"Whitney! I'm leaving for lunch!" I called out trying to leave the office as fast as possible.

"Crystal in town?" She called back. Crystal was my dearest friend who sadly lives in New York. We went to high school together and we go all the way back to elementary school. I've known her for almost 20 years now.

"No new friend" I explained reaching doors. I didn't let Whitney see the smile that snuck up to my face as I left.

"Yeah, hmmm. Take all the time you need sweetheart!" She yelled back as I left in a knowing tone. Whitney seemed to think there was a new mysterious male in my life and that was why I went out to lunch more often. Well she was right, but not in the way she wanted to be.

I checked my phone to read the last text from Chris. I was a little scared he wouldn't actually text me after I left him in that cafe a couple weeks ago. I didn't want him to think that I was after him for fame or anything. After all I had told him I knew who he was. But the next day he sent me a text, and we haven't stopped talking since.

I was already late so I hustled down to 2nd street and searched the names of the restaurants. It was Chris' turn to pick lunch so he chose a place I had never heard of. It was a cute restaurant. It was simple with wooden tables and dark metal chairs. It had colorful plants decorating the inside, and the windows in the front of the restaurant offered the most light. It was a local restaurant too, Chris liked to eat local.

When I arrived I subconsciously smoothed down my clothes and hair. I adjusted the bag on my shoulder, sucked in a deep breath and walked into the restaurant like I owned it. Fake the confidence you don't have, I told myself. Fake it, till you make it.

"Hey sorry I'm late, I just totally lost track of time." I explained taking a seat next to him. He was sitting on his phone sipping some water.

"No you're fine!" He told me and I smiled relaxing.

"So, what's good at this place?"

"Their salads and sandwiches."

I end up ordering a strawberry and spinach salad because Chris said it was one of his favorite. I also ordered a side of french fries because I was craving junk food.

Our food came and I ate the french fries before even pouring the dressing on my salad.

"You want some fries?" I asked pushing my fries towards him. It was the polite thing to do even though I hoped he would say no. Chris and I were still at the point in our friendship where we had to still be polite to each other. We were in the stage of tip toeing around each other, careful not to offend the other. We were close to the comfortable stage but not quite there yet. It had been at least two weeks since I met him and we've gotten together a lot more than I thought we would.

I told him the crazy antics of the office right now and he laughed at the stories. He had been dying to come meet the people who I work with especially Whitney. If I brought Chris there, Whitney would have an aneurysm. Whitney was trying to get a petition together to get a dog for the office. So she has been campaigning and she has made speeches. If I knew for sure the dog would be taken care of, we would have already had a dog a long time ago.

"When are you off for New Mexico again?" Chris asked

"Tomorrow. I head off late in the morning."

"I'm heading down in a week. How long are you up there?"

"A couple weeks maybe? How ever long it takes to get the job done. I haven't been on set in a while. I usually just send someone else, but we are stretched thin."

"You know anything cool to do in New Mexico?"

"Hiking? I heard they have some cool trails."

"We could do that if I get a day off."

"Or we could do something with air conditioning." I joked making him laugh a bit.

"I'll have to look up some fun things." He told me

"Will you even have any time to do fun stuff?"

"Yeah, maybe? Depends if we're on or behind schedule. I'll have a couple."

"We could always go to Mexico. I haven't been since college." I mentioned

"I bet theres a story to that."

"Oh, there's a lot of stories to that. Some that shouldn't be said."

An hour flew by as we exchanged stories. I checked my watch and freaked out. Where had the time gone?! I had work to do to get ready for New Mexico.

"Oh my gosh I've got to go!" I said frantically shoving my stuff in my purse and standing up. Why was I always rushing around him? I was always in a hurry to see him and always late after hanging out with him.

"I'm sorry I made you late. Do you need a ride?" Chris apologized like he was the one with horrible time management skills.

"That would be great" I followed him to his car and he drove me up to the building.

"I'll see you next week I guess." I said getting out of the car.

"Yeah, keep in touch. I'll see you then Lucy"

"Bye!" I said giving a rather awkward wave before I turned around and headed into the building with my fake confidence in check.

"I'm back" I told Whitney who looked up from her work and raised her eyebrow.

"You're late." She commented like I've never been late before. Please, I was late to my own birth. I'm late to everything.

"Are you surprised?"

"Who are you always sneaking off to see. That new friend sure texts you a lot. Oh yeah, I see you smiling at your phone a lot more!" Whitney accuses knowing she was making me blush with embarrassment.

"Whit! Maybe he's just funny!"

"He's a he?!" She yelled jumping up from her seat. I could see the sneaky wheels turn in her head.

"I never said that. My friend is funny."

"Is he cute?" She pushed following me closely into my office.

"Whit! Friend. Remember? Plus I can't confirm it's a dude."

"Look you can tell me if a friend is cute or not."

"Fine they're cute." Well, Chris wasn't just cute, he was hot. I would have to be blind not to find him attractive.

"Like cute cute? Or cute?" Whitney inquired. I rolled my eyes and sat down at my desk but a couldn't hide the smile on my face.

"Whitney, really. I promise one of these days you'll meet them. I've got a lot of work to do."

"So they're cute." She teased wiggling her eyebrows in her all knowing way.

"Whit!" I whined trying to sound annoyed, but my flushed cheeks and smile betrayed me.

"Fine Lucy I'll get out of your hair, but you're going to miss me when you're in New Mexico and I'm here adopting a new dog."

"I really am Whitney, and no dog." I said truthfully.

"Damn it."