musesandlyrics | 6.23. 3 Doors Down lyrics
6.23. I'm here without you baby
But you're still on my lonely mind
I think about you baby
And I dream about you all the time
Here Without You - 3 Doors Down
Co-written with likebraveheart
[Follows THIS, THIS, THIS and THIS]
Kenzie sat the pint of lemonade with extra ice down in front of Braden and then slid back onto the stool at the bar beside him. Her own drink - a pint - was nudged out of the way so she could put her wallet back into her bag and then she pushed her hair over her shoulder so she could see his face better and take a sip of her drink. Of course, he had protested about her buying the first round, but she insiste and told him to stop being so chivalrous. She had invited him for the drink, so the first round was on her. It was the first time they had been for a drink together, and she was nervous he might start to think she was trying to trick him into a covert date. "Lemonade with extra ice. What happened to the pint of Coke, huh? The barman thought your drink was mine and offered me a straw."
Braden shot her a smile, wrapping his hands around the drink. "Your suspicions turned out correct. I spent the first three days of my stay in Surrey with a rotten stomach bug. The drinking just made it worse. When the hangover felt like it was getting worse, not better, I figured something was off. Had the whole vomiting and runs thing, then I started running a temp and had the shakes. I spent most of the time in bed trying to flush it through my system. Pretty much typical of my luck," he added with a wry laugh. He picked up the glass. "But cheers. This nice to get out for a wee drink."
Kenzie's mouth had dropped open a little and then she smacked him softly in the upper arm. "Hey, I told you to let me know if you got ill! I've been worried about you since you told me you werenae feeling good on the trip down there. But now you're going to tell me you didnae think it was important, aye? That you didnae want to bother me with it? I think I'm starting to know how to read you Braden Evans. I know there isnae anything I could've done, but you should've told me. Had a wee whine. It helps when you arenae feeling well." She pressed her lips together and gave him a long-suffering smile. "You poor wee thing. Did you get to visit with your brother much at all? How are you feeling now? Are you sure you're up to this?"
Braden sipped the lemonade and nodded. "Aye, I'm sure. Like I said, it's nice. I dinnae seem to get out half enough these days, I'm glad you suggested it. Once it passed, I didnae feel so bad. Just a wee bit lacking in bouncing energy and nay got much urge to eat any stodgy food, but it's all good. I got well taken care of, but that's just our family when one of us is ill. Plus, the lad and his wife who own the place, Ethan and Sophie, they were wonderful. I wasnae wanting for anything. I'm sorry I didnae let you know... but aye, didnae really want to bother you all with it."
Kenzie took a large mouthful of her pint, pretty sure she wasn't half as drunk for this as she wanted to be. Here he was telling her he had been sick, and she was still wanting to jumping his bones. In the week Braden had been away, she had bitten the bullet and stopped wallowing at her sister's place to go move in with Julie. She had only been there a few nights, but already felt refreshed from the decision. Her conversations with her close old college pal filtered back into her mind, and all the things she had admitted in regards to Braden. She wasn't going to admit she was falling for him, but there was a definite crush there and still a painfully horny want to bed him. She was horny lately that it just wasn't even funny. She was going to blame that, but it didn't make the urge any less prominent. Here he was, sitting beside her in really amazing-fitting jeans and a blue button-up shirt that hugged his body and matched his eyes. His blond hair was well-styled and he smelled wonderful with whatever the cologne he was wearing was. He always smelled fantastic. This was pathetic. She had a girl crush on her work partner, and she was pretty sure it wasn't reciprocated in anyway. She had been honest when she told Julie Braden hadn't given her off any fuck vibes. He was always kind-hearted and professional, but never indicated anything beyond that. "I, uh... have a confession to make," she admitted, tapping her fingertips on the bar. "You're right, this is nice, and I think well-overdue considering we're workmates. But I may have had a tiny ulterior motive for inviting you out for a drink..."
Braden's eyebrows shot up when he bit on his lower lip. It sounded a little ominous but he still smiled at her again and nodded. "Aye, okay. Hit me with it," he laughed. "I know you arenae broke and needing cash, or you would have taken me up on buying the first round. So, um... you have news of some sort? You're leaving? You arenae going to be my partner anymore?"
Kenzie laughed and held up her hand. "No, no. Slow down there, sweetie," she said in amusement. "You would move onto another greta partner anyway. You work brilliantly with anyone. I've heard the reputation. It's nothing bad, I promise. More just..." She paused, looking over his face as she leaned in a little closer to him. He was watching her intently, and it was all she took inside her to not just grab his face and kiss him. He was so hot... gorgeous. It was criminal how much her mind and body had come to lust after him, and he was totally oblivious. She had to act now or she would chicken out and then probably feel awkward around him. She didn't want to feel awkward around him. Far from it. She let out a rush of breath she hadn't realised she had been holding. "Aye, okay, I'm just going to lay it on the line. For some reason these past few weeks I have been so fecking horny it isnae funny, and normally I'd just go out and find a lad to help me out. And I could... have done probably too much since my divorce to be proud of my actions. I cannae even mind some of their names or faces, which... I know, I'm a slut, and there isnae any reason you'd want to deal with that. But to put it blunty, I figured I'm horny and you're hot. Will you fuck me? Please?"
Braden couldn't help but be stunned by the blunt proposition because it certainly hadn't been something he had been anticipating. "I... uh..." He soon began after a few moments of surprised gaping. He put a hand up and scratched the back of his head with a wary laugh. In all honesty, he was just plain wondering she was asking him if she could have any guy. He couldn't deny it, she was gorgeous. He had always thought so, he had just always believed it was inappropriate to be copping a wee perve on his partner when they had to work together. But now she was... propositioning him? He couldn't help hear an array of sniggering in his brain that could only be some inner conscience channeling all his brothers. "You, um... you want to have sex with me? But we, uh... we work together. You dinnae think that will be a wee bit weird?"
Kenzie had been watching his reactions closely. If he turned her down, she wouldn't be so immature and stupid as to bolt or anything. She would more than understand. It was out of the blue, and part of her was ashamed of it. It wasn't a big part, though. There was more of her that really did want him to have sex with her. Maybe even more than sex, but she certainly wasn't fucking thinking about that right now. She pressed her lips together with a small shrug. "Only if we make it so? I think we're old enough and professional enough to pull it off... er, pardon the pun. Call me crazy. Hell, I probably went nuts long ago, but I'm achingly horny and I've been copping the odd wee perve on you lately. I cannae help it. Every time you bend over, I just want to pinch your arse. I'm nay trying to pressure you. Feel free to tell me to toss off and leave you alone. I'll get it. Willnae even weird about it. You're just such a sweetheart and we get along well as pals, aye? So, aye... I'd rather you have sex with me than some faceless fuck I pick up in a bar. I thought we might be able to have some fun together, a wee night of letting our hair down."
Braden blinked, still trying to take a moment to process it. His tongue was resting between his lips as he listened and absorbed it, and then he just took a sip of his drink and cleared his throat. "Aye," he finally replied with a laugh and nod. "Aye, okay. Why not? Isnae like we arenae both consenting adults. We're single. Been awhile since I've been with anyone. You're right. Cannae mind any reason nay to," he agreed with a shrug, shooting her a smile. His brothers would be proud, no doubt... if he had any intentions of telling them.
Kenzie really, really had not expected him to agree so freely. She wondered if she had misjudged him, or he was just one of those sweet lads who was full of surprises. She had to go with the latter because it warmed her heart just that little bit more about him. She didn't think she deserved the attentions of anyone like Braden Evans, but he wasn't telling her to piss off, and he wasn't even judging her for the confession about her period of recklessness following the completion of her divorce. She was worried if she asked him if he was sure, he would change his mind and take it back. But instead, she just found herself meeting his smile as she tried to fight the arousal already trying to prickle through her. As it was, she hadn't anticipated him saying yes, and hadn't considered what would come as the next step. Or if she should even indicate they take the next step when he was in the wake of being ill. But she had come this far, right? "Okay," she said, smiling as she bit down on her lip. "Well, do you want to come back to my place? It's only a couple of blocks from here, walking distance if you're up to it. Or we could go to your place... wherever it is...? Or another day..."
Braden smirked at her and finished off a little bit more of his drink now that the ice had dilute some of the bubbles. "Your place sounds fine. I live up near Bruntsfield, so isnae really walking distance. We'd have to jump on a bus. And aye, I would like to come back to your place. The wee walk and fresh air cannae be a bad thing, aye?" He slid off the barstool and stood up. It was just reflexive for him to stand behind her and help her out of the chair. He took her jacket and helped her slip it on. Inevitably, there was a part of him inside wondering if he was doing the right thing here, but he was still a lad and he would be lying if he didn't admit that sex of any kind sounded appealling. He missed that intimacy and that fun of being wrapped naked around another body. Sex with Kenzie just... he hadn't anticipated it up until she was propositioning him, but now that she had, he couldn't get it out of his mind. He was thinking about her naked, and he was thinking about how it would feel to be inside her. If he stopped and analysed this, he wouldn't do it. She was right, they were both old enough and independent enough to bear the consequences of this. Better than strangers, right?
A small shiver swept over Kenzie's skin and gave her goosebumps. She didn't know if it was just anticipation or just sheer awe over his chivalry and manners. Her ex husband never much bothered his arse with any of that. He was sweet enough when he wanted to be, but there was never this inate respect for woman like Braden seemed to harbour. He was just a sweetheart and a gentleman, and Kenzie was seeing now that she really hadn't been treated to that sort of male attention before. Most of the blokes she had dated before she got married were just footy freaks, or typical lads. This was like suddenly being treated to dinner at The Tower after eating at McDonalds her whole life, and she liked it more than she knew she should. Even as they got to the door, he opened and held it for her. It took all her effort not to trip over her own feet or gape at him like he was some sort of alien species suddenly landed on earth. The fresh cool evening air hit her as soon as she stepped out onto the street, and the soft light of the nearby street lamp bathed them and she noticed it made his hair take a golden tinge and his eyes look brighter. She shot him a smile and ducked her head when a wave of shyness seemed to want to overcome her. She cleared her throat and regained her composure. "You still enjoyed your time away, though? The wee visit with your brothers? When did you get back? Did you drive or fly?" she asked, not meaning to sound interrogatory as they started walking in the direction of the Jules' apartment she just moved in to. Her friend was out for some radio thing that night, so there shouldn't be any awkward situations. She still hadn't managed to filter into the conversation that she knew Jules, the lass he apparently grew up close to and the lass who had just fucked his married brother. As tactful as she liked to think she was, that wasn't something she was managed to just drop into their chat.
Braden smiled and nodded, following her lead as he slipped his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket. "Aye, it was great. Better than great. Hadnae been together since Christmas, and with our family, that would normally be a real long time. Just with Stuarty in London now, and Iain following, it's starting to hit hame that they arenae here anymore," he admitted. "It's a wee bit of a shock to the system. When they were talking about it, London never seemed to far away, but now it's all happening in the flesh, and Stuey's settling doon and all, I've kinda been missing them a real lot. Didnae exactly realise how much 'til I got there. Then Cal flew doon on the spur of the moment for a couple of nights... he's the second oldest. We were all together, and it was awesome, even though I was poorly, like. I flew back with him when I was just going to have to alone originally. Drove doon with Gussy, but he's staying on to get a breather from his marriage breakdown. Big family, aye. Means we often see a lot of shit going on simultaneously. I just got back this morning. Cal drove me hame and I just passed oot in bed for a few hours, otherwise I probably would have been really bad company tonight."
Kenzie hesitated for a moment before she linked her hand into his elbow as they walked. It was nice to just have some closeness to someone, and they had become good friends over the months. She patted his arm softly, trying not to think what he would look like in nothing but that leather jacket and a smile. "It wasnae set in stone, you know. If you werenae feeling up to it, you could've taken a raincheck. I wouldnae have been offended at all, especially nay now I know you've been sick. I cannae deny though, I've been looking forward to it. I thought about giving you a wee call now and again, but I didnae want you to think I was harrassing you or nagging you. And I just have to say, I love hearing you talk about your family, it doesnae take a genius to see and hear how close you all are, and how much you care about your brothers. I watched the Hearts game with my Dad, and I was tempted to tell him Callum was your brother, but he just would've gone all rabid fangirl on me," she laughed, shaking her head in amusement.
Braden looked down at her with a laugh and shook his head, as he tucked his elbow in to secure her hand where it was and let her know the gesture was fine. "It's okay, I really promise. I was looking forward to it too, and I didnae want to take a raincheck. I felt a lot better after a wee sleep and a hot shower. I'm good to go now. I'm sure it'll hit me later and make me feel like I want to pass oot again, but it's all good at the moment. And you should have called me. Harrassing me, aye? Are you serious? Why would you be harrassing me? Cannae say for sure I would've been in much of a state to talk for long, mind, but I really wouldnae have minded you giving me a wee call. At all," he aded for emphasis, dipping his head so he could catch her eyes. He smiled and gave her a small wink before his attention got caught by a passing group of students probably on their way to the closest pub. "He a big Hearts fan, aye? You should've said. I can maybe arrange for Cal to meet him at some point. Cal's good like that, appreciates his fans as much as he can."
Kenzie laughed and looked at him in awe. "Are you serious? He might just kiss you by default. Da's been a Hearts fan from day dot." She chewed on her lip as she smiled at him again, relieved he hadn't given her a funny look and pushed her away when she had tucked her hand into his arm. "Just promise to tell me if you start feeling nay so good again, aye? I'll drive you home, make sure you get there okay. I dinnae want you to be feeling any... obligation of any sort. I know this probably really isnae how you anticipated 'getting a pint' together would eventuate. If you change your mind, just tell me. Promise I willnae make it all weird or anything."
Braden gave her a slightly wary, yet amused look. "Are you trying to talk me out of it, love?"
They reached the end of her block and she stopped walking for a moment to turn to him. "No fucking way," she assured him, laughing through a release of breath. "I apologise for the going overboard with checking you're okay with it. I've just never done this with a friend before. It's always just been random blokes. I guess I'm a tiny bit nervous of what's at stake here," she admitted and started walking again, looking through her bag to find her new set of keys to the apartment. "You've become one of my closest friends, gave me a shoulder to cry on even when we were barely beyond strangers with each other. You've become an important part of my life. I just... we can do this and still be fine, aye?"
Braden watched her as she searched for her keys, and waited until she found them. Hearing her words meant a lot to him, and she knew they had become close over their months together as partners. Some days you just needed to prop each other up, and they had managed that well. Then on the days that were fine and smooth-running, they knew how to have a joke and a laugh. She was a big part of his life, too. Of course she was. Work was a huge part of his life and they spent that time together. He was just wondering now why he had never seen her in this different light... probably because he hadn't let himself. Kenzie becoming his partner had coincided with Stuart moving to London, which was about year after Braden's relationship with his girlfriend had split. The past couple of years had been pretty full on and he wondered if he was punishing himself subconsciously for something. He was just yet to figure out what. He drew in a small breath and stepped up close to her, cupping her face in his hand, and he kissed her. Softly at first, almost like he was asking for her permission, but as soon as she started kissing him back, it deepened and he knew that whatever happened after it, it wasn't going to be a mistake.
Word Count | 3,606
But you're still on my lonely mind
I think about you baby
And I dream about you all the time
Here Without You - 3 Doors Down
Co-written with likebraveheart
[Follows THIS, THIS, THIS and THIS]
Kenzie sat the pint of lemonade with extra ice down in front of Braden and then slid back onto the stool at the bar beside him. Her own drink - a pint - was nudged out of the way so she could put her wallet back into her bag and then she pushed her hair over her shoulder so she could see his face better and take a sip of her drink. Of course, he had protested about her buying the first round, but she insiste and told him to stop being so chivalrous. She had invited him for the drink, so the first round was on her. It was the first time they had been for a drink together, and she was nervous he might start to think she was trying to trick him into a covert date. "Lemonade with extra ice. What happened to the pint of Coke, huh? The barman thought your drink was mine and offered me a straw."
Braden shot her a smile, wrapping his hands around the drink. "Your suspicions turned out correct. I spent the first three days of my stay in Surrey with a rotten stomach bug. The drinking just made it worse. When the hangover felt like it was getting worse, not better, I figured something was off. Had the whole vomiting and runs thing, then I started running a temp and had the shakes. I spent most of the time in bed trying to flush it through my system. Pretty much typical of my luck," he added with a wry laugh. He picked up the glass. "But cheers. This nice to get out for a wee drink."
Kenzie's mouth had dropped open a little and then she smacked him softly in the upper arm. "Hey, I told you to let me know if you got ill! I've been worried about you since you told me you werenae feeling good on the trip down there. But now you're going to tell me you didnae think it was important, aye? That you didnae want to bother me with it? I think I'm starting to know how to read you Braden Evans. I know there isnae anything I could've done, but you should've told me. Had a wee whine. It helps when you arenae feeling well." She pressed her lips together and gave him a long-suffering smile. "You poor wee thing. Did you get to visit with your brother much at all? How are you feeling now? Are you sure you're up to this?"
Braden sipped the lemonade and nodded. "Aye, I'm sure. Like I said, it's nice. I dinnae seem to get out half enough these days, I'm glad you suggested it. Once it passed, I didnae feel so bad. Just a wee bit lacking in bouncing energy and nay got much urge to eat any stodgy food, but it's all good. I got well taken care of, but that's just our family when one of us is ill. Plus, the lad and his wife who own the place, Ethan and Sophie, they were wonderful. I wasnae wanting for anything. I'm sorry I didnae let you know... but aye, didnae really want to bother you all with it."
Kenzie took a large mouthful of her pint, pretty sure she wasn't half as drunk for this as she wanted to be. Here he was telling her he had been sick, and she was still wanting to jumping his bones. In the week Braden had been away, she had bitten the bullet and stopped wallowing at her sister's place to go move in with Julie. She had only been there a few nights, but already felt refreshed from the decision. Her conversations with her close old college pal filtered back into her mind, and all the things she had admitted in regards to Braden. She wasn't going to admit she was falling for him, but there was a definite crush there and still a painfully horny want to bed him. She was horny lately that it just wasn't even funny. She was going to blame that, but it didn't make the urge any less prominent. Here he was, sitting beside her in really amazing-fitting jeans and a blue button-up shirt that hugged his body and matched his eyes. His blond hair was well-styled and he smelled wonderful with whatever the cologne he was wearing was. He always smelled fantastic. This was pathetic. She had a girl crush on her work partner, and she was pretty sure it wasn't reciprocated in anyway. She had been honest when she told Julie Braden hadn't given her off any fuck vibes. He was always kind-hearted and professional, but never indicated anything beyond that. "I, uh... have a confession to make," she admitted, tapping her fingertips on the bar. "You're right, this is nice, and I think well-overdue considering we're workmates. But I may have had a tiny ulterior motive for inviting you out for a drink..."
Braden's eyebrows shot up when he bit on his lower lip. It sounded a little ominous but he still smiled at her again and nodded. "Aye, okay. Hit me with it," he laughed. "I know you arenae broke and needing cash, or you would have taken me up on buying the first round. So, um... you have news of some sort? You're leaving? You arenae going to be my partner anymore?"
Kenzie laughed and held up her hand. "No, no. Slow down there, sweetie," she said in amusement. "You would move onto another greta partner anyway. You work brilliantly with anyone. I've heard the reputation. It's nothing bad, I promise. More just..." She paused, looking over his face as she leaned in a little closer to him. He was watching her intently, and it was all she took inside her to not just grab his face and kiss him. He was so hot... gorgeous. It was criminal how much her mind and body had come to lust after him, and he was totally oblivious. She had to act now or she would chicken out and then probably feel awkward around him. She didn't want to feel awkward around him. Far from it. She let out a rush of breath she hadn't realised she had been holding. "Aye, okay, I'm just going to lay it on the line. For some reason these past few weeks I have been so fecking horny it isnae funny, and normally I'd just go out and find a lad to help me out. And I could... have done probably too much since my divorce to be proud of my actions. I cannae even mind some of their names or faces, which... I know, I'm a slut, and there isnae any reason you'd want to deal with that. But to put it blunty, I figured I'm horny and you're hot. Will you fuck me? Please?"
Braden couldn't help but be stunned by the blunt proposition because it certainly hadn't been something he had been anticipating. "I... uh..." He soon began after a few moments of surprised gaping. He put a hand up and scratched the back of his head with a wary laugh. In all honesty, he was just plain wondering she was asking him if she could have any guy. He couldn't deny it, she was gorgeous. He had always thought so, he had just always believed it was inappropriate to be copping a wee perve on his partner when they had to work together. But now she was... propositioning him? He couldn't help hear an array of sniggering in his brain that could only be some inner conscience channeling all his brothers. "You, um... you want to have sex with me? But we, uh... we work together. You dinnae think that will be a wee bit weird?"
Kenzie had been watching his reactions closely. If he turned her down, she wouldn't be so immature and stupid as to bolt or anything. She would more than understand. It was out of the blue, and part of her was ashamed of it. It wasn't a big part, though. There was more of her that really did want him to have sex with her. Maybe even more than sex, but she certainly wasn't fucking thinking about that right now. She pressed her lips together with a small shrug. "Only if we make it so? I think we're old enough and professional enough to pull it off... er, pardon the pun. Call me crazy. Hell, I probably went nuts long ago, but I'm achingly horny and I've been copping the odd wee perve on you lately. I cannae help it. Every time you bend over, I just want to pinch your arse. I'm nay trying to pressure you. Feel free to tell me to toss off and leave you alone. I'll get it. Willnae even weird about it. You're just such a sweetheart and we get along well as pals, aye? So, aye... I'd rather you have sex with me than some faceless fuck I pick up in a bar. I thought we might be able to have some fun together, a wee night of letting our hair down."
Braden blinked, still trying to take a moment to process it. His tongue was resting between his lips as he listened and absorbed it, and then he just took a sip of his drink and cleared his throat. "Aye," he finally replied with a laugh and nod. "Aye, okay. Why not? Isnae like we arenae both consenting adults. We're single. Been awhile since I've been with anyone. You're right. Cannae mind any reason nay to," he agreed with a shrug, shooting her a smile. His brothers would be proud, no doubt... if he had any intentions of telling them.
Kenzie really, really had not expected him to agree so freely. She wondered if she had misjudged him, or he was just one of those sweet lads who was full of surprises. She had to go with the latter because it warmed her heart just that little bit more about him. She didn't think she deserved the attentions of anyone like Braden Evans, but he wasn't telling her to piss off, and he wasn't even judging her for the confession about her period of recklessness following the completion of her divorce. She was worried if she asked him if he was sure, he would change his mind and take it back. But instead, she just found herself meeting his smile as she tried to fight the arousal already trying to prickle through her. As it was, she hadn't anticipated him saying yes, and hadn't considered what would come as the next step. Or if she should even indicate they take the next step when he was in the wake of being ill. But she had come this far, right? "Okay," she said, smiling as she bit down on her lip. "Well, do you want to come back to my place? It's only a couple of blocks from here, walking distance if you're up to it. Or we could go to your place... wherever it is...? Or another day..."
Braden smirked at her and finished off a little bit more of his drink now that the ice had dilute some of the bubbles. "Your place sounds fine. I live up near Bruntsfield, so isnae really walking distance. We'd have to jump on a bus. And aye, I would like to come back to your place. The wee walk and fresh air cannae be a bad thing, aye?" He slid off the barstool and stood up. It was just reflexive for him to stand behind her and help her out of the chair. He took her jacket and helped her slip it on. Inevitably, there was a part of him inside wondering if he was doing the right thing here, but he was still a lad and he would be lying if he didn't admit that sex of any kind sounded appealling. He missed that intimacy and that fun of being wrapped naked around another body. Sex with Kenzie just... he hadn't anticipated it up until she was propositioning him, but now that she had, he couldn't get it out of his mind. He was thinking about her naked, and he was thinking about how it would feel to be inside her. If he stopped and analysed this, he wouldn't do it. She was right, they were both old enough and independent enough to bear the consequences of this. Better than strangers, right?
A small shiver swept over Kenzie's skin and gave her goosebumps. She didn't know if it was just anticipation or just sheer awe over his chivalry and manners. Her ex husband never much bothered his arse with any of that. He was sweet enough when he wanted to be, but there was never this inate respect for woman like Braden seemed to harbour. He was just a sweetheart and a gentleman, and Kenzie was seeing now that she really hadn't been treated to that sort of male attention before. Most of the blokes she had dated before she got married were just footy freaks, or typical lads. This was like suddenly being treated to dinner at The Tower after eating at McDonalds her whole life, and she liked it more than she knew she should. Even as they got to the door, he opened and held it for her. It took all her effort not to trip over her own feet or gape at him like he was some sort of alien species suddenly landed on earth. The fresh cool evening air hit her as soon as she stepped out onto the street, and the soft light of the nearby street lamp bathed them and she noticed it made his hair take a golden tinge and his eyes look brighter. She shot him a smile and ducked her head when a wave of shyness seemed to want to overcome her. She cleared her throat and regained her composure. "You still enjoyed your time away, though? The wee visit with your brothers? When did you get back? Did you drive or fly?" she asked, not meaning to sound interrogatory as they started walking in the direction of the Jules' apartment she just moved in to. Her friend was out for some radio thing that night, so there shouldn't be any awkward situations. She still hadn't managed to filter into the conversation that she knew Jules, the lass he apparently grew up close to and the lass who had just fucked his married brother. As tactful as she liked to think she was, that wasn't something she was managed to just drop into their chat.
Braden smiled and nodded, following her lead as he slipped his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket. "Aye, it was great. Better than great. Hadnae been together since Christmas, and with our family, that would normally be a real long time. Just with Stuarty in London now, and Iain following, it's starting to hit hame that they arenae here anymore," he admitted. "It's a wee bit of a shock to the system. When they were talking about it, London never seemed to far away, but now it's all happening in the flesh, and Stuey's settling doon and all, I've kinda been missing them a real lot. Didnae exactly realise how much 'til I got there. Then Cal flew doon on the spur of the moment for a couple of nights... he's the second oldest. We were all together, and it was awesome, even though I was poorly, like. I flew back with him when I was just going to have to alone originally. Drove doon with Gussy, but he's staying on to get a breather from his marriage breakdown. Big family, aye. Means we often see a lot of shit going on simultaneously. I just got back this morning. Cal drove me hame and I just passed oot in bed for a few hours, otherwise I probably would have been really bad company tonight."
Kenzie hesitated for a moment before she linked her hand into his elbow as they walked. It was nice to just have some closeness to someone, and they had become good friends over the months. She patted his arm softly, trying not to think what he would look like in nothing but that leather jacket and a smile. "It wasnae set in stone, you know. If you werenae feeling up to it, you could've taken a raincheck. I wouldnae have been offended at all, especially nay now I know you've been sick. I cannae deny though, I've been looking forward to it. I thought about giving you a wee call now and again, but I didnae want you to think I was harrassing you or nagging you. And I just have to say, I love hearing you talk about your family, it doesnae take a genius to see and hear how close you all are, and how much you care about your brothers. I watched the Hearts game with my Dad, and I was tempted to tell him Callum was your brother, but he just would've gone all rabid fangirl on me," she laughed, shaking her head in amusement.
Braden looked down at her with a laugh and shook his head, as he tucked his elbow in to secure her hand where it was and let her know the gesture was fine. "It's okay, I really promise. I was looking forward to it too, and I didnae want to take a raincheck. I felt a lot better after a wee sleep and a hot shower. I'm good to go now. I'm sure it'll hit me later and make me feel like I want to pass oot again, but it's all good at the moment. And you should have called me. Harrassing me, aye? Are you serious? Why would you be harrassing me? Cannae say for sure I would've been in much of a state to talk for long, mind, but I really wouldnae have minded you giving me a wee call. At all," he aded for emphasis, dipping his head so he could catch her eyes. He smiled and gave her a small wink before his attention got caught by a passing group of students probably on their way to the closest pub. "He a big Hearts fan, aye? You should've said. I can maybe arrange for Cal to meet him at some point. Cal's good like that, appreciates his fans as much as he can."
Kenzie laughed and looked at him in awe. "Are you serious? He might just kiss you by default. Da's been a Hearts fan from day dot." She chewed on her lip as she smiled at him again, relieved he hadn't given her a funny look and pushed her away when she had tucked her hand into his arm. "Just promise to tell me if you start feeling nay so good again, aye? I'll drive you home, make sure you get there okay. I dinnae want you to be feeling any... obligation of any sort. I know this probably really isnae how you anticipated 'getting a pint' together would eventuate. If you change your mind, just tell me. Promise I willnae make it all weird or anything."
Braden gave her a slightly wary, yet amused look. "Are you trying to talk me out of it, love?"
They reached the end of her block and she stopped walking for a moment to turn to him. "No fucking way," she assured him, laughing through a release of breath. "I apologise for the going overboard with checking you're okay with it. I've just never done this with a friend before. It's always just been random blokes. I guess I'm a tiny bit nervous of what's at stake here," she admitted and started walking again, looking through her bag to find her new set of keys to the apartment. "You've become one of my closest friends, gave me a shoulder to cry on even when we were barely beyond strangers with each other. You've become an important part of my life. I just... we can do this and still be fine, aye?"
Braden watched her as she searched for her keys, and waited until she found them. Hearing her words meant a lot to him, and she knew they had become close over their months together as partners. Some days you just needed to prop each other up, and they had managed that well. Then on the days that were fine and smooth-running, they knew how to have a joke and a laugh. She was a big part of his life, too. Of course she was. Work was a huge part of his life and they spent that time together. He was just wondering now why he had never seen her in this different light... probably because he hadn't let himself. Kenzie becoming his partner had coincided with Stuart moving to London, which was about year after Braden's relationship with his girlfriend had split. The past couple of years had been pretty full on and he wondered if he was punishing himself subconsciously for something. He was just yet to figure out what. He drew in a small breath and stepped up close to her, cupping her face in his hand, and he kissed her. Softly at first, almost like he was asking for her permission, but as soon as she started kissing him back, it deepened and he knew that whatever happened after it, it wasn't going to be a mistake.
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