We Always Had A Thing by Meg Evans (best summer reads .txt) 📕

room, his eyes lighting up; those slate-blue eyes that she adored losing herself in, so much. She paused. Why had she thought that? She dismissed it, and carried on towards him. 
'You look-'
'Deathlike?' Peter joked. Megan chuckled; five minutes ago, she would not have expected to be laughing so soon. 
'How are you?' she asked. 
'As content as you can be after surviving, what could have been a fatal injury, a second time in your life,' he answered. 'And you? Are you okay? Did he hurt you?
'No, he didn't. And yes, I'm fine! But, why is everyone asking me how I am? I'm not the one that was injured!' 
'Because they care about you, you plonker. And even though I got issued injury, you were put under, near torture.'
'Highlight the near, because nothing happened to me.' This was not how she'd planned their first chat to go - having a little squabble over nothing. She let the issue drop and took a seat next to the hospital bed.
'Why were you there? Why had you come back?' 
'I wanted to apologise. I overreacted, and I didn't want you feeling bad. I was actually coming to take you to the club to join us. Then I saw you tied to the chair, with that bastard stood waving that goddamn hook in your face...I theorized the worst things.' There was a silence for a time, as both recalled the horror of the night. 
'I haven't really thanked you yet...so um, thank you,' Megan murmured. Surprisingly, Peter took Megan's hand. She noted how it was now throbbing with warmth. She looked up, he stared at her.
'No matter how many times we argue, or whatever mess you get into, and even if I deny it, I will always have your back, Megan. Always,' Peter reassured her, his misty eyes not once faltering from hers.
'I thought you were going to die today, and I never realised how much I like having you around Peter Dunlop.' His intense staring did not become awkward, and Megan was so mystified, she nearly let something slip that she hadn't been sure about until seeing Peter alive a few minutes ago.
'Peter, I lo-,' she paused, wondering whether it was right to tell him now. 
'Yes Megan?' She swear she caught the hint of a smirk flickering across his lips. She became transfixed on his lips for a moment, mumbling to find the right words as she did so. 'Um, uh...um.' She restarted with a weary smile. 'Peter. I, uh, love what you've done with your hair today! It's all sweepy and-' But before she could carry on and finish her pitiful jabbering that flowed freely from her mouth, Peter, still grasping her hand, tugged her gently closer until their faces were barely a few centimetres apart. Peter fondly twirled a lock of Megan's reddish brown hair and tucked it behind her ear. She slid her hand onto the side of his face.
'Peter, how in God's name are you managing to seduce me, sat on a hospital bed?' she smirked, her eyes examining every line of his face, but always being lured back to the crystal-like eyes. She noticed Peter mirroring her, examining her own face.
'Well, in being me, I can seduce in any circumstance.' 
'Right,' Megan snorted, leaning in, closing the gap between them. Their lips met, and a massive surge of happiness and fulfilment exploded within her, making her smile into the kiss. She felt a hand curl around her waist, gently urging her forward. His other cradled her face, and she leaned slightly into it. Both her hands were occupied keeping his face close to her. 
'Hey Meg, we're all-' Ethan halted, a rosy blush flourishing into his cheeks. 'Um, hey.'
'Yes, Ethan?' Megan sighed, smirking. The double doors were both open, revealing their crowd of colleagues, accompanied with newly arrived, Jean and Lacey. Their worried expressions evaporated when they saw Megan and Peter. 
'Seems we shouldn't be so worried after all, Lace,' Jean exclaimed. 
'Hey, sweetie,' Megan welcomed, with slight awkwardness. As always, Lacey got straight to the point.
'Are you two an item then,' she beamed.
'O'course they are kid. You don't just walk in on two people twiddly-diddling on a gurney, and call it welcoming someone back from certain death,' Curtis answered, good-naturedly. 
The crowd chuckled.
'Come on guys, come on in,' Peter ushered.
'The nurse said only one visitor a time,' Kate reminded.
'Well, I say different. And I think I can clarify a full recovery soon.' He shot Megan a meaningful look. 
Lacey rushed over to her mother, embracing her so tightly Megan had to warn Lacey of crushing her lungs. Jean embraced her daughter, kissing the top of her head. At this moment in time, surrounded by the family that were most precious to her, the only people in the world that she could consider as friends, and a new potential boyfriend, she could think of nowhere safer - although she'd never admit that. 
After a while, the group began to disperse. Curtis and Ethan left first, excusing themselves, 'I'm sorry, but me and Ethan are gonna' have to go now. We've prebooked a bowling tournament, and I'd promised Ethan a can o' whoopass.' 
'Yeah. Don't think we're more interested in bowling than you, because we're not, but you're okay now, and we're crowding the room and-'
'Ethan, shut yo' mouth boy, stop flusterin' the guy. See you tomorrow gang.' Curtis waved as he left the room, Ethan trailing behind him, pulling an apologetic expression.
'...and I need to show him how amazing my powers of bowling are,' he whispered as he left. 
Bud and Sam left together next, saying they were going to have a drink before work tomorrow. Megan didn't miss the fleeting look of fondness between them, but resolved not to mention it. Then, Megan insisted her mother take Lacey home as it was late, and Todd would kill her if she was out too late, no matter what the circumstance. Kate was last, and she felt pressured to leave. Before she went, Kate asked to speak to Megan outside for a few moments, reassuring Peter, it was all good. The doors swung closed. 
'I'm happy for you Megan. Peter's a good man.'
'Yes, yes he is.' 
'When did you realise?' 
'Realise what?' 
'That you loved him?'
Megan was thrown by the question. 
'Well, I guess seeing him alive could have sparked it.' 
'I thought recently you'd started to have a thing, but you could never be sure with the amount of spats you two had.'
Looking in at Peter, Megan smiled, 'Me and Peter - we've always had a thing.'
*** 
Kate left, leaving Megan and Peter alone. She sidled to her Peter, and he carefully shuffled along the bed leaving a small amount of room for her to join him. They placed themselves so they sat leaning toward one another.
'I love you, Megan Hunt.'
'Well, I think I may have discovered that emotion again, you know. I love you. Peter Dunlop.'
They leaned forward and shared another kiss, passionately. Peter combed his fingers through the lush silkiness of Megan's hair, whilst she caressed his cheek. 
Megan didn't leave until late the next morning , but sat curled in the embracing arms of her protector, Peter for the remainder of the night. She didn't want to be anywhere else.
At around 2:00am, Peter murmured, 'Do you know how long I've wanted this? From the first time I saw you, there was something. I loved the fire, adored the way you'd only really let me near. Despised your unemotional and stubborn ways though.' They chuckled. 'Even tried flirting a couple of times, but you know you; cleverest mind in Philly, but no idea when it comes to emotions.'
'I guess I thought the feelings I had for you as an incredibly close friendship. What a dummy. Guess I didn't trust the flirtatious, lovey emotions of mine after all the failures.' 
'You're beautiful.'
'As are you.' 
'You're still going to be an incredibly awkward person, Meg.' 
'Hey! I can do love stuff.' 
'Yes.' 
'I ca-!' She was interrupted, as Peter brushed his lips against hers.
They'd always had a thing.
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Text: Meg Evans
Publication Date: 07-23-2012

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