AJ laid Dawn down on the couch and walked into the bathroom to get some antiseptic to clean up her lip. Then he stopped in his room and got a sweatshirt and pair of shorts for her to wear.
He walked back into the living room and saw her sitting on the couch with her knees pulled up to her chest, her chin resting on them. He walked over to her. He didn’t know what to do, he wanted so badly to comfort her, but he wasn’t sure how.
He put the clothes down on the table and sat down on the couch next to her and put his arm around her. She was shaking. She looked up at him and put her head on his shoulder and started to cry again.
"Shhh," he said softly as he stroked her hair. "It’s okay".
"I’m sorry," she said between sobs. "I’m sorry to bother you with this".
"Are you kidding?" AJ responded. "You’re not bothering me at all. In fact, I was just thinking about you".
Dawn stopped crying and wiped her eyes. AJ leaned over to get the box of tissues from the table, then handed them to her.
"Thanks," she said.
"Come here", he said cupping her chin in his hand. "Let me look at that lip".
After he finished putting the antiseptic on her lip, he got up to put it away. Dawn watched after him.
‘I can’t believe he’s still talking to me after I slapped him earlier’, she thought to herself. 'Not to mention all the terrible things I said to him'.
He came back with a glass of warm milk and handed it to her. He used to always make that for her when she couldn’t sleep or she was upset. It relaxed her.
"So, do you want to talk about it?" He asked, sitting down next to her.
"Do you mind if I go put these clothes on first?" She asked.
"Sure," he replied. "The bathroom is down the hall, to your right".
While Dawn was gone AJ sat there trying to figure out what he was doing.
‘I want to help her’, he thought to himself, 'but I have feelings for her, also. I don’t know if I can do this'.
Dawn walked in and sat down on the couch next to him. He couldn’t get over how adorable she looked wearing his clothes.
‘Dammit, AJ, focus, man, FOCUS!’ He cursed himself.
"So, talk to me,” he said as he turned to face her.
She sighed. "Well, you were right", she started. "I brought up him seeing someone else and he didn’t deny it".
He sighed and looked over at her sadly.
"I’m really sorry," he said as he took her hand in his. "I’m sorry he’s an asshole, and I’m especially sorry I had to be the one to tell you what I saw".
"Don’t be sorry!" She exclaimed. "I appreciate you telling me. I know I can always count on you to be honest with me, even when I don’t want to hear it".
“Yeah, you can,” he smiled. "So, how did you end up with a bloody lip"?
"Oh, he came home late because he went out drinking with his friends and got mad at me when I wouldn’t have sex with him," she responded.
"So he hit you?" He asked surprised.
"Yeah, well, I was mad because he was drinking when he told me he would quit and he accused me of sleeping with you. We got in a huge fight and that’s how I got the bloody lip," Dawn replied.
"What?" AJ exclaimed. "You’re sleeping with me??!"
"Yeah, that’s pretty funny, isn’t it?" Dawn chuckled slightly.
"No, I don’t mean it’s funny, I’m just trying to figure out where he got that from. I mean, he’s at almost all of our rehearsals. When would we have time to do that??"
"Who knows, that’s just how his mind works," she replied. "I just can’t take it anymore.." her voice trailed off.
“You don’t have to,” AJ lightly stroked her hair. “You deserve so much better. A man that can treat you like you should be treated”.
She looked over at him and smiled as he smiled back at her shyly then cleared his throat.
“So, how long has this been going on"? He asked.
"On and off pretty much after about 6 months into our relationship”.
"That long??" AJ said surprised. "Why have you stayed with him?"
"I love him," she replied. "And at this point I’m not sure anyone else would want me".
"Are you kidding??" He asked as if she had just said the most shocking thing in the world.
"You are smart, beautiful, talented.." He decided to stop before he said something he shouldn’t. "Any man would be lucky to have you", he finished.
"Oh stop," Dawn said blushing and playfully smacked his knee.
"So tell me about your girlfriend, what’s her name again?"
"We broke up," he started. "About 6 months ago. Her name was Marissa".
"I’m sorry, I didn’t know", Dawn replied. "Geez, open mouth, insert foot".
"No big deal, I don’t mind talking about it,” he said. "We just grew apart. We were together for a long time. We were both too young for something so serious".
They continued to talk for a couple hours. They talked about everything that has happened in their lives in the past couple of years. They joked and laughed like old times. It got to the point where Dawn’s side hurt she was laughing so hard. AJ practically had her in tears.
AJ looked at the clock. "5:25!" He said surprised. "Good Lord, do you realize how long we’ve been sitting here talking??!"
"Time flies when you’re having fun," Dawn yawned. "But I am exhausted".
"Well, you can stay here as long as you want, I have plenty of room and I would love the company".
"I have to go home eventually.." she began when AJ cut her off.
"No. You don't. You don't have to go home at all."
"I’ll at least need to pick up some of my stuff," Dawn replied.
"Don’t worry about that, you can sleep in those clothes tonight, we’ll worry about the rest tomorrow. Just try to get a good night’s sleep”.
He stood up and went to check the security system to make sure it was on, then walked back over to her.
“I don’t have a bed in the guest bedroom yet. I intend on getting one, but I haven’t had time to do much of anything lately, so you can sleep in my bed and I’ll sleep on the couch".
"No, I’ll sleep on the couch. I don’t want to take your bed, Alex,” Dawn argued.
He walked over and took her hand.
"Don’t argue with me, now let's go," he smiled as he led her to his bedroom.
She sat down on the bed while AJ pulled the covers down.
"Come on, in you go,” he said pointing under the covers.
She crawled under the blanket then AJ covered her up. He sat down on the bed next to her.
“Are you gonna be alright in here?" He asked.
"I think so," she replied.
"I’ll be right down the hall," he said to her softly.
He looked at her for a minute, they’re eyes locked.
‘Damn it AJ, knock it off’, he said to himself. He kissed her forehead then got up to leave. As he started to walk out of the room Dawn called his name.
"AJ?"
"Yeah?" He turned and looked at her.
"I, umm...I changed my mind. Would you mind sleeping in here with me? My nerves are just shot right now and I don’t want to be alone," she asked quietly.
AJ thought for a minute. He really didn’t know if that was a good idea. He wasn’t sure if he trusted himself in the same bed with Dawn. Any other woman would be no big deal, but Dawn was vulnerable right now and he didn’t want anything to happen that they would both regret. The only thing is, he couldn’t say no to her. She needed him right now and he couldn't let her down.
"Sure," he said as he sat down on the bed.
He got under the covers, turned off the light on the nightstand, then lay there staring at the ceiling. Dawn turned over and placed her head on his chest. He caught a whiff of her hair.
‘God, she smells so good’, he thought to himself. He closed his eyes and tried to go to sleep.
"Alex," Dawn said in a soft voice.
"Huh?"
"This is gonna sound stupid, but why didn’t you I ever get together?" She asked.
AJ's eyes snapped open, he was shocked, he didn’t know how to answer that.
"It doesn’t sound stupid,” he admitted. “But where did that come from?"
"I don’t know, I’ve been wondering that for awhile now. When you first called me, I thought about it, and ever since I got this job with you guys I’ve thought about it off and on. I couldn’t come up with anything, though”.
"I don’t know", he answered. "It was never the right time for us, I guess".
“What would be considered the ‘right time’?” Dawn looked up at him.
He could see her eyes sparkle in the moonlight shining in from the window. He stared into her eyes for a long time, at least, it felt like a long time. He didn’t know how to answer that, he didn’t know what kind of answer she was looking for. He brought his hand up to her face, lightly grazing her cheek.
"I dunno,” he whispered. “Maybe someday, when we’re both single at the same time, maybe”.
There was a long pause as they continued to stare into each other’s eyes, finally, Dawn spoke.
“We’re both single now", she said, almost whispering.
The next thing he knew, he felt her soft lips on his.


Chapter 13
Back