It had been two days since Erica and Jaime kissed and they haven’t spoken to each other. They barely spoke on the journey home and their goodbye was an awkward hug. Neither one of them want this to be awkward but I guess when feelings get involved in a friendship there’s always going to be at least a small amount of awkwardness. Vic had noticed that something was off too and decided to come and visit Erica.

Erica was in the bathroom, re-dying her hair when she heard the doorbell. She put the towel around her neck, so no dye drips all over the place, before walking out to the door. It was almost time for the dye to come off and Erica was hoping whoever was at the door would be a doll and help her wash it out.

“Vic, I didn’t know you were coming over” Were her first words.

“Sorry, I tried phoning you but you didn’t answer” He replied.

“Oh, I’ve been trying to find my phone all day. I have no idea where it is” She laughed.

They shared a hug when Vic stepped over the threshold and went to the kitchen. Erica made them both a mug of coffee and got out a packet of cookies for them to share.

“Did you miss me already?” Erica asked with a chuckle.

“I did but that’s not why I’m here” Erica became confused.

“Oh so what are you here for?” She asked.

Vic sighed heavily and looked over Erica’s features before speaking again. “I want to know what happened between you and Jaime. The bus ride home was weird, you guys just weren’t yourselves. Everyone noticed it but nobody wanted to say anything” Vic admitted.

“Oh that” Erica began to blush but looked a little sad too.

“E, what’s up?” Vic asked noticing the sadness.

“Nothing, I’m fine.” She lied.

“Erica, I know you well enough to know when you’re lying” Vic said lightly.

“My dye has to come off; will you wash it out for me please?” Erica begged Vic.

“On the condition that you tell me what happened afterwards” Vic bargained.

“Fine” Erica huffed and began to walk over to the bathroom.

When Vic had finished washing Erica’s hair she went into her room and blow dried it. She then changed into some fresher clothes before joining Vic once more. She didn’t really want to have this conversation yet; she hadn’t even spoken to Jaime about it yet. She did think that talking to a third party person could help her with the whole situation though.
Erica walked over to her couch and sat next to Vic, who had already found something on the TV for both of them to watch.

“You have to promise that whatever I tell you doesn’t leave this apartment” Erica demanded.

“I promise” Vic said with a small smile.

“So I think you were right all along, about Jaime liking me I mean.” Erica started.

“Why, what happened?” Vic questioned.

“The last night of tour, after the film we were watching had finished, we kissed. It was weird but I kind of liked it. Does that make me a bad person?” Erica was like a confused school girl.

“I knew it. Do you like him? And no it does not make you a bad person. This is normal, like I said, you can’t stay single forever and you know Jaime would never hurt you or anything like that” Vic reassured her.

“I guess you’re right. I don’t know if I like him though. That’s why this is all so difficult. Like what if I went with it, we started dating then something went wrong. Not only would I lose a boyfriend but I’d lose my best friend and I don’t want to risk that” Erica confessed.

“Well what’s love if not a risk?” Vic said sounding like a proverb.

“Jesus Christ Vic, when did you get all Gandhi- like” Erica joked.

“I’ve always been like Gandhi”

“You’re an idiot. I haven’t even spoken to Jaime since we got home. I told him we would talk but I haven’t been brave enough yet” Erica sighed.

“You should do it sooner rather than later. He must be worrying too. He likes you E and I think deep down you know you like him too. Yes, it’s going to be weird at first and yes it will be difficult for both of you but this could be something really good, for both of you. The kids love you as well and it’ll be better for them having you around rather than some wicked step-mother” Vic advised.

As Vic mentioned the kids Erica began to cry. Vic didn’t know what he had said wrong but Erica was growing more and more emotional by the minute. Vic hadn’t actually done anything wrong but what he said just bought back one conversation Erica and Mike had a few days before his accident.

“Erica sweetie, what’s wrong. I didn’t mean to upset you” Vic said as he hugged his sister-in-law, rubbing her back for comfort.

Erica pulled away and wiped the tears from her face before standing up and putting on her shoes. “Do you want to go to the bar?” She asked.

“I… uhm…sure” Vic said, not fully understanding what was going on.

When the pair reached the bar Vic ordered them both a drink and they sat at one of the most discreet tables in the place. Erica was currently smiling, at all the memories this place held. The group of friends had spent many nights in this place and each one of them was something special.

Vic pulled Erica out of her memory when he asked her why she had gotten so upset.

“It’s just… when you mentioned Jacob and Amanda and I being their step mom it reminded me of Mike. You see something that nobody, not even Jaime, knows about. Mike and I, after many years of saying we didn’t want kids, were planning on adopting. We were going to look into on the Monday but everything happened on the Friday and I couldn’t do it on my own” Erica said sadly but with a smile. Her and Mike had never wanted children, Erica couldn’t even have children but after being together for so long and reaching every high they could in their relationship they mutually decided that they wanted a child.

They had spoken about it for hours; they looked online at the local adoption agency and booked a meeting with them and everything. Erica had wanted a boy whereas Mike wanted a little girl so he could treat her like a princess. In the end they agreed on wanting twins; one boy and one girl. They were so excited about the whole thing and they planned on keeping it a secret until they got a child. Now they’d never get to see the surprise on everyone’s face when they walk in with a child in their arms.

“E, I’m so sorry” Were all the words that Vic could find.

“It’s okay, honestly. I think I’m gonna go over to Jaime’s tonight.” Erica decided.

“Good, I don’t want you to leave his place until you have thought everything through and made a final decision on what you’re going to do. That’s an order” Vic said before taking a sip of his beer.

“Yes sir” Erica giggled.


“Hey Hime, are you free tonight? I want to come over” Erica said into the phone.

“Of course, I was just making dinner, if you get here in ten you can join us” Jaime replied.

“Sounds great, I’ll see you soon”

“Cool, bye” The each hung up their phones. Erica sighed when she did so and threw it on her bed.

She had just got out the shower so went into her wardrobe to find something to wear. She chose simple clothes, skinny jeans and an oversized sweater paired with her navy blue Chucks. She didn’t want to look like she had tried too hard; she was just going over for dinner and a talk.

When she arrived at Jaime’s she was let in by Jacob. They had just sat down to eat so she wasn’t too late. Dinner was just like any other with this lot, Erica and Jaime hid the awkwardness for the sake of the kids, they could sense everything.

After dinner they played a game of Kerplunk! Before the children went off to bed; Erica had to give them a bedtime story of course. She opted for reading one from a book instead of making her own one up. She wasn’t in the mood for her own stories tonight.

Once the kids were in their own beds and fast asleep the two adults went back downstairs. It was a nice evening so they sat on the porch in Jaime’s back garden. Both of them were silent for a few minutes and Erica decided she would speak first.

“Okay so I wasn’t expecting that to happen but I don’t regret it. I just didn’t know what was going on in my head which is why I haven’t spoken to you for 2 days. I’m just scared that if anything comes of this and then something bad happens that we would lose our friendship and I honestly don’t know what I would do without you as my best friend. I think I like you but at the minute I’m still unsure, so for that please don’t hate me. I just… I don’t know, it felt right but… gosh I don’t even know where I’m going with this” Erica let out a sigh along with an awkward laugh.

Jaime waited a minute before responding, he was mulling over the words that Erica had just said.

“I could never hate you. I understand completely, I do. I guess I’m glad you don’t regret it and I get the whole friendship in jeopardy thing so I mean, if you want to, we could like go on dates and stuff, like start as if we are only just meeting” Jaime suggested in his cute way.

“Are you asking me on a date?” Erica said with a grin on her face, she looked over at Jaime and his lips were curled into a smile also.

“I guess I am. What do you say?” Jaime asked.

“It all depends on what you’re planning” Erica joked.

“I have something really good in mind but it’s a secret, you only get to find out if you say yes” Jaime played.

“Fine, I will go on a date with you” in that moment Erica wasn’t thinking about all the possible negative outcomes of doing this, she was thinking about how much fun she and Jaime would have. How Vic was right when he said Jaime would never hurt her. How she loves the children and that she loves them. How Jaime is a fantastic friend and this would be a lot easier than spending months dating someone to get to know them and have it not work out. How love is a risk. She doesn’t love Jaime like that but this whole thing is a risk but more importantly, it’s a risk Erica is willing to take.

“I’m glad to hear it” Jaime scooted closer to Erica, on the bench; not moving his gaze from her eyes the entire time. When he was just a breath away from her she closed the gap. Their lips met once again and this time the gracelessness from the beginning of their first kiss was not there. This was a kiss that felt like their lips were used to one another’s. This time it felt right from the start and neither of them wanted it to end. Erica pulled away though.

“I’m going to go, call me with details of this surprise date” She said.

“I will do” They both stood and began to walk inside but lust got the better of Jaime and he reached out for Erica’s wrist. He turned her around and pushed her against the wall and crashed his lips against hers once again. They stayed like that, hands roaming one another’s body, for a couple of minutes; they both felt the passion and desire from that kiss.

“Sorry, I thought that would be a better goodbye” Jaime kidded and took Erica’s hand in his, walking her to the front door.

“I’ll see you later Pumpkin” Erica said and hugged Jaime.

“I’ll call you tomorrow” He said as they separated from the hug.

“I look forward to it, bye” Erica got into her car and waved bye to Jaime.

Notes

A shorter chapter for you all :)