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He raises his hand to knock on her door, but it opens before he can make contact. Jorge must have called to tell her he was on his way up.
“Why are you here, Elliot?” They’ve been dancing around their feelings for months now. 25 years, really, but most recently for about a year - since she went to New Jersey with him to pick up Eli, and they held hands in the car.
They had an argument earlier when he stormed into her office talking about how she hadn’t texted him in three days. They’d both raised their voices - in her office of all places, with most of her squad just on the other side of the door.
“Because I’m sorry. And like I’ve told you before, I’m not running away from you again. If you want me to go, I’ll go, but I think we should talk it out.” He’s looking her in the eye, and she can tell he’s serious about wanting to talk.
She doesn’t say anything, just takes a step back and holds the door open for him. “Want something to drink? I’ve got water? Lemonade? Wine?”
“Water’s good.” She grabs a couple of glasses from the cabinet and fills them with the pitcher she keeps in the fridge. She hands him a glass, and he follows her to the living room, each of them sitting on opposite ends of her couch.
“Noah’s having a sleepover at Fin and Phoebe’s, so we don’t have to worry about him overhearing our conversation.” He nods, and she waits for him to start the conversation.
He rubs his hand over the top of his head. “I guess I just want to start by saying again that I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have barged into your office like that. I was just…I don’t know, afraid that you were pulling away when I hadn’t heard from you for a few days.”
“I appreciate that, Elliot, but you know how this job gets. I will try to do better at responding at least to let you know that I’m okay. I’m not - I don’t want to pull away from this -” she gestures between the two of them “friendship or whatever it is we’ve got.” She offers him a smile.
“Good.” His smile lights up his face, and the candle she lit earlier is flickering in his eyes. He slides his hand into the empty cushion between them, and she hesitates for only a second or two before placing hers on top. “So, can we talk about this ‘whatever it is’?” He flips his hand and weaves their fingers together.
She closes her eyes and takes a calming breath. “El, I just. I’m afraid, and you know how much I hate admitting that.” She turns to look him in the eye. Almost whispering and with tear-filled eyes, she continues. “It’s yours if you want it. Don’t you get that? All you have to do is ask, and I’ll hand over my heart. And that terrifies me.”
The vulnerability in her words throws him for a moment. Then, he scoots a little closer, keeping their hands connected. “It doesn’t have to, Liv. Like I said earlier. I promise that I’m not leaving you again. I don’t think either of us would survive it. I know I wouldn’t. Do you trust me?”
“With my life.” There wasn’t a moment of hesitation, because she absolutely does trust him with her life. “It’s my heart I’m concerned about.” As she says it, she scoots a little closer and leans into his side.
He releases her hand to wrap his arm around her shoulders. “Liv, I can’t promise that we won’t argue. We wouldn’t be us if we didn’t disagree on occasion.” He feels her chuckle against his side, and she rests her head against his shoulder.. “But I promise you, I will never intentionally do anything to hurt you. I know it will take time for me to prove that to you, but I’d like to have a chance. So, what do you say, Partner? Can I take you out on Saturday?”
She lifts her head and turns to look him in the eye. She studies his face, and he begins to wonder if he went too far. But then, a smile spreads across her face, and she’s nodding. “Yeah, El. I think that would be nice.” From this distance, it would be easy to lean in and kiss him, she thinks. And then she does, and she is. And it’s soft, and gentle, and exactly like she thought their first kiss would be. Perfect.