Where The Heart Is

Still, I had to admit I'd have a hard time believing it if she told us no one's asked her out yet as well.

"I'm sure Thea's been asked out plenty of times," I nodded in agreement.

"So what is it? You just haven't found anyone you wanted to go out with yet?" Rachel continued to probe, and I watched Thea's blush deepen before she laughingly tried to turn the tables.

"Well, do you like someone right now?" Thea countered Rachel's question.

I turned to Rachel, definitely interested to hear her answer, and was surprised to find the pink-haired beauty shoot a glance in my direction. Those blue eyes took a beat before shyly looking away, leaving me more than a little bit amazed.

Was Rachel actually blushing?

My eyes went towards Thea, wanting to check if someone else was seeing it too. But the dark-haired woman was looking back at me with a curious and slightly amused expression on her face and, this time, I was the one who couldn't hold Thea's knowing gaze for long.

"Okay, well, I'm heading out!" Chris said suddenly, clearing his throat as he came bounding out of the hallway behind me. There was a slight flush on his face which, I was guessing, was from lifting the luggage he had been dragging as he spoke. "So, I'm off to spend two weeks with the fam. Wish me luck!"

"Good luck!" The three of us said in a failed chorus as Chris went over to give both Rachel and me tight hugs. He smiled and waved at Thea, who waved back at him.

"And guys," Chris continued with a grin as he opened the door and turned to us dramatically. "I know it's gonna be hard but, try not to miss me too much."

He gave another wave and a wink before finally closing the door behind him.

"Oh-no-darn-whatever-are-we-gonna-do-without-him?" Rachel said, deadpan. She rolled her eyes sarcastically, but she was grinning as she shook her head after Chris.

I started to shake my head too, but Rachel's words actually gave me a great opening to finally ask her out without actually having to ask her out.

"Oh, hey," I told Rachel. "They lit up the big tree yesterday. Want to go ice skating later before you go to work?"

There was a slight hesitation that crossed Rachel's features before she lit up into a smile.

"That'd be great!" She said before quickly turning towards Thea. "Thea, you're coming, too, right?"

My eyes darted to Thea, afraid that she would say yes and I wouldn't actually get the chance to be alone with Rachel. But Thea was looking at Rachel and already shaking her head in protest.

"Oh, come on, it'll be fun!" Rachel pleaded, her pink hair whipping a little as she jumped off her chair. She reached Thea in no time and quickly gave the brown-eyed girl an excited hug, and I did my best to tamp down my jealousy under a big smile when Rachel glanced back at me. "Liv, tell Thea it'll be fun."

I hesitated a bit, but the words still left my mouth, albeit reluctantly. "It will."

"Now, say yes." Rachel told Thea, giving the dark-haired woman a gentle little squeeze.

Thea continued to hesitate, and I held my breath, mentally crossing my fingers that she would somehow say no. But Thea was as powerless against Rachel's pretty smile as I was, and I watched as she slowly nodded her head.

"Yes." Thea echoed resignedly.

I sighed. Who could blame her? I would say yes to just about anything too, with Rachel doing the asking like that.

*****

The three of us were at the skating rink by 6 PM, later that day. The huge Christmas tree beside it were already up and twinkling in the twilight, and I couldn't help but admire its beauty as I was putting on my skates.

I fixed my winter coat comfortably around me as I stood up, noting that the night was chillier than usual.

Thea was also putting her rented skates on the bench next to mine, looking very snug in her thick, dark blue winter jacket. She also had a scarf, gloves, and bonnet on and the ensemble made her look very young, especially next to Rachel who looked all woman, standing there in her soft pink winter clothes that still somehow managed to accentuate her figure.

We all stepped into the rink together, with Rachel smoothly going off and me, immediately falling in step so I could stay close. We had already been skating a few yards when Rachel happened to glance over her shoulder and stopped.

"What?" I asked as I stopped, too, following her gaze and getting a swift answer to my question. Thea stood, unmoving, on the exact spot where the three of us had entered the rink.

Rachel and I exchanged glances before Rachel headed back. I sighed, rolling my eyes even as I began skating towards Thea, too.

"Are you okay?" Rachel asked as we neared.

"Yeah!" Thea assured us as we stopped in front of her. She was hugging herself and obviously cold, but she smiled brightly as she nodded her head. "You guys go ahead, I'm fine!"

"Are you sure?" Rachel asked, frowning in concern.

I was a bit suspicious too when Thea nodded again, this time even more empathically in a clear effort to convince us both. But I had been looking forward to skating with Rachel as I had planned all week, and it seemed like Thea really wanted us to go.

"She says she's fine." I said, but Rachel remained skeptical.

"Come skate with us then." She told Thea, whose cheeks turned red, and not from the cold.

"I can't." Thea finally came clean as she lowered her gaze."I don't know how to skate."

I had figured as much at this point and wasn't really surprised by the admission, but Rachel breathed a sigh of relief, now knowing that there was something she could do to help.

"Then here, hold on to us," Rachel told Thea offering her left arm. Then she looked at me expectantly until I offered my right.

Thea started to shake her head in protest but Rachel wouldn't have it, linking her arms around Thea's and beginning to skate instead. I caught Thea's right arm as she wobbled to keep both of them steady.

I spent the next twenty minutes at a snail's pace, trying to keep my own balance as I skated a mere arm's length away from the woman I had had the biggest crush on for the last year or so—with Thea right in between.

"Okay, okay!" Thea exclaimed when the three of us almost fell for the fourth time. "Can you guys just, please, bring me over to the sides?"

I shrugged when Rachel glanced at me, and we both did as Thea asked. Thea grabbed the handle bars tightly as soon as she could reach them and turned around to face us, still smiling.

"Okay. Now, you guys go." Thea said.

"What? No, we can't just—" Rachel protested, but Thea shook her head firmly.

"Look, I appreciate you trying to help me out there. Really, I do." Thea interjected, addressing us both. "But, I'd rather not get in the way of your fun."

"You're not—" Rachel objected once again, and once again, Thea cut her off.

"I'm sure you both had other things in mind when you decided to go ice skating than lug around a grown-ass woman around the rink all night." Thea said lightly, and I couldn't help but grin back. Her easy smile was infectious.

I could feel Rachel looking at me for support, but there was something in Thea's eyes as I met her gaze that told me her pride was actually taking a hit every time Rachel insisted. I turned to Rachel, figuring that Thea could use some reprieve.

"You heard her: She's a grown-ass woman." I said. "Come on, Rach, I'm sure Thea can handle her own if we stop clinging to her like deadweights while she skates."

Rachel sighed as she finally relented, seeing that it was now two-against-one. I caught Thea's grateful smile before Rachel and I skated away, and smiled back to tell her she was welcome.

Rachel and I made small talk as we went around the rink, both of us occasionally glancing over at Thea to check if she was still okay.

The girl was trying, I'd tell you that. In no less than three separate occasions did I see her letting go of the handle bars and trying to skate without its help, only to fall down on her rump. I tried not to smile at Thea's mishaps but it was a little bit funny, seeing that look of surprise on her face every time she was about to fall, followed by that frustrated pout the moment her ass inevitably hit the ice.

We were halfway through our second lap when I happened to glance back at Thea again, and what I saw had me slowing down to a stop. Thea had drifted away from the bars and was actually—even if somewhat shakily—skating on her own.

Her bonnet had fallen off and her long dark hair flowed loosely past her shoulders as she glided tentatively on the ice, but the smile on her face showed exactly just how pleased she was with her accomplishment, and I couldn't help but feel a mixture of amazement and pride as I watched—right up until Thea lost her balance again, not five seconds later.

I looked behind me to find Rachel already way too far ahead, oblivious to what was happening in Thea's part of the rink. I glanced back at Thea who now appeared to be struggling—what, with the ton of layers she had on—to get up without anything to hold on to.

I was about to go over there to help, but then a look of pure determination suddenly crossed her features, keeping me rooted in place. I could only stare as Thea's eyebrows drew together and her eyes slightly narrowed. I watched her bite her lower lip, concentrating on the task at hand, and was struck by the sudden wave of attraction that hit me with such force in that moment.

Thea is hot, I thought as if I was only realizing it for the first time now that I was feeling its full impact.

"Fuck," I breathed. A flash of panic followed that single burst of desire, and my eyes darted around the rink, hoping to find some safety in familiarity.

Finally, I spotted Rachel's distinctive pink hair in the crowd and began skating towards her direction as fast as I could, determined to keep my eyes on her—and away from Thea's unforeseen distraction.

*****

Six

"Nothing, I was just watching this old Christmas movie. You can join me if you want to," I said in the breeziest manner I could muster as I leaned back on the couch.

I shifted in my seat in the next instant, suddenly finding my position uncomfortable as I muttered under my breath, "Lame."

It was almost 2 AM in the morning, and in about half an hour, Rachel would be coming home from her shift. I was two cups of coffee in, purposely trying to keep myself awake so that I could invite Rachel to watch It's A Wonderful Life (which I knew she liked) with me once she came in. But I wanted it to seem casual and unplanned, so I had been practicing my pitch while I waited.

I cleared my throat and tried again.

"Oh, hi! I couldn't sleep so I just thought of watching this movie. Do you maybe, wanna...? Ugh! Can't you just be cool for once in your life?" I ended in frustration, dropping my face into my hands.

"What are you doing?" Thea asked from the hallway.

"Jesus!" I gasped, jumping at the sound of her voice and immediately whirling towards her direction. She was supposed to be asleep by now. "Are you trying to kill me or something?"

I noted her amusement as she leaned against the wall, wearing a thin, oversized shirt, boxer shorts, and a pair of socks on her feet. She had her arms crossed in front of her as she continued to grin at me, but her eyes looked lethargic and I didn't know if she had woken up from or was just about to go to sleep.

"I was just on my way to the kitchen. I didn't really think I'd find you out here this late talking to yourself. Although, that was fun to watch," she smiled before slowly pushing herself off the wall and taking a step.

But then Thea's knee buckled and gave way beneath her, causing her to stumble and surprising us both. Fortunately, her reflexes were good and she managed to hold on to the edge of the wall to keep her from falling. I stood up and strode over to her quickly, even as Thea softly laughed off her own clumsiness.

"Are you okay?" I asked as I approached her and Thea tried to wave me away with her other arm. Even the gesture came off weak, however, and I frowned in concern, catching her arm before it fell to her sides and gasping the moment I touched her skin. "Thea, you're burning up!"

I looked at her more closely, finally noticing her paleness. Her lips looked a little dry, and I put the back of my hand to her forehead, confirming the fever she was currently running.

"Okay, let's get you back to bed," I told her, putting her arm over my shoulder only for Thea to weakly push me away.

"No, I'm fine," she said as she tried to get out of my hold. "I'm just not used to the cold weather, I guess. And I think I fell one too many times tonight."

I tried to turn her around, holding her a bit tighter so we could head back towards her bedroom but again, Thea resisted.

"No, really! I just need to make some soup and I'll feel better." She said looking over her shoulder as she pointed towards the kitchen.

"Uh-huh," I grunted, finally managing to get her to face the other end of the hallway. "And how were you planning to do that from the floor?"

Thea opened her mouth to say something, but closed it again in with a pout.

"Right." I said wryly, stopping once we reached her door and shifting position so I could open it. I proceeded towards her bed, with Thea mostly pliant as I laid her down.

"I'm fine!" She protested again, trying to sit up as soon as her head hit the pillows and I had no choice but to apply the tiniest pressure on her shoulders to keep her there. "I'm just... just let me get a glass of water."

"No, you're si—" I said, but Thea cut me off.

"I'm not sick!" She denied a bit too loudly, startling me a bit. That tiny outburst exerted a little too much of her effort, however, and Thea sank back into her pillows even as she weakly stressed, "I'm never sick. I'm okay."

"Okay, I believe you," I humored her as I stood up. "Just stay in bed, and I'll get your water. No, don't get up. I know you're fine, I just... need the exercise."

I finished lamely, stifling Thea's complaints. I figured she wouldn't remember how ridiculous that excuse was anyway, come morning and it worked well enough to keep her in bed as I left for the kitchen.

I went to the medicine cabinet as soon as I got Thea's glass of water. I didn't know much about fevers except what my mom used to do when I was little, so I only got the thermometer and some pills. I knew a tepid bath would help but I doubted Thea would be up for it, so I settled on getting a clean washcloth from my drawer and dipped it in water before taking everything to her room.

Thea was sleeping when I got back. She looked so small somehow, and I couldn't help but feel bad for her. A slight frown creased her forehead as she slept, attesting to the discomfort she must be feeling.

I took care not to make too much movement as I sat on the bed, setting everything down on her bedside table before checking her temperature.

"Thea," I said softly, trying to guide her up into a sitting position which only caused her to frown even more. "Thea, you're not allergic to Ibuprofen, are you?"

Her eyes fluttered open, those deep browns looking bright and glassy as she stared back at me and shook her head. Her hand went to her throat, indicating her thirst.

"Okay, good. Now, drink up." I said, handing her the pill.

I watched as she took it cooperatively, handing the glass back to me once she was done. And then Thea laid herself back down, giving a tiny sob as she did so. She turned to her side, her back towards me, but I was still able to catch the soft little word that escaped her lips as she drifted off.

"Mommy," she mumbled pitifully, and I grinned in spite of myself. I couldn't help but be a little amused by the childish plea, and I kept smiling right up until my eyes travelled over the length of Thea's body.

Her shirt had ridden up a bit, and there was no mistaking the array of bruises that littered her lower back.

"Oh, no." My hand went to my mouth, and I could only imagine just how worse it must be underneath her boxers. I couldn't stave off the guilt that washed over me, knowing that I was somehow at least partly responsible for the beating she had taken on the ice tonight.

Thea shivered, bringing my attention to the fact that I had been staring at her ass for a bit longer than what would be considered appropriate. I leaned over and fixed her shirt, pulling the blanket around her as I prepared to leave.

Thea's hand caught my arm as I started to turn, and I tried to keep myself from falling over as she hugged it close. I tried to pull away, but quickly realized that I wouldn't be able to do so, at least not without waking Thea up—and a part of me really wanted her to get some rest and feel better.

Silently, I sat on the bed again, figuring I had little choice else but to wait for Thea to loosen her grip.

*****

I woke up some time later, hearing a door somewhere in the loft shutting close. I stirred, a bit disoriented as I slowly realized that I had been half sleeping on Thea. She had loosened her hold on my arm and her torso was now slightly facing up, which meant that I had been practically using her stomach as a pillow for the past half-hour or so.

Again, I heard some movement outside Thea's door and figured Rachel must be home.

Rachel! I sat up straighter, remembering my plan.

I didn't know how I did it, but I somehow managed to both very carefully and very quickly stand up and tiptoe across the room. I was hoping to catch Rachel before she turned in for the night, but I was too late and I only heard the soft click of Rachel's lock by the time I finally opened Thea's door.

I sighed. I couldn't very well knock on Rachel's door now just to ask her to watch a movie with me. That wouldn't be casual and unplanned at all. Besides, the moment had passed and, truth be told, I wasn't really feeling up for it anymore.

Softly, I closed Thea's door and turned back towards her bed, getting halfway through before I caught myself.

What was I thinking?

Thea seemed a bit better now and sleeping peacefully—she didn't need a 25-year-old trying to play nurse by her bedside through the night.

She's a grown woman, a voice inside my head reminded me, sounding a lot like Thea's.

"Don't I know it," I mumbled in response, unable to ignore the way her thin, cotton shirt highlighted every womanly outline of Thea's torso.

I shook my head at the thought, and hurried out of the room before the empty space beside Thea could tempt me further.

*****

Seven

I stood in the toys section of the department store on Wednesday night, feeling incredibly overwhelmed.

I had planned on getting Rachel one of those Barbie corvettes she had talked about for Christmas, thinking it would be the perfect gift. It was light, it was cute, and she might find it a little bit funny—but it also showed that I was someone who listens to her stories, which was the important part.

I thought it would be easy. I mean, how hard was it to find a single, specific toy? Except now, looking at the rows and rows of shelves around me, I had no idea where to even start looking.

My eyes scanned the place from left to right, and I couldn't help but grin in surprise when I saw Thea's familiar face through the crowd. Again.

The girl was all over the place.

Things had been a bit awkward with Thea immediately following Saturday night. She obviously felt a little embarrassed around me, but I tried my best to show her it was no big deal, and she had been easing back into her old self these past couple of days.

Meanwhile, I had been silently curbing my attraction towards her, convinced that it must be some sort of fluke. I mean, it had to be because I liked Rachel... right?