Hold me Now, Warm my Heart

Kayleigh's new pad was significantly smaller and plainer than Joey's but, with Liv wandering around his apartment naked and Charlie being the complete wildcard she was, it was still far preferable for him to go there then invite her over.

When he arrived, Joey could see that his friend had already made good progress in making her place look like home, though there were still a few cardboard boxes lying around that needed unpacking.

Kayleigh seemed very happy to see him.

She quickly rushed over to give Joey a warm, tight and lengthy hug, before pulling back a little, but not yet releasing him from her grasp.

"You're my hero, Bullshitman!" she told him in a breathy, high pitched voice, while looking up and pulling an exaggerated expression of awe. She then reverted to her usual speaking style "Seriously though, what you did yesterday was fucking awesome buddy, you slayed a genuine monster"

She gave Joey an appreciative peck on the cheek before stepping back from him.

"Nice place you have here!" he said by way of small talk, still feeling a little flustered by that greeting.

"What, compared to the Playboy penthouse you're living in?" Kayleigh raised her eyebrows "You forgot to mention you had a rooftop pool"

"What? When did you see my place?" Joey asked quickly, trying not to sound as nervous as he was starting to feel.

"Yesterday evening. I called round to say hi, but you were otherwise engaged. Charlie was there though, and we had a beer together. You also forgot to tell me she was drop dead gorgeous, and about your history with her. Oh, and Liv was wandering around naked with a duster. I'm not even going to ask about that"

"Wait, hang on a second. What do you mean, my history with Charlie?" Joey wanted to know, also deciding it was best not to discuss Naked Maid Liv any further.

"You know exactly what I mean. The two of you were together when you were at University. She said it was quite serious at the time"

What the fuck? Joey thought to himself Why would Charlie tell her that?

"I feel like she may have exaggerated a little" Joey attempted some damage limitation.

"Really? Because Charlie struck me as an extremely honest person. She told me she was in love with you, and I completely believe her" Kayleigh insisted "Don't worry though, she also said you were the perfect gentleman and it all ended amicably, which I guess is why you're still able to be such good friends now"

"Okay, well I didn't come here to talk about Charlie" Joey shifted strategies from damage limitation to subject changing "How are you settling in at work?"

"I'm sure I'll get used to it, but I have mixed feelings so far. Obviously it's always been my dream to write for the Post and I'm delighted to be there but, and don't get a big head about this, I really miss being partnered with you"

"Who did they put you with?"

"Jack Lewis. Great writer, obviously - they all are there. But, honestly, also a bit of an arrogant dick. Plus, he keeps trying to hit on me"

"You want me to have a word with him?"

"No, there's no need to put your cape on for this one, Bullshitman. I can handle it myself, but thank you for the offer. Anyway, how are you hitting it off with Dawn?"

"Yeah, pretty well.." It was time for Joey to change the subject again "I bought some beers over - Charlie seems to have a never ending supply of them. Shall we drink to your new place?"

As the pair sipped their lagers and enjoyed each other's company, candidly sharing first impressions of their new workmates and cracking the same dumb, private jokes they always did, Joey realised how much Kayleigh felt like home to him. For all the excitement, and the beautiful, often horny, women that had come into his life of late, nothing made him happier than this. Apparently, Kayleigh felt the same way.

"I miss us" she sighed as she finished her third beer.

"What do you mean? We were both in Connecticut together at the beginning of the week, and I'm literally here in your apartment drinking with you now"

"I know, but I feel like I have to compete for your attention these days. You've already got a rich, model girlfriend, a new partner at work who's twice the journalist I could ever be, and a hot live-in best friend who's also your ex. So what does that leave me as to you?"

"My favourite"

Kayleigh paused for a moment, somewhat taken aback.

"That was a very sweet thing to say, Joey" she remarked, looking genuinely touched "And I actually think I needed to hear it. I just don't know if I believe it because it's true or because I don't have a choice"

"Of course it's true. You're literally more important to me than my girlfriend is, which admittedly sounds quite bad when I say it out loud"

"Wow, a lot of love in the room tonight. You aren't normally this sentimental" Kayleigh smiled as she reached for another bottle "So, have you ever thought about me as your girlfriend?"

Joey was so caught off guard by the question that he nearly spat out his drink. Not once, in all of the vast amount of time they had spent in each other's company, had the conversation ever gone here before. And it had been posed so casually. How was he supposed to respond?

"Yes, virtually non-stop when we were in Connecticut, and roughly twenty five per cent of the time now" Joey might have said if he were a less sane but more honest man.

"I mean, yeah, sometimes. We've always got on so well, and you look presentable enough" were his actual words. The last pert was said with just enough of a smile to let his friend know he actually thought she was beautiful "I guess I always assumed it was a don't ever go there, don't even talk about it kind of a deal, though. Why? Did you ever think about being my girlfriend?"

"Of course" Kayleigh admitted, much to Joey's amazement "It's almost impossible to find a bond with a guy like the one I have with you. But then, that was also the best argument for not dating you. If it all went sour I could lose you completely. It wasn't worth the risk. Plus, you never asked me on a date"

"If I'd thought you would have gone on one with me, I would have" Joey admitted "But you're right, it's probably better this way"

"Let's hope so, because it looks like I've missed my shot now, regardless. Especially if the rumours about you spending last night at Dawn's place are true" Kayleigh gave her friend a mischievous wink as she raised her bottle to him. She then lowered it and looked a little more serious "Joey, can I ask you something without you going all weird on me?"

"Sure"

"Will you come and hold me for a bit?"

"What?"

"Just lie with me, here on the couch. That's something two close friends who love each other can do without crossing any lines, isn't it?" Kayleigh asked, sounding a little **** now "It's a bit daunting coming here to a big city and starting a new job I'm not even sure I'm good enough for. I could do with someone to just put their arms around me for a while, and you're the closest thing I have to a boyfriend"

"Yeah, er, we can do that.."

Joey was suddenly a bag of nerves, and one part of him was expecting this to turn out to be a joke. But it didn't. Kayleigh seemed strangely comfortable with this sudden shift in the nature of their relationship, and stood up from the couch to allow Joey to lie on it. She then placed herself down in front of him, facing away, and guided her friend to wrap his arms around her waist.

"There, this is nice isn't it?" she spoke softly as the pair lay together.

"It really is" Joey agreed emphatically.

If he was doing this with Dawn, Charlie or Liv, Joey would probably be getting horny right now. But this didn't feel like that.

It felt like he was exactly where he was supposed to be.