I'm not running away. I'm just getting ready to jump towards you

Christen was sure of three things: one, Tobin was thinking about her. Two, Tobin tried to find her. And, three, she had to hurry up with the preparations for Alice's birthday party. All this time spent thinking about Tobin, was making Christen forget details that before, wouldn't be forgotten. The “to-do” list seemed to grow longer as the time before the party continued to shrink. 

She walked through the busy streets, rushing to get to work and hoping to keep her coffee from spilling. Christen thought about all the work she had to do the next day, replaying in her mind the list of things she still had to get. It seemed that someone had called her while she was lost in her thoughts. The voice was deep and attractive, like Tobin's voice. She guessed she must be dreaming. The street was too noisy to hear with clarity, the sound of car’s horning, waiting impatiently for the traffic to be gone.

She went back to her thoughts but now she was sure that someone was, in fact, calling her name. Deciding it was the polite thing to do, Christen stopped where she was and turned to face the person calling her. She was surprised to see Tobin running in her direction.

"Chris" Tobin was slightly out of breath when she stopped in front of her Christen’s heart immediately shot up into her throat and started racing. She didn't need this right now. She just needed a moment without thinking about Tobin to sort out the party she had promised to her daughter.

“Hey"

"Hi," Tobin said shyly, almost breathless, stopping next to the dark-haired woman.

"Don't you usually drive the kids?" Christen asked as the two started walking down the busy street.

“I walked them to school today” A few seconds of awkward silence passed between the two as Christen’s eyes settled on the sidewalk, trying to focus anywhere but on Tobin, but the brunette took her hand, catching her by surprise. 

“I’m sorry,” Tobin said quietly. “About yesterday, I was out of line”

"Stop. You don't have to apologize for anything" Christen assured her.

“I just don't want it to get awkward between us," Tobin said sincerely. “And I shouldn't have spilled all that information like it didn't matter the time or place where I did it"

Christen softened, wanting to keep the conversation light. “I think we both did well in the sharing department”

“I just don't want it to get awkward between us," Tobin repeated with more emphasis this time, squeezing Christen’s hand softly. “I want to talk to you about everything that happened and get to know you. And we work together and I don't want anything to be even more awkward" Tobin finished then, mostly in a mumble, her hand still on hers.

“Want to know what is awkward?” Christen asked as Tobin swallowed dryly. "The amount of “awkwards” you said in the same sentence. And just standing in the middle of this sidewalk." Tobin’s shoulders relaxed upon hearing the soft chuckle that left Christen’s lips. "Can you imagine how dangerous it is for me to have this hot coffee in my hand while half of New York is passing by us?” The dark-haired woman said in a teasing tone.

Tobin smiled. "Yeah, let's move" 

Tobin couldn't decide between the dozens of samples the design team had sent. Between deadlines, decisions to be made and a thousand thoughts about Christen running through her head, she was getting more and more stressed.

"Hello," Allie said with excitement, placing a cup of coffee on Tobin's desk and sitting down in the chair right in front of her.

"Hi...and thank you, I suppose" The brunette lifted her eyes from the papers and samples, looking with surprise at the cup of coffee with her name written on it. "To what do I owe such a pleasant surprise?" Tobin said as she took the first sip of her coffee.

"What is your opinion about co-workers walking hand in hand on the street?"

"Allie, you know that I am not the right person to gossip with"

"Can you just answer my question?" Allie asked with a quizzical look.

"If you're talking about Crystal and Pierre, I think it's pretty normal," Tobin said nonchalantly. Allie looked at Tobin with squinted eyes and crossed her arms. "What? Bati doesn’t hold your hand? Do you want me to hold your hand in the street?" Tobin asked jokingly.

"Let 's think about a second scenario then," The blonde said, straightening in her seat.

"Imagine you see two co-workers holding hands on the street, but they have only known each other for a short while, so it is odd how close they are. What would you think was going on?" Allie wondered.

"I'm not following" Tobin raised her eyebrows, intrigued.

"Come on, tell me what would you think was going on?" Allie asked impatiently.

Tobin pondered for a few seconds, being sure the question was not innocent. "That they are probably getting to know each other...I don't know"

"Hmmm" Allie looked over at Tobin with a suspicious look.

"Ok fine, I’ll bite. Who did you see holding hands?" Tobin asked, directing her attention back to the samples.

"When were you going to tell me about you and Christen?" Allie asked, placing her elbows on Tobin's desk and resting her head on top of her hands, her entire focus being on Tobin.

The brunette choked on the sip of coffee she’d just taken at the mention of Christen’s name. “Tell you what?”

"I saw you together this morning" 

"Yes, we left the kids at school and walked back to the office together” Tobin replied slightly defensively. "You know our kids are in the same class" 

"You were holding hands!” The blonde said then, matter-of-factly. “Don't play with me... I know something is up"

“Nothing is up between us,” Tobin retorted, her defenses going up. “I don't know what you saw Allie, but you saw wrong” 

"Ok, I'll ask Christen then" Allie got up from the seat and made her way to the door. In any other situation, this might have seemed like an empty threat, but Tobin knew that Allie was quite capable of heading to Christen's office and asking what she wanted to know.

"Stop, please," The brunette said almost defeatedly, making Allie stop in her tracks and sit again."There is nothing between me and Christen, I swear" Tobin could see that Allie was not fully convinced. She could make up a million things right there on the spot, create a story behind what Allie saw, but the truth was that she needed to talk about this with someone, and over the years, Allie had been the friend she always leaned on. It was going to be awkward to share the whole story, mostly because they work together, but the truth was the blonde had already realized that something was going on, even before she saw them that morning.

"But it is possible that I have feelings for Christen," Tobin finally admitted.

“Yes, I already knew that,” The blonde said, the corner of her mouth lifting in a smile. “You're not the most discreet person in the world, you know?” Tobin dropped her eyes to her lap shyly now. "But I know something is up. I know you" 

Tobin didn't know how to dodge the subject any further.

"The first day Christen was here and I walked into her office and you were there, the atmosphere was weird, so don't you dare try to tell me nothing is going on because I don't believe it”. Allie said firmly. "With anyone else, I would be asking all these questions to get some gossip. But with you, it’s different. I'm pushing it because I want to be there for you"


The sincerity in Allie’s voice gave Tobin a little more confidence and helped settle her nerves for a moment. Tobin took another breath to calm herself down. "Do you remember me telling you about the girl I met a few years ago, days before Alex left for Europe?"

Allie didn't answer right away, racking her brain for a few seconds, trying to remember what she was referring to and suddenly. "Yes, I remember. The girl you kissed at the Central Station” Tobin nodded, confirming what Allie had said. And then the reality flashed on the blonde’s head. ”No way. Is it Christen?" Allie asked, shooting upright in the chair in complete shock.

"Yes, that was Christen," Tobin said, barely able to contain her smile. 

"Oh my god, oh my god...I'm watching a fairy tale unfold right in front of me" The blonde said a bit too excitedly.

"Please calm down. I told you...nothing is happening between us and I wasn't lying" Tobin said firmly, then telling Allie some details of what had happened over the past days: how it had been when they met again, how Allie had shown up at that moment.

"And that's it. There's really nothing else going on, but I just can't stop thinking about her.” Tobin admitted, pausing for a moment. “She's here now," The brunette said almost dreamily, feeling the butterflies in her stomach.

"Look at you," Allie beamed right back at her.

"Okay, but I have to calm down and think straight”

"Not too straight tough," Allie said jokingly, making both of them laugh.

"And I know I don't have to tell you this, but please keep all of this to yourself”

"No worries. I'll just be praying that everything goes the way you want it to" Allie said. " And don't forget, I'm here for you"

"Good, thank you" Tobin said leaning back in her chair with a giant grin. "Now let's get back to work. I have to decide which one of these samples is my favorite and I can't spend all day thinking about my still non-existent love life".

"Okay, I'll leave you now, since all the questions I have for now were answered.” Allie got up from the seat, taking one last glance at the samples spread out on the desk. "Greens work best...like Christen's eyes" Allie teased, sending a wink right at Tobin and heading to the door. 

And stopping at the entrance, she added with a soft smile "And Tobin, she is great, you deserve it"

Welcoming people into the house or throwing a party were always moments that made Christen anxious, but for now, what was stressing her the most was the fact that Tobin hadn't arrived yet. Crystal and Julie were the first to arrive, loaded with a bag full of cookies and a huge stuffed dog, which Christen didn't know where to keep it in her tiny house. Ali, her wife Ashlyn and their two children arrived shortly after, who quickly joined Alice in the bedroom, while the adults introduced themselves and indulged in safe small talk.

Christen was rushing around getting everything together, checking food, confirming for the thousandth time that there were enough glasses for everyone and burying her mind into as many tasks as possible, trying to distract herself from the nerves she was feeling. She watched how her friends get along so perfectly, talking and laughing as if they’d known each other for a long time. The moment flooded her heart with happiness she hadn’t felt in a long time. A particular feeling of being found again, after so many years. The complete opposite of the life she'd left in Salt Lake City. Her thoughts were interrupted by Ashlyn's voice: 

"Chris, guess who's having the most epic engagement party at my bar?" Ashlyn asked excitedly as Crystal danced around pointing at herself.

"Really? How did you manage to convince her in five minutes?" Christen asked jokingly.

"Don't underestimate my business skills" Ashlyn shot back.

"Open Bar. That's all it took. As soon as Ashlyn said it, Crystal was convinced”. Julie joked, bumping her shoulder with Crystal’s.

Ali got up from the couch and joined Christen in the kitchen, who was pouring orange juice in the colored cups.

"Do you need help?" Ali asked, placing her hands on the counter. 

"No, is all set" Christen smiled, trying not to sound nervous.

"You're nervous" Ali pointed out to her matter-of-factly.

"I know," Christen sighed and blushed a little, chewing on her bottom lip for a second.

"Don't be” Ali said with a smile, reaching out and taking her hand.

Their moment was interrupted by the sound of the doorbell before Alie had time to say anything else to soothe her friend. For a moment, Christen looked at her friend, trying to find something that just helped to boost her confidence.

"Mom, that must be River and Chloe," Alice said excitedly, sprinting across the room, followed by Sloane and Joshua. Ali held her kids by the shoulders to stop them from joining the commotion at the door. 

Christen opened the door and was greeted by three grinning faces. "Happy Birthday" The twins exclaimed enthusiastically, enveloping Alice in a hug.

"Hey, you" Tobin hummed, offering a shy smile to the woman in front of her.

"Hi, come in" Christen stepped out of the way and signaled for them to step into her house.

Christen's house was just as Tobin expected. The house was an open space that flowed from the entryway, through the living room and dining room, into the kitchen. She could tell the instant she stepped inside how homey and welcoming it felt. The house was immaculate, perfectly organized, imbued with a deep sense of Christen’s personality. And pretty charming, right from her first impression. 

"Happy Birthday" Tobin repeated, crouching down to put herself at eye level with the little girl.

"We made a present for you" Chloe said proudly, taking the small gift Tobin had hidden behind her back and handing it to Alice. "Open it open it open it"

"You didn't have to bring a present," Christen smiled softly.

"It's no big deal. We had fun making it" Tobin assured with a smile.

"River and I came up with the story and mom drew everything," Chloe said with genuine excitement in her voice.

"It's a story about dogs because we know you love dogs" River added.

Christen was amazed at the gesture of Heath's family. She could feel her knees starting to give out and her heart melting. Christen locked her front door, took Tobin’s purse for her, and hung it near the door before they made their way further into the house. The twins said hello to the adults and then made their way at all speed to Alice's room where all their fun was. 

"These two you already know” Julie and Crystal smiled in greeting, as Tobin stood right next to Christen waiting to be introduced to the woman who was approaching them. 

"This is Ali, my best friend from college and mother of the two little devils you saw running around" 

"Tobin. Nice to meet you" Tobin introduced herself, showing her best smile.

"And this is Ashlyn, Ali's wife and the other mom" Christen gestured at Ashlyn who had meanwhile stood up to say hello.

"Heath?" Ashlyn asked, unsure if she was seeing who she thought she was.

"Yes, Tobin Heath" Tobin replied kindly not realizing the tone of Ashlyn's question and offering her a hand to greet her.

"Tobin Freaking Heath" Ashlyn said enthusiastically, leaving everyone in the room unsure of the reason behind such enthusiasm. "It's me, Ashlyn Harris”

Now it was Ali’s turn to be confused. Whatever history they might have had, the truth was that everyone was really curious.

"Oh god, how did I not recognize you?" Tobin asked, shaking her head and hugging Ashlyn enthusiastically. "How are you?"

"Well, as you can see" Ashlyn grinned, pointing at Ali.

"I see" Tobin said, smiling at the couple.

"Ali, this is Tobin. She is one of my surf friends from that summer I spent with Pinoe before college"

"Tell us more about that summer, Ashlyn" Crystal said teasingly.

"Oh god. Better not. Lots of cringe memories" Tobin trailed off jokingly.

"Great stories, actually," Ashlyn added with a smile. "I'm going to prepare a few drinks to celebrate this reunion and, of course, my niece's birthday," Ashlyn said promptly, heading over to a shelf stacked with a few bottles of alcohol that Christen had in the room. Julie and Crystal whistled in celebration. 

"Should I be worried?" Christen asked rhetorically with a chuckle.

"Please don't juggle the bottles, babe" Ali warned kindly. "And don't overdo the amount of alcohol"

"Don't worry" Ashlyn said with a smile, kissing Ali on the lips on the way to the kitchen.

"Well, let's sit down while Ashlyn destroys my kitchen" Ali sat in the chair where Ashlyn was sitting before while Tobin and Christen sat on the L-shaped couch, at the opposite side of Julie and Crystal. Tobin propped her elbow onto the back of the couch, making sure that her arm was slightly behind the other woman but not quite touching her. The sudden closeness and Tobin’s arm resting on the couch were making Christen’s heart pound and her senses buzz.

The conversation flowed effortlessly between them while Ashlyn prepared their drinks. The blonde went around and poured everyone a glass and sat on the armchair where Ali was sitting.

"This tastes great" Tobin complimented, taking a small sip of her cocktail, humming softly at the taste while Christen winced at the strong taste.  "I'd say there's been a pretty good evolution since that summer, '' Tobin joked.

"It has improved quite a bit but let's just say when you are a teenager you just know how to mix vodka with anything, and anything it’s great" Ashlyn laughed.

"Yes, amen" Crystal hummed excitedly.

"I have a restaurant and bar in Tribeca so If I don't know how to do that, it would be a bad sign," Ashlyn added. 

"Tobin, and you get to know right away that my engagement party is going to be there. So save the date on your calendar and talk to Alex to stay with your kids that night" Crystal practically demanded, making Tobin laugh softly.

"Do you keep in touch with anyone from that summer?” The question got Tobin’s attention back on Ashlyn. "A few years ago Pinoe told me that she worked with you”

"Yes, I'm still doing some projects with her.” Tobin smiled as she took a sip of the cocktail before adding. “And I hang with Alex pretty often”

"Oh, the beautiful Alex, your huge crush. How long to get over it?" Christen felt a sour, bitter tightness in her throat at the mention of Alex and Tobin's love for her.

“A few years” Tobin chuckled nervously. “We actually dated.”

“Dated? Are you no longer dating?” Ashlyn asked curiously.

“No, we’re no longer together. I’m single but those are our kids”

“Really? Happy for both of you” Ashlyn looked over at Tobin with a kind smile.

“Thank you” Tobin smiled coyly, feeling somehow uncomfortable talking about Alex. 

"One thing I didn't know was that kid's parties had so many adults" Crystal stated with a flash of insight, breaking the brief second of silence that had fallen.

"It's the only way to deal with children" Christen stated and Tobin hummed in agreement as she took a sip from her cocktail.

"And after a certain age it's the only way you can meet single people," Ashlyn said, wiggling her eyebrows a little. "Just saying, Tobin and Christen," Ashlyn joked without realizing the impact of her words. The two women felt themselves blush quickly. Surely Ashlyn's joke would have been harmless if there were no feelings involved. Ali internally rolled her eyes at her wife's joke but felt some satisfaction watching that Christen was not the only one feeling the impact of these words. Julie and Crystal gave each other a look, entertained by how red Tobin was.

"So Christen, what is your preference?" Crystal asked smirking, amused by the whole scene.

"Really? Are we going to discuss my tastes?" Christen said jokingly.

"Christen doesn't want to admit it, but she can't resist a woman," Ashlyn teased.

"Babe" Ali scolded, slapping her wife’s shoulder.

"I've pretty much only properly kissed one woman in my life" Christen laughed in defense.

"So much you have missed in those years with Craig" Ashlyn pointed out in a teasing tone.

"If Craig had not existed, I would be dating Christen, you know that?" Ali teased with a wink.

"Even I kissed more women," Julie thought out loud. "What about you?" The blonde challenged Crystal.

"More than Christen, less than Tobin," Crystal said jokingly.

"What do you mean? You don't know how many I've kissed" Tobin exclaimed while pretending to be annoyed.

"You must have had your fair share.” Crystal shot back, sending a grin in Tobin’s direction. 

"Conclusion, we've all kissed more than Christen". Julie’s comment made the group let out a chuckle in unison.

"Let’s just say that the kiss was so memorable that I didn’t want to be kissed by any other woman” Christen spoke to the entire room but her gaze was fixed on the woman right next to her.

"Either that or she was a bad kisser" The brunette teased, knowing that Christen was probably talking about their kiss.

"Actually, no. It was the best kiss I ever had in my life" Christen said matter-of-factly, smirking in Tobin's direction. The brunette felt her heart warm up at the statement and a small wave of happiness (or hope) began to spread throughout her body.

"And is it true that children are chick magnets?" Crystal asked with a grin.

"They are. Women go crazy when they see you are good with kids" Ashlyn said promptly.

"Wow, so much knowledge about how to pick up a girl. Should I be worried?" Ali asked in a teasing tone, pushing Ashlyn with her shoulder causing her to be slightly off-balance.

"No, babe. I'm all yours.” Ashlyn assured her, leaning in for a quick kiss. “But I always like to give a few tips to my public” Ashlyn smirked devilishly, finally looking up at Tobin.

Christen took a mental picture of how happy Ali and Ashlyn always seemed, every time she got a glimpse of them together. Her moment of admiration was quickly interrupted as Chloe rushed through the room, yelling excitedly.

"Mommy mommy mommy" Chloe came running from Alice’s bedroom, jumping onto Tobin's lap, who only had time to swerve her drink to avoid spilling it on Christen's couch. "Can you tell them the story of the blue little bull, please please please please?" Tobin’s eyebrows slightly lifted as if considering the proposal. “Come on, I already told Sloane and Joshua and Alice that you are the best at telling this story, please" Chloe was rambling on, a mile a minute.

"Wow, you really raised the expectations.” The kid giggled, giving her mom a guilty smile. “Let’s go, I don't want to disappoint your friends"

"Thanks, mommy" Chloe energetically ran off from her lap heading towards Alice’s bedroom.

"That's what comes for being such a cool mom" Ashlyn said in a teasing voice. "Go on, while we stay here and finish our cocktails" 

Tobin sighed dramatically, staring at the last bit of cocktail in her cup before drinking it in one last gulp. "Don't worry, it's part of the plan." Tobin said with a smirk. "All arranged with my kids to melt the heart of the single ladies in the room”

Ashlyn laughed at the remark and Ali couldn’t help but smile at the slight blush on Christen’s face since she was the only single girl in the room.

"Christen, is Tobin's wooing working?" Crystal asked as Tobin left the room, looking at Christen with a devilish smile.

"You guys would totally be a power couple," Julie added in a sing-song voice, teaming up with Crystal.

“Oh god! Not you too, please” Christen said and rolled her eyes playfully, getting up from the couch and heading into the kitchen, trying to catch her breath fully again.

Her eyes went to the door behind which the children's laughter could be heard for miles around and a smile formed on her face. Tobin was great with kids, wonderful with Alice and Ashlyn was right: Christen was getting crazy with how good Tobin was with her kid.

Christen called everyone as she put the candles on the cake and lit them. The kids came running to the table, eager to eat the cake. They all started singing happy birthday to Alice. The dark-haired woman wished she could bottle up that moment and keep it forever. Everyone clapped their hands eagerly as Alice blew out the candles and made a wish. Life was beginning to fall into place again and the weight of the bad decisions she had been carrying for the last years was now finally fading away. 

There was not the tearing sense of regret that she once had felt. There were scars from the pain of her guilt, for the lost time. In her more thoughtful moments, she told herself that such love could never have been, anyway. Her life was far removed from anything that she could ever be. But now, however, she had a new life and a hopeful chance at love.

"Let's take a picture," Crystal suggested. "Happy moments should be captured"

Crystal and Julie sat between the kids on the couch, while Christen, Tobin, Ali and Ashlyn stood behind the couch. Christen was intensely aware of Tobin's presence next to her and she was positive she was going to stare at that photo for hours.

After eating all the cake and drinking another cocktail, everyone said goodbye to Crystal and Julie, giving them both a big hug. The children continued playing in the bedroom while the four adults laughed along easily as they all shared their stories from the past.

Tobin loved seeing this side of Christen, funny and carefree: the way her eyes crinkled when she laughed or how her face lit up when she told a story, the way she made eye contact and swung her arms around to add an extra flourish to everything. It was refreshing and was giving her butterflies - the good kind.

Ashlyn poked Ali in the ribs and they shared a knowing look. The chemistry between the other two women was palpable: their comfort level was striking, especially for two people who had just met a few weeks ago.

Ali’s phone started ringing and she reached for it and took it out of her handbag.

"Babe, we have to go. My brother is on his way to the restaurant" Ali informed.

"Ok, let's go. I'll get the kids" Ashlyn said as she got up from the couch. Tobin felt unsure of what to do. Should she and the kids leave too or try to stay a little longer with Christen?

Ashlyn was followed by the five kids, who were saddened to hear that their playtime was over. The kids hugged each other, waving goodbye with the promise of meeting again soon.

"Don't be a stranger. Come to my bar" Ashlyn hugged Tobin and then skipped over to Christen and hugged her too.

"It was nice to meet you" Ali then approached Tobin, offering her a hug as well. “We can't wait to see you around more often”

"I hope so too," Tobin smiled in acknowledgment.

"Talk to you soon". Ali opened her arms and hugged Christen, leaning over to whisper in her ear. "She's wonderful" Christen blushed slightly, as she pulled back from the hug.

Christen closed the door and she felt a wave of nerves overcome her, leaving butterflies in her stomach. There she was, alone with Tobin and their kids. It seemed like the house had suddenly gotten smaller. Her brief moment of internal panic was quickly interrupted by Alice.

"Mom, can we all see The Secret Life of Pets?" Alice asked, looking up at Christen with the best puppy dog eyes she could manage. 

"Yes, of course. your wish is my command" Christen grinned, running her hands over Alice’s hair gently. "Unless you guys have other plans?" Christen wondered hesitantly.

"No, we'd love to see that movie," The brunette said quickly. All three children cheered when Tobin said yes, practically bouncing up and down on their toes. "But are you sure? Aren’t we imposing?" Tobin asked, only for Christen to hear, since the children had already rushed into the living room.

"No. Stay, please" The dark-haired woman replied with a warm smile. "Who wants popcorn?" Christen looked over at Tobin and then back at the kids. Everyone said yes with enthusiasm.


Christen headed to the kitchen, gathering all the utensils and ingredients needed to make popcorn. River skipped over close to Tobin and pulled on her arm, asking the woman to bend down, something that did not go unnoticed by Christen. The child whispered something into Tobin’s ear and then watched as Tobin stood back up, smiling at Christen again.

"Sure, buddy" Tobin assured him and turned to the other woman. "Hey Christen, would you like to have an assistant in the kitchen? I know someone who would love to learn how to make popcorn" River lowered his gaze shyly, the cheeks glowing red.

"I'd love to," Christen said warmly, smiling in River's direction. “Come here, sweetie” Her encouraging tone made the corners of River’s mouth turn up. There was no rocket science in making popcorn, but Christen knew that River was a curious, very shy kid, and this was an opportunity to make him feel useful and seen. And from the smile Tobin had slathered on her lips, Christen knew she had made the right call. The dark-haired woman stood River on a stool beside her and rolled up the child's sleeves. Tobin put the movie on the television as Chloe and Alice sat in the middle of the couch. putting a blanket around the girls, making them comfortable. 

Tobin's heart began to beat at a pace she could not control, while the time seemed to slow down as the scene unfolded in front of her. On a stool, Christen was letting River do all the work, teaching him all the steps and his smile was unable to hide the joy and excitement. His eyes were bright, his mouth was smiling. Christen lifted the child down from the stool and carried two bowls of popcorn into the living room, setting them down in the kids’ lap. The movie began to play and the children's laughter quickly filled the space. Tobin and Christen, who sat on opposite sides of the couch, made eye contact at the same time, with loving grins on their faces. This all sounded too familiar and comfortable to Christen and it felt...good.

Tobin had seen this movie more than a dozen times and she could quote most scenes by heart. The brunette wished that instead of watching the movie, she could just look at Christen and memorize her, so she could have this moment to remember, pure and crystal clear. Today she looked even more beautiful than usual, breathtakingly beautiful. Maybe because Christen was in her element or just because they were getting closer and closer. She was finally catching up with what life had left suspended.

Tobin closed her eyes and her imagination took flight, traveling through the scenarios of how a life with Christen would be: the weekend mornings, family evenings, how it would be like to take Christen and Alice to her parent’s house or having dinner at the twins' favorite restaurant. Just being a family. A touch on her shoulder brought Tobin out of the deep thought she was in. Christen reached out, rubbing her shoulder slightly and letting her green eyes linger on Tobin’s face for a brief moment. It was a simple touch, to get her attention, but to Tobin, it felt like more. And the fact Christen’s arm was still resting on the couch behind her, was making her battle the urge to lean back.

"Do you want to have dinner with us?" Christen spoke in a whisper to not disturb the kids. "We can order some pizzas" Tobin's face lit up at the suggestion.

"We'd love to, but are you sure we're not intruding too much?" Tobin asked cautiously, trying not to sound too eager.

"No. I’m sure" The dark-haired woman assured with a smile, getting up from the couch to order the pizzas. As soon as Christen finished the phone call, Tobin got up from the couch to join her in the kitchen. The two adults set the table since the pizzas were about to be delivered and the movie was about to end. Seeing Tobin moving around the house with ease as if she had lived here for years gave Christen a different feeling, a sense of belonging or a glimpse of her possible future with Tobin. It felt like something was shifting between them.

The doorbell rang and the brunette went to get it while Christen helped the children sit at the table, and started serving them. The children quickly grabbed the pizzas, getting their faces and hands dirty.

"Bestest birthday ever," Alice said excitedly, holding a slice of pizza in the air.

"This was the best birthday party we've ever been to". Chloe said enthusiastically. 

Tonight was one of those nights Christen would treasure forever. ”Thank you all for coming. We love having you here" Christen said, running her hand over River’s hair, who leaned slightly against her, which made Tobin’s heart skip a bit. 

Much to Christen’s protest, Tobin helped clean the kitchen and clear the table, giving the kids a few more minutes to play together.

"You didn't have to do this. Thank you" Tobin stepped closer, so close that Christen’s skin prickled with sensation.

"This way is faster. And you know. we work very well together" Tobin smirked, bumping Christen’s shoulder gently.

"True. But Tobin...." Christen grinned, before adding "I won’t give you a hi-five this time"

“What would you give me then?” Tobin teased Christen, asking the first thing that came to her mind. It sounded much flirtier than she'd meant it.


“Do a good job and you’ll find out” Christen smirked teasingly, intentionally making her voice a little husky.


"Okkkkk" Tobin said, prolonging the word dramatically.

It was getting late and although everyone loved to prolong their time together, it was a school night and they needed to rest. The children said goodbye to each other, hugging like they were not going to see each other the next day. Tobin stepped to where she’d left her purse and picked it up, getting ready to go. Christen stood there not sure how to say goodbye.

"Thank you for coming. For everything". Christen let her eyes meet Tobin’s as she smiled tiredly.

"We loved it" Overcome by an unexplained bliss, Tobin had the urge to hug Christen right then. And so she did. Tentatively at first and tightly after Christen reciprocated lingering maybe a bit too much. 

“I’ll see you tomorrow” Tobin hummed as Christen and Alice stood at the doorway waving them goodbye.

Friday has arrived and Crystal's long-awaited engagement party with it. 

Christen stared in the mirror, scrutinizing her appearance. She didn't want to dress up, but she didn't want to look too informal either. She wanted to look nice to impress Tobin. She wanted to look perfect for her — she wanted to take Tobin’s breath away, she wanted Tobin to only have eyes for her. Christen had taken longer to get ready than usual. And now she’d her nerves on edge because she was late and Christen Press was never late.

Christen was, of course, five minutes early when arrived in Ashlyn's wine bar. At first, she thought it was a rustic cellar, but the more she looked, the more she noticed the details. The walls were filled with wooden shelves with glasses stacked on them, serving as decoration. The bar itself had a long beautiful pine counter, with several bottles ready to serve on top of it, with several tall stools in front. There were a couple of tables around the room but mostly it was empty with the clear purpose of giving customers space to mingle. It had a vibrant and unique atmosphere, luxurious but friendly. She saw Ashlyn behind the counter and headed her way. 

"Hello, beautiful" Ashlyn beamed at the sight of Christen approaching. "You look really hot," Ashlyn said, wolf-whistling.

"Thank you" The dark-haired woman blushed.

"I can see I'm going to have problems tonight" Ashlyn added, earning her a slap to the shoulder from Christen.

"Is anyone else here?”

"Yes, Crystal and her boyfriend are already here,” Ashlyn informed, leading the way to a small private room. A wonderfully decorated long table was set for the twenty guests, with tapas already in place.

"Hello there, sexy lady" Crystal yelled back, jogging the last few steps and hugging her.

"Hello lovebirds," Christen replied. Pierre smiled, stepping in to hug the dark-haired woman after his fiancé had finally released her from her love grip.

Seeing that Crystal had almost finished her cocktail and that Christen didn’t have a drink in her hand, Pierre went to get them both a drink. A few seconds later Pierre was playing waiter and handing a cocktail to each of the two women, who were now happily chatting.

"Oh, hi Benjamin" Pierre mentioned and the chatter stopped as all turned to see who had entered the room. He was a tall, handsome, well-dressed man, with messy blond hair falling to the base of his neck with coffee-colored eyes. The man greeted Crystal first with a warm hug and then turned to Pierre.

“Christen, this is Benjamin, my former roommate. He’s from LA too” Pierre introduced them.

“Oh sweet. Nice to meet you” Christen smiled warmly, extending her hand and shaking Benjamin’s. They’d barely been introduced and she already could see that Benjamin was looking at her with unmistakable heart eyes. The crush had been easy to spot early on.

“Christen is our Business Development Manager. She’s the boss!“ Crystal informed proudly, making Christen blush.

"Then I guess we have to talk sometime" His charming voice thrummed with double entendre, before adding: “I’m the director of a company that produces nutrition products for athletes”

“Yes, sure. Let’s do it” Christen just smiled not knowing what else to say.

The four got lost in the conversation for a minute, sharing small talk, until the two men joined the new guests who had arrived and were friends of Pierre, leaving Crystal with Christen.

"Just for your information, Ben is single, a good guy, very sweet, obviously handsome and both of you have a lot in common" Crystal said, taking a sip of her champagne.

"Ok, thanks for the update. Glad to know." Christen said jokingly. She could not deny that Benjamin was an interesting man. In other circumstances she might be tempted to give in to the interest he felt for her, but not now. Today (like the last few times), her heart, her mind and body were all lined up for one person only.

The conversation was again interrupted by the arrival of Julie and her husband. Greetings and compliments flew around the room.

"It seems almost everyone has arrived," Crystal announced while scanning the guests, doing a mental headcount. "Let’s sit down. Tobin texted me and she's going to be a little late"

Christen sat next to Julie and her husband, as well as Benjamin, which she knew was not a coincidence but rather Crystal's finger on it. As much as Christen wanted to focus on the conversation, her mind couldn't disconnect from the fact that Tobin hadn't arrived yet. Did something happen? Is she not coming? Christen's thoughts were interrupted by a glass of wine that Benjamin so elegantly poured for her. Between a glass and some tapas, the conversation between everyone was flowing naturally. 

Benjamin was funnier than she'd thought and was a throwback to earlier days when men didn’t swear, drink too much or play games. He had an old-fashioned sense of chivalry that was rare in this day and age. Christen was aware she had an effect on him, although he tried to cover it up with his charm and lighthearted personality.

Tobin paced nervously along the sidewalk as she waited for the Uber to arrive. Between getting the kids ready, spending way too much time getting herself together and finally dropping the twins at Alex's, Tobin was late. She felt that nagging fear she’s had since childhood that if her outfit wasn’t just right, something bad would happen that day. The uber finally arrived and she got in, fastening her seatbelt and letting out a heavy breath. She didn’t think she was nervous but she could feel a few jitters of anxiety creeping in any way. She counted breaths to try to calm herself.

Deep inside, Tobin believed that it was an important night for both of them, maybe a step toward them becoming something more. There had been a shift between them since Alice's birthday party, subtle but unmistakable, like when you wake up one day in late September and realize that the leaves have started to turn. The flirting had been turned up, their compliments were more direct and the air around them was different. Tobin wondered if either of them would acknowledge it any time soon. She felt that they were closer, heading somewhere. And something else—an uprising of the infatuation she had felt for Christen the first time, like each moment was proof she was the right match for Tobin.

She didn’t have much time to stew on the thoughts of her nerves as she arrived. Besides the identifying color, a wooden placard above the front door confirmed that she was at the right place. She got out of the uber and took a deep breath before entering, preparing herself to see Christen and willing her mind and her heart both to calm. She scanned the place and finally saw Ashlyn at the back.

As soon as she entered the room, Crystal yelled her name excitedly, her words running together just a little bit, enough for Tobin to tell that she was starting to get drunk.

"Tobin!" Crystal came in first followed by her fiancé, both greeting Tobin with a warm hug. No matter how much preparation she went through in her mind, nothing could prepare her for what she was about to see. Christen looked stunning, like a goddess. Tobin went speechless, struggling to keep her gaze away from Christen's. She was dazed watching Christen, mesmerized by her beauty. Crystal indicated her place at the table. Much to Tobin's dismay, the seat was on the opposite side of the room from where Christen was seated.

"Well, let me just say hello to those girls," Tobin said. But all of sudden, an ache went through her chest, as she caught sight of Christen talking to this good-looking man who was clearly flirting with her. It felt like a knife slowly scratching the surface of her heart. She swallowed past the bubble of jealousy and forced a smile as she moved towards them. A chorus of greetings flew back and forth and the brunette found those unmistakable green eyes burning into hers and a genuine smile forming on Christen’s lips at the sight of her. Tobin just smiled back, both letting themselves linger on each other for a brief second before pulling away. The man next to Christen had been nice but Tobin’s vision was so blurred that she couldn't even remember his name. As she went to her seat, Tobin wanted to chastise herself for the way her heart reacted at the mere sight of Christen with another person.

-------------------------------------

The familiar sharp sound of cutlery hitting glass drew all the attention to where the soon-to-be bride and groom were seated.

"As you know, I love speeches...and toasts!" Crystal announced. She had passed tipsy a while ago, and she was fully drunk now. "I will randomly choose some of you to make a speech”. Two of Pierre's friends made hilarious speeches, telling stories about his student days and leaving the groom a little red-faced.

"Now the last but not the least, the speech of the person who introduced us...Tobin" Crystal announced, catching Tobin by surprise. If Tobin had a hole to crawl into, she’d jump in and hide. She didn't know what to say and the amount of alcohol in her system wasn’t enough to loosen her up. "Hi, I'm Tobin. Oh gosh, I was not prepared at all for this.”

“You are a creative director. You’ll be fine” Crystal shouted, making Tobin chuckle.

“As you may know, I'm the reason why we’re all here today. I was the one that introduced the love birds. You are all welcome" A roar of cheers, clapping and whistling erupted. "Pierre, the day I introduced you to Crystal you told me right away that you have met the woman of your life. It was late in the day and we’d just finished our first project together. You had been restless all day until you admitted as much. Then, you started throwing questions at me: “what should I do? What if I’m not good enough? And If I am too much for her?” Thinking back, I think you went overboard, right?" Pierre nodded vigorously in agreement and everyone in the room chuckled.

"But the truth is that on that day, I didn't really know what to tell you, or what was the right answer. Today, I know better.” Tobin paused for a moment to collect her thoughts “It is a frightening thought, that in one fraction of a moment you can fall into the kind of love that takes a lifetime to get over. It is a frightening thought, that in one fraction of a moment you can stumble upon someone who will start a fire that you cannot put out“ Her eyes conveying everything she was saying and feeling for the past few years. Christen met Tobin’s gaze for a moment before lowering her eyes to the table.

“So when that happens, it’s time to drop everything, forget the past and all the expectations, forget the games, the hard to gets because this is it, this is what all of us are after and you've stumbled upon it, because this is real love guys and you've got it” She lifted her glass and looked around at the people seated at the table. “A toast to Crystal and Pierre”

The room was in awe of Tobin's speech and Christen couldn't take her eyes off Tobin as she spoke. It was incredibly emotional and meaningful. How many of those words could be about them too? That night at the station, was Tobin also willing to drop everything for her?

After the last toast was lifted, the guests scattered around the venue, forming tight clusters of close acquaintances, while others were already enjoying the dance floor. Christen found herself alone with Benjamin again, after Julie and her husband ditched them to take some pictures.

He was nice and the conversation was fun and light but Christen couldn’t ignore the way Benjamin drifted a little closer as the night went on. It was starting to make her feel uncomfortable, mostly because her heart already belonged to someone else. Her eyes sought Tobin, patiently waiting for her to finish greeting some of Crystal's friends. As soon as she saw the brunette was alone, Christen excused herself from Benjamin, walking towards the other woman, her whole body buzzing with anticipation.

"Nice speech" Christen complimented.

"Thank you. I guess I was inspired" Tobin offered a shy smile and before she could stop, she heard herself utter the words that had been on the tip of her tongue since the moment she laid eyes on Christen. “You look really beautiful tonight,” Tobin whispered it so gently but so surely.

"Thank you. You look very nice too" Christen smiled broadly, never breaking her gaze away from Tobin’s eyes. By instinct, Christen reached up to straighten the collar of Tobin’s suit. "I'm sorry" Christen apologized, embarrassed by the intimacy of her gesture.

"Don't be" Tobin said tenderly, as a waiter approached them with a tray of drinks."Would you like something to drink?" Christen smiled at her thoughtfulness, accepting the drink she was holding out to her and clinking her wine glass against Tobin’s.

It felt as if they had become immersed in their bubble, isolating them from time and space. The two women talked for moments, it was almost mindless conversation, but it was the best kind, full of jokes and lingering looks. They were completely captivated by each other and completely forgot about the other people around them, until a drunk Crystal interrupted, pulling the two women out of their trance.

"Christen, come with me, please," Crystal said in a slurred voice, slinging an arm across Christen’s shoulders.

"What's wrong?"

"Ben is looking for a partner to play a pool game against me and Zach," Crystal said with a smirk, winking at Tobin without realizing the effect of her words. This interaction made Christen’s chest tighten.

"Sorry...Won't take a minute" Christen said, feeling bad for leaving Tobin alone.

"Don't worry about it. Go have fun" Tobin replied, looking at Christen with the softest smile she could master and wishing she’d had more time to become tipsy, to make this easier.

________________________

Tobin had already made conversation with everyone she knew and turned her attention to her drink for a moment, gazing into the floaty bubbles. She needed a minute to breathe. A minute to calm down the sense of jealousy that was building up inside her, that might have been enhanced by the alcohol in her system. She found herself heading to the bar, where Ashlyn was washing beer glasses behind the bar.

"Your face, what’s going on?" Ashlyn asked, placing a beer on the top surface of the bar.
 

"What face?" Tobin felt herself get a little defensive, wanting to get them off this topic of conversation.

"That lost puppy face" 

"I don't have that face" Tobin added before sitting down on the stool and slumping over the counter.

“You do. You always do when you're lovesick” Ashlyn said with a half-smile. "So many years later and that face hasn't changed. The same face as that summer when sweet Alex was pounding in your heart without knowing it”

Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe it was all her emotions, maybe Tobin didn't want things to turn abstract but she felt she should share her feeling with Ashlyn.

"I think it's just the alcohol playing with my feelings," Tobin confessed, glancing over to watch Christen and Benjamin talk.

"Don't let it. You have no reason to" Ashlyn tried to keep Tobin’s spirits up as she realized to whom Tobin was looking at.

"How do you know?”

“Working in a bar has made me a good listener...but also a good observer. And, c’mon, I know you both" Ashlyn said as she finished cleaning the glasses and put them underneath the bar. "That boy could do his best, even with his best spell, Press wouldn't be interested in him. He is probably a great guy but Christen’s head is somewhere else.” Ashlyn paused, looking into Tobins’s eyes to emphasize her point. “He does not stand a chance with her.”

Tobin just had to convince her fluttering heart to trust Ashlyn’s words. Getting no response from Tobin, Ashlyn added: "And I can't tell for sure where her heart is, but I can say where yours is"

Tobin remained quiet, listening attentively.

“No matter what fears you might have or doubts about the way she feels, if you are sure of what is going on there". Ashly spoke as she put her hand to Tobin’s heart. "Then you should look for all the answers you need. It only takes a leap of faith."

Tobin rested her elbows upon the bartop and held eye contact with Ashlyn, letting the words sink in. The bartender poured her another drink and then smiled, rubbing Tobin’s shoulder soothingly and looking her right in the eyes: “If Ali were here she would say I was already talking too much but the one thing I know for sure is that feelings are rarely mutual, so when that happens, it’s time to drop everything and forget the past. “Ashlyn said, quoting Tobin's speech back to her.

Christen tried to be friendly and focus on what Benjamin was saying, but her attention was somewhere else. As she saw Tobin and Ashlyn chatting at the bar, she gracefully excused herself to join her friends. The alcohol was coursing through her bloodstream and a waterfall of tingling sensations flowed as she stepped closer to Tobin, leaving a warmth throughout her body. And she wanted to direct that energy to someone else than Ben.

Christen got near her and without a word, she grabbed her head and kissed her deeply. Pulling her closely, with their bodies connecting. Tobin was speechless. She started kissing her neck, going down, giving small pecks on Tobin's shoulder, until Christen’s hand found her thighs.

Someone bumped into her and the drink in her hand spilled over her feet, breaking her daydream. Oh god, she cursed. She had to keep these thoughts for another time and pull herself together. The alcohol was playing tricks on her. She gave herself a tiny mental shake, regaining the confidence from minutes ago.

Christen walked over, intertwining her arm with Tobin's and scooted closer to her, letting her hand rest on Tobin’s knee. They had never been this close, at least, not since the night they met. Tobin’s heartbeat suddenly quickened its pace. From fast to slow to run wild. 

"Hey girl, whatcha doing?" The dark-haired woman slurred out, letting herself lean against Tobin.

"Looks like someone had one too many drinks" Tobin could tell Christen was drunk and she was finding it very entertaining already. She turned her body slightly to lend Christen's body more support and getting more comfortable herself.

"I have...but the night is just beginning," Christen said cheerfully. "Ash, let's do shots"

Ashlyn poured Tequila into two shot glasses, and secretly under the counter, filled one with orange juice. A well-known technique among bartenders to pretend to drink with customers while working.

“To love" She said, clinking Tobin and Christen drinks and the three downed the contents, slamming the shot glasses on the counter.

"Let’s dance" Christen rotated her body fully so she was looking directly ahead at Tobin. “Julie and Crystal are ruling the dance floor but I want to show them how much better we are"

The brunette held eye contact for a moment, still nursing a closed-mouth grin as she tapped her chin, pretending to ponder.

“You know, it was also your dance moves that brought you to my attention the first night” Christen whispered into Tobin's ear, lowering her voice, mostly as a way to convince Tobin easily.

"Let's go” Tobin couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face at Christen’s admission. 

"Ash, byeeee... we are going to hit the dance floor," Christen said as they left the bar and made their way onto the dance floor. Tobin’s hand pressed to Christen’s back so she wouldn’t lose her in the crowd.

"Christen" A voice came from Christen’s left, causing her to stop and whirl around.

"Hi Ben" Christen greeted back sobering up, slightly uncomfortable to find herself in the center of an impromptu gathering between Tobin and Ben.

"I just wanted to say goodbye. I’m flying to LA tomorrow. So I have to call it quits" Benjamin said with a nervous tone to his voice as if he needed to say something more. Tobin hovered awkwardly in place, not sure whether she’s supposed to stay there. 

"Oh, okay, it was nice meeting you" Christen said with a smile, not knowing what else to say.
 

An awkward silence stretched between the three like a small forever until Benjamin spoke hesitantly. "Sorry...I shouldn't do this in front of another lady". He said politely, looking at Christen almost guiltily. “Uh, do you think you could give me your phone number?”

"Oh," The question caught both women off guard and Christen noticed Tobin’s body stiffening a little too. She didn't want to be rude but the truth was there, right next to her. Christen didn’t know what to say, so she just decided to be honest.

"I'm sorry, but I'm not looking for anything right now and I have a daughter so it’s complicated” Christen stopped her rambling before she went any farther. Tobin kept herself from smiling, though she was overjoyed. Christen's answer was clearly a poor excuse.

Ben studied her for a moment, perhaps waiting to see that she'd indeed stopped talking.

“Yes, sure” Benjamin smiled kindly. “It’s ok”. He was embarrassed and they said goodbye awkwardly - like he didn't know if he was allowed to hug her, and Christen didn't know if she wanted to let him.

Christen took a deep breath to purge the feeling of awkwardness that was running through her.

"It's really hard to get your number." Tobin joked in a mostly teasing tone, now more relaxed recalling how Christen had refused to give her phone number years before.
 

“Ohhh! Look who has the jokes now” Christen said with a smirk. "Where were all these jokes moments ago?" Christen challenged, arching a eyebrow.


"Let's just say he sucked up all my energy by stealing the attention of my favorite person at the party" Tobin added with a shrug.

"Then it's a good thing he's gone" Christen shrugged playfully, grabbing Tobin’s hand again and pulling her towards the crowd of dancing bodies. Christen stopped in her tracks, spinning around to face Tobin, enjoying a last moment before slipping into the dance floor. Her grin grew wider, a mischievous glint in her green eyes as she scooted closer, laying a hand on Tobin’s shoulder and whispering in her ear to be heard over the loud music that played throughout the space.

"And I only give my number to those who interest me" Christen flirted shamelessly. It made Tobin's heart pound harder than ever, lost in the pulsing bass of the music that thrummed through her whole body.

"Oh, tell me more about that...Do I have your interest now?" Tobin shot back.

"Play your cards right and maybe you’ll find out" They were flirty and giggly, mostly thanks to the glasses of wine and champagne Christen had beforehand.

The flirtation was interrupted by Crystal's squeaky voice at the sound of the DJ's microphone. Her drunken words were barely understandable through all the noise, and then a Latin song began to play and the crowd began to loosen up.

"Come on, I love this song" Christen reached behind her and grabbed Tobin’s wrist, pulling her into the dance floor, where Crystal was already dancing with a tipsy Pierre. Christen turned around, bringing them face to face. She got as close to Tobin as possible but not close enough to make their colleagues have suspicions and start rumors about them.


"You know what I like about this song?" Christen asked before she leaned in a little closer to Tobin’s ear. "It could be about us". 

♫ Baby just keep it our little secret ♫

♫ What they don't know won't do them no harm♫

♫ We can do mouth to mouth with no speaking ♫

♫ We can see eye to eye in the dark ♫

Tobin’s face grew hot and her heart raced wildly. They both were on a whole new level tonight, now completely drawn to each other. Tobin stared at Christen as she danced, at her shapely legs and the sway of her hips, almost unable to move. Tobin had to look away, trying to keep her desire under control. But their bodies seemed like magnets drawing the other closer. Christen knew she had to pull back and put some space between them, but the way Tobin was looking at her had Christen jumping in at the deep end. Gradually, every bit of space she’d tried to keep between her and Tobin came crumbling down. 

They danced a few more songs, carried away by the lust between them. The dance floor slowly emptied out as people made for the bar, for fresh air and a few to leave. Their moment was interrupted by Crystal's drunken attempt to climb on top of a table to dance, which prompted Tobin to go to her rescue.

After saying goodbye to Julie and her husband, Tobin helped Pierre and Crystal get a taxi to take them home. She returned to the now much emptier bar, with few people chatting and getting ready to call it a night. Christen was sitting by the bar in the same stool Tobin had been before talking excitedly with Ashlyn, who had amusement written all over her face.

"Tobin, help me," Ashlyn said jokingly. "Press is too fueled up and I can't keep up with her"

"Don't be rude" Christen said, pouting slightly, as Tobin sat down on the stool next to her. Tobin's feet were already aching after so many hours of dancing. Christen leaned into her face where she could almost touch Tobin’s lips. Christen straightened the collar of Tobin’s shirt and smoothed the lapel with the back of her hand, locking eyes with her. Christen could feel Tobin’s heartbeat getting faster and she let it race for a few seconds before she spoke.

"I was challenging Ashlyn to come hang out with us, hit another dance club but she's being boring" Ashlyn and Tobin laughed at Christen's complaints as if it was unreasonable that Ashlyn was working.

"But I have a question," Tobin said with a smile before turning to look at Christen completely."Who told you we were going to continue the night elsewhere?” Tobin challenged.

"First, you weren't going to leave me alone in the middle of the night, not when it was finally getting good" Christen said matter-of-factly. "Second, are you really going to miss the opportunity to spend a wonderful night with me?" Her question easily took on a double meaning which had been Christen's intention all along.

"Ohhh Press, playing all cards...maybe I should leave you both alone” Ashlyn teased when she noticed the exchange and discreetly retired, leaving the two alone.

"Please, let's enjoy the rest of the night" Christen’s eyes held a sultry heat that could melt steel, before leaning in and placing her hand on Tobin's leg. "Forget that we have kids, have fun like teenagers”

It had taken all of Tobin’s self-control to not shiver in excitement. "I was convinced from the start, you don't have to say anything more"

"Plus... we have a good history of having fun together in New York," Christen said with a teasing smile before adding. “How about this time, we give it a better ending?”