Chapter Text
It’s a good game. A great game, actually. It’s a perfect reminder of why football is the best sport in the world. For a solid 90 minutes, Rebecca’s able to forget the Ted situation.
Richmond is up 1-0 and when the final whistle blows, Rebecca screams so loudly she has to apologize (again) to the distant Royal sitting in front of her.
She doesn’t remember leaving her seat, but suddenly she’s in the locker room, hugging Sam while shouting with Richard in some colorful French she’d thought she’d long forgotten.
Then Ted is beside her, fingers gripping her wrist and pulling her close. He leans in so she can hear him over the celebration, his mustache tickling her ear.
She rolls her eyes, but squeezes his hand when she shouts, “Alright boys, first rounds on us!”
The pub owner is true to his word. He comes out of the backroom to serve Ted a pint himself and is a good sport about the whole thing, considering.
Rebecca is in charge of getting the tab sorted, a difficult feat with Ted beside her. He’s chatting with Beard and the players, but he’s constantly giving her a playful nudge, or touching her shoulder to get her take on whatever it is they’re talking about. She’s never alone and it feels . . . purposeful. Natural, but purposeful.
Eventually she turns around to rejoin the celebration. Ted’s leaning against the bar holding the same pint, barely touched.
“Worried it’s poisoned?” She teases, mirroring his position. But he just shakes his head, looking thoughtful.
“No, nothing like that.”
Colin stumbles over, handing Ted and Rebecca each a shot of something clear.
“To Richmond!!” He downs his own, grimacing loudly before diving back into the crowd.
Rebecca watches Ted raise his glass, then slip the shot onto the bar, still full. He looks at her and shrugs.
“It doesn’t feel like a night to drink away.”
The comment feels loaded, but his expression is pure Ted. Bright eyes, warm and inviting. What did Keeley say earlier, something about heart eyes? There’s nothing unusual about the way he’s looking at her. It’s the same expression he always wears, but maybe that’s the point.
She nods and slides her shot next to his, his jaw flexes and it feels like a promise.
But then Colin is back, chanting, “We’re Richmond til we die,” until the whole bar is shaking.
Rebecca remembers what else Keeley said, something about getting out of her head. More like, getting out of her own way. Ted is proof her plans have a habit of backfiring on her. Maybe it’s time to let the plan go.
Suddenly she’s tired. Tired of thinking, tired of worrying, tired of caring too much about the wrong things. Tired of most things with one surprising exception.
She yawns and Ted tilts his head toward the door. Rebecca grabs their coats and he tells Beard they’re leaving, but the rest of the team gets an Irish goodbye.
It’s not until they’re back in the room that she realizes they’ve both been quiet since they got out of the car.
“Great game today, Ted.”
He smiles and nods. “You too, Boss.”
“Hmm, yes, nothing like the sweet taste of victory.”
“Well, there was a whole 12 step flan.”
“It’s fl-awn, Ted.”
He looks utterly delighted. It’s terrible and wonderful all at once. They stand there for a moment, until Ted excuses himself to give Henry a quick call.
She getting ready for bed when her phone pings. It’s a text from Keeley.
A sneak peek just in case this helps <3
It’s a PowerPoint slide titled: Keep Calm and Lasso On. There are some quotes about being a boss girl and “doing the damn thing.” Overall, it’s more confusing than helpful, but it’s nice to know there are people rooting for her.
By the time Ted finishes up his call and changes, she is in her pajamas staring at the tidily made bed. At the center is what she supposes is meant to be a towel swan, but it looks terribly phallic.
Ted chokes on a laugh, covering it with a cough.
“Aw, you didn’t tell me we had company.”
She grabs the towel and tosses it at him. He catches it, chuckling as they pull back the sheets. They’re both lying down and Ted is reaching for his light when Rebecca gets up the nerve. It’s the last place she should be doing this, but there is safety in already lying down.
“Ted, I realized something today.”
“Oh I know.”
“Really?”
“Yes. But to be fair, I also received a text from Keeley.”
Rebecca pulls her pillow over her face and groans.
“Oh god. What did she say.” Her voice muffled by the 500 count cotton case.
“Just something vague about how you were freaking out.”
She peeks over at him with one eye. “No specifics?”
“Not really. Except she said you were freaking out in a good way.”
She pulls the pillow down, looking back at him, holding her breath.
“And, well, that got me hoping.”
He looks at her for a beat then his eyes flick down to her mouth. It’s no less subtle than last night, but this time she’s ready. This time she’s brave. She leans in, closing the distance between them. He meets her halfway, his lips soft, but firm.
She parts her lips and something shifts. Ted grabs at her waist, pulling her closer. His hand runs up her spine, across her back, down to her hip. He’s everywhere at once and Rebecca’s practically vibrating from his touch.
She deepens the kiss and Ted shifts, guiding her beneath him. He leaves enough space between them to see if Rebecca’s okay with this development and she feels surrounded and safe in the most delicious way possible.
She nods and Ted ducks his head, trailing soft, open mouthed kisses along her jaw. He nips at the sensitive spot below her ear and she pulls him closer, fingers digging into his thick hair.
His hand slips beneath her Richmond sleep shirt. Calloused fingers trace the curve of her breast.
Ted murmurs a reverential, “fuck” against her skin and, suddenly, it’s not enough. Rebecca wraps her legs around his thighs, pulling his hips against her, dragging his face back up to hers. She slips her tongue between his lips and he moans into the press of her mouth.
They linger there, trading kisses, the weight of Ted’s hips pressing her into the bed, warm and solid. She can feel him hard against her stomach and it’s like being a teenager again, everything feels new and bright and utterly overwhelming.
He pulls away and she whines until he starts sliding south, his hair a total mess. He looks a bit like he stuck a fork in an electrical socket. Before she can stop herself, she’s giggling.
Ted looks up, his eyes foggy and a bit sex-stupid.
“What’s up, sweetheart?”
Thankfully it’s not a term Rupert ever used and the slight twang is grounding. She runs her hand through the messy strands, putting him back to sorts knowing she’s just going to muss him up again in a minute.
“Nothing, really. Just . . . happy. That’s all.”
His smile is radiant and boyish and Rebecca vows to do whatever she can to see it again. It’s her last thought before Ted lifts her leg over his shoulder and disappears into the warmth between her legs.
It’s almost too much, his singular focus overwhelming. But he gets her there once, twice. She’s shaky and trembling, pulling him back up her body desperate to connect. They’re a mess of limbs and heat, and it doesn’t take long for him to sink into her. It’s a heady rush as she climbs again, Ted following close behind with the breath of her name warm against her cheek.
Afterwards, Ted is wrapped around her, their hands clasped against her chest as she processes what just happened. Ted kisses her shoulder.
“Freaking out?”
It’s a fair question. And she’s surprised by the answer.
“No, not really.”
She can feel his lips form a smile.
“Think the hotel will let us stay one more night?”
“It was the towel art wasn’t it?”
His surprised laugh makes her warm all over again. Just then, notifications chime from both sides of the bed.
They grab their phones and Rebecca sighs. It’s a calendar invite from one Keeley Jones, “PowerPoint to come.”