All by Chance {Brollins}

/ Chapter 12 \

"I am trying to do my job." Rebecca looked up at Colby with crossed arms.

He paused for a few moments, just taking in everything he knew subconsciously he could lose at any moment after the conversation he was about to start. "You know damn well we've been dancing around the idea of this- us for years."

She shook her head, trying not to seem as taken aback as she was. "Now's not the time, Colby."

"When will it be the time?" He stared down at her, "Five months when one of us is in a relationship we aren't happy in? A year when one of us decided to move or take a job promotion?"

She was silent, and he took it as his cue to continue. "Neither of us has had a relationship that lasted longer than a few months. The only other people we really talk to are each other. The office party. Yesterday. Those aren't accidents, Rebecca."

"Then what are they?" She threw her hands up in the air before walking around the room aimlessly again. "You already know why I can't push this. The closer I am to somebody, the higher chance I have of getting hurt."

She placed her hands on the edge of Holly's desk and looked down. "Mom died, so I had to live with my grandma as a child. Then she died, and I was put into the system. Not to mention I never even knew who my dad was."

Rebecca took a deep breath, "And well, I don't have to remind you about her, do I? I think I've bothered you about it enough."

Colby shook his head, "We've been friends forever. Why would seeing if things could go further between us somehow automatically ruin everything?"

"I don't know." Rebecca looked at him, leaning against the desk. "It just always seems to go that way. Happily ever after's don't exist."

He took a step closer to her slowly. "You can't do this to yourself for the rest of your life."

"She was supposed to be the best thing to ever happen to me, and that was taken away." Rebecca couldn't stop herself from tearing up. "But you... you were always in that place. And I was so happy that instead of one favourite person I'd have two."

She looked down at her feet, "I don't want it to turn into zero."

"Rebecca." Colby wrapped his arms around her, resting his cheek on her head. "You know it would never."

As he held her for a few minutes, she began to feel better, and her short-lived attempt at trying to set some sort of boundaries was failing miserably. In hindsight, it seemed like a good idea, but now that Colby was with her, it didn't.

"I liked kissing you." Rebecca muttered sheepishly, and she felt his fingers twitch slightly.

Colby smiled slightly, "I- I liked kissing you too."

"Oh, come on, Lopez." She didn't break from the hug, but she leaned back so she could see his face. "Don't get all awkward on me now."

He shook his head with a laugh, "I am not awkward."

She raised an eyebrow, "I saw you during your high school years. Don't pretend I didn't. I know what awkward is, and you were the embodiment of it."

Colby rolled his eyes and pulled her closer as he slid his hands on her lower back, leaving her face inches away from his. "Look who's flustered now."

He laughed at her slightly stunned expression before she smirked. "Not flustered, just wanted to see if you'd actually go through with it."

A corner of his lips began to rise slightly, "Well... am I allowed to?"

She smiled with a small nod, "I'd say so."

Rebecca watched Colby lean in, but instead of confusion this time around, she was content. The warmth of his hand became prominent on her cheek, and the moment his lips made contact with hers, her hands instinctively moved to rest on his chest.

It was a simple but drawn-out kiss, and Rebecca had to blink a few times before remembering where they were when they separated. She just smiled and stared at him, not wanting to move an inch or end the moment.

Instead, she found herself leaning in again, desperate to endure that elated feeling even for a second more. Before things could escalate, the distinct sound of a doorknob turning made Rebecca's eyes go wide.

She immediately pushed Colby away from her, gaining an extremely confused and frazzled reaction from him. Rebecca rushed behind the desk and started fumbling with papers before she mumbled. "You'll understand in a second."

The door opened, and Holly walked in, looking up from her phone. "Oh good, you're both here."

"Just dropping off your things." Rebecca smiled, straightening out a pencil knocked astray.

"Perfect, thanks, dear." She smiled, "Ron just landed a massive deal with corporate. I don't know all of the details, you'll have to talk to him about that."

Rebecca moved towards the door, and Holly sat in her seat. "But I do know the stakes are too high for one supervisor. You two are the most qualified, so we need you to do it."

"Okay." Colby nodded before the two both went to leave.

"Rebecca?" Holly spoke up, and she turned around. "Can I speak with you for a moment?"

"Of course. Is everything okay?" Rebecca walked back towards Holly, after seeing Colby walk off, slightly confused.

"Yes, sweetheart. But I was going to ask you the same thing." Holly leaned forward in her seat. "I know we already gave you some time off. But if you need more, we can figure something out for you. And if he's overwhelming you, you let me know."

"No, no." Rebecca assured her, "Everything's fine, Holly."

"You promise me?" Holly tilted her head to the side, scanning Rebecca's face.

Rebecca nodded, trying to keep her knowing smile to herself. "Yes. I promise."