by Tessa Elaine
I was completely serious about the cold shower, but it does no good. I will be rocking a hard on all day just thinking about Elena in my bed under me. I get dressed and walk back to my room to grab my wallet and keys. I stop at the door when I hear her talking to someone on the phone.
I shouldn't eavesdrop but I never asked if she was seeing someone. What if she has a boyfriend? No Elena wouldn't do that, make me the other guy. But like she said last night, I don't know her anymore.
I stand there for a minute and hear her say, “He can't come here, what am I going to do?” I wonder if he means boyfriend? I feel guilty about listening in so I open the door and walk in. She spins around and smiles at me.
“Hey Aubrey, I have to go. Can I call you back?” She pauses listening to the person on the other end. I just grab my stuff and act like I don't hear anything.
“Okay, I will call you later, I promise.” She hangs up and smiles at me before she grabs her things.
“Roommate” she says explaining the phone call. She’s already dressed and ready to go so I hold out my hand for her. She takes it and we walk out to my truck, I help her in and walk around to climb behind the wheel. She doesn't say anything on the short drive to her car. When we get there we just sit in silence for a minute.
“We still on for dinner tonight?” I ask wondering if she changed her mind. She doesn't say anything so I go on, “If you changed your mind it's okay, no pressure.” I tell her.
“No, dinner will be great,” she says and hands me her phone. I look down at the phone then back at her.
“Put your number in it just in case I need to call you.” I take her phone and put my number in it hitting the call button, my phone rings and she laughs.
“Just in case I need to call you.” I smile and give her phone back. She reaches over kisses me on the cheek and climbs out of the truck. Before she shuts the door, she says, “thank you” and turns to head to her car. I watch her climb in before I leave to head to the office.
When I get to work I find it harder to concentrate today. You would think finally getting to talk to her my head would be clearer, but it's the complete opposite. I just keep replaying last night over and over in my head. When I'm not thinking of last night I'm watching the clock counting down the minutes until I can see her again. Today is going to be a long day.
I decide to call my mom and talk to her about dinner and having Elena join us. She is thrilled when I tell her and it takes me forever to get her off the phone. She has a hundred questions. I just give her what I can and tell her to ask Elena when she comes for dinner. After my phone call with mom I call my sister Sarah. That conversation went better than I thought, but it sounded like she was trying to rush me off the phone.
“Yes, Lucas I will be there, I really have to go. I will see you at dinner.” Then she hangs up before I can say goodbye.
Sarah has been acting weird lately and I'm not sure what to do. I know she would say it's none of my business but that girl is the queen of putting her nose where it doesn't belong. It's finally one o'clock and I decide to take lunch. I get up to leave and someone knocks on the door.
“Come in,” I say. Wyatt walks in with a bag of food. This guy knows me too well, but I'm not sure why he would bring me lunch after the way I acted yesterday.
“What’s up man?” I ask as he takes a seat on the couch.
“Just on my lunch break, thought I would come by and see if I still had a job.” I can hear the sarcasm in his voice, but the look on his face is anger. I'm such an asshole. I should have called him this morning; my head is such a mess.
“Man, I'm sorry about yesterday. I should have talked to you instead of going off on you and your crew.”
“That's your crew, boss.” Wyatt says.
“Man, don't start with that boss shit. You know I couldn't do all this without you.” It's the truth, I don't think I could have kept my father's company going without Wyatt. He always has my back, even when I'm being a dick.
“So, I still have a job?” He says with a shit eating grin.
“You know you will always have a job. I was just in a shit mood yesterday.”
“This shit mood wouldn't happen to have something to do with a hot little brunette that came storming back into town, would it?” Wyatt ask, but he knows it does. I think for a minute about not telling him about last night, but I don't keep anything from Wyatt.
“Yea, I guess some of it has to do with Elena.” He gives me a look that says, only some?
“Okay, a lot of my bad mood had to do with her,” I tell him.
“What the hell are you going to do?” Wyatt asks me.
“Well on my way home last night I saw her car at the ranch,” I tell him and his eyes go wide.
“Shit, how was she?” He doesn't have to ask if I stopped to check on her, he already knows I did.
“Not good man, I found her in the floor crying and shaking. It looked like she was going through a box of old photos.” We all grew up together and Wyatt knew her parents just as well as I did. He knows going back to the ranch would be hard on her.
“Shit,” Wyatt says, “Must have been hell going back there after all these years.”
“Yea, she took it pretty hard. It looked like everything was right where she left it when she took off.”
“Damn, that's rough.”
“She cried herself to sleep in my arms.” I tell him looking down at my food.
“And?” He says. He knows that's not all.
“I took her back to my place, I couldn't just leave her there. She would have froze, there is no power and she was in no condition to drive.” I tell him and he looks at me like I'm crazy.
“And?” He asks again knowing there's more.
“Well at first, I was going to sleep on the couch, but then she asked me to lay with her.” He's shaking his head, I know what he's thinking. I have been thinking about it all day. I shouldn’t be getting so close.
“You never have been able to tell that girl no, but man she's leaving Thursday.” Wyatt tells me.
“Breck changed the meeting day, she's staying until next Tuesday.” I tell him what she told me this morning.
“So, that just gives you more time to get your heart invested again.” He's right, but my heart has always been invested. I couldn't stop loving her if I tried. I tell him about her trying to sneak out, and our conversation about what's been on my mind. I got to get a lot off my chest last night. Then I tell him I slept with her. I don't give him details obviously. He's just looking at me like I have lost my mind.
“Have you lost your damn mind!” There it is.
“No, I haven't. It only happened once, okay maybe twice. But it won't happen again.” I tell him but he doesn't look convinced.
“I'm going to keep us in the friend zone.” He's laughing at me because he knows I’m full of shit.
“Yea, you let me know how that friend zone goes.” He just shakes his head at me and we finish our lunch. I tell him the rest while we eat.
“I asked her to dinner tonight at mom and dads, she seemed unsure so I told her Sarah would be there so it would be less awkward.” He's doubled over laughing, but I don't see the humor in any of this.
“What is so funny?” I ask him. After he is done he wipes his eyes and finally answers.
“You man, let me guess. You wanted to see her again but you didn't want it to seem like a date, so you thought dinner with your family would be the best idea. What did mom say, hell what did Sarah say?” Sometimes it's a pain in the ass that this guy knows me that well.
“Yes and no. Yes, I wanted to see her again, and no I didn't want it to feel like a date. Mom is thrilled, dad and her want to see Elena again. As for Sarah, why don't you just ask her since you two talk all the damn time.” He starts to pack up his lunch like this conversation is over. Every time I bring up Sarah he gets all weird.
“Wyatt, what the hell is going on with you and Sarah?” I ask him out right knowing he won't lie to me. He looks u
p at me with a serious expression on his face.
“Nothing is going on with me and Sarah. We really don't talk that much, I called her yesterday because you were acting like a crazy asshole.” That's true I was not myself yesterday. I feel a little better about the whole Wyatt and Sarah deal. But I still think there is something they are not telling me. He finishes cleaning up and heads to the door.
“Thanks for lunch man.” I say to him, “And I'm sorry about yesterday.”
He just smiles, “We’re good man.” With that he turns and leaves.
I get a little more work done. It's only three in the afternoon when my phone goes off. I pull it out to see who it's from and smile when I see her name. It's a text from Elena.
Elena- Hey, I just wanted to say thank you again. For being there for me yesterday. You sure there is nothing I need to bring to dinner?
I smile and send a message back.
Lucas- I'm always here if you need me. Mom said to just bring yourself, she's really excited to see you. Do you want me to pick you up?
I read the last line again and think about deleting it. But I want to pick her up and take her back to the Inn. Anything to spend more time with her. So, I hit send and stare at the phone while I wait for her response. It feels like forever before she texts back.
Elena- Are you sure? I can meet you there.
Is she crazy, yes I am sure.
Lucas- It's no problem at all. I will be by around five, dinners at six.
She texts back almost instantly.
Elena- Great, see you then.
I feel like a teenager again, I'm so ready for this work day to be over. I finish up with the rest of my work and at ten till five I head to my truck. I can't wait to see her. That beautiful smile and those stunning eyes have been on my mind all day. When I'm in my truck I send a quick text letting her know I'm on my way. It takes me no time to get to the Inn.
When I pull up I look at my phone to see if she responded. But nothing, so I climb out and head inside. I see Mrs. Johnson and she just hugs me and tells me up the stairs last door on the right. She knows exactly why I'm here.
I make my way up the stairs and knock on the door, when it opens I can't think or speak. She looks extraordinary, more than extraordinary. Holy shit, this girl is going to be the death of me. She's in a white lace top, with a yellow blazer over it, skinny jeans that hug every part of her perfectly, and killer yellow heels. She looks sensational.
“Are you going to say something or just stand there staring?” I try to recover quickly, but I fail. She just laughs at me.
“Hey don't laugh. I'm not use to this city girl. You look exquisite, Elena.” She smiles and turns to grab her purse. I bite my knuckles and groan at the site of her ass in those jeans. How the hell am I going to keep this in the friend zone when she looks so good. I have to hold on to my control. She walks out of her room and slips her arm in mine and we walk down the stairs together. On our way out Mrs. Johnson calls after us.
“You kids have a good night.”
“Thank you.” Elena says. She’s quiet as we make our way to my truck. I open her door help her climb in and walk to my side. When I slide in I look over and see uncertainty on her face.
“You okay, darlin’?” She looks up and gives me a small smile. I can tell it's forced.
“You can talk to me.” I tell her, trying to get her to open up.
“It was just the “city girl” comment you made. It's nothing really, I just realized how much I really have changed.” I didn't mean to offend her, I think she looks hot. Ever since she opened the door all I can think about is taking her back to my place, bending her over my couch with nothing on but those yellow heels on.
“Elena, I didn't mean anything by it. You have changed, and that's okay. We have all changed in the last seven years, there's nothing wrong with that. Honestly, you look hot as hell,” I tell her. I hope that eases some of the awkwardness she feels.
“I guess you right, we have all changed.”
She looks a little more relaxed so I start the truck and pull away from the Inn, heading to my parents’ house. I don't know who is more nervous about dinner, me or her. I reach over and squeeze her knee, needing some kind of contact. I can't keep my hands off of her when she's this close. She puts her hand on mine and laces our fingers together. Giving me that sweet smile of hers that melts my heart. I know right then, I'm in trouble when she goes home.
Chapter 12
Elena
Last night was a roller coaster of emotions. I feel like I should regret what happened, but I can't regret anything with Lucas. It felt so good to be with him again, and this morning was a lot less awkward than I thought it would be. It was just like all the dreams I’ve had of us over the last seven years. Waking up in his bed naked, putting one of his shirts on, and heading down to have breakfast with him. There's nothing like having a sexy shirtless man cooking for you.
He was so understanding this morning about me having to go back home soon. I have to admit I was a little disappointed he didn't try to talk me into staying. But staying in Montana is not an option for me, or so I tell myself. I hope he meant what he said about us staying in touch when I go back to Seattle. I couldn't go without talking to him after all this. I can't believe I went so long without him in my life. I am so stupid for cutting them all out of my life the way I did, but I can't go back, now all I can do is change the future.
I was a little nervous about dinner with his parents, I know he said Sarah would be there to make me feel better. It did make me feel a little better, but the only reason I hesitated was because I don't know if I can see the disappointment on Eva and Barrett's faces. They really were like second parents to me. Sarah and I were inseparable, if she wasn't at my house I was at hers. I also don't know if I can keep it together when I see them. The Wayne's and my parents were really close. They knew each other before they started having kids.
After breakfast Lucas went to take a shower and I couldn't stop thinking of him in there with water running down his naked body. But I held onto my control and went to his room to get dressed. I checked my phone and seen three missed calls from Aubrey. I call her back and she answers right away.
“Hey girl, sorry about the phone tag.” I tell her, “You never answered your phone yesterday I was worried. If I didn't hear from you today I was sending out a search party.” I'm only half joking.
“Sorry chica, yesterday was crazy.”
“What happened?” I ask.
“Well first I went to Dorian's to try and talk him out of his insane trip to Montana. The guy is set on coming to where you are. He thinks you guys are still together.” She tells me.
“Damn him, why can't he just let it go? I don't understand, our relationship wasn't even that good.” I can't believe this, I really don't have time to deal with his delusions of what our relationship is or will be.
“Guys like Dorian don't get rejected, and when they do they don't take it well. Just be careful and don't be alone with him. I don't trust him.” Aubrey and Dorian have never gotten along and I hear what she is saying. I just don't see Dorian ever hurting me. Almost a year and he has never even raised his voice to me.
“He can't come here, what am I going to do?” About the time I ask Aubrey what I should do Lucas walks in. He's dressed in a blue button up and gray slacks, I have never seen Lucas dress like this. He looks good enough to eat.
“Aubrey, I have to go. Can I call you back?” She makes me promise to call her right back and we hang up. I smile at Lucas and tell him it was my roommate. He reaches out his hand to me and we walk out to his truck. We have a quiet ride back to my car, but the whole drive there my mind is replaying last night. Before we part ways we exchange phone numbers. I start my car making my way to the Inn, grabbing my phone I call Aubrey back like I promised. She answers on the second ring.
“That was fast.” She says.
“Okay, that can't be the part of your day that had you missing my calls.” I pick up
right where we left off, Aubrey never misses my calls unless it's unavoidable and I always get a call back as soon as she sees it.
“You going to tell me why you had to call me back?” She asks.
“Yes, but finish what you were saying.” I tell her, not ready to talk about last night.
“Okay. Dorian was the easiest part of my day. After I left Dorian's I went to a friend’s house.” I interrupt wanting to know what friend.
“A guy friend?” I ask.
“Yes, a guy friend if you must know. Anyway, while I was in his apartment having a drink my car was broken into and my phone was stolen. That's why I didn't get your calls.” Shit poor Aubrey.
“I'm sorry, did you report it to the police?” I ask hoping they get the asshole. But in Seattle they have so much going on a car robbery is the least of their worries.
“Yeah, I reported it, the only thing they took was the phone. It wasn't even that nice of a phone.”
“You're okay though?” I ask, more worried about her than the phone.
“Yeah, I'm good. Just pissed, I lost all my contacts.” That would be the only thing she's worried about.
“Why? Lost all your booty call numbers?”
“As a matter of fact, yes.” We both laugh.
“I'm glad you're okay.” I tell her
“Me too,” she says “Now your turn.”
I tell her everything on the way back to the Inn. I tell her about the change in my meeting with Breck, about going back to the ranch, about my panic attack.
“I'm sorry, Elena. I wish I could be there for you.” Aubrey says, and I wish she could be here with me too.
“Me too” I tell her. I finish telling her about Lucas finding me in the middle of my panic attack, about going back to his house, about trying to sneak out, and us spilling our guts about what happened seven years ago. I pull up to the Inn and we are still talking.
