🤣💖

Two days had passed, and now it was officially time to go back to work. Lee had ended up staying the other night at my place, but had gone back to his apartment last night to finish packing up. His manager, Charles, had called him earlier during the week to let him know that the band couldn't wait for him any longer before starting the tour, so he was leaving today to go and join the rest of the band.

I sighed as I finished smoothing down my hair. I probably wasn't going to be able to see Lee for awhile, but that was okay, we would make a long distance relationship work.

I glanced at myself in the mirror, taking in the blue dress shirt that I had threw on, and a pair of black slacks. I looked fine, but I felt like crap. One reason being that I would have to see Jason today. The thought itself caused my stomach to turn a little, and my mood to drop even more, but I pushed it away. I didn't have time to be worrying over things that hadn't happened yet.

I walked over to my dresser, grabbing my phone and wallet before walking out of my room door and making sure that I had turned off all of my lights and locked my front door as I exited my apartment.

Time to go to work. I told myself before heading out the door.

- - -

When I arrived at work, Victoria had pulled me into a hug, telling me that she was glad that I was feeling better and everything. I still hadn't told everything that had happened with Jason because I didn't want her freaking out, or worse, causing a scene at work.

The day went on slowly. I filed a few papers, and took a few phone calls here and there while I sat at my desk, although, I was constantly looking over my shoulder to see if Jason would walk by like he usually did, but he didn't.

It was a little bit before lunch when Victoria handed me a small packet of papers. "Hey, Simone, can you do me a favor? I have to finish up this budget list before lunch for our department, but I also need to run off some copies of this paper for the boss. I don't have enough time to do both right now, so can you please go and make me a few copies, please?" she said, her green eyes begging, "You'd be a huge life saver."

I laughed as I shook my head. "You don't have to beg. I'll go and do it for you." I told her.

She smiled. "Thank you so much! I promise after I'm done we'll head down to the cafeteria together and i'll buy you whatever you want. Deal?"

"Deal." I agreed, before heading out of out station and down the hall to find the copy machine.

When I had made it to my destination, I grabbed the door handle to pull the door open, but it wouldn't budge. I pulled a little harder, when finally the door flew open from the other side, and I went stumbling into the person in front of me. I took a step back, before glancing up, trying to move the hair out of my eyes so that I could see.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean-" I stopped as my eyes looked up into another pair of brown eyes and my breath caught.

"Simone." Jason said, surprised, almost a little embarrassed as he stared down at me. He was wearing another checkered colored shirt, with his signature khaki pants. He rubbed the side of his chin. "I'm sorry. I was just leaving." He said abruptly, when I stopped him. Fear crippled me, but it was now or never.

"Um, wait, Jason." I said, "I have to talk to you."

He stilled for a moment, sighing as he turned around. The door behind me was now closed, and it was just the two of us in the small, cream colored room.

"Look, Simone, before you say anything," he trailed, "I just want to apologize for the night at the Christmas party. It was never my intention to make you feel uncomfortable. I- I thought the earrings would be a nice gift. Thinking about it now, I know I shouldn't have went over to your apartment without your permission, but I wanted to surprise you. I know you have a boyfriend, but I just - I like you, Simone." He admitted.

A few weeks ago I would've been leaping for joy after hearing those words from, Jason, but now I had, Lee. I wrung my hands together at my side.

"Jason, I'm not going to stand here and say that I accept your feelings because I don't. I have a boyfriend, but you already know that." I said slowly, "I appreciate your apology, but you can't do things like that again. Going to my apartment and leaving that gift for me, I get you were just trying to be..nice, but it just felt wrong."

He sighed. "Yeah, I know. I just thought that when you had talked to me a while back, and we were in the progress of becoming friends, that maybe this was my chance to get to know you more, but then He stepped in." He shook his head, "Like I said, Simone. I'm sorry for making you feel uncomfortable. It was never my intention. I just hope that we can still be friends," he trailed, probably seeing the look on my face as he continued, "or at least coworkers that can talk to each other from time to time." He said sincerely.

"Jason," I opened my mouth, not really knowing where I was going. Jason cut me off.

"It's okay, you don't have to say anything, Simone. I get it, I really do." He promised, "Have a good day."

"You too, Jason." I replied quietly after the door shut. I let out a sigh, my heart hammering in my chest. Well, that went better than I had expected, I thought.

- - -

After work was over, I had headed home and gotten ready for bed. When I had finished my food and everything, I glanced down at my phone to see a message from Lee.

I swallowed as I replied.

I took a moment before responding. I thought about telling him that Jason had confessed to me, but didn't think that that part really mattered. Plus, I kind of wanted to forget that it even happened.

He replied. Before I could text back, my phone buzzed again.

I dialed Lee's number, and after three rings he picked up.

"Hey," he replied breathlessly, a hint of tiredness behind his words.

I smiled as I sat back in my bed. "Hey, what're you up to?"

"Just hanging out at the hotel. The other guys went to grab some food, and Thomas is here with me playing some dumb game on his phone." He said.

Thomas's voice sounded in the background. "It's called cooking city, not as lit as cooking fever, but it'll do." He shouted.

I laughed. "Did he just say lit?" I asked.

Lee laughed as well. "Yep. Don't know where he gets it from." I could imagine him shaking his head.

"So you guys are all sharing a hotel room together?"

"No, Jack and Dane have their own rooms, and I would have my own room too, but Thomas insisted on bunking with me for whatever reason, and I didn't have the heart to turn him away."

My lip twitched upwards. "How sweet."

"If that's what you want to call it," he replied. "I miss you." He said softly, "Did today really go well?"

"I miss you too," I admitted, "and it went fine. Jason apologized at least, and I just reinforced to him that you were my boyfriend and that what he did didn't need to happen again." I trailed.

"and?"

"I don't know if I should tell you." I sighed.

"Simone, I won't be mad, promise."

"He told me that he liked me."

"Okay."

"Okay?" I asked surprised, "That's all?"

Lee chuckled a bit. "As long as you set him straight that you didn't return his feelings, what more is there? I trust you."

"Lee I-" I stopped, "Um, thanks. I appreciate that." I told him. "So what are the plans for tomorrow?"

"Well, tomorrow we head out to Nashville. We have a concert to perform around seven or so, and then there's a party in our honor right after the concert's over."

"Fun." I said, trying to sound excited.

"You call it fun, I say it's more like a headache." He said honestly, "but hopefully I can leave early and give you a call tomorrow night."

I felt my heart squeeze. "You don't have to do that. I know you'll probably be tired tomorrow night. You sound tired right now as well, I'd hate to keep you up any longer than I already am."

"I don't mind it. I enjoy hearing your voice."

Just before I was getting ready to reply, Thomas voice broke through the background.

"Seriously, you guys are so gross. Flirting and everything in front of me." Thomas groaned. "I can't even concentrate on cooking my hamburgers and hotdogs."

"Shut up, Thomas." Lee shouted at him.

"Shut up, Thomas." Thomas mocked in the background.

I shook my head, smiling. "Don't strangle each other tonight." I teased.

Lee sighed. "No promises." He said, "Well, Simone, I guess I'll let you go. Looks like the guys are back with the food, and I know you have work tomorrow."

"Okay, I'll talk to you later."

"Bye, I l-" Lee abruptly stopped, coughing.

"What were you saying, Lee?" I asked, not able to hear what he had said.

"Nothing. Bye, I'll talk to you later, okay? Have a good day tomorrow."

"Bye, Lee." I replied as the call ended.

I placed my phone over on my nightstand and pulled my covers up to my shoulders. I let out a sigh as I closed my eyes. Tomorrow starts another day, I mused, too tired to keep my eyes opened for another second.