LUCY

I haven't cried like that in so long.

It was just that as soon as Jeanie told me that she forgave me, the dams fell apart, and I couldn't help crying. I hate crying in front of people, let alone a whole restaurant! But it couldn't be stopped until I let it all out.

Jeanie had been so understanding and kind I wondered why I used to hate her.

But then it came down to just one as I remember.

Travis.

I knew she had hoped to get through to me. But as I drive home to my Mom, in my house from my childhood, I realize that maybe I wasn't ever going to get through this. That maybe this was supposed to be my life.

Without the love of it. Without someone like Travis.

It made me cry again as I drove home.

Mom is out when I get back which gave me some time to take a shower to hide the fact that I was crying like a baby half an hour before.

I go into my room, wrapped in my towel. I put my robe on, not wanting to quite get into my clothes just yet. I wrap my hair up in a towel and hear my mom pull up. I decide to put some lotion on my face because it is still puffy. I don't need her to question my red eyes.

I hear the front door open.

I tighten my robe, adjust my hair wrapped in my towel as I look in the mirror. My eyes look okay, but she is definitely going to notice. It doesn't matter though. She is going to be hearing about my morning and that is going to produce more tears on my part.

"Lucy?" I hear my mom.

I guess I couldn't hide in here anymore.

Holding the towel on my head, I open my door and walk out. I see my mother setting a pile of groceries on the counter.

I hear someone other than my mother clear their throat.

I turn my head to the side, where I spot Elias, my boss, sitting in one of our living room chairs, looking at me with an amused smirk on his face.

My eyes widen, and I open my mouth to speak when Mom walks into the living room.

"Ah, there you are, dear," she says, and walks up to me, giving me a hug. She seems completely unaware of the male presence in her living room while her daughter is wrapped in a robe with nothing on underneath!

I let out a nervous laugh. "Yeah, hi, Mom," I say, giving her a glare.

Then I turn to Elias, who is watching me.

I clear my throat, "Mom, why didn't you tell me we were going to have a guest?" I question, still looking at Elias.

He raises a brow.

Mom smiles. "Oh, it was so sudden, Lucy. I had been at the grocery store where I spotted Jude. I asked what he was doing for lunch, and he said he was going to make himself some of that awful microwavable mac n' cheese, so I just invited him over here, to join us." She claps her hands together, her smile showing her joy.

Oh I wanna-

Elias stands, and walks over to us. I have the urge to tell him to cover his eyes as I run back into my bedroom to die of embarrassment.

"How are you, Lu?" He asks, stepping near me. I take a step back, folding my arms over my chest, wishing I could shrink.

"Fine. You?"

He smiles. "I'm glad your mom invited me over," he says, and I see the genuinity in his eyes, and realize that this, right now, isn't awkward for him.

So I would make sure it wasn't awkward.

I hold my head up, and uncross my arms and strutted into the kitchen to help my mother prepare the food. I realize we are making subs with all the food my Mother just bought that could feed an army.

No wonder she invited a dude over to eat it with us.

Especially one very muscular-

Uh uh. Stop.

Elias joins us, helping my Mother and me make the subs. My Mom helps him make his own while I make my own. I watch the two of them as my Mother laughs and playfully hits Elias in the arm, then continues on how to make the sub right.

My Mom is very particular with how her food is made. And when Elias tries to just pile all his stuff into his sub, she says it will prove chaotic.

"Just let him be, Mom. He'll soon regret it once he tries to take a bite and it all falls out," I quip, raising my brows at Elias, who turns a smug smile on me.

Mom just shrugs, and I know she was itching to fix his sub.

True to my words, as soon as the subs are done, Elias tries to eat his. But all he got was a mouthful of bread as all the food inside squirted out the back of it and it got all over his plate.

We all burst into laughter, even Elias, who is being a good sport.

Mom had just started to eat her food, so I went over to help his poor sub.

"Ah, I have some lemonades outside in the garage. I'll be right back," Mom announces, throwing me a wink, then practically jogs out of the kitchen. I hear a door open and shut with ferocity.

I could guess she won't be back in here as fast as she left.

I stand next to Elias, and try to keep myself as far away as I could. He is almost hovering next to me, his eyes on the sub as I remade it for him.

But with his closeness, all I smell is him, his cologne, his breath, and it reminds me desperately of Travis.

Ah, I just wanna make this sub and go get dressed!

"You're a pro," Elias whispers as he watches me put together his sub. Once it is finished I release it back onto the plate.

"I'm gonna go... get dressed," I say as quickly as I'm able, then walk as fast as humanly possible to my room and I practically slam the door shut.

ELIAS

I grip the steering wheel hard.

It took everything in me yesterday not to kiss Lu. When she came over to help "fix" my sub, which was almost beyond repair, all I could smell was her hair, her lotion. I almost wrapped my arm around her waist and turned her around and-

I accidentally beep the horn. I jump and wave my hand at the car in front of me as a sort of apology. The guy didn't seem to see it and must have ignored the beep.

I have to seriously get a grip. I've known her for what, a month? I can't seriously be catching feelings this early.

Could I?

It's plausible. I've dated women I've known for less.

Logic argued with me. Lu isn't like any of the other women I've dated. She is so extremely different, I have to treat this situation differently.

Besides, I said I would never ever let myself get involved with another one of my secretaries. I was past that part of my life.

Just once, I want this to be different. Maybe even an us.

Although, judging from how fast Lu ran from me yesterday, I don't think there is an us in the near future. Maybe not ever.

I couldn't help my smile when she came out of her room with her robe on, her hair wrapped in her towel. How wide her eyes were when she saw me in the room.

It could be why she ran. She felt uncomfortable because of what she was wearing.

But another thing poked at me about her yesterday.

Why was she crying?

I noticed almost immediately. I managed to keep my expression impassive when she looked at me, but I would know those red rimmed eyes anywhere.

It was me not two days ago.

Turns out, Rich was far worse than I thought. He was stabbed in the abdomen area, and I'm no doctor, but he lost a lot of blood, and they had to have surgery to take out one of his kidneys that got damaged. I had waited all afternoon to talk to him because when I got there, he had been sleeping.

He told me they were admitting him back to the prison next week.

I almost punched the guy who told me that.

I pull into the parking lot into my normal spot. I can't help but look around to see if I can find Lu's car, and I see it. Parked not too far from mine. I smile, thinking about yesterday.

With the car locked, I make my way into the building. It's a silent ride up the elevator until I get into the office. I immediately check the counter to see Lu, but she isn't there.

Not thinking too much about it, I wave to Elaine and go straight to my office.

As soon as I walk past the doors, I am face to face with Lu, whose eyes are wide as dinner plates. She is very close to me and it would be so easy for me to lean down and plant my lips on hers.

I refrain. But it takes a lot.

"Hi," she says quickly, and backs up, putting a good distance between us.

"Hello," I say, looking past her to my desk. I see a steaming cup of coffee waiting for me and I turn back to Lu with a huge smile on my face. "Knew I was coming, eh?"

She chuckles. "Yeah. I went to drop off a file, and I saw you pull in. Figured you'd want your coffee," she says, nervously putting her arms behind her back.

I feel my face falter.

She's being a good secretary, but I see past what she is trying to hide.

She hoped to get the coffee there before I came up.

I narrow my eyes. She's avoiding me.

Maybe it had to do with why she was crying yesterday?

And being the biggest idiot in the history of idiots, I ask her, "Lu, why were you crying yesterday when I came in with your mom?"

Her face goes pale.

I am such an idiot.

"Uh..." she stutters. "I had just met up with a friend that I hadn't seen a while," she says, clearing her throat. She opens her mouth to continue but I hold up my hands.

"It's okay, Lu, sorry for asking. I am an idiot."

She smiles. "It's okay. I thought my mom would notice before you."

I nod, giving her a smile, glad that she isn't mad.

But just before she goes, as she walks past me to leave, I grab her wrist gently. "Hey, if you ever need to talk, I'm here. I can be a good shoulder to cry on."

She nods, her expression now impassive.

Oh my gosh, I need help.

Where the heck did that come from? A good shoulder to cry on?

I must be going crazy. I have never been a good shoulder to cry on. I was always horrible with tears, but just thinking about Lu crying made a knot form in my stomach.

And it isn't because she's my friend.

I take a seat at my desk, and finger my coffee mug. I blow on the top as I bring it up to my mouth and take a sip. It tastes good.

Lu always makes my coffee good.

I lean back in my chair, trying not to look for her.

What is wrong with me?

Usually with all the other women I have dated, their looks were what I was attracted too, and then when I got to know them, they weren't so hot.

But with Lu, it was her personality that I loved. Not that she wasn't attractive, I'd have to be a blind man to say she wasn't beautiful, but it wasn't what I liked first.

I liked her.

Man, I gotta be careful. I haven't gone this deep in a while, I'm out of practice. I had always been the smooth talker, and had always been the player. But ever since dad died, and Rich went to jail, that all didn't seem important.

But now...

Lu is important to me. I like her, maybe too much.

If she quit, or I didn't get to see her everyday, I might go crazy. Just seeing helps my day seem better or brighter.

Or maybe it might be a good idea if she quit. Then I'd get over this infatuation I had with her and then I'd be back to normal. We could go on as friends, and maybe see each other in passing.

Or maybe, if we had met under different circumstances, it would have worked out better.

I already told myself I wasn't going to date my secretaries. So, date Lu I would not. I'd keep our friendship strictly business, and maybe occasionally I'll have her over so I can get my rematch in basketball.

I smile.

Who am I kidding? If she didn't work here, I'd still think about her.

There's a knock on my door.

I glance up, and see Lu peeking her head in. "Sir, line one is for you," she says, nodding to the phone that was sitting next to me. "I rang."

"Thank you," I say, and sit up in my chair. I guess I hadn't heard her tell me.

I pick up the phone.

I stop by Lu's desk as she is packing up her stuff to go. She doesn't seem to notice me at all. Her tongue is out, her eyes wide, and she keeps cracking her neck.

I shouldn't smile, but I can't help it.

She turns and I swear she jumps out of her skin. She looks up at me, her hand over her heart. "You have got to stop doing that. I need to get you a bell," she mutters the last part under her breath but I hear it.

"I'll take a bell." I smirk, and lean on her desk. "I need a favor?" I ask.

She lifts her head, and smiles. "Yes?"

"What are you and your mother doing tomorrow?"

She frowns. "Uh... nothing, I don't think."

I smile. "Good." I look over my shoulder at everyone leaving. "Because I would like both of you to come over and cook in my kitchen."

Her eyes hold panic. I lean off the counter, confused. I had already made the offer before, and I thought she was okay with it, but I guess not.

"Or not. Don't feel bad," I say, angling my body away from her.

"Oh, no!" She exclaims, scrambling to her feet. "No, it's fine. We can come. What time would you like us, and do you need us to bring anything?"

I shake my head, setting my hands on the counter. "Nope. Just come. Around six thirty?" I ask, giving her a toothy grin.

She nods. "Yeah. Thanks."

I shrug. "No, thank you. I will get to taste the amazing food, so really, this is my treat."

She dips her head. "Okay. My Mom will love it."

What about you? I want to ask.

"So, I will see you tomorrow at six thirty." She clears her throat, and I took notice of when she did that. It must be when she is nervous, because she did it earlier this morning and yesterday when she was in her robe.

I can't help but chuckle about that as I walk away.

"Elias?"

I turn immediately to face her. Her face is a little flushed and has a hand over her mouth as she glances around. I do the same and then face her, not sure what the problem is.

"Sorry," she whispers, "I forgot to call you sir."

I laugh. "No one's here, Lu, you're good."

She smiles then nods. Her face now becomes solemn as she walks up closer to me until I think she wants that kiss too.

But instead she whispers. "I'm really sorry about Rich."

I yank my head back, not expecting that, so I stutter, "O-oh, thank you. He's doing okay right now, I was actually going to go visit him."

Lu smiles, "Tell him I say hi. And if you're okay with it, I'll come with you sometime, to say hi in person."

I can't help but let the smile take over my whole face, because nothing would make me happier. "He'd love that."

So would I.

"Great." She has an excited look on her face as she gathers all her stuff up. She walks past me to the elevator and I wave at her as the doors close.

They close too fast for me to see if she waves back.

I gather up all of my stuff too, considering going home first or going to the hospital first. I want to get out of this suit, it's making me too hot, but I know he might be sleeping if I show up later, and I want to talk to him.

Rich has always been the person I want to talk to. He has been my best friend for as long as I can remember, and not being able to talk to him is driving me crazy. He is sleeping all the time at the hospital, or at least every time I come in.

I make my way out of the building and into my car. I take off as soon as I pile all my stuff on the passenger seat, not caring about anything that might get wrinkled or broken. I just need to see my brother.

The drive to the hospital is filled with traffic, so by the time I get there, it's half an hour later. I stop to pick up some burgers on the way because it's Rich's favorite. I know he is itching to eat some real food and not hospital food.

I don't blame him. When I broke my wrist when I was a kid, they kept me over night and the food was awful. I couldn't imagine a few days of it, and he still had a week left before he went back to prison.

A hard, frustrated breath leaves me and I know that I am going to fight for him to not go back to prison.

I walk briskly into the hospital, bag of great smelling food in my hand. I find my brother's room, not even bothering to see a nurse. The one last time gave me the creeps.

He's awake. Thank goodness.

His head perks up when he sees me, but I think I know the real reason. He smells the food.

The smile on his face makes my whole day, "Yes, Jude! Bro, I was literally just complaining about not having any good food here, and there you walk in, with my favorite food in hand."

I set the bag down and gave a little bow. "I heard you. And I answered you," I say, digging the bag open. "One large bacon burger, extra crispy with no mustard coming right up," I set the burger down on his little feeding tray and open the bag containing it. I scoot it till it is right in front of him then dug out mine.

He has already eaten half of it by the time I look up to open my burger.

"Woah, bro, slow down. That's all you get. Savor it."

He shakes his head, downing another bite. "I am so hungry, I don't even care. This is the first good burger I've had since I went to jail. No turning back now."

I swallow as I see the handcuffs on his wrist, chaining him to his bed.

His wrist is red and swollen, yet he doesn't complain.

It isn't fair. That car wreck is as much my fault as it is his, yet because he was driving, it was him. It didn't help that they found drugs in his system, as well as his past history with violence.

But the man I see before me isn't a murderer. He's my brother, and he's a good man. The court didn't see it that way. And life hasn't been the same since.

"Hey, it's okay, Jude. It's okay," Rich says, grabbing my wrist with his free hand. "I was just being funny. Sorry."

I shrug it off. "It's cool. And it's true. They don't exactly have burgers in prison."

He laughs. "Oh they do. But not like this." He finishes off his burger, licking his fingers. He wrinkles up the bag and tosses it into the carry out bag.

I pull up a chair and sit next to him. He talks to me about what the doctors have been saying as I eat my burger. Apparently, he is recovering great from surgery, but they aren't sure if they can release him so early.

Which would be fine, because he needs to stay here.

I smirk a little. Lu would be able to come in and visit.

"Jude?"

I look up. "What?"

Rich laughs at me. "You were dazing. You never daze. What's up?" He asks, sitting up a little, a pained expression on his face. I don't say anything about it though.

"Nothing." I laugh it off.

He gives me a skeptical look. "I know you better than that. I can guess though. Does it have something to do with your new hot secretary?" He asks, tapping his chin.

I give him a glare.

He raises his hands in the air. "Ladies and gentleman, thank you very much." He pretends that a crowd is cheering him.

I shake my head. "You got it wrong," I say in a singy-songy voice.

"You are definitely lying. What's up with you and these secretaries, man? Is this like your only type? Shallow girls who date you because you're rich?"

"Hey, Lu isn't like that!" I bark out instantly.

Rich just smirks at me.