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When Natalie approached, her dogs sniffed at Olivia's feet with curiosity, tails wagging. She gave a nod, smile finding a bit of humor in it. The school could be confusing when someone wasn't familiar with it. Olivia had somehow managed to find herself on the most opposite end of Bellefonte.
"Oh, no. I'm a trainer here." She replied. "The campus is pretty large. Let me just take you there." And before Olivia could have the chance to object, she was guiding the paralegal down the hallway. It was easier than trying to offer directions. "Are you and your neice close then?"
Natalie was in no way skilled enough to help with the task Teddy had at hand. Unsure of the finer details of being a lawyer, she didn't know what it was in the first place. But the idea of assistance came from a different perspective, and though it felt as if it wasn't much, Natalie was happy to hear she managed to ease the burden, if only a little bit.
A breath of a laugh escaped her as she crossed her legs. "You'll have to get used to that, then." She replied, eyes still on Teddy rather than the meal she was opening.
Glass tupperware carried rice with a mixture of grilled and seasoned vegetables. A mason jar set aside held warm amber liquid, a metal ball clinking in the bottle with tea likely done steeping by then.
Steps away from her were absolutely necessary, but when Teddy took them, Natalie couldn't help her disappointment. Her hands pressed to her jeans before she moved to sit in the seat opposite of the lawyer. At least now there was a desk between them.
"It's okay, you had a good reason." Natalie replied with a little shrugged. She had the confidence to know that Teddy didn't want to have to cancel their plans. Her work called to her, and given the hour and her glasses, she wasn't kidding when she said there was a lot to do. "I wish I could help."
It was hard not to linger the moment she got close. Natalie had told herself that she'd only be there long enough to drop her off the meal and insure she actually ate before she would go, but that plan was already dwindling. Moreso when the lawyer spoke of company. She could help the way her smile grew.
"I won't distract you." She reassured, or at least tried to. "I promise."
But she didn't shift away, instead letting her hand draw down to the lawyer's shoulder. "You should eat before it gets cold."
Natalie couldn't help the connection she made, and even then it didn't feel like enough. She was drawn in by the lawyer's presence, and she already spared a glance down to the lips she had missed kissing. They drifted back up to those perfect eyes and the glasses they spoke about, her own eyes finding a little humor in the response offered.
"They look good on you." She reassured easily. Natalie doubted there wasn't anything that she couldn't pull off flawlessly, even when drowning with work to do.
With the bag taken, her hand naturally found its way towards Teddy, resting against her hip before she dared to lean forward and catch her lips with a light kiss. "How's the night shift going?"
There was a decent break between her training sessions, and Natalie found herself with a good chunk of time to kill. Fortunately, it was a warm enough day, and the dogs that walked beside her were itching to go outside. A small tote bag was slung around her shoulder as she locked the door to her office, ready to enjoy the rare Oregon sunshine with a fresh book.
She only made it a few steps down the hallway towards the outdoors when she was called out for. At first, she hadn't thought it was herself, but there was a familiarity in the voice that made her head turn. Natalie certainly hadn't expected to find Olivia in the training wing of the school.
"Hey!" Natalie smiled at the sight of someone she just had learned a few more details on, but it hadn't kept her from being friendly. She turned around completely, taking steps closer to the paralegal, dogs quick to follow with curiosity. "Your niece? I'm guessing you mean the student lounge then."
Before Natalie made it to the door, she was already seen. It wasn't a surprise, given the lawyer's acute eyesight, but what did come as a surprise were the frames that were around those bright eyes. Though it didn't make her smile waver, her eyebrows rose a little at the sight. The door was opened for her, and her bag slipped from her shoulder and she held it up. "Hey," Natalie greeted warmly, already feeling the desire to breach any distance between them. But she was working, and Natalie had come over for support.
"I assumed you haven't given yourself time to eat, so I brought you something." She took another step closer, the fingers of her free hand reaching up and forward, palm pressing lightly to the lawyer's cheek. Her pointer finger tapped against the frame. "These are new."
It seemed that the blonde woman wasn't seeking a particular book, and when she replied Natalie looked to the watch on her wrist. It was relatively early, but she just smiled with a little shrug. "I'm a bit of a morning person," she explained with a little laugh. The woman sounded as if she were a regular customer by the way she spoke. It was nice to see people supporting local shops over the big name companies.
Her footing returned towards the books that had originally caught her attention, but dark eyes settled on the person talking to her. "Oh, yes. I always come here when I'm looking for a new read." Though she wouldn't be sure if often was the best word to describe it, given she could only read so fast. "You sound like you're in here almost every day."
Even with the extension of another hour of daylight, the sun had already started to set when she arrived at the building. Somehow, the door had still managed to be unlocked, and Natalie was thankful for it, given that she hadn't offered a call or text warning her plan to visit the lawyer. She was staying late for work. So late that their dinner plans had to be rescheduled, and although that was fine, Natalie assumed it meant that her counterpart had yet to eat anything. A tote bag slung around her shoulder carried a homemade meal.
As the elevator climbed up to the appropriate floor, she wondered if she should have offered some sort of warning. It wasn't all that long ago that she said she would, but that was also with the consideration of normal work hours. This was different.
Quiet steps brought her into the empty firm. Not a soul in sight except for the only one that mattered. Even from afar, catching sight of the lawyer brought a smile to her features as she neared the glass walled office.
Slow, careful steps brought her back towards the bed. Towards her. The smile Teddy wore brought one to her own features, and as she drew close, her hands went into her pockets. It was the best way to keep her from reaching out again, because she absolutely wanted to. "Already forgiven." She knew well enough that they wouldn't hold it against the lawyer, and so she spoke easily for them.
Easing herself onto the mattress, she pulled the covers over herself, like it would somehow help despite the way she wanted to invite Teddy to join her.
It was painful to have to let go, but when familiar hands tracked out of her hair, her own let go of the material she was gripping onto, otherwise she might not have let go if she waited any longer. Instead, she forced herself to her feet, making her way to the closet. Distance seemed like the only way to really make sure her counterpart made it into the office on time, or even at all.
Not bothering with much else, she stepped into a pair of sweatpants, turning her gaze towards the lawyer. "They're going to miss you too." She pointed out, though with a little humor in her tone, in part because she knew if they had it their way, the whole lot would be sharing the same bed as herself and the lawyer rather than being separated by a door.
Teddy's passion for her job was evident. It worked its way into her blood and fueled her like oxygen. Yet here she was. Staying. And nails running into her hair dragged a wavering exhale from the trainer, her eyes drawing closed as she leaned into the contact. Her own curled around perfectly pressed fabric, squeezing it up into her palms.
"It's beautiful that you do," Natalie offered finally, truly meaning those words. Today, she had seen so many people upset with their line of work. Like it was more of a chore than actually something they wanted to do every day.
Her eyes opened again slowly. "Then I shouldn't keep you from it." Slowly, she tried to steer them back on track, but it came with a light, lingering kiss that followed.
What had been a rush to get out of bed and out the door had taken a slower turn; physicality might have kept them close but a conversation kept her there.
She had no experience with a lawyer's world, and really no idea what to expect her day to day life was like outside of a generic image painted in her mind. But she was able to travel, and even if Teddy insured her it wasn't as exciting as it sounded, she was curious what it must have been like to really experience it.
"But you love it." She denoted in the end, offering a nod at the idea. That was what mattered. "And it's pretty clear you're good at it."
Hands on her neck settled like they could truly settle for the day, despite the conversation they shared. There was comfort in the closeness between them, and her fingers traced along the length of her thigh lightly, daring to only skate across the fabric barrier she now wore.
"Your career sounds adventurous," Natalie replied with a small smile. She couldn't be upset over the idea of Teddy having to leave at last minute notice at times due to her work, even if she wished to remain at her side.
They were slowly approaching a departure from one another, but every moment was stretched out as long as possible, and Natalie had to be thankful for that.
"I'll be looking forward to it." She smiled, but her hands didn't move. Not yet. If she could manage to at all. She scored herself to the edge of the bed and beside the lawyer. "Does your day look like it'll be as busy as yesterday?"
