Just One Night

Chapter 10

For their second date, Olivia watched in enjoyment as she dragged Elliot through an exhibit at the museum she had been dying to see. Central Park was too much of a cliché and she had no desire to spend her Sunday watching skateboarders in the park. Elliot was on to what she was trying to do and at first he kept a smile on his face just to spite her but after about an hour he genuinely appreciated watching her in her element. She talked him through each exhibit but he didn't hear a word she said. He was content just seeing the smile illuminate her face and his chest felt a little tighter when she held his hand while they toured the museum.

They were both nervous about seeing someone from work but thankfully they weren't discovered. After the museum they grabbed lunch at a small bistro around the corner. It was a place she ate often and even though he wouldn't have chosen it on his own, he felt like she was slowly giving him a glimpse of her world outside of the 1-6 and their respective apartments.

When the date was over he dropped her off at home, both of them lingering on her stoop a little longer than necessary not wanting to say goodbye. He stood shyly with his hands in his pockets and a boyish grin while she stood like a love struck teenager swaying back and forth with her hands crossed in front of her. He knew that it was just their second date and that he wouldn't be going upstairs. Although he couldn't wait to feel her body next to his again, it was this side of her that he underestimated how much he wanted to get to know.

Olivia was always somewhat of an enigma to him. He never understood how she managed to do this job considering the circumstances surrounding her conception and still be more passionate about it now than she was when she first started. Despite the depravity they saw everyday, she managed to still have this hope and positivity about people that he felt he was losing by the day.

Elliot watched her walk in her building, sneaking glances at him over her shoulder with a smirk on her face. She looked at him as if she thought he was unreal or a dream and he realized he hadn't ever felt this kind of love in his life. It scared him, humbled him and made him feel like a better man.

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Olivia stayed in her apartment for the rest of the day after her date with Elliot. Usually she would go stir crazy being in her place for too long because she was used to being called on a case or finishing errands that she didn't get a chance to do because of work. She wasn't hungry because she had just finished lunch and brought the rest of her sandwich home after her date with Elliot.

Elliot.

Repeating the name in her head instantly brought on a curl of her lip. She smiled automatically now at the mention of his name. She didn't know when she became this person. She hadn't felt this way about someone in-well ever. Their time together was effortless and instead of having to waiver through the uncomfortable conversation of what she did for a living and about her lack of family which she had to do on other dates, they just simply got to know each other better.

She was worried initially that their attraction was merely physical and that intense, brooding Elliot would be awkward and boring on dates but that couldn't have been further from the truth. He was actually romantic and funnier than she ever gave him credit for. She didn't know where everything with him was going and she battled with herself to not overthink and ruin it. She decided for once to live in the moment. She took a shower and threw on a t-shirt and some yoga pants to lounge at home for the rest of the evening. Her text message alert went off as she settled on her sofa with the remote in hand.

What are you up to?

She smiled at the message. She was thinking about texting him too but knew he was spending time with his kids and didn't want to ruin it.