LUCY

When I told my Mother I was going to bring her to Elias' house to cook dinner for him, she didn't stop talking about it all day. She spent all day figuring out what to cook, and flipped through her recipe book multiple times.

It made me smile, how easily she got excited.

The thought of going back to that house, with Elias there, makes me feel a little uneasy. I have gone over in my head so many times how I could talk less to him at work, and avoid him just a little. But each scenario doesn't work. He's my boss, and I handle all his calls.

I literally cannot avoid him.

As much as I don't want to keep admitting it to myself, I still love Travis. I just can't seem to get out of it, or avoid that. I so desperately want to get over him, but I can't.

If only there was a way for me to hypnotize myself from loving him.

I shake my head. I told myself I would never do it again. It messed up too many people's lives last time, and it makes me feel uneasy every time I think of what I did.

"Lucy, you ready to go?" I hear Mom call.

I glance in the mirror one last time, straighten my dress, then, "I'm coming, mom."

The dress would have to do. Mom has a beautiful dress on and I reminded her that we were going to be cooking, but she said she'd have an apron on.

Afraid that I'd show up underdressed, I exchanged my jeans and t-shirt with a dress. If Elias was dressy, and my mom was, it would only make this whole situation more awkward.

I walk out of my bedroom to see mom standing by the door, waiting for me.

We fall into step with each other as we go to the car. I get in the passenger seat, while she drives. I give her directions on where to go, since I've already been there, and it's quite simple actually.

The moment my mother pulls into his driveway, her jaw drops to the ground.

"Lucy," she mutters, glancing up at the house. I smile. I knew she'd like it. She had always been a person to love fancy things, and I knew this was right up her alley. I couldn't wait to see her reaction when the kitchen came into view.

"You like it?" I ask as we hop out of the car.

She nods emphatically.

As we walk off of the driveway, I realize that Elias is standing on the porch, waiting for us. I see his gaze on me, and I hope that will change, and he will pay attention to my Mother, since her mouth is still wide open.

He greets us with a smile. "Ladies." He chuckles, glancing at my mom.

She goes right up to him and hugs him tightly. "Your home is beautiful. And I haven't even walked inside yet." She lets out a laugh.

Elias joins her, then looks at me, a twinkle in his eye.

It seems I may be the only one who is skeptical about this dinner.

Mom has already walked inside it seems, and Elias holds the door open for me. I walk inside, and he shuts the door. He stands next to me.

He leans down a little. "You look beautiful," he whispers in my ear.

I turn my head a little too quickly to meet his eyes, which are full of sincerity. I feel my cheeks heat up, but I turn my head away from him to avoid him from seeing it.

But hearing his little chuckle behind me, I know he must have seen it.

Oh bother.

I walk into the kitchen, and see my Mom already there. She is walking around the large island in the middle, fingering the counter. She is drinking everything in.

Elias comes to stand next to me and crosses his arms. "So, what would you like to cook?"

Mom smiles. "Where's your pantry?"

He nods to the right, where two large doors stood near the fridge. I walk over to it with mom and she opens the doors. It's a walk in pantry.

Of course it's a walk in pantry.

"This is so cool," my Mom mutters to me under her breath, excitement in her voice. I can't help but grin to myself, realizing my Mom is like a little kid when it's Christmas time.

There is so much food in here, he might as well be asking what we can't cook.

We could make practically anything from this store in here.

"What should we make, Lucy?" Mom asks me as she peers further into the pantry. I stay near the doors, waiting for her to finish.

"Hold on," I say, and peek my head out of the pantry doors. Elias is standing right there, waiting, arms crossed. He has a pleasant smile on his face as he peers down at me.

"Hi," he greets.

I clear my throat, "Uh... what are you in the mood for?" I ask him.

He taps his chin with his fingers. "How about... Italian?"

I nod. "Good choice." I scoot back into the pantry just in time to face my mother, who had her arms full of spaghetti noodles and sauces. She smiles and pushes past me, going out of the pantry.

How she knew he wanted Italian food is beyond me.

I'm not going to think about it.

When I myself leave the pantry, I see my Mom already has her apron on that she is tying onto herself. There are also two pots out and she is filling one up with water.

She moves quickly when she's excited.

Elias sits at the counter on a stool, watching her. I see his eyes flicker in my direction when I walk over to the island and spot the apron on. I figured it must be for me.

It's white, with lace covering the bottom on the skirt, as well as the short sleeves. I am pretty sure it's a dress and not an apron.

I don't even want to get it dirty.

They also look brand new.

I chuckle a little to myself. Unless he wears these as he makes his microwaveable mac n' cheese. I can only imagine.

Or I could not imagine it.

Mom starts on the spaghetti, while I pour the sauce into the other pot, turning the stove top on. I put the lip on the pot just as I hear music pour into the kitchen.

I glance up to see Elias placing a speaker on the island, the volume low. He looks up, meets my eye, then looks away. He sits back in his spot on his stool, hands on the counter.

I turn back to the sauce. There is literally nothing else I can do.

Part of me wants to go sit on the other stool, next to Elias, but then I could just imagine the faces Mom would make at me, and I realize that that is not going to happen. I can't give her more ammo.

It's better to keep the distance anyway.

Once the water has boiled, Mom tosses the spaghetti in, and stir it. I stir the pan full of sauce a few times so it wouldn't burn.

"Oh, Lucy, can you go grab some things out of the pantry?" Mom asks, and I set the spoon on the counter that is dirty with sauce. I nod and walk to the pantry as she begins to name some of the spices she needs.

I walk into the pantry, and keep walking further until I find the spice section.

There is a literal section for spices.

Holy smokes.

I distantly hear my mom, "Oh can you also grab the pepper?"

"What?" I almost yell, only hearing the music. This pantry must be soundproof. I start to walk back to the door to the pantry to hear my mother better.

"I'll get it," I hear Elias say and my eyes widen. I rush back to the spice section as I hear the doors open. I stay completely still as I hear his footsteps. They stop and I don't have to look to know he is right next to me.

I take in a deep breath, reaching for the spices I needed.

Elias reaches over me and grabs the pepper.

"She needs pepper," he says in a low voice, standing very close to me. I want to put my arm out and make him stand at the end of it, but he should be leaving soon.

He has to be leaving soon.

But he stays. I take a look at him. "Need anything else?" He asks, gesturing to the spices I had in my hand.

I swallow, shaking my head. "I got it. Thanks."

He nods, and takes his leave, pepper in hand. I let out a sigh, and grab the rest of the spices. My arms full, I make my way to the pantry door, push it open with my foot, and set the spices down on the island counter.

Elias scoots the pepper he still had in his hand toward my pile to join the rest of the spices.

I slide them all down to my mom as she continues to stir the spaghetti.

"Why don't you two set the table?" Mom smiles at Elias, who immediately stands. I watch him as he grabs the plates, and I try to remember where the utensils are. I open a few drawers until I find the right one. I grab three forks and place each one next to the plates.

Elias grabs the glass cups and tells me there is a pitcher in the fridge. I grab it and set it on the table. He grabs the napkins while I go back to my sauce, stirring it again. Mom tells me how much of the spices I am supposed to put into the sauce as she pours the spaghetti into a strainer.

The table is set, and now all we have to do is mix in the sauce with the spaghetti.

Elias puts all the spices away while I pour the sauce into the large pan, and mom mixes it all in. The spices overwhelm my senses when I stand too close, but it all smells good. I take the pan from the stove top and place it on the designated pot holder that sat on the end of the long table.

I sit on one side of Elias, while mom sits on the other side, and we face each other. I dig out the food and serve us all. I place the lid on the pan to keep the food warm as we all dig in.

"Wow, this is good."

Mom beams at Elias' words.

I smile.

The food is gone in all of our plates in a matter of minutes. I don't realize how hungry I am until I start eating. Elias has a second serving, and I help myself to more after him. Mom is content with her one bowl.

Mom keeps the conversation up and I have never been happier that she is talking a lot. I don't feel like conversing, which seems fine with the both of them.

Every once in a while I will get roped in to talk, but I am fine with that.

I start to clear the table as they continue to talk. I suggest that since dinner is done, Elias should show my mom the grand tour.

Oh did she agree to that.

Elias, being the perfect gentleman, agrees, and takes her out back first, while I begin to wash the dishes. No point in leaving his house dirty. I place the bowls in the dishwasher, as well as the forks and cups.

Now for the pots.

I search the whole kitchen for containers for the extra food and find them next to the utensils. I put the spaghetti into one of those and place that in the fridge.

I can hear my mom upstairs, laughing.

It's good she was having so much fun. Sometimes I wondered how she felt, especially with Dad gone, and me as her only company.

And only just a year ago, she was by herself.

I am too wrapped up in Travis to even care.

That's when I knew, after I came home, that I didn't need that kind of love. I didn't need a kind of love where I would just be wrapped up in it, and leave out everyone else I love. Jeanie, my Mom, and even Fran and Jared as much as they hated me.

Travis would be my last love. I would stick with my Mom. She was going to really need me when it came to when Dad got out of jail, which was soon. Just thinking about him, free, made my heart ache.

I don't want him in my life ever again.

Yet he might fight to be in it after he gets out.

Nothing would scare me more.

"Hey."

I jump, spraying myself with water. I gasp for air as the water drips down my face and onto my shirt. Before I can even open my eyes, I feel a towel gently placed on my face, and I reach up to hold it when I feel a hand underneath.

I open my eyes and see that Elias' hand was holding the towel against my face.

"I'm so sorry," he says, laughing. It's amazing he can speak with how hard he is laughing. I want to glare, but the situation is too funny for me not to join in.

I take the towel from him, wanting to hold it. I don't need my hand to be resting on his anymore.

"It's okay," I say, patting my face dry. I place the towel on the counter. "But you have got to stop doing that. I am totally getting you a bell."

He smiles. "I'll take it. Maybe I'll stop scaring the crap out of you."

I continue to wash the pan, and once it's clean, I put it on the counter. Elias picks it up, and dries it.

"You don't have to clean up, you know?" he says softly, and I can't help but look at him.

I shrug. "I don't mind. You invited us over here, so it's the least I could do."

He doesn't say anything.

"Where's my Mom?" I ask suddenly, realizing they were supposed to be on their grand tour of his huge house. I look around as if she would appear out of thin air.

"Oh, she's in the restroom. We're almost done."

I finish the second pot and hand it to Elias, who still has the towel in his hand.

"How does she like it?" I ask, although it's a stupid question because I already know the answer. She is probably in love with the house, her jaw opening wider with each room.

He chuckles. "How do you think?"

"She's probably planning on stealing it from you."

Elias sets the dry pot down. "She'd take care of it better than I ever would. I'll get the papers to sign it to her," he jokes, but I hear a sense of truth to his words.

I grab the washcloth in the sink and start to wash the counters. I don't get far when Elias covers my hand with his.

"Lu, stop. I'll get it later." He takes the washcloth from my hand.

I turn to him. "That's not what my Mother taught me..." I trail off, realizing I am a breath away from him. He's close. Too close.

"And my Mother taught me to enjoy every moment," he whispers, his hand still holding mine.

I swear I see his eyes flicker to my lips.

My heart beating faster, I realize I would allow him to kiss me. I'm not sure why, but right now all I know is that I would be okay with it.

He seems to sense that, and leans closer.

I feel his breath on my lips.

"This house, Elias-"

We both step away from each other as we hear my Mom. He drops my hand, and we both turn to face my mom as she walks into the kitchen, a bright smile on her face.

"-is absolutely beautiful," she finishes, smiling at me. "You got the tour, right honey?" She asks me and I nod.

"Yeah," I answer, doing my best not to look at Elias.

"Well, Jude, do you want us to stick around for dessert? I can make a really good brownie sundae," she brags, walking toward us.

Which meant more alone time with Elias.

I look at him now.

His eyes are on my Mother.

The thought scares me. What am I thinking? I can't kiss him. I can't like him. I told myself to stay away, and look where I am at now. About to kiss the man who is my boss, and from what I heard, a complete womanizer.

I have to take a step back. I have been trying to at the office, but that doesn't seem to work because he straight up invited us to his house.

Invited me.

Oh boy. I have to get out before I drown.

"Actually, Mom, I just realized I am expecting a call from Jeanie," I say suddenly, the lie slipping so easily. Mom frowns, looking a little disappointed and I feel a pang of guilt. But she would understand, hopefully.

Elias, on the other hand, knows right away what I am trying to do, and decides to help me out. "That's totally fine." He smiles at my Mom. "We'll have to do dessert some other time. Thank you both for coming."

Mom gives him a hug, which he heartily receives, embracing her.

I turn to Elias, and I can't help but see the hurt in his eyes, but he would thank me later. We were both about to make a huge mistake that we couldn't come back from. He would soon get over it, and we could move on with our lives.

"Thank you," I say, moving away from him.

Mom leads the way to the car. I walk behind her, and I hear Elias following behind us.

We both get in the car, and I watch as Elias stands at the edge of the driveway, watching us.

Or rather, watching me.

He disappears from my line of sight when we pull out of the driveway and start en route to our house.

Mom doesn't say anything on the way home.

But just when we park in our driveway does she say something, "Lucy, honey, I think you need to let Travis go."

I frown, opening my mouth to say something, but she stops me.

"Because I think you deserve to be happy. And I think that can come in the form of a person."

Please don't say what I think you are going to say.

"I think that person is Elias."