Finishing Court early, I decide to see if Drix can spare an hour at work for lunch. Not wanting to wait til tonight to see him, I shoot a text through.

Me: How’s your day shaping up?

Drix: It’s improving now.

Me: I finished Court early, do you have time to spare for lunch?

Drix: Yes. The office will be empty by the time you get here.

Me: I’ll buy something on the way

Drix: Perfect.

Traffic in the middle of the day is minimal, including a stop at a nearby café, I arrive at his office in just over thirty minutes.

Having not been there before, I follow the signs to where I think he would be, hoping to surprise him.

Ever since the adorable “my girl” declaration, everything feels different. Our bedroom fairytale has turned into something tangible. Something I wasn’t expecting. Something very real. Everyday we get closer. Our hearts. Our minds. Our bodies. We’re learning to live in each other’s lives and it’s the happiest I’ve ever been.  

The door to what I assume is his office is ajar, and I nudge it open with my shoulder, my hands full with lunch. The sound of me entering, has him looking up from his computer screen. Swapping his initial look of annoyance for a smile that shines in his eyes. “You’re here.”

Rising, he heads toward me, as I mirror his steps. My eyes take in the graffitied walls, and the sporadic places of other desks. “This place looks great.”

Ridding me of the plastic bags, he places them on his desk, before cupping my chin, and bringing my face toward his. “You look better.” His woodsy scent embraces me as my lips seek out his. “I don’t think I tell you how much I love when you’re dressed up like this.”

I follow his eyes and look down at my high waisted pants, and the tucked in camisole, covered with a short, three quarter jacket. “I wear the same thing every day.”

“No. On Court days everything is just that little bit sexier,” he says bringing his thumb and forefinger close together. “Like you want to show everyone exactly who calls the shots.”

“Does it work?” I ask playfully.

“Definitely.” His lips part as he gives me a once over. “You look just as ruthless, as you do beautiful.”

“I knew there was a reason I kept you around.”

“I thought it was my dick.”

“And your compliments.” Excited to finally be in Drix’s work space, and see another part of his world, I step away, and give myself a mini tour. “So, where is everyone?”

“Most of them are out at the local schools, checking up on all their clients.” He explains the ins and out of the place, as he sets up our lunch across his desk. “I try to schedule my outside visits when everyone is in the office, so it’s a little bit quieter, and the majority of my clients are kids you won’t find in school.”

I hear the sandwich wrappers rustle behind me. “Are you coming to eat?”

“Just give me a second,” I call back to him. “These walls are fucking brilliant.”

“They are. There’s some fucking talented kids out there.”

I look back at him. “Your clients did this?”

“Yeah. Every two years we let them revamp it for us. If they create the space, they respect it more, and in turn respect what you’re trying to do for them.”

“You love working here, don’t you?”

The side of his mouth lifts in a smirk. “Am I that obvious?”

I let the smile stretch across my face, hoping my eyes convey how proud I am to know a man who is so passionate about the welfare of others. As obvious as it sounds to help someone in need, it is not in everyone’s nature to do so. The world is blessed with hearts like Hendrix’s to make the losses and injustices a little easier to bear.

Someone will always remember the shitty time in their life, but they’ll remember the one who offered to help them when they needed it most even more.

Engrossed in the art, I give Drix my back, and trace the designs with my hands.  “Do you ever just want to take these kids home and give them a proper chance?”

“All the time,” he says with no reservation. “It was harder when I first started, because I wanted to save the world. Now I’m less green and understand the system and the kids much more, but every now and then I'll meet one person who will blow my mind, and I just let myself imagine the possibilities.”

“I think that's what I want to do one day, open my house up and foster kids.”

“What about kids of your own?” he asks, the view of my back making it easier for me to answer.

“I mean I want them, I guess. I’d just have to have the right partner.” Like a flash of lightning a vision of Drix with our baby hits me with a pang of longing in my chest. “What about you?”

“I haven't had a reason to think of myself as a father in a really long time.” The admission has me reading between the lines, wondering if he ever wished Dakota was his. “But I believe compatibility and unity is everything. As old school as it sounds I want to be with the mother of my baby. I want to be sure it's forever.”

Could that be me?

“Coming from a broken home and watching Dakota grow up without a dad,” he continues. “It's become my one single requirement.”

“And the foster kids?”

“That’s an added bonus.” I hear his chair squeak, before footsteps sound in my direction. “If I have the means to provide for as many kids as possible, why wouldn't I?”

If in that moment anybody asked me what Hendrix’s most attractive quality was, I'd tell you his heart. His huge, selfless and pure heart.

“Please come and eat,” he whispers unexpectedly in my ear.

“I can’t stop looking at it.” What I really mean is the broken beauty on these walls makes me think of missed opportunities. It makes my heart heavy for all the things their lives could be. And it has me desperately wanting to make a difference.

“When it’s time to change the space, you could come here and draw with them. Show them how good you are.”

Merged with my thoughts of him and I having babies together and a house full of foster kids, his slip about the future hits me like a boulder to the chest. It makes me nervous, and excited, and so fucking relieved that I’m not the only one that’s falling hard and fast.

Leaning back, I relax into him, and take one last look at the wonders in front of me. “I’d love that.”

“So, I've got something I want to ask you.” Drix looks at me over the table, a hint of trepidation passes his features.

“What is it?”

“It's Dakota’s sixteenth birthday next weekend and she's having a thing at Jagger's.” He fidgets with his earlobe, his own uneasiness spurring on mine. “And, I want you to come with me.”

“Oh.” The invitation is unexpected, and my gut tells me there’s a million reasons why I shouldn’t go. It’s a beautiful gesture, one that screams, family, importance, future and love. Everything a woman wants to hear and feel from the man she’s with, but this isn’t a conventional situation, and I don’t know if our bubble is strong enough to withstand the intrusion.

“Say something,” he urges.

Pinching my bottom lip, between my fingers, I line up the sentence in my mind before I blow all the progress we’ve made. “Are you sure it’s a good idea with Sasha being there?”

“I don’t know.”

“I’m sorry, but that’s not enough Drix.” He watches me pensively, as I continue. “If you want me to meet Dakota, as your girlfriend, we can do it on our own time, but I’m not ruining that girl’s birthday party.”

“Who said anything about ruining it?”

“Come on, you know better than that.” I run my hands up and down my thighs, trying to contain my nervous energy. “She threw shade my way when the idea of us hadn’t even been conceived yet. What do you think she’ll do when she finds out we’re together?”

“We’re all adults, Taylah,” he says condescendingly. “And we’ve been playing nice for Dakota our whole lives.”

His lack of concern, and my unsure heart has me biting back. “How do I know you don’t want me there to shove it in her face?”

Closing the distance between us, he comes around from the desk, kneeling in between my legs.

His voice cracks. “Where is this coming from?”

Lowering my head, I let my hair hide my face. “You’ve loved her forever, Drix. I know those words haven’t come out of your mouth, but I know,” I insist. “And I can’t compete with that. Not now, not when we’re still so new.”

He doesn’t run to my defence and tell me he isn’t in love with her anymore or tell me there’s no competition between us. It leaves a little scratch on my heart as I feel like our whole relationship just stepped back in time.

“I told you once and I’ll say it again.” My voice is low and steady, the anger brewing within me. “I will not be your practice girlfriend.”

“Crazy,” he shakes his head. “You’ve got it all wrong.”

“Do I? Because you haven’t said anything to make me think otherwise.”

He splays his hands on either side of my face, bringing me so close to his face, our noses are touching. “I asked you because I want you to come, because I want you there. To be part of the things and people that are important to me. I didn’t ask you so you can question everything between us.”

Grabbing his wrists, I pull his hands down, off my face. I put my heart on a plate and hand it to him. “I'm falling in love with you, Drix. Please don't make me regret coming to this party.”

His mouth opens, but a different voice makes itself known throughout the reason. “Ah, shit, sorry Drix, I can come back later.”

“No. No. It’s okay.” Holding on the arms of the chair, he gets up off his knees. “Come in and have a seat.”

His client walks in with his head down, embarrassed and uncomfortable. Standing up I right my clothes, and throw my bag over my shoulder.

“Can we talk more about it later?” Drix asks me quietly.

“No. It’s fine.” I squeeze his shoulder, “I said I would come. So I will.”

“I’ll see you tonight?” he asks, and for the first time in a long time my answer changes.

“I’ll call you tomorrow.”

He glances between me and the kid, knowing very well this isn’t the time or the place to argue. Knowing I backed him into a corner I leave the room well aware he can’t come after me.

As I’m just about to exit the room, I hear the young boy say, “You fucked up, Drix.”

I still in the doorway, wondering if he’ll respond.

“I know, man. I know”