La Vie en Rose

rose | falling into place (no hard feelings bonus chapter)

a / n : 

This is a quick and short chapter giving you an idea of what Dexter and Hadley have been up to after the events of No Hard Feelings.

* * *

DEXTER HAS NEVER been good at hiding his excitement.

His giddiness translates into his every movement; from the way he bounces his leg to how often he checks his watch. He looks out the window, trying to figure out where, exactly, he is by now. It's hardly any help--the streets look every bit as unfamiliar as the first time he'd gone for a visit--but he can't help himself.

"First time in the city?"

Dexter tears his gaze from the window, glancing up to catch the cab driver's eyes on the rearview mirror. "Second," he replies with an easy smile. "I love this place."

The driver gives him an amused grunt. "Not much to see around here. I don't know what got you so excited."

"You been here long?"

"For quite some time, yeah. Back then, you wouldn't see any of these buildings yet and..."

Dexter smiles to himself, listening and responding when needed. He has never had trouble talking to most people and the conversation is a welcome distraction from the traffic.

They've been stuck for a while, but not even that could dampen his mood. He expected as much anyway, and at the end of it, it's going to be worth it.

If it means seeing Hadley, it's always worth every while.

***

For Dexter, the perfect relationship involves sharing a cup of hot chocolate at 2 a.m., watching a movie together under an extra thick blanket, sneaking kisses when nobody's looking, and, well, cuddling. Lots and lots (and lots) of cuddling.

Dexter likes to believe that Hadley happens to love these almost as much as he does. These, after all, were things both of them liked doing as boyfriend-girlfriend. Or, now that he thinks about it, even as exes-turned-best-friends. Minus the kissing, of course. Except for that one drunken night...

Point is, they'd taken quite a detour to get to where they are now. Dexter almost thought they'd get lost along the way, but once they navigated through every unnecessary heartbreak (and there had been, like, a lot), it was all just a matter of finding the perfect speed to cruise down the highway.

But for someone who loves long hugs and even longer kisses, long distance relationships can be a bit of a problem. Dexter would be lying if he said he has never thought of transferring to Hadley's college before. It's a thought that always crosses his mind whenever they have to say goodbye again for the semester; when he hears her voice over the phone; and especially when she visits his dreams at night. Dreams that, he has to admit, aren't always so innocent.

If he could, he'd pack his bags and move here, but he can't. So he does the next best thing: Visit to spend the long weekend with her.

"Hope you have a nice time," the driver, whom he now knows as Jose, tells Dexter when they finally arrive.

"Thank you."

He pays extra and gets off the cab with a big smile on his face. When the cab leaves, he turns to look at Hadley's apartment building. Hoisting his duffel bag over his shoulder, he takes out his phone to take a selfie of him in front of her building.

He sends it to her, slides the phone back in his pocket, and looks toward the door.

Any minute now.