Will You Accept This Rose?

14. Play Ball

Since Lucy was suffering the day before, Tim kept her back against his front to stay close to her even as she stirred. He pressed kisses into her hair as he smoothed his hand over her stomach. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," Lucy answered after taking stock of her cramps.

"If you need to miss the group date and stay here, I can talk to Angela, and she can cover for you. I can go shopping and get you more tampons before I leave."

"Periods hurt, but I'm not dying. I can still go on the group date, and how many tampons do you think I could've gone through in a day?"

"Just trying to take care of you. Sue me," he said with a grin.

"You're one of the good ones, Tim Bradford."

He hid his face behind her shoulder and was grateful to be laying behind her, so she did not see his smug reaction.

Lucy intertwined their fingers high on her stomach as she asked, "How many minutes until you have to drive me back to the mansion?"

"We've got a little time. Want me to whip up some eggs for you?"

"That big house has plenty of food, but it doesn't have you. Don't go anywhere." His body heat was exactly what she needed.

"I think you've made it pretty obvious that you're a cuddler."

"You're so cuddly," she justified. "Plus, physical touch is one of my receiving love languages."

"Do you know what goes well with physical touch? Quality time, which you said was my receiving love language."

"I did say that," she recalled. "I guess cuddling is a great way to spend time together."

"Sign me up any time," he sighed happily and shut his eyes again to really take stock of how her smaller body fit curled into his, the way his fingers fit perfect between hers, and even how their heartbeats were in perfect sync. Tim had never valued it with any other partner before, but perhaps no one else slotted together with him like puzzle pieces made for each other.

As she hummed happily, she turned around to face him. She brushed her lips over his and met his gaze as the most intimate kind of silence settled over them- neither speaking but saying a million loving words with their eyes. Developing a form of nonverbal communication together truly made her feel more confident in their relationship regardless of the circumstances created by the show. "I don't want to go back to sharing you today," Lucy admitted quietly; even if he could read her thoughts on her face, she wanted that particular sentiment to be plainly known.

"I wish you didn't have to go on group dates. Hell, I wish I didn't have to go on group dates. They're such disasters."

"Maybe having me there will make it less of a disaster. If you're stuck in a bad conversation with someone, you should give me a signal."

"A signal?" He cupped her chin. "I'll just walk right up to you and do this," he said then kissed her hard.

"I'm being serious."

"So am I. Let's practice again." He dove back in, crashing his lips against hers, but their laughter prevented them from truly kissing.

"I think our signals are getting crossed," she noted with a giggle.

"Yeah, we've got to work on this right now. It's critical," Tim insisted and caressed her lips slowly as they both smiled. His alarm went off a while later, and he hated having to say, "I gotta take you back."

"I know," she frowned.

"Do you need anything before I drop you off?"

"No, I don't need tampons, or heating pads, or chocolate ice cream. Thank you, though."