For Fake and For Real

18. The Floating City

Tim couldn't SLEEP! He was so excited to see Lucy in Italy! She couldn't meet him at the private airstrip, since it was too public, and they had to sneak around, but he was going to meet her at her apartment. It was supposed to be THEIR apartment, he remembered, but she would be back in his arms and L.A. in February.

With a shaking hand, he knocked on the door of her apartment and held his breath in anticipation of seeing her again. IN PERSON. The door swung open, and he felt a hand pull him inside before his eyes could even adjust, and then she wrapped her arms around him and started kissing all over his neck and cheeks.

"Hi, baby," he smiled while hugging her back. Of course, he was happy to let her lips travel wherever they wanted, and there would be time for that, but right now, he guided her face to bring her lips to his.

She sighed into his mouth and wondered how she had lasted almost 3 months without kissing him. "Hi," she whispered between deep breaths.

"God, I've missed you."

"I've missed you, too. How was your flight?"

"I read the first 'Galaxy Wars' book on the plane."

"You said you didn't want to read the books since it would frustrate you if the script was inaccurate, even though, I do have to commend the movie writers, they kept it pretty close to the book."

"They did, surprisingly, and I didn't read it to compare it to the script. I read the book, because I know you love the series, and it makes me miss you a little less."

Lucy started to laugh even as she kept her tight hold around his neck to keep him close.

"That's not funny," he defended.

"No, it's adorable...I just...I watch the Rams games to feel closer to you."

"You said you don't like football."

"Well, I love you, and you love football, so I haven't missed a game, and oh by the way, I think I've mostly figured out the rules. I know I won't be moving back until the season's over, but next year, maybe we can go to a game."

"Have I mentioned you're the best girlfriend ever?"

"I AM, and by the way, more than half of the internet agrees."

"Ahh...the Brady and Chenford debate...I've been reading all about it."

"Me too. If I have to keep reading about you and some other woman, it's nice to see that some people still wish we were together."

"Too bad the world can't know until September that Chenford is forever."

"We're already less than a year away! I can't wait," she said excitedly, already looking forward to putting "Brady" coverage in their rear view.

"You know what I can't wait for?" He bit his lip.

"Bedroom's that way," she smiled and pointed once she gathered his meaning.

He kissed her again and lifted her into his arms to carry her in the direction of the long hallway. He opened a door, and she made a noise in her throat to indicate it was the wrong room, because she wouldn't dare to break her lips away from him for a second. It took fumbling with another door handle, but he finally found the bedroom and set her down onto the mattress slowly where she still would not let him move too far away from her before pulling him on top of her. Then, his hands moved along her body unhurriedly to savor every second, because his memories hadn't done this justice.

••••••••••

Lucy pulled her baseball cap over her head and walked with her head low to the train. To keep their identities a secret, Tim followed behind her at a distance and didn't move beside her while wearing his own hat and sunglasses, but once they boarded their private train car, he felt her hands greedily pull him to her body.