The following week went by like a blur. If blurs comprised of never ending, boring loops where nothing changed and usual conversations seemed completely mundane. My routine was established and it centred around avoiding Lucas as much as possible. I would drop Daniel off at the gym and grab a coffee to wait for the hour that he was with Michael. I stuck to a strict time when it involved going to and coming from the condo.

Kyle arrived early on the day of Lucas's fight and bounded his way into the apartment giddily.

"Danny, my man. Fight three! You pumped?" Kyle walked over to Daniel to give him an affectionate clap on the back.

"I'm so excited! Do you think Lucas will let me walk in with him again?" Daniel asked excitedly.

"I think there's a pretty good chance," Kyle nodded. He glanced at me, "Hey, Em." He grinned.

I returned the gesture, "How's it going?"

"Oh you know, by day I calculate numbers. By night I undress women. I'm like Batman."

"Except not a billionaire and you don't actually do any good with your actions," Daniel scoffed.

Kyle smiled at the teenager, "Plenty of women feel good about my actions," he winked.

I walked over to Daniel and covered his ears, "Let's try for G-rated."

Daniel slapped my hands away playfully.

"Actually Kyle, if you're going tonight, do you think it'd be okay if I left Daniel with you? I wanted to get some stuff done around my apartment." Stuff like avoid a half naked, tattooed man. But more realistically, a pint of ice cream was calling my name.

"I'm fully capable of looking-"Daniel began.

Kyle interrupted with a shrug, "Sure."

"I don't need any-" Daniel started.

"-I really appreciate it, thanks." I butt in causing Daniel to blow a raspberry at us.

"Anything you need my help with? I hear I'm an absolute necessity in the bedroom. I have references," Kyle pretended to flick his hair back arrogantly.

"Gross," Daniel muttered and I laughed as he crinkled his nose in disgust.

I said my goodbyes to the two boys and headed back to my apartment, feigning as much excitement as I could about another night in. I walked into the lobby and ran into Ms. Smith.

"Oh! Sorry, didn't see you there," I murmured unsurely. The last time I had seen Ms. Smith was in her apartment with Mr. Greggs.

She grinned at me, "Emily! So glad I ran into you. I just happened to notice a package left out for you on my way down to check the mail," I fought the urge to roll my eyes, "and I just wanted to let you know that we're going to get rats if those packages remain on the floor."

I gaped at her, "I'm not the one ordering the packages, Ms. Smith."

"Well, these packages are addressed to you and are being sent to your apartment."

"Right. Thanks," I managed to spit out through gritted teeth before walking up the stairs, but I was almost sure I saw a small, mischievous smile play on her lips as I walked away from her.

"Don't forget that the more packages you receive, the more potential there is for burglars to think we have money!" She raised her voice as I continued to walk away from her.

"Got it, Ms. Smith!" I shouted back irritatedly.

"I'm just looking out for you!" She shouted back.

"Oh lord," I muttered picking up the basket that sat outside of my door before opening the door to my apartment and locking it after me for good measure.

My phone rang and I looked at the caller ID before answering. "Hey Ashley. You're up early." I placed the basket on the table and walked to my room to get into my sweatpants.

"I'm trying to change my sleep schedule so I'll be ready for morning shifts next week," she answered enthusiastically. "What are you up to tonight?"

"Honestly? I'm getting into my sweats and I'm planning on watching TV," I responded as I dumped my clothes into a laundry basket.

I walked to the kitchen table and picked up the basket peering inside at its contents. Chocolate, strawberries, and a miniature bottle of champagne. Ethically, I knew I should probably toss it all out, but it also made a great snack and I was hungry.

"Do you feel like company?" Ashley asked as I placed the food on my table, my fingers brushing against a card.

"Sure!" I exclaimed. I pulled the card out and my eyes flashed over "you mean so much to me," and "you know I don't have a long attention span." I crumpled the paper up. "That sounds perfect, actually."

"I'm so excited! Can I bring anything?"

"No, I have a ton of food here," I stated taking the basket in front of me in.

Half an hour later, Ashley had arrived in a blouse and work slacks, blazer hanging off of her arm. "Hey," she grinned at me.

I opened the door for her and walked to my couch where the spread was assembled, "I hope you're a fan of romantic food." I gestured to the contents that sat on the table.

She took everything in before glancing back at me, "Do you just have strawberries and champagne sitting in your apartment at all times? I mean, it's not a bad idea, really."

I laughed, "Sadly, no. They're from Tony."

He eyebrows shot up, "Why is he sending you food?"

I shrugged, "I think he's sick of his personal trainer." I sat on the couch and turned the TV on, reaching for a strawberry in the process and biting into it.

Ashley sat next to me and grabbed a strawberry herself, "The perks of having a repentant ex, I suppose." Always the silver lining.

"How's Jim?" I asked glancing over at Ashley.

"He's amazing. Yoga does so much for good sex." She sighed dreamily.

I laughed, "Is it a serious thing?"

"I'm not sure yet. We agreed to take it slow, but we're not exclusive or anything."

I switched the TV onto Lucas's fight just in time to see him enter into the ring with his opponent named Nathan Stills. His face looked impassive as ever. I noticed Daniel's cheery expression next to Miguel and Kyle.

"I'm sorry, when did you turn into a UFC junkie?"

I pointed at the screen, "That's my boss."

Ashley gaped at the TV, "You work for him?" She let out a loud whistle. "How do you get anything done?"

"Well, he's not around usually." Though that did nothing to help with my ability to get things like talking done when he was around.

"Folks, it look like Miller is taking quite a beating during the first round. Stills is beating him down. His eye looks pretty busted already. He's going to have to turn this around fast if he wants to stay in this championship."

I watched the screen as Lucas took pounding after pounding against his face, blood pouring out. The bell rang and both fighters went to their corners.

"This is tough to watch," Ashley stared at the screen as she reached over slowly to grab some chocolate and stuff her face with it.

The bell rang for the second round and Lucas jumped up with more energy than someone with a bleeding face should have.

"Miller coming in with renewed energy. Look at that swing! He's got some life back in him. Stills trying to get a chokehold, but Miller twists and swings back!"

Lucas twisted got Stills into a chokehold before applying pressure and Stills tapping out. I sighed a breath of relief, my palms sweaty, my heart racing.

"Is this your life? Strawberries, chocolate, and insanely hot guys fighting?"

Ashley left my apartment after a couple hours to make it in time for work. I was busy cleaning up the mess of chocolate and champagne glasses littered on the table when a knock sounded at my door.

I opened it just enough to catch a glimpse of a battered Lucas before swinging it the rest of the way.