Killian's POV

It had been almost a week since I had last seen James. I looked over at the jacket that still remained hung behind my bedroom door. This was twice now that I had forgotten to give it back.

What was going on with me?

I never forgot anything.

"You know what you need? You need to unwind, Kil my dear." Rosie abruptly announced as she propelled herself out of bed and ripped me out from my thoughts.

"I don't understand." I replied.

"There's this crazy high end club that's opening in uptown next weekend. Ladies admit for free and drinks are half off. We've gotta go!"

"Hell no." I shook my head.

"Pleaaaasseeee please please please Killian its my birthday next weekend!" Rosie whined. I continued to shake my head like my life depended on it.

It very well might have.

"Rosie. You know I don't like club music. Or people. Or alcohol. Or people. Or being crowded. Did I mention people? We could add sweaty disgusting indistinct unknown smells to that list." Rosie gave me another one of her signature over the top sighs.

"You've got 10 days. Will you at least think about it?" She was doing that thing with her eyelashes that she thought worked on me. Honestly, I was only thinking about it because I did kind of neglect her these past few months. Not intentionally, of course, but Rosie could be quite high maintenance.

Or at least I thought she could be.

Honestly, everyone was high maintenance in my eyes.

I let out a exaggerated sigh mimicking her own before giving her a nod. "I'll think about it." A triumphant smile beamed across her face. She knew she had already won.

This is what Rosie wants and what Sarah would want, I told myself. Grow a pair.

I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket as Rosie took a seat besides me on my bed again. It was an incoming text from Sarah.

Hey Kil, I forgot to do some grocery shopping so I was thinking maybe we go out for pizza after I finish up here at the office? James will be joining too if that's alright?

I stared down at my phone for what seemed like ages, before finally replying.

I'm here with Rosie at the house. We can do some grocery shopping and I'll get started on dinner. I replied.

James can join too, I added. It didn't take long before I got a reply.

Okay sounds good. Thank you, Killian. I'll see you when I make it home, yeah? Don't make anything too complicated. I know how you get with dinners. I sent her the laughing emoji back.

She'd told me emojis helped liven conversations.

I didn't see the hype.

"Hey Rosie, how do you feel about doing some grocery shopping and helping out with dinner? Sarah's going to have another late day and didn't prep anything." Before I could even get out the full sentences, Rosie was already pulling her coat on.

"Let's go Gordon Ramsey this shit up." She nodded back. I offered her a small smile.

Who the bloody hell was Gordon Ramsey?

-

"How's it looking?" Rosie asked for the nineteenth time this minute. I gave her an eye roll.

"Looking the same way it did 15 seconds ago." I replied over the sound of the shrimp sizzling in the skillet.

"Sarah shot you a text. She says her and James are on the way. Speaking of, have you met James yet? Mama mia that man is quite literally sex on legs." I wasn't sure how to respond to that, but Rosie never really expected much of a response from me when she rambled. "Do you think him and Sarah are an item?"

I gripped the spatula a little tighter. As far as I knew, the only relationship Sarah had ever carried on, was one between her and her work. She had always told me she had no space for men in her life. Somewhere deep inside me, I was hoping that was still true.

I didn't like sharing.
-

James's POV

"God I'm starving." Sarah whined as we both strapped our seatbelts and I turned the car on.

I could feel my stomach grumbling as well from hunger. We'd both had a tedious day of getting nowhere with this case. My body felt exhausted and at this point, I could've eaten anything.

"Thanks again for inviting me over for dinner."

"As if I'd send you home to a lonely night of boxed dinners and beer on a day like this one." She replied. I offered her a smile. "I think Killian should be almost done with cooking. His friend Rosie is over now helping him out."

"Rosie?" I asked. My eyebrows furrowed up in confusion. I didn't think Sarah had ever mentioned her before.

"Killian had met her a few years back in school. I didn't even know she had a place in new York as well. I'm glad to hear he has someone familiar to keep him company though."

Keep him company? I thought to myself. "I didn't peg him as someone to keep female companions." Sarah erupted into laughter at my words.

"God no! Just friends. I don't think Killian is capable of feeling that way towards anyone just yet." She replied. My eyes grew wide.

"So you're saying he's never..."

"Dear god no. Killian has never looked at a woman that way. Hell, I'm not even sure how this friendship with Rosie started. Its been doing him good though. She's been helping with his anti social problems. She's really a sweet girl."

I gripped the steering wheel a little tighter as we neared Sarah's apartment.

I wasn't sure why I was so bothered with Killian having a female friend...

-

"We're home!" Sarah called out as we entered her apartment. I was instantly greeted by a gorgeous blonde. I wasn't sure how but in seconds, my jacket had been hung and I had been sitted at the dinner table.

"Hi, I'm Rosie. You haven't met me but god I've definitely done my research on you. Jesus Killian he's even more gorgeous in person." Sarah let out a laugh. Was this girl always this... Hyper?

She definitely didn't seem like Killian's type. Then again, according to Sarah, Killian hadn't established a type yet.

"Hi Rosie." Sarah smiled, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. I raised my eyebrows at that. I think this was the first time I'd seen Sarah be affectionate towards anyone like that.

She barely even touched Killian.

"Hi Sarah, how are you love?" Rosie asked. Her and Sarah continued on in small talk, but my eyes glanced past the two to Killian who had gently placed a few cups of tea on the table.

He was in an apron which I didn't understand why I liked so much. He looked much better than when I had seen him last, and watching him busy himself with dinner made something inside me stir.

"Hi Killian." I smiled up at him. He didn't offer a smile back, but he did however, for the first time, say something in return. 

"Hello James."