"What if I went to see her?"
Bruce sighed looking at Winston and responded," I don't think that's such a good idea."
Winston leaned back in his seat as Bruce responded," She's got enough on her plate."
Winston nodded as he poured the rest of his beer into the glass and took a sip while Bruce responded," You see Denise lately?"
Winston shrugged. "Not really. Why do you ask?"
Looking around the restaurant, Bruce tapped his fingers on the table as Winston looked at him and Bruce answered," I was just asking. You know she's worried about you."
Winston looked down at the table as Bruce responded," Winston, I know this hurts. It's not easy. You can't let this ruin your life. Liz is a big girl and she's got to the one to deal with this."
"It's not that easy. You remember how heartbroken she was when she found out?"
"I do remember Winston but you can't blame yourself. Todd and Jess are the ones that should've done something or told her sooner. The fact that they didn't is their own fault. You can't take responsibility for them."
"I'm not. I just hate seeing her get hurt."
Bruce sighed. "I know you do and we all hated it but it happened. Sometimes, things happen not the way we want it to happen. Jess and Todd are going to have to live with what they did but you can't let that bury you."
Winston sighed. "I know Bruce, it's just hard. He was one of my best friends but after this mess, I really don't even want to be around him anymore."
"I hear ya pal. He's got to deal with this as much as the rest of us but like I said it's not our fight."
Winston nodded knowing that Bruce was right. It wasn't their fight, they weren't the ones that had to make the move to end. It was up to Jess and Liz and who knew when either of them was going to be the one to end this once and for all.
"I need that done by four today! Not tomorrow Brittany!"
"You got it boss!"
Tom sighed walking into his office after a staff meeting and he shut his door and leaned back in his chair. He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed thinking about how his life in New York and how it was non stop every second.
Hearing a buzzing sound, Tom snapped out of his thoughts to see phone buzzing and picked it up and smiled seeing it was Danny. He picked it up and responded," What's up Danny boy?"
He laughed. "Not too much. Just calling to see how you are doing."
"I'm fine, just been busy."
"Yeah same here. Oh, Izzy talked to Lila the other day but when she brought up that you ran into Liz, Lila changed subjects. I think something big went on between those guys. Izzy was saying it was really weird."
"Yeah, i went out to dinner with Liz the other night and when I brought up why she left she froze up."
"Give it time and I'm sure you'll find out. All I know is from what Izzy told me that Lizzie bolted from Sweet Valley."
"Yeah, she told me she moved out here pretty quick and was lucky enough to find a job. Other than that, I don't know why she left but I'm sure I'll find out soon enough."
"I'm sure you will."
The two continued talking until Danny had to go and Tom hung up and leaned back in his chair. It'd been a few days since he last saw Liz, they texted a few times but nothing more than that. That night at the diner, the two chatted like they old friends. As if nothing had gone on between them, they laughed and chatted as if they had never been separated. For Tom, it felt great. He just hoped Liz felt the same way.
"Excellent work Liz. I expect that other review for the play by Friday."
"Will do."
Elizabeth hung up the phone and threw it down on the desk taking a sip from her water bottle. Elizabeth finally had time to herself after being so busy the last couple of days of meeting with directors and writing reviews and making sure everything was correct. She was beginning to really enjoy her job and she had made a few friends in her building and were planning a small get together this weekend.
Elizabeth sighed and opened up her computer and logged into SKYPE to see who was on. She smiled when she saw Steven's screen name and clicked on it and seconds later there he was smiling at her and asked," How's my little sister?"
"I'm fine. How are you? How's Billie and Michael?"
"I'm doing good. Michael is doing great and Billie's doing good. He's excited for his baby sister to come."
She smiled. "That's good."
"Daddy! Is that Aunt Liz?"
Elizabeth smiled as she heard Michael's voice and seconds later, she saw Michael waving at her and she responded," Hi Mikey!"
"Hi Auntie Lizzie!"
She looked at Michael seeing so much of her brother in him, he was daddy's little boy. She remembered when Michael was born how Steven didn't want to be away from him when they brought him home from the hospital. He didn't want anything to go wrong and wanted everything to be perfect.
As Michael sat in his daddy's lap, he looked around and whispered," How does this work?"
Lizzie laughed as Steven responded," You can talk to the computer and she can see you."
Michael's eyes grew wide as Steven laughed and he responded," Just talk to Auntie Liz."
"Are you excited for your baby sister to come?"
Michael eagerly nodded. "I am! I'm helping mommy pick out a name."
"That's sweet."
"Auntie Liz, are you coming home soon?"
Liz smiled as Steven ruffled his hair and responded," Let's not think about that now."
Honestly, Liz didn't have an answer for her nephew. She wanted to come home but at the same time she didn't. Her nephew was too young to really know what was going on between Jess and Liz and she didn't want him to know what exactly happened.
"Maybe sometime I'll be home. I have a busy life in NYC."
"Is it fun?"
She laughed. "Yes it is."
"Okay little guy, why don't you go help mommy?
"Okay! Bye Auntie Liz! I miss you!"
"I miss you too!"
As soon as he left, Liz sighed as Steven asked," He's too young to figure it out Liz."
"I know but I feel so bad."
Steven nodded as she responded," I made a few friends today, we might have a girls night out this week. They seem very nice."
"Well, that's good Lizzie. Have you talked to Tom lately?"
"Steven."
She shot a warning glance at him as he laughed and answered," Lizzie, I'm just asking."
"I talked to him yesterday."
"Well, that's good. I always liked him."
She smiled. "I know Steven. I just can't think about dating."
"Lizzie, I didn't say that but it's good for you. I don't like you being in the city by yourself so I'm glad you are making friends and everything."
She smiled. "I know that Steven."
Lizzie yawned as Steven responded," Well, call me tomorrow sometime. I'll let you go."
"Okay bye Steven! Tell Billie I said hello."
"I will."
Lizzie signed off Skype and leaned back into her chair thinking about Tom. She thought about the dinner they had and how it was as though nothing horrible had gone on between the two. They chatted like they hadn't even been separated, two friends just having fun enjoying each other's company. It felt nice to have especially with all that she'd gone through in the last couple of months. She just hoped it continued.
