Sean paced along the tiled floor, the feeling of the young receptionists eyes burning into he back of his head. She was quite the firecracker, adamant that she could hand the ring over to Kelsey when she came down to check out. Those phone skills certainly wouldn't get her very far in his office and judging by her permanent attachment to her mobile he couldn't imagine any work would actually get done either.

Memories from last night flooded Sean's mind as he waited. If this receptionist was a firecracker then Kelsey was a nuclear explosion, loud and chaotic. It appears her life had gone in an inexplicable direction than what he thought it could've been. Of course all of that personality possibly would've been muted by his brother. A smile crept onto Sean's face, he was intrigued to find out more about this woman. Would that be weird? Maybe she had time before she had to get her train? Sean floated the idea of what was the less creepy way of asking her for a coffee to have a catch up.

The sound of hinges in a dire need of an oiling caught his attention. There she was. He turned to see the woman who had spent the best part of his morning on his mind.

Kelsey's eyes squinted from the bright white lights reflecting off the floor, bringing a hand to her temple she rubbed it softly. Sean let out a small laugh at the image before him, his smile broadening.

"Feeling rough?" He teased as she made her way towards him. The eyes of the receptionist now following her, an audible 'oh god' sounding as she passed the desk.

"Morning, Sadie." Kelsey smiled, giving a small wave in her direction but avoiding eye contact. As she approached Sean her eyes met his sheepishly. "Morning Sean. I'm so sorry for las-"

"Don't, Kels." Sean interrupted, "You have absolutely nothing to apologise for. I was happy for the company."

Kelsey dropped her gaze and swung her arms awkwardly, clutching the hem of her hoodie sleeves in comforting fists.

"Let's not kid ourselves. I was a fucking mess last night." she scoffed. "And you trying to make me feel better by pretending otherwise really isn't helping."
Sean waited for her eyes to return to his before giving a reassuring smile.

"Fine. Yes you were a mess." He admitted "But I have been far worse and seen a heck of a lot worse from the guys in my office. So, truly, you have nothing to apologise for."

Kelsey's worry lines faded from her forehead and her tense shoulders slumped forward in his reassurance. A smirk tugged at the corner of her lips as she dug her fidgeting hands deep into her pockets.

"So, you often enjoy the company of drunks then?" She teased as her smile grew wider. Sean broke eye contact briefly, laughing as he raked a free hand through his hair as the other continued to squeeze the emerald ring in his palm.

"Not often do I have the pleasure of having the company of one who is as entertaining as yourself. More often than not it's far more dramatic and louder than last night." Sean said.

A loud splatter and a fit of coughs sounded from the young receptionist.

"Oh god. I now just realise how bad that sounds out of context." The tops of his cheekbones were glazing over with a soft hue of red. Sean took a deep breathe.
"Anyway, I'm here to give you this." He opened the palm of his hand and offered his outstretched hand to Kelsey. The emerald glistened under the fluorescent lights. Kelsey's eyes brimmed with tears at the sight of her late grandma's ring.

"Oh my god, thank you!" She cried, delicately picking up the golden band from Sean's hand, the metal warm from his body heat. "I've been loosing my mind trying to find this."

"You're welcome." Sean watched as she slid it onto her finger, clutching her hands together a warmth of gratitude radiated off of her.

"Any chance you also have my purse hiding somewhere on your person too?" Kelsey asked timidly, her eyes trailing down the length of Sean's body, his empty hands now buried deep within his equally empty jean pockets.

"No?" Sean questioned, his eyebrows furrowing.

"Well shit." Kelsey twisted the ring round on her finger, the panic resurfacing once more. "Any chance you recall seeing it last night?"

"Not entirely sure, you did spill your bag at some point in the kitchen? But I didn't check fully this morning as I was in a bit of a rush to get your ring to you before you left- oh shit, Kels. Please tell me you have your train ticket saved on your phone?" Sean's eyes widened. Kelsey's face flushed and her eyes darted to anywhere than the blue ones staring directly at hers.

"I prefer the physical copy." She mumbled. "Which is why I also don't have my cards saved onto my phone either."

Seans eyes widened further in shock. He couldn't comprehend not having everything saved on the slim device that resided in his back pocket currently.

    "So I'm currently a little bit stuck." She laughed, rocking back on her heels, her hands fidgeting with contents in her hoodie pocket. Kelsey's attention fell on the glass sliding doors just behind him, her teeth grazing her bottom lip gently. "Do you mind if we step outside quickly?"

Nodding Sean followed her into the brisk morning air over to a raggedy wooden bench just off to the right of the travel lodge's entrance.

A thin tendril of smoke swirled up from the cigarette that Kelsey held delicately between her lips. Sean sat beside her, his elbows gently on his knees as he rested his head on his knuckles. He tilted his head to look at Kelsey.

"Didn't peg you for a smoker?" He smirked.

"Dirty habit, I know. My mum is constantly going on about it." Kelsey sat back against the bench and dragged out a deep breathe, releasing a cloud above her head. A sigh leaving her lips as a part of the stress from the morning left with it. She looked back over to Sean, her eyes meeting his, she scrunched her nose. "Ever the healthy Henderson I can imagine I'm going to hear the same speech from you."

"Quite the opposite." Sean said, reaching forward and taking the cigarette from her hand. He placed it between his lips and inhaled, leaning back on the bench beside her, he outstretched his arms along the backrest releasing his smoke cloud above them. "I've also developed the habit. Except it's more of a social habit." He smiled as he passed it back to Kelsey who stared on in shock, her lips curling up into a smile.

"Fair enough, Henderson. You are just full of surprises today." She laughed before taking another drag.

"I think I could have a fair amount more up my sleeves if you're intrigued." Sean said "I could get your train ticket for you if you'd like?"

Kelsey turned to face him, her heart skipping a beat whether it was due to his selfless suggestion or the close proximity she couldn't quite tell. But there was no sign of joke in his words or his face. His eyes, an endless comforting swirl of blue entrapped her gaze. The warmth of his arm resting on the backrest of the bench behind her made her very aware of his presence and she couldn't deny that she was enjoying it.

"I think I want to stay here a bit longer" Kelsey whispered.

A sharp, hot sensation brought Kelsey out of her trance. Ash had fallen from her cigarette and burned a small whole in her leggings, skin from her thigh tingling from the burn.

"Ah fuck." She hissed through gritted teeth, swiping heavily at the fallen ash she sat up away from Sean. Reality crashing back around her.

     "I mean, I've got some extra Holiday days to take thankfully. So I'm using that to get everything back on track. Fix the mess I've created." Kelsey flustered as she waved her hands in an effort not to draw attention to blush that had spread across her face. Sean withdrew his arms and sat upright amused. "Which reminds me. I need to get to the bank." Kelsey stood up taking another drag before handing the remainder out to Sean. "Need to get some money to pay for an extra night."

  Sean accepted the last drag and stood also, his form towering over Kelsey. He smiled down to her.
"Going to need to book an extra three nights actually." Taking the cigarette stump between his finger he flicked it to the ground, expelling the smoke in the process.

"What? Why?!"
"Rail works happening till Friday." Sean laughed.

"You're joking." Kelsey stood mouth agape as Sean turned to enter back into the building, looking over his shoulder he laughed.
"As funny as this series of events have been that is not a joke."

  Kelsey followed him back inside as he approached Sadie at the front desk. Sean pulled his phone out from his back pocket.

"Hi there, Mis Owens wishes to extend her stay if that's alright. Till Friday morning if possible." Sean said giving Sadie his signature smile.

    Sadie stared up at him, his charm laced words freezing her in time. Placing her phone down slowly she turned excruciatingly slowly in her chair to look at the computer screen. The clicks of the keyboard sounded out in the silence, Kelsey stood still not quite sure what was going on.
"Umm, Sean? I still need to go to the bank-"

   A small ding broke Kelsey off when she realised what had just happened. Watching Sean pocket his phone he turned back towards her, eyebrow raised and shrugging he couldn't help but laugh.

"Oh please tell me you didn't just do what I though you did."
"If it makes you feel any better you can pay me back once we find your purse." Sean winked as he walked back towards Kelsey, resting his hand gently on her shoulder to guide her towards the car park.

     Kelsey's eyes locked with Sadie. The young woman watched with wide eyes. Wow she mouthed whilst nodding her head in approval.