6:15 p.m.

Elizabeth slipped into a blue floral dress. The back was cut low. Should I grab a sweater? She stepped into her wedges. After checking herself in the mirror once more, she felt ready. No sweater. I think he'll like this... Why am I so nervous? We've all gone out tons of times. This is no different. Elizabeth rolled her eyes. Of course it's different. Stop kidding yourself. She took a deep breath and grabbed her purse.

6:20 p.m.

Jack agreed to meet Lee and Rosie at Akira, a Japanese Steakhouse. He was excited to talk to Lee and get some advice. Of course, Rosie will have an opinion too. He smiled at the idea of her reaction at the news. I wonder what she already knows. I'm sure that's who Elizabeth was messaging this morning. Those three girls are inseparable. He buttoned up his jeans and his blue button down. He rolled up the sleeves and stepped into some flip flops. I wonder if she will even remember this shirt. He smiled, thinking about waking up with her this morning as he hopped into the jeep.

6:29 p.m.

The aroma of steak on the grill made her stomach rumble. She spotted Frank and Abigail at a table sipping on some water. She broke into a smile at the sight of her best friend. She took a seat next to Abigail and asked her how her day had been. They were making small talk when Frank's eyes lit up, glancing towards the door.

"Hey guys! What are you doing here?"

Elizabeth turned around to see who Frank was talking to. Lee and Rosie walked towards them, equally surprised to see all of them.

"Well isn't this so wonderful?" Rosie exclaimed! "Hello Elizabeth, how are you?"

"I'm fine, Rosie, how are you?" Elizabeth wasn't ready to to dive right into conversation just yet. Wait. Wasn't Jack meeting them tonight?

"Take a seat guys! There's plenty of room," Frank implored.

Abigail shot Elizabeth a look, unsure if she was really ready to be surrounded by everyone just yet. She was dying to know what had happened between Elizabeth and Charlie, but it looked like she was going to have to wait a little longer.

Everyone sat down and the waiter took their drink orders. "Will this be all of you?"

"Uh, no," Lee responded, looking up from the menu. "Jack is meeting us here too!"

6:41 p.m.

"Speaking of Jack," Abigail looked over at Elizabeth. "Does Jack know about you and Charlie?" Abigail inquired, eyes bright.

"What about you and Charlie?! Are you engaged?!" Rosemarie squealed with excitement as she strained her neck looking for a ring.

Lee looked up again, his face growing somber. I told him not to wait.

Not giving Elizabeth time to answer, Abigail responded "Oh no! Quite the opposite! They broke up!" The words came out with more excitement than she had intended.

Lee looked at Abigail, breaking into a wide smile before stifling it under his hand. "I'm so sorry, Elizabeth." Was this Jack's news he was dying to tell me?

"Oh no," Rosie responded dramatically. "Are you alright, Elizabeth? I'm so sorry."

Elizabeth sighed and looked down at her lap before regaining her composure. "It's alright. I guess you all would find out sooner or later. We've been fighting off and on for a while now. He had concerns regarding Jack and I's friendship, and I kept brushing him off."

"Your friendship with Jack?" Abigail probed. "What about your friendship?" A satisfied grin on her face.

6:43 p.m.

Jack found a parking spot just down the street. He ran his fingers through his hair and opened the door to the restaurant.

He saw her right away. She was sitting next to Abigail, hair swept to the side exposing her bare back. Stunning. His breath arrested in his chest. The restaurant is warm. Or maybe I'm just warm. He closed his eyes for a second and grinned. This was unexpected. Lee and Rosie were sitting with Abigail, Frank... and Elizabeth.

"Hello sir, do you have a reservation?" the host snapped at him.

"Yes, thanks, they're all over there," he pointed in the direction of the group. He made his way over to their table, excited to see her so early in the evening.

"Well, speak of the devil!" Frank nodded, noticing Jack approaching.

Elizabeth spun around, and stood to face Jack. He touched her arm and greeted her with a small kiss. On the lips.

Frank's jaw dropped to the table.

Lee choked on his water.

Rosie shrieked in surprise at the couple, jumping to her feet and patting her husband on the back impulsively.

Abigail grabbed Frank's arm in excitement and loudly whispered "I take it he already knows!"

The table erupted into laughter at Abigail's comment.

Jack stepped back, resting his arm on Elizabeth's back. "Know what?"

Elizabeth bit her bottom lip as her cheeks glowed red. "That Charlie and I broke up."

Their eyes met, Jack's dimples joining the festivities. "Oh. Uhm," he chuckled. "I guess I figured that was yesterday's news since I'm late to the party."

"Apparently you were early to the real party though!" Lee chided.

Elizabeth's mouth dropped open, dying of embarrassment.

Rosie locked elbows with Elizabeth, suddenly dragging her away. "Elizabeth, we are apparently very overdue for a restroom visit!" she erupted into giggles.

Elizabeth frantically grabbed for Abigail's hand to save her.

"Oh no, I'm not missing this!" Abigail joined the ladies in their pursuit.

6:50 p.m.

Jack took his seat, cheeks still red from what had just transpired. He took a big gulp of Elizabeth's water.

All three men sat in silence for a minute, looking at their menus.

"When I see my parishioners falling asleep, I sure know how to get their attention now. That sure woke us up, didn't it Lee?!" Frank laughed genuinely.

"That it did, Frank, that it did! Jack, you told me I wouldn't believe what happened to you this morning and to tell you the truth, I never would've without witnessing that! I'm happy for ya man!" Lee said, patting Jack on the back.

"It's about time!" Frank cackled.

Jack smiled, blushing more. "I wouldn't have believed it either! I'm just thanking the good Lord that it did."

"So, did you finally get up the gall to tell her how you feel?! What happened this morning?" Lee pressed.

"Uhm... well, she just showed up before sunrise this morning, soaking wet. She told me that she and Charlie were done... and then it... progressed," Jack smiled slyly.

"Progressed?" Lee added. "I'd say so!" All three laughed merrily.

6:52 p.m.

The ladies reached the restroom, out of breath from giggling. Elizabeth was still in shock.

Rosie entered first and immediately turned around to face Elizabeth. "Spill."

"Start at the beginning," Abigail added, wide-eyed.

"Well..." Elizabeth spoke carefully. "Charlie has always been really... cognizant of Jack. Asking me about him, I guess sort of keeping an eye on him. Things were great at first, when he was still here. I mean, he was so wonderful, so respectful. But Jack and I have always been... close."

"Close?! Is that what you kids call it?" Rosie laughed.

"We're friends," Elizabeth retorted, shooting her a look. "We've always just been great friends. We enjoyed spending time together... as friends. We've always shared... a special bond I guess."

"Yes, very special. We could all see it Elizabeth!" Abigail had known them since Elizabeth moved into the apartment across the street from her cafe. "You two have always lit up the cafe every time you come in. Everyone could see it."

"Well, apparently everyone saw it but the two of us, including Charlie." Elizabeth looked down and then slowly back up at her friends. "After Charlie passed the bar and took that job, he grew increasingly suspicious of Jack and I spending time together. We were just being friends, I swear. Nothing happened between us. He was just watching out for me because he doesn't like me being alone in the city."

Abigail looked at her with questioning eyes. "Elizabeth, did you really not see how much Jack cared for you? He barely went on a single date! He has always been a lovesick puppy for you."

"Oh, I agree!" Rosemary added. "Even when we were still in school, Lee would urge him to tell you how he felt before it was too late. And then Charlie asked you out and it was too late, Elizabeth. Lee was brokenhearted for Jack."

"Really?!" Elizabeth blushed even more. "I swear I had no idea. I think it took Charlie's jealousy to make me see the truth... He was so angry, guys. He kept talking about how my body language told a different story than my words... I guess I was lying to myself, protecting myself." Elizabeth sighed. "I never thought Jack could ever think of me as anything but his best friend. And I was never brave enough to tell him..." she trailed off, tears in her eyes.

"And then you and Charlie broke up because he is convinced you are in love with Jack." Abigail took Elizabeth's hands. "And he is right."

"Yes! He is right! And Jack is desperately in love with you too Elizabeth!" Rosemary's eyes were wide with emotion.

"So you guys talked about all of this this morning?" Abigail quizzed.

"Well," Elizabeth bit her bottom lip. "Not in so many words, no."

"So what happened this morning?!" Rosemary's voice got higher as she grew more excited.

Elizabeth blushed, growing a little flustered. "Well, I couldn't sleep... so I decided to go for a run... and it started pouring down rain. It was still dark... so, I stopped at Jack's. I told him that it was over with Charlie and that I couldn't pretend any more... And then he told me he wasn't sorry."

"He wasn't sorry?! Of course he wasn't sorry!" Rosie proclaimed theatrically. "He's in love with you Elizabeth! So what did you do all morning?"

Elizabeth swallowed hard and grinned as she stood to exit the restroom. "A lady doesn't kiss and tell... but we made up for some lost time." Elizabeth feigned shock and all three erupted into laughter again.

7:08 p.m.

By the time the ladies rejoined the table, the chef was already preparing food for everyone. The men had grown tired of waiting and just ordered for all of them. Elizabeth took her seat beside Jack, a smile radiating from her face. They watched in awe as the talented chef flipped delicious food onto their plates, fire blazing. Jack and Elizabeth rested right back into their usual routine with the close group of friends, only now sneaking glances and regularly touching each other. It was so freeing to just laugh and be themselves. The friends were all so happy for Jack and Elizabeth and enjoyed watching them flirt with each other all night.

"Well, I've got to put the finishing touches on my sermon for tomorrow, everyone. Abigail, are you ready to head home? I'm sure Becky and Cody have burned down the house by now!"

"Frank, you just give me the sign if you need me to stand up and lay one on Rosie during the sermon tomorrow!" Lee shot Jack a sly look. "That is, unless Jack wants a reprise of his performance tonight!" The whole group cackled at the new couple's expense.

"Sorry, but I have to work in the morning, so I'm afraid I'll have to turn you down," Jack winked. "But if I'm lucky, maybe she'll let me walk her home."

He turned to Elizabeth, who was blushing madly. She chided her friends. "You guys are awful!" she smirked. "But yes, I'd love for you to walk me home."

9:50 p.m.

Jack opened the door for Elizabeth and then let his hand graze over her bare shoulder down to the small of her back, where it rested. He kissed her shoulder lightly. "Thank you for putting up with them all night. I know how embarrassed you were," he grinned. "I swear I didn't know that you hadn't told them!"

Elizabeth leaned into Jack, feeling the warmth of his body. "Well, it was certainly an interesting way to let the cat out of the bag!" she giggled. "We had only been sitting there for a short while and I wanted to tell Abigail in person."

Jack held Elizabeth close as they walked down the street in comfortable silence. It feels so good to be able to touch her. To finally be able to not just protect her, but to enjoy her.

"Nice shirt, by the way," Elizabeth grinned. "Did you know you were wearing that shirt the first time I ever saw you?"

"Of course I remember. English 111. You were wearing a purple dress with faint ticking stripes. And your hair was cascading down your back. You were listening so intently to Dr. Jackson, I was barely able to make eye contact!" he laughed. "I moved to a seat closer to you the next class just hoping you might notice me."

"Me notice you?!" Elizabeth laughed heartily. "Jack. Every girl in that class noticed you in that shirt and your jeans. Oh, and the flip flops. Running your hands through your hair all nonchalantly. I thought some of them might pass out!"

"So you did notice me?" he teased.

Elizabeth smiled and took his hand, as they approached her apartment. She stopped at the door.

"Hey Jack?"

He stepped closer. "Yes?"

"When did you know?"

He looked into her ocean blue eyes and whispered his answer in her ear.

"It was always you, Elizabeth."