Simple Complexity

Part 9

'Er?'

'Yeah?'

'Don't rush okay, do what you need to do. He does deserve that.'

The brunette nodded as she leaned in to kiss the blonde, wanting to kiss her desperately hard but not wanting to aggravate her injuries so she settled on softly drawn-out kisses instead.

'Try and rest okay, Abby and Patty are here if you need anything.'

Erin walked out of the room, closing the door behind her and she walked into the kitchen grabbing a glass of water and downing most of it.

'Hey, I gotta go see Josh, I need to...I need to see him...I need to, uhh..do this ...now.'

Patty and Abby looked over at Erin from the couch, Patty standing up and walking over to the brunette, opening her arms up and hugging the woman. Erin snuggled in, wrapping her arms firmly around Patty's waist, the woman holding her tight. No one said anything and Erin just let out a small sigh and Patty kissed Erin's head.

'Make sure she eats something,' Erin said as she pulled away, 'I'll be back soon.'

Erin hovered, wringing her hands and then she looked over at the bedroom door.

'You okay honey?' Abby asked as Erin nodded, still wringing her hands, still looking at the door.

'Erin?' Patty said, walking into the small kitchen, her eyes darting to Abby.

The brunette turned to her, bringing her hands to her forehead and she burst into tears, sliding her hands to cover her face.

Abby was up and by her side instantly and she put her arms out, Erin falling into them.

'I nearly lost her, and I would have never been able to tell her how I feel about her,' Erin sobbed.

'Oh baby,' Patty said, walking back over, reaching for the woman's shoulder as Abby squeezed Erin tight.

'She knows now, she knows, and you know too.' Abby said softly, and Erin buried her head into the crook of her neck.

'She's been in love with you for a long time Erin,' Patty said and Abby nodded.

Erin pulled away a little, 'I think I have been too. I mean,' Erin wiped her eyes, stepping back a little from Abby, the woman still holding her. 'I mean,' and Erin took a breath, 'I think I always have, we overstep the boundaries of friendship constantly, but it was just so normal for us, so standard, just natural.'

Patty nodded.

'I just didn't realise. We just have our little Holtz and Erin bubble you know? We are just in our own little world.'

Abby laughed, looking over at Patty, who chuckled too.

'What?' Erin said, wiping her face, her tears beginning to slow.

'This bubble you speak of,' Patty said, laughing a little more, 'Holtzy has mentioned it too.'

Abby pulled her arms away, smiling at Erin.

'Just funny that you both see the two of you as having your little comfort bubble.'

Erin smiled, 'She said the same?'

'Yeah,' Patty said, 'exactly the same.'

'I think the two of you were dating without realising it,' Patty said with a happy smile.

Erin nodded, walking over to where she'd dropped her coat to the back of a chair when they'd come in, and she picked it up, holding it over her arm. She pulled a couple tissues out of the box that was sitting on her table, blowing her nose. She inhaled, trying to clear her head and stop her tears. She as feeling so much guilt, and so much hurt, worried about not being liked when she first went out on a date with Josh, to having him tell her he loved her. To realising she had feelings for someone else, her heart she had already given away, claimed by another.