Rolling Her Eyes, She Let Out An Exasperated Sigh. Why She Had Let Herself Befriend Him Was Still Beyond

Rolling her eyes, she let out an exasperated sigh. Why she had let herself befriend him was still beyond her but she appreciated the help he gave her when she needed to talk a case over. And the late-night coffee talks, she would never admit it but he had an uncanny ability to show up on the nights she couldn't sleep and could use the company. ❝ So anytime someone complains about their shoe choice, you lift them up without warning? Nah, I'm already up here, might as well just walk me over to your car, wouldn’t be gentlemanly of you to just drop me now. ❞ With a small sigh, she decided to not be that big of a brat, her feet had been killing her. ❝ Thank you, though. ❞

❝ Did I? You sure about that? I'm pretty sure I'm just a really good actress or you have me confused with someone else. ❞ There was no way in hell she was going to admit to him now that she had even a little bit of fun. ❝ It would be poor manners and bad refection upon the person that invited me if I just sat in a corner and frowned all night. I was simply being a good guest. ❞

As they neared his car, she was about to let him know that it was okay to put her down when he mentioned snacks. First time in a long time, she was hungry and the couple glasses of alcohol that she had indulged in was not helping. ❝ Well I'd offer sewing pockets on the inside of your jacket, but it seems like you lost it. So, there goes that. ❞ Tapping his shoulder, she pointed to the ground asking silently to be let down. ❝ But no more talk about snacks, I'm starving. Oh! ❞ Her eyes hazel eyes glazed over with a playfulness fueled by the alcohol. Her usually closed off self dissipating with the assistance of the spirits running through her. ❝ Someone invited me to their gastro, bistro, pub, thing or other. Said I could drop by anytime for a good time. Promised food and drinks on the house! Wanna go? Beer and a burger sounds so good right now. I'm sure there'd be something you'd like, they talked it up a lot, said they had a chef with tons of experience. They were up for some award and blah blah blah. Honestly, he had me at the beer and free and then lost me when he kept talking. ❞

"Now, what fun would that had been?" He flashed her his grin as he wasn't really bothered. "Also not the first you'd accidentally smack me. I guess I should say elbow me." Still, he wore his grin, even though this function had him at his wits end, he was glad she had agreed. "Didn't you just complain about your heels? You're gonna really tell me that you're not relieved to be off your feet? I could put you down if that's what you really want."

As soon as they were out he had undone his tie and his shirt, his jacket was somewhere he couldn't remember now and he really couldn't wait to go home and sleep for the next few weeks. 'Speaking of, you looked like you had fun?"

If he could bow out of these galas he'd be happy but he knew he couldn't. Someone always had to be the face and he knew his sisters didn't like the limelight. Neither did he but here he was. At least Liz made it bearable. "I gotta figure out how to sneak snacks into these because I feel like I was one tray away from being killed."

❝ Brave or stupid? ❞ It had taken her forever to find the perfect hiding spot for the things she wanted to greedily keep to herself, that the thought of sharing now made her narrow her eyes at him. Taking a moment to finish the ones in her mouth, she couldn't help it, curiosity would always get the best of her. Would the it be another snack? Chips? Candy? Gum? Her fathers voice echoing the full phrase that people usually only half said came to mind, Curiosity killed the cat, but remember that satisfaction brought it back. Never forget that, Soley.

Bringing the chips out from behind her, she took another chip from the bag while she made up her mind. With a sigh and a smile, she held the bag out towards him. ❝ Hurry up before I change my mind. What you got? ❞

It didn't take Janny long to figure out what Elizabeth was up to. Many times had he done the same and had watched his sisters in laws follow suit. It was a ringing true fact that no one fought over snacks and candies more than the adults did. It was a miracle the kids knew how to share, somewhat. He quietly followed after her getting up from his edge seat, a good thing since his own kids were currently sat in their play pen.

Leaning against the doorframe of the kitchen arch he chuckled under his breath. He had no intention of fighting her over it just was fun giving her a hard time. He knew nothing was safe when the kids peeped them with their eyeballs. "Huh uh. So, listen, I have a proposition for you if you're brave enough to take it." The smile on his face giving away the sparkle hint of mischief. Behind his back he dangled a pack of Wally's stash, eyeing her if she'd be willing to make a trade.

Books, she has found, are a way to live a thousand lives-or to find strength in a very long one.

V. E. SCHWAB

ok. today was blah. will make some dinner for the fam. get comfy and be back to empty drafts out. sorry if you've been waiting for something, don't feel shy to send me something you've been waiting a reply for, i know i might have lost things in the shuffle. i'll be on late since i dont have to be up early tomorrow.

━━ ✦ ( @never-surrender )

Grabbing their orders from the counter, he carried the coffees back to where Emma waited. Placing her order in front of her, he slid into the seat across her and took a sip from his coffee. If it could even be considered that, since giving up the drink, sugar had become his substitute.

❝ How do you balance it? ❞ he asked frankly and honestly. ❝ The sobriety, the stress of parenthood? ❞ With his best friend moving soon, it added more to his list of things he was constantly worried about and he didn’t want to burden his wife with his struggles. ❝ I don’t know what to say to him half the time. Not sure if he even really likes me and then not wanting to bother Anna with it all. She’s taken on more than she should and with Lizzie leaving soon, I feel like the proverbial rug has been pulled from under my feet. Things are changing a lot faster than I care for them to. ❞ Taking another sip from his coffee, he chuckled. ❝ And don’t give me that shite they tell us at the meetings about taking deep breathes. ❞