13 - Eliza

The shop had closed an hour ago and though I didn't know what time he needed to be on set it had to be soon. As I peak my head into the room I can see him lying on his stomach and I couldn't help but smile. He must have heard me come in because I see an eye open and then he smiles back.

"What time is it?" He asks sleepily.

"It's nine. I wasn't sure what time you were supposed to get up so thought I'd check on you."

"I don't have to be on set for a couple hours."

He rolls over and pats the bed. Even though I knew I shouldn't, I wanted to and I only had four more days with him; missed opportunities would hurt more than memories. I sit on the edge of the bed with one foot under me and look down at him.

"Sleep well?"

"I did."

"How was work? Did you get any writing done?"

"My day was fine. Want me to let you sleep a little longer?"

He looked tired, blinking sleepily while we talked.

"I'd rather spend time with you, if that's okay."

"Whatever you want."

"What do you want?" He asks, looking me in the eyes.

"For you to be happy."

"What if I'm happy when I'm with you?"

He was searching my eyes and I was confused, certain I hadn't understood what he meant. My heart started racing as he continued to look at me with such openness. Was he saying what I'd thought he was?

"I don't understand." I say, guarded.

"I don't want this to be just acting. I don't want to be just your friend."

He sits up so he's sitting beside me and runs his knuckles down my cheek, looking unsure for the first time. Wasn't this exactly what my heart had been hoping for? From the way it was pounding in my chest it knew full it was.

"What do you think?"

"Did Chris tell you what I said?"

He drops his hand and looks at me confused.

"Chris didn't tell me anything. What did you tell him?"

I bite my lip, debating for a heartbeat and then decide there wasn't another option but to tell him the truth.

"That I'm in love with you." I whisper.

He catches his breath and looks at my lips then up to my eyes. I knew he was remembering what I'd said about kissing lips and was wanting permission. Finding courage I didn't know I had I close the distance between us and press my lips to his softly. Pulling back slightly I smile shyly at him.

"I'm falling in love with you too." He whispers back, and then kisses me again. "I've wanted to do that since I woke up with you in my arms."

"Then why did you pull away from me in the car? I thought I'd done something wrong, or worse that you knew how I really felt."

"I was afraid you'd see how I felt if I looked at you. You can read me better than anyone else. Why would you tell Chris you loved me but not me?"

"I could ask you the same question. I mean I figure that's why he asked me out right if I had feelings for you."

"He did not." He says with a laugh.

"Oh he did."

"And you just told him?"

"After I told him it was none of his business and then he started telling me how he and Elsa only dated for three months before getting married; seemed the best way to shut him up at that point."

"That's my girl."

Those three simple words sent a shiver down my spine. Never in my wildest dreams had I thought I'd ever hear him say those words to me. He leans his forehead against mine and sighs happily.

"Will you just lay with me for a few minutes?"

I chuckle and push him back against the pillows then curl up beside him facing him, his arm under my neck. His hand comes up and he runs his fingers up and down my arm.

"I'm so glad I stumbled into your path." He says turning back onto his side so we're inches apart.

"I am too." I whisper reaching up and brushing the hair out of his face. "You're sure you want this?"

"I want this." He whispers back, rubbing his nose against mine.

I had no idea what would happen after the wrap party Friday and right this minute I didn't care. Lying here with his arms around me felt like a dream. I couldn't have been happier in this moment and that scared and thrilled me.

I reach down and slip my hand under his shirt, running my fingertips up his back lightly feeling the muscles clinch under my touch. He looks at me with amazement and hunger clear in his eyes, searching mine.

I lean in and kiss him again, this time harder and deeper, pressing myself against him. He slides his tongue along my lips, and a low moan escapes my throat as our tongues dance. He slides his hand under my shirt and everywhere he touches turns to flames.

He rolls onto his back, pulling me on top of him. Straddling his hips I brace myself on my hands above his shoulders and look down at him, both of us breathing hard.

"It's been awhile for me." I admit, cringing a bit.

"We don't have to go any farther than kissing if you don't want to."

"I want to." I say leaning back and start to pull my shirt over my head but a persistent buzzing fills my ears and I look around.

"What's that noise?" I ask.

I sit bolt up on the couch disorientated before I realize I'd been dreaming.

"Son of a..." I mutter scooting to the edge and rest my head in my hands with me elbows on my knees.

"Did you say something?" Tom asks, sticking his head into the living room.

I yelp looking up and curse internally, "Nope."

"Were you sleeping on the couch?" he asks, opening the door fully.

He was shirtless of course and my stomach knots and I curse more colorfully internally.

"Apparently." I mutter, feeling the blush color my cheeks.

"You could've come to bed. I didn't even think about it, I'm sorry." He says walking towards me

Images from the dream flash through my head and I scramble off the couch needing the distance between us. He stops and holds his hands up like he was looking at a spooked animal ready to bolt and that was what I felt like.

"Did you have a bad dream?"

"Something like that." I mutter and walk to the sink.

I could feel the tear threatening to fill my eyes bracing my hands on the edge of the sink and take a steadying breath and then another, trying to get my body under control.

A tentative touch on my shoulders has me spinning away. I knew it was just Tom but my body was still singing from the dream and I couldn't afford to let my guard down right now.

"Why are you scared of me?" He asks, clearly confused.

"I'm not." I could see that he didn't believe me but there wasn't an easy way to explain what the problem was. "Finish getting ready for work, I need to go brew the coffee anyway. I'm fine, promise."

"Eliza, seriously, what's wrong?" He insists.

My eyes prick with tears again but I smile as best I can. "It's nothing Tom.

He closes the distance between us slowly, clearly understanding that I was ready to bolt. It's hard but I hold my ground and let him approach, boxing up the images from the dream and shoving it to a far corner of my mind. He stops an arm's length away and wipes a tear from my cheek I hadn't realized had escaped.

I felt like an idiot and was mad at myself. There was no way to explain what was wrong to him without telling him everything and that was certainly not an option. Just me knowing what I'd dreamed mortified me.

"You're crying. It's clearly not nothing."

"You don't have to worry about me. I'll be fine, promise."

I take a step back and walk out of the room without a backwards glance.