Chapter 11: Action & Reaction

After leaving Jenkins's office he'd gone home and slept for the rest of the day. He had no appointments or events so he had plenty of time to rest and recover. That evening, just as he was starting to wake up, his phone rang from his nightstand where it was currently charging. He answered the phone without glancing at the ID while yawning.

"Hello?"

"Oh! Sorry! Did I wake you?"

He grinned at the voice and shook his head before he realized Cassandra couldn't see him. "No, no. I was getting up anyway. How are you?"

"I'm…really great actually," she told him. Her tone sounded surprised.

"Yeah?" He asked. "Even after staying up all night?"

She giggled and he could practically hear her smiling. "Yes. Even after. In fact, I was hoping…maybe we could do that again some time?"

He smirked as he sat up in bed. "Isn't that my line?"

"I couldn't wait for you to ask," she said with a chuckle. "I tried."

He laughed and nodded to himself. "I understand. I would love a second date."

"Really?" She asked in a disbelieving tone.

His brow furrowed and he grinned. "You do remember that I was the one that kissed you right?"

"Oh I remember," she answered. He could almost hear her blush. "Trust me."

"Just checking, you sounded unsure," He said teasingly. "So, when would you like to have this second date?"

"Well, I wouldn't want to have to call in sick again tomorrow after staying up all night," she told him with a chuckle. "So, I was thinking…Friday?"

"Don't you have a wedding on Saturday?" He asked her.

"Yes, but It's an evening wedding so I don't have to be at the church until that afternoon. Staying up late, if we do, would be acceptable," she answered logically. "Besides, knowing this bride she'll be late anyway."

He chuckled at her. "Okay, and how do you know this bride?"

"She's Flynn's ex," Cassandra answered. "She's very sweet. Sometimes. Okay, very rarely is she sweet. Mostly she's very dry…and blunt. Also, sort of violent. But other than that…she's nice."

"You sure? She sounds…difficult," Jacob said with a grin. He didn't know how or why he and Cassandra had argued so much early on because she seemed very patient with everyone else. Too patient sometimes.

"She can be. Especially when she was dating Flynn, but she was always nice to me. She's mellowed a little since she met James, though," Cassandra answered. "It's amazing how finding the right person changes someone. For better or worse, you know?"

"Yeah," he answered quietly. He'd seen the 'for worse' up close and personal. He'd rather not see that again.

"Anyway," Cassandra said as she cleared her throat awkwardly. "Don't worry about the wedding. It'll be fine. Does Friday work for you?"

"Friday works perfectly for me," he told her happily. "I'll cook."

"What? No, Jacob, you don't have to. We can go out."

"No, I want to," he told her. "I have skills you haven't seen yet."

She giggled at him. "You do, huh?"

"Absolutely," he answered. "Eight o'clock okay?"

"Perfect," she answered.

"Alright, I'll see you then."

"Looking forward to it," she said excitedly.

"Me too," he agreed as he felt the smile spread across his face. He couldn't seem to stop. Not that he was really trying.

Eve was waiting on Flynn. He was having trouble stepping away from the office since Cassandra had called in sick. The kid acting as his assistant hadn't done anyone any good. Eve had sent him back to his own job and quickly took over at Cassandra's desk. She was no Cassandra. Less accommodating for one. More demanding for another. But she'd gotten more done than the kid at least.

"Eve?" A familiar accented voice asked from the doorway of the outer office.

She froze and looked up with a gulp. "James?"

How in the world had this happened? James Moriarty, her ex before her most recent ex, was here? Why? God, she had the worst luck.

"What are you doing here?"

They both asked at once.

James chuckled and waved an arm in her direction. "Ladies first."

"I'm in town visiting my cousin," she told him. "She's Flynn's assistant."

"Cassandra is your cousin?" James asked in surprise. "I never knew. Are you waiting on her?"

"Oh, um, actually," she said as she cleared her throat awkwardly. "I'm waiting on my…boyfriend to finish up work." Did she just call Flynn her boyfriend? Outloud? To her ex?

"You're dating Professor Carsen?" James asked in surprise yet again. "I didn't know he was seeing anyone."

"It's…recent. Very recent," Eve clarified. As in Monday. Two days ago. That recent.

"Eve! I'm so sorry. I'll just be a few more minutes and then—" Flynn turned to face her as he spoke and then froze at the sight of James. "Moriarty," he said slowly. "How can I help you?"

"I was just going to let Cassandra know what time the wedding rehearsal starts on Thursday. Is she here?" James asked Flynn as he glanced around the office.

"Cassandra is in your wedding?" Eve asked with wide eyes. "Wait, you're getting married?"

"My future bride is a friend of Cassandra's and she's been helping Nicole plan everything. She has quite the knack for it," James explained.

"Cassandra isn't here," Flynn told him. "She was out sick today."

"Ah, well then if you will please relay the message that the rehearsal starts at 7 and dinner starts at 8 on Thursday I would greatly appreciate it," James said with a kind smile. He started to leave and Eve held her breath until he was out of the room and then let out a long sigh of relief.

"Everything okay?" Flynn asked curiously.

"Yep, yes, I—um—just dated him once upon a time," Eve said quickly. "So, where are we going for dinner?"

"Wait, wait, wait," Flynn said as his arms flailed at his sides slightly. "You dated James Moriarty? Our Professor of British Literature?"

"What can I say?" Eve asked him sheepishly. "I like a man with brains. Do you, um, work with him a lot?"

"Not a lot, but occasionally. He's in a different department. Technically Jenkins is his supervisor."

"Well, he may mention to you that I maybe called you my boyfriend," Eve said quickly as she switched into her distant commanding voice. It was a habit she fell into when she was nervous or scared. Always sound more confident than you actually are. She was a firm believer in the fake it until you make it concept.

"You what?" Flynn asked in shock.

"I told him I was waiting on my boyfriend. Honestly, it just slipped out. We can pretend it never happened," Eve told him as she gathered her things and tried to lead him to the office door.

He opened his mouth to speak and then his phone blared loudly. He sighed and reluctantly answered. He would have ignored it except he was waiting for a call about a potential dig site in Nevada. "Hello?" He paused and then cursed under his breath. Why didn't he check the caller ID? "Nicole, yes. We did just run into your fiancé. I-um-well it's still new. I didn't want to jinx it. Oh, no I don't think that's a good-no of course I wouldn't mind you meeting my girlfriend. It's definitely not awkward between us anymore. But she's only in town for a little while and I was really hoping to have her to myself for a bit-tonight? We were going to go out but-" he was cut off yet again and sighed tiredly. "Yes, fine. We would love to. Perfect. I'm sure my girlfriend will like you fine, Nicole. See you then." He huffed and then motioned for Eve to lead the way out the door. "Well, thanks to Moriarty we now have to have dinner with BOTH our exes."

"You called me your girlfriend. Twice," Eve said with a small grin.

Flynn smirked and shrugged. "It's the truth. Why deny it?"

Her grin widened into a beaming smile and she quickly grabbed the collar of his jacket and pulled him in for a lingering kiss. There was a moment after it was over where they shared goofy grins before Eve's brow furrowed in confusion.

"Wait, BOTH our exes?"

"Yes, this isn't going to be awkward at all," Flynn said dryly. "I did date Nicole. Years ago. We've both moved on, clearly. Come on, let's get this over with and then you and I can talk more about exactly how we're labeling this," he told her with a small grin.

He slipped his hand in hers as they left the office and she smiled warmly at him. Things were happening quickly, but somehow it felt absolutely right.

If only she weren't still lying to him. She thought about her conversation with Cassandra from earlier in the day and felt guilty once again. She was assuming Flynn was exactly like all the other men she'd dated in the past, but wasn't that insulting to him? He'd done nothing to make her think he couldn't be trusted with her actual career. Her career that she loved and wouldn't give up for anything.

And now they were going to dinner with James and his fiancé? James would certainly out her. They couldn't go to dinner tonight. Not with James. She froze and tugged Flynn to a stop in the hallway.

"You know," Eve said with a sigh. "I should go home and check on Cassandra. I would love to go to dinner tonight, but I don't want her home sick by herself. Is that okay?"

"Of course, Eve," Flynn told her with a warm smile. "I'll just call Nicole and tell her we can't make it. Obviously, we want Cassandra to feel better. The sooner she feels better the less time I have to spend with Jones," Flynn said with a wink. "We can talk later."

"Thank you," Eve said with a soft smile. "I'll call you later tonight," she promised before she kissed him softly and then headed back to Cassandra's apartment. The guilt of lying weighed on her chest. She'd lied before, of course, for the sake of a mission or for the sake of someone's peace of mind but never for her own selfish ulterior motives. It was starting to get to her.