiding the burn, to grasp at Abbie’s hand and tug her wrist under the water.

Fine, it didn’t seem serious, that was true. But it was there; over an inch of her soft, pale skin was already pink from the burn.

And she didn’t like it, at all.

Normally, the only person she cared so deeply about when hurt – if it was so minor – was Cassie. But she was definitely fucking fretting right now. “Don’t move. Keep it under the water.”

Very lightly, she coaxed Abbie’s hand open and cupped it in both of hers, massaging her thumbs against her palm.

After a few seconds of close observation in which she determined Abbie was fine, and she needed to not be a lunatic about this, she glanced up.

Only to feel her stomach flip-flop at how closely Abbie was staring back at her. So… focused.

“What is it?” She asked, her voice slightly hoarse. But for all she knew, Abbie was biding her time to tell her that she’d also burned another part of her body.

“Nothing,” Abbie murmured, finally looking away, down at her wrist. “I’m… it’s fine.”

Rose huffed out a breath, suddenly agitated. Not necessarily with Abbie, but in general.

“You aren’t usually accident prone,” she pointed out, narrowing her eyes in thought as she absently continued to massage her thumbs into Abbie’s palm. Feeling the softness and the callouses there from all of her years of being so active.

She was standing close enough to Abbie that she could feel her slightly tense.

“Um. Sometimes. I can be,” she hedged.

Which only made Rose dig her heels in even more.

She looked back at Abbie, searching. And she attempted – for a second – to hold herself back, but frankly, that held no appeal to her.

“What is going on with you?” She asked, exasperated. Just needing to know the answer.

Abbie reeled back, a quiet laugh that Rose could only describe as nervous escaping her. “What do you even mean by that? I’ve been–”

“If you say fine, I’m going to turn the water to hot,” she threatened.

“No, you aren’t.”

“No, I’m not,” she grit out in agreement, rolling her eyes. “I’m using an empty threat to let you know that I’m being fucking serious, Lemon. I was going to wait to bring it up, see if you would open up in the name of female friendship or whatever. But, you haven’t. So, I’m done waiting.”

Abbie’s sweet, soft lips opened on a long, deep exhale, and her cheeks turned a little pink, but she still wasn’t forthcoming.

So, Rose pushed her case.

“You not only burned yourself, but you walked into the furniture in my office the other day. You’ve been just – off in almost every conversation. Not in a bad way, but in a noticeable way. Then there were the flowers for no reason. The bananas for no reason–”

“I could do those things on any given day,” Abbie cut in, in her own defense, but they could both hear that it was weak. “I’m being nice. Because I like you.”

“Mhmm, and if you did one of those things, or even two – I wouldn’t think twice about it. But it’s been constant, for the last…” She quickly ran through the days once again in her mind, landing back on the first weird interaction.

When she’d returned home from her date with Jennifer, and Abbie had been so fucking weird, leaning against the doorway, waiting for her. And not in a playful, teasing way, which she might expect from her.

“Ever since my date last weekend,” she settled on, narrowing her eyes at Abbie. Watching for every possible micro-response.

Which wasn’t difficult, because Abbie wore her feelings so openly.

Abbie’s breath caught, her hand flexing in Rose’s, at the mention of last weekend.

There it was.

“Do you have some sort of problem with me dating?” She asked, thinking about Abbie’s response to Jennifer in the parking lot. Yeah, it all aligned.

“My opinion doesn’t matter when it comes to you dating,” Abbie answered, immediately. Maybe too quickly, and Abbie winced as she spoke.

Her breath caught and held in her throat as her heart skipped a beat, because she could only imagine that meaning one very particular thing.

“No, it doesn’t,” Rose agreed, doing everything she could to stop herself from settling on a conclusion. “But I’m asking you. How did my dating make you feel?”

All Rose was aware of in this moment was Abbie. Was them. It didn’t matter what day it was, where they were – there was nothing else that existed right now.

Abbie was breathing a little harder, a little faster, and Rose’s grip tightened on Abbie’s hand.

Abbie’s other, non-injured, hand came up to rub at her forehead. “It’s… complicated? And I swear, I’m not trying to – to be, like, coy or something–”

“I’m not sure you could be,” Rose couldn’t help but cut in, her eyes glued to Abbie’s face.

And those beautiful blue eyes narrowed at her. “Okay, well, thanks.”

Rose waved that away. Abbie should know that Rose only meant positive things about her when she said things like that. Back in the day, Abbie had always taken those comments negatively, but now, she knew. She knew Rose.

“Abbie. What are you saying? Please, be as blunt and honest as possible.”

Because so much had happened between them that existed in the muddled, blurry area. Which Rose knew was her own doing in the past. But… but she needed to hear it from Abbie.

She would give anything, actually, to hear Abbie say what she believed she was going to say.

“Because it sounds like you’re telling me that you’re interested in me. Romantically. As in, more than friendship. More than attraction.”

Fuck, Rose was lightheaded at the idea.

She didn’t know that she’d ever felt this way. This… this giddy. Was this giddiness? She felt breathless and nervous, all jumbled up inside, and –

“I… am,” Abbie breathed out, those blue eyes staring into Rose’s own, and she felt so caught in them, she wasn’t sure she’d ever look away.

Had she just heard what she thought she’d heard? Was this real?

Because if Rose was honest with herself, she’d imagined this so many times throughout her life. She’d never let herself get too swept up in the fantasy of it, even when she’d been a teenager, because it was too painful having to come back down to earth.

She brought Abbie’s hand to her chest, and she knew Abbie could feel how hard it was pounding, because Rose had never been so aware of it, either.

“Abbie…” She didn’t know where she was going when she’d started talking, but saying Abbie’s name was enough for her. This was Abbie.

And it was Abbie whose breath was also coming faster and faster. Abbie who bit at her bottom lip and tore her eyes from Rose’s to look down at their intertwined hands, still pressed against Rose’s chest.

“But, you aren’t divorced yet.”

Before she could even try to process through the whiplash of everything happening, the thunder of footsteps came rushing into the kitchen.

“Abbie! Abbie, are the cupcakes done?!” Cassie’s voice broke into the room between them.

Abbie gently slid her hand from Rose’s grasp, clearing her throat as she turned to face Cassie. “They just came out of the oven. Do you want to see?”

She knew it wasn’t her imagination that Abbie’s voice was a little lower, rougher, than usual.

Abbie had feelings for her. She wanted Rose in a way that went deeper than friendship, deeper than attraction.

And, fine, there might be some minor complications, such as her pending divorce.

But Rose was confident they could figure that out. After all – she’d wanted nearly her entire life for this to be a possibility for her. Now that it was on the table, Rose wasn’t going to let it – the possibility of being with Abbie – slip through her fingers.

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