LUCY

Every thought that has so far entered my mind this morning has been of Elias.

I barely slept last night, thinking of the words he had said to me. I went over every word, examined it, thought over it, analyzed it and came up with one possible explanation for why he said what he said.

He actually loves me.

My whole life, I waited for those words to come from Travis. I wanted it to come from Travis, being as he was the one I am in love with. Now, coming from Elias, I had to dig so deep to make sure they were true.

But somehow it doesn't matter. He won't wait for me.

There's no way. It was in the moment, and he already knows I love Travis still. He probably just wanted me to think over my relationship with Travis and get over him so I could be with Elias.

A question tickled into my brain. Even if I don't love Travis anymore, who says I will be in love with Elias?

My eyes trickle up to the man in question. Elias is currently pouring his cereal into his bowl, along with the milk. So far, all he said to me was good morning, and went about his daily routine as if I wasn't here.

He is keeping his other promise very well.

I stare down at my own bowl of cereal I barely touched.

My brain is going so many miles an hour, I don't even think of eating. It probably won't sit well with my stomach anyway.

Elias sits next to me, and chomps down on his cereal, scrolling through his phone. I watch him quietly as he eats until he slowly turns his head to face me. He is smiling, mouth full of food.

"Yeah?" He asks, swallowing.

I clear my throat. "Nothing."

He turns back to his breakfast.

I remember my question. I am glad I have the good sense not to ask the question aloud, because nothing would crush him more. He can't know that I will fall for him once Travis is out of the picture. I barely know Elias. Yeah, we've talked, but that doesn't mean I know a lot about him.

Which begs the question, how is he in love with me?

He's only known me maybe... what, two months?

I look at him again, analyzing him.

Could I even imagine myself with him? Can I even fall in love with him as he has with me? Is any of this even possible?

There is no answer to my questions.

Not until everything has already happened.

Maybe it was a mistake to stay here with Elias. It's not good for him to be near me if all it does is fuel his feelings for me further. I would just be torturing him, especially now I know how he feels about me.

I could quit the job, and move in with mom again. I'm sure she won't talk to me for a while, but it's better there than here.

But finding a job is super annoying, and it's not what I need in my life at this exact second.

"Thinking about quitting?" Elias asks, staring straight ahead, still munching on his cereal.

I turn to him instantly, frowning. "How...?"

He smirks, shrugging. "You had this look on your face. Don't quit, Lu. It's not worth it. Besides, having to find a job is the worst thing imaginable."

"I'm not," I say, sitting up straight. "I was just considering it, since it might be easier."

Elias swallows his food, leaning on the counter, still looking at me, "Easier for me?" He asks, and I give him a nod, and he shakes his head. "Nothing would be harder."

I let out a sigh. "Ok, fine, easier on me."

He nods slowly. "How have I been this morning? Normal? Like I usually am?"

I narrow my eyes, but nod.

He smiles. "So I haven't said anything that was weird, or that reminded you of last night?"

"No."

"There you go. No need to quit. I can act normal. I'm doing it now." He takes another bite of cereal, wagging his eyebrows at me. I stifle a smile.

"Although, to be fair, I've never seen you this early in the morning, so this could be totally wacko for you," I quip, grinning. I adjust my seat on the stool, placing my hands under my thighs, sitting on them.

Elias just smiles, and it isn't like his usual smile.

I frown. He looks away, as if he realizes that through his smile, he just told me he loved me, even if it was an accident.

How long has he looked at me like that?

The thought chills me to the bone.

I want to ask, but this is a conversation I don't need to get into.

I stand, grabbing my bowl full of cereal and slowly pour it into the sink. I am glad I didn't fill it up to the top like I usually do, so there wasn't a lot to go down the disposal. I also hate wasting food, so at least this was better than anything else.

It's only cereal.

Although, judging from the way Elias is eating it, it's his favorite thing in the pantry.

I smile.

The grandfather clock in the living started ringing.

Time to go.

Elias stuffs the rest of his cereal into his mouth and shoves the bowl into the sink. He bolts to the foyer, where he must be grabbing his shoes. I am all ready to go, all I have to do is grab my purse and keys and then I can go.

I walk into the foyer to see Elias putting his work shoes on. He glances up at me.

"Race you there?" He asks, grabbing his keys as I string my purse over my shoulder.

I grab my keys. "Ready to lose?" I ask, and he grins.

We both run out the door. I go out the side door, while Elias goes through the garage. He opens the garage door opener as soon I get into my car. I quickly turn my car on and shove it into drive so I can get out of the driveway quicker.

I pull out of the driveway as Elias backs up into his driveway.

I let out a maniacal laugh as I headed down the street, glancing at my rear view mirror to see Elias right behind me. I see him wave, a smirk on his face.

Sticking out my tongue, I press the gas, accelerating. He keeps riding on my butt, and it is driving me a little same.

I stop at the stop sign, then accelerate quickly, leaving Elias in the dust.

I make it to work before Elias.

He pulls into the parking lot as I am getting out of my car. I give him a small wave as he drives past me, a scowl on his face. He parks and I wait for him to catch up to me so that I can gloat.

He reaches me, jogging a little. We walk into the building together after he holds the door open for me.

"How was loosing?" I ask sweetly.

Elias gives me a look. "Doesn't taste good. So I'm gonna need a rematch on the way home," he presses the button to the elevator. It dings and opens.

We stepped into the elevator.

"You're on," I reply to his challenge.

Just before the doors close, a hand drops in and stops it. The doors open again, and there stands Elaine. She smiles at me, then throws an even larger smile at Elias as she steps in.

"Hey you two!" She greets, standing right in the middle of us.

"Morning," Elias and I say at the same exact time. I look at him, and he smiles.

Elaine clears her throat. "It's a beautiful day today, huh?" She asks no one in particular, leaning closer to Elias. I am guessing that is who she is asking, but I answer it.

"It really is."

She goes back to her stance in the very middle of the two of us.

The whole ride up was very silent and awkward, but I wasn't sure why. Elaine seemed so... flirty? I don't know what was up, but she kept leaning over to Elias and saying things to him in a low voice so I couldn't hear.

Maybe she has something for his ears only.

She also has a huge grin on her face that she doesn't normally have.

Something was definitely up.

The elevator doors finally open, and Elias is the first to leave. He goes straight to his office, shutting the door behind him. I walk slowly in my heels to my desk, setting down my purse on the counter.

I feel a presence behind me, and I have a feeling it's Elias.

I turn, expecting to have to look up, but instead I see Elaine.

Oh, boy.

"Yes?" I ask, stepping away from her. She is uncomfortably close.

She grins. "I had almost sort of a revelation last night. Do you know what I came to realize as I lay in bed at three in the morning?"

I shake my head. "Nope. What?"

She leans closer to me, so close to me in fact, I swear her eyelashes were brushing up against my cheek. I cringe a little, but lean in.

Elaine glances around the room, as if to be sure no one was listening.

Then she speaks in a whisper, "I have a huge crush on our boss." Her eyes light up at the end of her sentence as she pulls away from me.

I blink one. Then twice. Then I sit down.

"I know. It's crazy. I've always known he went for his secretaries, and since he hasn't made his move on you, I figured I could be the option he's looking for. But I need your help to get him to notice me or something."

What are we, teenagers?

This should be fun.

Yeah, helping Elaine go on a date with Elias after he told me that he loves me and is willing to wait for me. Yeah, that won't break her heart and crush her soul.

Not, at, all.

"What can I do?" I ask, rubbing my temples.

"Well, since you two are good friends, I wondered if you could put in a good word for me. Like, casually mention what a good employee I am, or something like that. Just something for him to notice me."

I rub my thighs, considering telling Elaine the truth. But I decide against it, not wanting to cause drama. "Listen, Elaine, I think he's had years to notice you. I think you just need to straight up ask him out."

She shakes her head. "I couldn't do that. No way. I wouldn't even know how to ask him out. I think you should just mention me to him, because if it came from you, it'd be sure to pique his interest."

Yeah, it definitely would, considering the fact that I'd be telling him about Elaine and telling him about her. He'd definitely be interested that I'm trying to set him up with her.

He'd definitely give me one of his glares.

"I think you should just ask him to lunch for today. I'm sure he has nothing planned. Just say it's because you want to be friendly, and then you try it out. If he likes it, maybe he'll be the one to ask you next time."

Elaine bites her nails. "Oh, I'm scared. I don't think I can do it." She glances nervously over to Elias' office.

I sigh. "How can I help?" I ask, wondering if she needed to try it on me or someone else here to practice. This was like high school all over again. I thought I was past this drama.

Yet... here's Elaine.

"Can you ask him for me?" Elaine asks, pleading.

I begin to shake my head. "I don't think-"

"Oh, please? I'll buy you lunch, I'll take half your phone calls for today and tomorrow, I'll wash your car, I'll-"

I cover her mouth with my hand until she stops talking.

Man, she really likes him.

"It's fine, Elaine. I'll ask, it's fine. You don't need to do anything, but just promise me you'll never ask me to do this again and don't tell anyone."

She nods emphatically.

I swallow. "Okay. Let me get settled, then when I bring him his coffee, I'll ask."

Elaine gives me a quick hug. "Thanks, Lucy, you're the best." She scurries away to her desk, doing her work as if nothing happened.

If and when he says no, I don't know how I'm gonna tell her.

I settle into my desk, taking a few calls, ignoring the stressed looks from Elaine. I get up to go get Elias' coffee when I realize that I actually have to ask him out, for Elaine.

I rub my temples, feeling a headache come on.

This should be fun.

I take a little longer than usual to make Elias' coffee, thinking of how I am supposed to word this to him. It is going to sound so bad coming from me.

Well, who knows, maybe Elaine is his dream lady. Maybe after eating lunch with her, he'll forget all about his love he has for me and will move on with her. It wouldn't be too hard, considering her such strong feelings for him.

She could make him a very happy man.

This might be a good push for him. He doesn't know what he is missing by trying to hold onto me. He could be happy.

It's what I want for him.

Something tells me he won't be as happy, waiting for me.

The coffee pot stops dripping and I groan aloud. The coffee is ready, so here goes nothing.

I take the coffee cup by the handle, and carry it carefully into Elias' office, setting it on the desk in front of him. He takes the handle and moves it to the side, concentrating on the papers on his desk.

Usually he looks up when I come into the room, but I guess he is trying really hard to show me he's distancing himself from me.

"Thank you," he says, touching his glass with his fingers.

"It's hot," I say, watching him almost pick it up.

He doesn't respond.

But I don't say anything else either. I just stand here, awkwardly, trying to figure out how to casually mention that Elaine wants to ask him out to lunch.

Or have me ask him out to lunch for her.

Elias' eyes flicker up and meet mine, "Yes?"

I hesitate before answering, "Yeah, so... I was talking to Elaine, the funniest thing happened..." I trail off, watching his reaction. Elias just leans back in his chair, placing his arms behind his head. He looks relaxed.

I feel rigid.

I clear my throat. "She asked me, to ask you, if you wanted to go out to lunch. With her," I say bluntly, not wanting to beat around this bush any further.

Elias leans forward, placing his elbows up on his desk. "She asked you to do this for her?" He asks, but his eyes are not on me. I follow his gaze, and see that he is looking at Elaine, who is watching us from her desk.

I turn away from her, placing my head in my hands.

"Trying to get rid of me, are you now Lu?" Elias asks, sounding amused.

I shake my head. "She asked me. I just said I would help," I defend, not sure why his words irked me so. It wasn't like I was forgetting his promise to me.

But it isn't like I made any sort of promise to him.

Elias swallows hard, then shakes his head. "If Elaine would like to ask me to lunch, I would like her to do it. Not you." He takes a sip of his coffee, making a face. It was definitely way too hot.

I nod. "I told her that. She's too scared."

He looks up at me. "Lu... what do you want me to say? Yes? You know I don't want to. If anything, I was thinking about asking you to lunch."

I give him a look of pure disappointment.

He swallows. "But that would be inappropriate because I promised to keep my distance," he saves, and I allow a smile.

"I'll tell her you said yes," I say, turning away from him.

"Lu..." his tone is threatening.

I turn to face him. "It won't kill you. Besides, she's nice, and you could just say it's just as friends. And it's not like I'll be jealous or anything," I joke.

But he is not smiling.

I look down, realizing that he probably would want me to be jealous.

"Yeah, wouldn't want you to be jealous." He grins, putting on a face, but I can read his eyes, and I see the hurt I just put on him, and I feel the regret. I shouldn't have said anything of the sort, but I can't take it back now.

He already knows how I feel.

He has to know there is little hope feelings will be returned.

He must know this.

Elias stands. "I'll go tell her." He walks past me and out the door. I watch as he goes over to Elaine, and I don't even need to hear what he's saying to know that he just made her the happiest woman on earth, judging from her humongous grin that is now laying on her face.

I walk out of the office as Elias walks back to it.

He walks past me, silent.

I go over to my desk, and Elaine is there, waiting for me.

She gives me the biggest hug, "Thank you so much, Lucy! He's taking me out at eleven, and we are going to go get burgers. I'm excited."

Her joy was so evident, I wished it was contagious at this very second.

Instead of answering, I turn to Elias, who is watching us.

The hurt is still in his eyes, and he looks the complete opposite of Elaine. He must be dreading this date judging by his face, but I can tell that is not what is bothering him.

It's what I said.

He wants me to feel something for him, anything for him.

But I can't.

Not yet. Maybe not ever.

My huge grin, whenever I grin, like Elaine's, is all for Travis.

Not Elias.