you drew stars around my scars

Chapter six

I spent that night lying restlessly in bed. A thousand thoughts swirling around.

Part of me felt like an idiot, misreading and over analyzing looks that probably meant nothing. I mean this was the Vice President of the United States, and I was just a Secret service agent. In what world would she want anything more than a professional relationship with me?

Then I thought about how much I enjoyed her company. The friendly teasing, how thoughtful she was. A part of me ached at the friendship we'd been forming over the past few months. I didn't want to lose that.

I had been so lonely before she came into my life.

Sighing audibly and covering my face with my hands, I tried to hold back the tears that threatened to fall.

Whatever this was-I knew one thing, I didn't want to lose it. Didn't want to lose her.

She was a constant. A comfort. Something I wasn't used to and didn't have much of in my life.

I didn't know where we went from here, but I knew that I didn't want to lose the progress we'd made.

***

My alarm went off far too early the next morning. I had wanted to make sure I was awake before Kamala, hence the godawful hour I dragged myself out of bed.

After getting ready, I silently made my way to the shared living room, taking a seat on the couch in anticipation.

I didn't have to wait long before the door to her room opened.

She was dressed in her usual professional attire-a perfectly tailored pantsuit-ready for the day.

I could see the conflicting emotions and hesitancy on her face as our eyes connected from across the room.

She slowly walked towards me, hands wringing together nervously.

"Agent Riley-"

I held up a hand and she stopped, the words dying on her lips, her body physically halted in its place.

Walking closer, I stopped with only a short distance between us, our eyes locking.

I could see the anxiety swirling in those brown orbs. My chest clenched, wanting to make it better. I hated that either of us felt like this.

I hesitantly reached my hand out, grasping hers in mine. The gesture tender, meant to comfort.

"Kamala-" I said softly.

She closed her eyes at the sound of her first name on my lips. I realized it was only the second time I'd ever said it-The first being yesterday at the record shop. It had slipped out then; I hadn't even realized it at the time, and she hadn't said anything.

It felt more intimate in this moment.

After hearing her call me Agent Riley this morning, I wanted to show her that those walls didn't have to close up again.

"Last night-" I began, only for her to shake her head.

"I'm so sorry. That was unprofessional and-"

I cut her off with a squeeze of our hands, taking a step closer. I could see the fear and turmoil in her eyes, and I needed, desperately, to make it better.

"Stop," I commanded softy. "Don't apologize-Please. What happened last night..." I swallowed, halting, thinking about my next words carefully.

"These past few months, I've grown to love my job. It's an honor to be a part of your team. To get to know you. I don't want what happened last night to change that. Let's just...keeping being...us. We don't have to analyze it all. I enjoy your company, and I think I can say you enjoy mine," I said, my eyebrow raising, a teasing smile on my face.