A/N – Okay, the newest part in the Living In A Moment series! I hope everyone's excited! I really like this series...it's fun to take little one night peaks into a relationship. Hopefully you will read and enjoy! As always, please review!
Chapter 1 – A Real Date
Lulu hustled around the busy restaurant taking orders and refilling drinks. She had been working and living at Kelly's for over a month and she was happier than she had ever been. Of course, the job and freedom was nice, but that wasn't what made her so happy. Johnny did that all by himself. They had been able to see each other at least three times a week and everyone seemed to be staying out of it. Johnny had even come to Kelly's for coffee a few times, so they could see each other.
"Table five, Lulu," Mike said sweetly, shaking her from her thoughts.
Lulu couldn't help but groan. Logan. He had come by at least once a day for coffee and to talk to Lulu since she started working. Lulu blew him off every time and Logan was getting angry. She begrudgingly walked to Logan's table and rolled her eyes when he smiled at her.
"What can I get you?" Lulu wondered.
"A date," Logan requested.
"We don't have date nut muffins," Lulu said sarcastically. "I think I've told you that before."
"I don't want a damn muffin, Lulu," Logan said roughly. "I want to take you out on a date so you can remember how good we were together."
"If you aren't going to order something, I have other customers," Lulu replied.
"Why won't you give me a chance?" Logan begged.
Lulu had a million answers to that question. Logan was an ass who didn't deserve her time, a cheater who used her for sex and one of the biggest mistakes of her life. Most importantly, she was taken and she wasn't giving anyone a chance. In her attempt to remain amicable, Lulu refrained from using any of those answers and chose to ignore his question.
"I'll come back when you're ready," Lulu offered before walking away.
Lulu served some of the other customers before heading back behind the counter. Logan was seething and she found it amusing. After everything he had put her through, he deserved a little pain. However, a small part of Lulu was thankful for what Logan had done. His betrayal had led her to Johnny and he was the best thing that had ever happened to her. With this new outlook, Lulu approached Logan's table.
"Did you decide?" Lulu asked.
"Will you ever forgive me, Lulu?" Logan questioned.
"I already have," Lulu answered honestly.
"Then why can't we try again?" Logan wondered.
"Because I don't want you," Lulu responded. "I forgive you because people make mistakes, but I have no interest in starting over or trying again or any other way you want to phrase us getting back together. I'm over you."
"You don't mean that," Logan insisted. "Let me gain your trust."
"You can't," Lulu replied. "I barely trusted you in the first place and I would never be able to do it again, but that doesn't matter. Even if I did, I still wouldn't want to be with you. Please just let it go."
"I can't let it go," Logan said loudly, earning a look from some of the other customers. "You just need more time. I'll be back."
Lulu rolled her eyes as Logan exited Kelly's. She grabbed the coffee pot from behind the counter and made her way around to every customer to check on them. Most of the customers gave her looks of sympathy, but some seemed oblivious to Logan's outburst. Lulu didn't really care what he did or said, but she did want him to leave her alone.
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"What do you think?" Anthony wondered.
Johnny looked down at the papers in front of him. What did he think? He thought that he didn't care. He had no interest in which shipping lane was best for this particular shipment. He had no interest in anything to do with the business, but there was no arguing with Anthony. Things had actually been going well with him and the last thing Johnny wanted to do was make his father suspicious again.
"I think we should stall the shipment," Johnny answered.
"Why?" Anthony questioned.
"We've been really active lately," Johnny replied. "The last thing we need is to get busted. I think holding off for a few days is the best move."
"I disagree," Anthony stated. "We move the shipment through the southern lane and we do it immediately."
"Very well, Tony," Trevor smiled.
Johnny just rolled his eyes as Trevor left the room. Every time Johnny gave an opinion, his father did the opposite of what he advised. It was annoying at best. He didn't bother to question Anthony's reasoning because what happened with the business did not matter at all to Johnny. What mattered to Johnny was putting on a good front so that he could keep his father's trust. As long as his father trusted him, seeing Lulu was easy.
"Are you disappointed I didn't take your advice?" Anthony questioned.
"No," Johnny shook his head. "You know more about this business than I do."
"But your instincts aren't completely wrong," Anthony offered. "We should slow down sometime soon. Just not now and not this particular shipment."
"What's special about this shipment?" Johnny wondered.
"Don't ask too many questions," Anthony warned. "You will be told what is necessary and only that."
"Of course," Johnny smiled.
"I like your attitude lately," Anthony complimented. "What caused your change of heart?"
"I decided that there was no use fighting you," Johnny responded. "You always get what you want. Something I admire to a certain degree. The best way to always get what I want is to do learn this business like you asked me to."
"You're a good boy, John," Anthony said proudly. "You will make a fine head of this organization one day."
Johnny forced himself to smile. The last thing he ever wanted to be was head of the Zacchara organization. He wanted a life outside of the business with Lulu by his side. But he had to bide his time. He had to make Anthony think he dreamed of being a ruthless mob boss and he seemed to be doing an okay job of it.
"Do we have any other business?" Johnny asked.
"No, we're finished today," Anthony answered. "Are you going to leave the house again tonight?"
"I thought about it," Johnny replied. "I'd rather not be followed though."
"I realize you want your privacy and alone time," Anthony sighed. "I might as well just let you leave without guards because you would ditch them anyway."
"Most likely," Johnny agreed.
"You will know when you leave if you have guards to ditch or not," Anthony responded.
Johnny laughed awkwardly and left the office. His father was too calm. There was something off about everything, but Johnny didn't know what it was. He didn't have the time or energy to care either. All he wanted was to get ready and go meet Lulu. He wanted to see her and she could never deny him.
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Lulu collapsed on her bed after work. It had been a busy day at Kelly's and she was exhausted. All she wanted to do was take a long bath and crawl into bed. As soon as her eyes closed her phone started ringing. She pulled it out of her pocket and answered without looking at the caller id.
"Hello?" Lulu said with an annoyed tone.
"And here I thought you liked hearing from me," Johnny pouted.
"Johnny!" Lulu squealed and he laughed.
"Now that's my girl," Johnny responded.
"It's early," Lulu pointed out. "I wasn't expecting to hear from you until tonight."
"Well I didn't want to call tonight," Johnny replied. "I wanted to see you tonight."
"Really?" Lulu asked. "Are you sure it's safe?"
"I already told my father I was going out and if someone followed I would ditch them," Johnny explained. "He didn't seem to care, so I took that as a sign and I called you as soon as you got off work. That way no one else could sweep you off your feet before me."
"Well I'm glad you called," Lulu said softly.
"Why don't you want to go?" Johnny asked bluntly.
"What do you mean?" Lulu wondered.
"I can hear it in your voice," Johnny answered. "You sound hesitant and tired. What's wrong?"
"I am tired," Lulu admitted. "It was a long day at work and it's been a long week. But of course I want to see you, Johnny. I always want to see you."
"If you need to rest I would understand," Johnny offered.
"What I need is to know what you're planning," Lulu laughed. "That way I know what to wear when we see each other."
"I was thinking we could go on an actual date," Johnny replied.
"What do you mean?" Lulu questioned.
"I mean I pick you up," Johnny started. "Then we go some place public to spend time together."
"How are you going to pick me up?" Lulu asked.
"Well not from your place," Johnny laughed. "But maybe you can park at that bar we went to before and we could leave from there."
"Alright, next issue," Lulu teased. "I like spending time together in private."
"Who says I won't try anything in public?" Johnny flirted.
"I think I'll take the date just to see if you'll make good on that threat," Lulu smirked.
"Zaccharas always make good on threats," Johnny promised. "And I think you know I can't keep my hands off of you."
"And you know how much I like that you can't keep your hands off me," Lulu countered. "What time tonight?"
"I'll pick you up at 6:30," Johnny answered.
"Are you going to tell me where we're going?" Lulu wondered.
"Of course not," Johnny laughed. "I want to surprise you."
"I guess I can live with that," Lulu sighed. "I can't wait to see you."
"The feeling's mutual," Johnny responded sweetly. "Bye, Lu."
"Bye," Lulu smiled.
Lulu hung up the phone. One call from Johnny was enough to restore all of her energy. She couldn't believe they were going on a real date. A part of her worried that something bad might happen, but Johnny didn't seem to think it would so she shook it off. She happily started getting ready for her date with Johnny.