Chapter 5
They stared at each other, neither one able to speak, only stare. It'd been so long, too long.
Eric smiled, offering Erin his hand. "It's nice to meet you Erin, I'm Eric Davidson, and this is my friend, AJ McLean."
Erin shook his hand numbly, her gaze never leaving AJ's. "It's nice to meet you Mr. Davidson."
"Eric please."
Tearing her eyes from AJ, she looked at Eric and smiled. "Pleased to meet you Eric."
AJ took a calming breath, or he tried. He felt like he'd had the wind knocked out of him. He couldn't stop looking at her, she was beautiful, even more so than he remembered. The sudden and overwhelming urge to hold her came crashing down on him like a lead weight.
He barely noticed that he was staring until Erin looked over at him, catching his gaze again. His mouth had suddenly gone dry, AJ tried desperately to form words, but found that he couldn't.
They continued to stare as Alex and Eric talked amongst themselves about what would be happening, figuring they'd leave AJ and Erin to become better aquatinted with each other.
Shaking, she couldn't believe she was actually shaking. She'd gone over the scenario in her head a thousand times of what she would do if she ever saw him again, but for some reason, she couldn't remember any of them. What she hadn't counted on, was that longing, that yearning to hold him in her arms, even after all this time. That was one thing about him that she'd missed for so long, his comforting embrace.
Clearing her throat, she forced the words past her lips. "Hi AJ." He seemed startled for a moment, but only for a moment before he smiled that achingly familiar smile and offered his hand.
"Hey Erin, long time no see." He whispered.
She nodded, "Yeah, ya look great."
"Thanks, so do you."
Her heart dropped suddenly, shaking her head she smiled at him. "I'm so glad you agreed to this."
"Me too." He replied softly.
They grew quiet again, staring at each other.
Amber and Eric looked over at the two suddenly as they finished their conversation and reguarded each other in confusion.
"Hey, do you two know each other?" Amber questioned, looking between the two intensely.
"Uhh...not...uh...well..." Erin started.
"Not...umm, kind...of but not... AJ stuttered, looking over at Erin who was now looking at him, an unreadable expression on her face.
They both turned quiet suddenly.
"Uh, ok." Amber went on wearily, "Erin, why don't you show AJ around get to know each other and the facility better while Eric and I finish up with the details. Is that ok with you AJ?"
"Yeah, that's cool."
"Erin?"
Erin nodded, "Sure."
"Ok, when you're done, just meet us back at the office."
Amber and Eric left, leaving Erin and AJ alone to stare wordlessly at each other.
