"Ruth, what am I doing. This is ridiculous." I say looking at the dress I'm wearing. It's the only really nice piece of clothing I brought with me to New York on the off chance I found myself needing it. I've lost weight since the last time I wore it, that it gaps awkwardly on my hips.

It used to be a skin tight dress that highlighted the curves I had. I think the only time I've worn it was for Ruth's twenty-first. It's a pretty pink that makes my cheeks look rosy.

However, I don't think there's enough makeup in the world that can hide how tired I look right now. It wasn't even that long of a day. But I did have to tell Grayson about Tessa's parents company. That wasn't an easy conversation to have.

"Can I talk to you for a second?" I ask, stepping into Grayson's office hesitantly, clutching the files to my chest.

Dean and Maddox had flagged every discrepancy and the accounting errors added up to millions of dollars missing opening the company up to criminal investigations from what I understood.

Grayson stops writing on a piece of paper and places it in the folder belonging to the case he's working on. "Sure, what's going on."

My stomach feels like it's about to twist itself into knots. I shouldn't be so nervous to tell him this, but I am. This isn't business for him. This is personal.

"I was double checking files on Monday when I noticed a few discrepancies in one of the accounts. I didn't know what I was looking at, so I took it to Dean."

He looks confused, not quite sure where I'm going with this. "Which account?"

"Dean suggested looking further into the history before bringing it to you and then Monday night he and Maddox combed through everything. There's a lot of money unaccounted for," I say passing over the files.

"Monday? You've known about this since Monday and you're just now bringing it to me? It's Friday Lacey." He sounds frustrated and I don't blame him. I've been dragging my feet about this all week, but it didn't help that I had another doctors appointment. That's been consuming my thoughts leaving little room for me to think about the fraud surrounding the Kaplan Insurance Group. Grayson stands up, taking the file from me before I can even try to justify me waiting four days to tell him.

He falls quiet facing away from me as he flips through the papers. I feel like all the oxygen is being sucked out of the room. "Who all knows?"

I fiddle with the button at the end of my blouse, "Just me, Dean, and Maddox."

"Fuck," He says flinging the file at the wall. "You should have brought it to me sooner."

"I know. I'm sorry."

Grayson pulls his tie off and I don't know what I'm supposed to do now. Do I leave? Do I stay? What is the criteria for this?

He shakes a head, "I need to get out of here."

"You're just nervous Lace. It's understandable though. It's your first date since-"

I cut her off quickly because I don't want to talk about Sam. I really don't want to talk about him tonight. "No, I'm nervous because I don't want to lead anyone on. Chase is... he's so nice. It's just one date."

"I think you'll have fun," Ruth says now playing the role of the supportive best friend because that's exactly what I need right now. I need to be reminded that this can be fun. "What does Dean think about this?"

I freeze because that's another thing I withheld from someone. "I didn't tell him. There's no reason to worry him and whose to say that Chase didn't tell him? Dean doesn't tell me anything about him and Paige so why should I have to tell him about my date?"

"So you're going on a date with his coworker and you're not telling him? I think this is going to go over great," She snorts sarcastically and I roll my eyes as I finish straightening one of the last sections of hair. I got tired of trying to rope the half wavy half straight sections into a funky braid and decided straightening it was simple enough that it would have to be good enough.

"Now you're being the dramatic one."

"Whatever; how long do you have until Chase picks you up?"

I tap the screen to see what time it is and how long I have until he's going to be here. "I've got literally six minutes until he's here. I just wish my dress fit better." I say trying to see if pulling it down would help with the loose fitting areas. It's fine if he doesn't look close enough.

"I'm sure you look hot. Now, I have to go pay Xavier some attention or he's going to hangup the phone for me. I love you Lace, call your parents when you get the chance. I'm not sure how much longer I can keep buying you time."

I smile faintly knowing that Ruth is the best friend I could have ever asked for. "I love you more, I hope Xavier knows that you're all mine after this date."

Her laugh greets me and it makes me happy to hear her happy. "He knows, bye!"

I do one last glance in the mirror to make sure that I look fine and I think I've done a pretty good job of getting all dolled up. I step out of the bathroom to grab my handbag off of my bed and Quinn whistles.

"You look way overdressed compared to what you normally wear. Are you and Dean finally going on a date?"

I roll my eyes, "I'm going on a date, but not with Dean."

She raises an eyebrow in surprise but doesn't say anything else before looking back down at her magazine. "Have fun. No glove no love."

If it were anyone else saying it, my cheeks would be burning red. Yet, I can't stand Quinn so I let her comment roll of my shoulders. We've been living together for three months now and she still has no idea who I am if she thinks I'm going to have sex with Chase tonight.

Thankfully, I don't have to respond because there's a knock on the door and I let out a breath of relief. Except I'm then shocked because Dean is on the other side of the door. His light blue eyes widen with shock and his mouth hangs open.

Well if he's here then that means he has no idea about my date with Chase which means Chase didn't tell him. Oh this is dandy.

"Lace um...you look really nice." He manages to get out and I tug on the dress again.

"Thank you; I'm worried that the dress is too loose though," I say, looking down. "Do you think it's okay?"

He nods quickly, "It's perfect. Do you have plans tonight?"

I can hear Quinn laughing from inside the apartment about his question which results in Dean looking confused. "I-uhm-"

And then I spot Chase behind Dean looking confused as well. "Lacey?" Dean prods waiting for my response and I force the words out of my mouth.

"I have a date."

"What? With who?"

Chase steps forward hesitantly with a bouquet of daisies in his hands. Daisies are my favorite because they're happy flowers but I don't know how he could have known that? My heart softens a bit at the sight of his dirty blonde hair being combed and the grey button up that fits his broad shoulders perfectly. "Am I interrupting something?"

"Hey, no not at all. I just need to grab my phone," I say as Dean makes the connection.

"You guys are going out together, like on a date?" He asks shocked and I take this as my moment to step away and put my phone in my handbag. Dean was supposed to be on shift at the bar tonight. Ruth is right, I should have told him.

When I get back, I notice the tension in the air and the blank expression on Dean's face and the stress on Chases. He smiles tightly at me but there's nothing friendly about it. "I hope you guys have a great night."

Chase sighs, "Dean..."

Except Dean doesn't turn back. I don't know what I expected, but this wasn't the reaction I'd hoped for. He is fucking with Paige or maybe he isn't. I don't know and neither does he. The only thing I know for sure right now is that I need his friendship. I need him to be there for me even if it's selfish.

I shake my head and turn my attention towards Chase, "You look really nice."

He looks relieved to hear that I still want to go with him. "I think you just stole my line. You'll have to settle for you look beautiful."

"Thank you," I smile gently and he holds the flowers out to me.

"I realized this morning that I don't know what your favorite flower is so I stood in the flower shop for fifteen minutes trying to decide which ones reminded me of you. I picked the daisies because they're positive. This is probably the cheesiest thing I've ever done, but the owner said they represent new beginnings. So tonight is a new beginning."

Despite what just happened with Dean minutes ago, the smile on my face is genuine. I lean up and kiss him softly on the cheek, "I love them. Thank you."

Chase offers me his arm that I take happily, forgetting about the way my dress doesn't fit correctly, the guilt I feel for telling no one the truth, and the way that Dean looked at me tonight.

*********

I've never really been into art before and Chase figured that out really quickly. Instead of the night being about watching art, it became about watching other people. I was having a great time. His easy-going personality made this fun.

"Oh, you can just tell that he is bored out of his mind and is only here because his girlfriend loves this stuff," Chase whispers, pointing subtly to the couple standing in the corner.

I cover my mouth to hide my silent laughter, "Yeah but you know he's going to get some later tonight."

The sparkle in his eyes lights up, "Oh the things men do to make women happy."

And then the couple turns around, and I gasp slightly because the couple that Chase had picked out is Grayson and Tessa. "That's my boss and his wife," I clarify and he chuckles softly.

"And you didn't recognize him at first sight? Are you sure he's your boss?" Chase teases, but the fact that they spotted me and are headed our way makes it pretty darn clear.

I've spent enough time with Grayson to tell that he's on edge and hasn't told Tessa yet. The smile on her face is too relaxed to know that her parent's company is in trouble. "Lacey! I'm so glad to see that Gray actually gave you the tickets."

Tessa reaches out to give me a hug that I return easily and I notice quickly how Grayson can't meet my eyes. "It's good to see you again Tessa."

She eyes Chase curiously who holds out his hand politely to her, "Hi, I'm Chase."

"He's my date for the night," I clarify and Grayson looks up at me in surprise. "This is my boss Grayson and his wife Tessa."

"I thought you'd bring Dean," He says bluntly and Tessa hits his arm quickly.

"Gray!"

He rolls his eyes, "We were both thinking it. I owe Sephine fifty bucks now."

"Chase you'll have to excuse my husband. He seems to have forgotten his manners. It's complicated of sorts but Dean is my husband's best friend's cousin. We all thought that he and Lacey were together, but that doesn't appear to be the case since you're here with her." Tessa says nicely and it's embarrassing to hear that they all thought Dean and I are together. We're not. He's with fucking Paige. Of all the people he could be with, it's Paige. For all I know he could be with her right now.

Chase smiles politely, but I can tell he's uncomfortable talking about Dean. It's bad enough that Dean showed up right before him, but hearing my boss's wife talk about how all of them thought we were together. They couldn't have it more wrong. I think they couldn't be more wrong at least.

"Dean and I work together at the firehouse. I was with part of the crew that responded to the fire Lacey was in. Dean was just the lucky guy that got to be Superman that day."

I make a bold move that might be insignificant to others, but I reach for his hand and lace my fingers with Chase's. His hands are hot compared to the constant chill I have in mine. I know how this all seems. I know how it sounds being on a date with one guy and then everyone else assuming I'm with a different one?

Tessa's attention is pulled in a different direction and she's apologetic, "I'm sorry, but I really need to go talk to that couple over there. Lace we'll have to get together soon so I can get to know the woman spending all this time with my husband." She winks at me playfully and I smile because she doesn't sound jealous. If I were her, I'd want to know too.

"I'll see you Monday," Grayson says, giving me the smallest of smiles to let me know that even though I should have told him sooner about the files, he isn't going to hold it against me. I dip my head in acknowledgement and then they're gone.

I don't know what else to say so I pick out another person standing by themselves, "They're staring so hard at that painting like they're going to find the meaning of life in it. Philosophy major."

"Lacey, I need you to be honest with me before I get my hopes up any further than they already are." Chase says seriously and I turn to face him, not letting go of the hold I have on his hand.

"Okay."

He closes his eyes and lets out a deep breath, "Do you have feelings for Dean?"

I run my thumb over his slowly, "If we're being honest, I don't know. As much as it pains me to admit, there is some physical attraction between us, but emotionally? Dean is a friend and that's all I think he'll ever be to me. I care for him a lot because he is my friend. One of my best friends. I know it's weird how quickly we've gotten close, but it's not romantic. I don't know how to explain it."

He squeezes my hand tightly for a few seconds, "Do you think you could care for me?"

The vulnerability of his question makes me pause before answering. Chase is laying his heart out for me. Here is this great guy that looks how I imagine Adonis to look with a great personality that makes him seem kinda emotionally available. No guy is emotionally available. But here he is, doing his best to woo me.

My voice shakes as I attempt to give a piece of me I swore I'd never give. "I'd like to try."

Tonight is a new beginning.