✦XO✦

From the day, Derek took her family to meet him till the day she first saw the stain of lipstick on his shirt, he never once gave her a reason to doubt him. Who the hell marries a stranger who they only met once over lunch. Its not like it was unheard of but she never thought that life would take her down this path. The next time they met was in court to get married. They both requested that they only wanted a court marriage and no reception. Both their families disagreed but at the end they got what they wanted. It was trust that made her agree. It was the trust in Derek words that he was a good man. It was the trust in her father and his judgement. It was the trust in Luke eyes when he was brutally honest with her.

Again, it was look in his eyes that spoke to her. Luke eyes spoke to her in a way she never knew was possible. It wasn't like she was able to make them out every single time. But there were moments where they opened up to her. Like the way his eyes lite up when he helped that kid with his juice box. If life hadn't been so cruel, his child would be about 6 right now. So those moments meant the world to him. However short these moments were he got a chance to feel like a father. He never spoke about it and neither did she because it was his eyes that spoke for him. She also knew work was his life and he worked hard for every contact. There was always a sparkle in his eyes when he got the ones that really mattered. When she saw that sparkle, she always made him something extra special to congratulate him even though she never did, verbally.

The moment he released her arm when they were on the floor, she had looked up at him and she didn't need him to continue. His eyes expressed the value of they relationship. But he was opening up to her and she couldn't let that moment go. She had already forgotten about the shirt, the lipstick mark, the perfume the moment the words 'I will never be unfaithful to you.' left his lips. But she was afraid because her past gave her countless reasons to be afraid. Yet she still trusted him.

He walked away to the windows leaving her sitting on the bed to figure out if she could still trust him after what had happened with the shirt. She wanted to stop him right there because she did trust him. But it wasn't about the shirt anymore. It was about him. She kept quiet because she didn't know what to make out about the Luke she met the night at dinner with Matt and Prentiss. After that night, she thought Luke only showed that side to the people he loved and cared for, like Prentiss. But now that she knew the truth she felt betrayed. She deeply cared for the man she considered to be her husband but she felt robbed. There was another side to this man she never knew. She wanted to know more about him. She wanted to meet this side of him. She just didn't know how to tell him.

She wished she had spoke up before when she first saw the shirt. Things wouldnt have gotten this far. She knew she hurt him and Prentiss along with herself by being quiet. She looked over at Luke, she wasn't going to stay quiet anymore. He was her husband and she had the right to know everything about him. "Luke.." Before she could say anything else he spoke.

"I had a normal childhood." As if he was able to read her mind he began to talk about his life as he continued to look out the window. "As normal as it gets for an only child. Dad himself was an only child and so I don't really have any cousin from his side except for distance cousin that we hardly knew about. As for Mom, she was disowned by her family for marrying Dad. So didn't really get to know that side of the family except for my uncle. He was away in college when she was disowned. Initially, my grandparents never told him. They made it seem like she was some sort of wild child who was always out partying. But when he came back home they told him but never revealed anything about where she might have went. He asked around and finally found her. He kept they relationship regardless of their family rejection. Dad had been head over heels in love with Mom since his teen's years and was determined to make Mom his wife. At first, Mom's parent didn't mind, it was puppy love that would break sooner or later. Then in high school Dad proposed and Mom parents refused. They didn't think he would be able to provide for Mom because of his families background or the lack of it. Mom and Dad both went off to different colleges but still made it they mission to meet each other. Mom parents decided to get her married when she graduated from college. Dad refused to let her go and both of them ran away and got married. My grandparents called the cops on Dad. But the cops couldn't do anything, she was an adult and she told them it was her decision. So they disowned her. Dad and Mom sacrificed a lot. Dad proved himself to be worthy of Mom by starting a successful business. When they didn't accept them then, they had hoped they would accept them after I was born but nope not even then. So they gave up on trying to get the family back together. Growing up, I admired them and the love they had for each other. Romeo and Juliet fell short in front of them. Of course they had they fights. Regardless of how big it got their love for each other always had them smiling during dinner. Mom use to tell me never let a fight last to long to reach the bedroom. I never realized what that meant until later in life." Luke adjusted himself, tears began to form in his eyes. "I was in college when they passed. I had gotten a call from the police telling me they were driving at night when a driver who fell asleep at the wheel drove them off the road into ditch. Someone tried to help them get out but Mom had died right on impact. When Dad realize she was gone, he had a heart attack before the ambulance even got there. Dad always joked he would follow her even after death." Luke voice cracked and Penelope stood up with tears in her eyes as she rushed to Luke and hugged him. His head fell onto her shoulder and he let himself go. The last time he cried was before Matt found him on the side of the street when he almost hit that mother and child. Penelope slowly lead him to the bed and both sat down for a while until Luke continued. Penelope tried to stop him but he refused. She was right he was a stranger to her and it was his fault. He kept to his work and never told her about his past but that was all going to change now. "Matt had been my friend since high school and we both went to college together. Derek was my roommate and we hit it off right away. I was a wreck when I heard about Mom and Dad. I felt all alone. They both took a semester off to come to help me. I didn't feel alone anymore, they became family. Derek of course went his own way but whenever we meet it's like time never passed." Luke looked at Penelope holding her hand in his tightly. "Prentiss is a friend from high school. She was very quiet and a bit odd to some people because you could never tell what she was into. She would dress up goth one day and preppy the next. She kept away from boys and so rumors started in school that she was a lesbian which she wasn't. Her sister got pregnant at such a young age and she saw the toll it took on her parent so she stayed away them. Matt found her crying in the stairs one day and they became really good friends. We defend her and we flirted with her enough to keep the rumors at bay. She didn't mind and it became our thing. But then Prentiss went off to another college and we didn't really hear about her again until 3 years ago. Someone had mentioned her at a party and told us how she lost her job and saving she invested on the company she worked for. We thought we get her a job with us and initially it was hard. We had no say in the hiring. I worked without a secretary so that was the only position I knew she could get without a hassle. She was perfect and it was great to have a friend like her back in our lives but that all she ever was and is." Luke squeezed her hand.

Penelope nodded, "I am sorry Luke. I should of came to you instead of putting you in a situation like that. I trust you Luke more now then the day I first met you."

Luke let's out a deep breath and his whole body seemed to relax. After reliving the memories of his parent growing up, he realized why marriage meant so much to him. Why the relationship between a husband and wife held so much value to him. If he had known what was going on in Penelope mind he would of never let it come to the bedroom. She smiled at him and he didn't know how she did it but she understood him. She knew how much he needed to hear her say she trusted him. Penelope got up thinking the conversation had ended when Luke grabbed her hand.

"There's so much more Penelope. I want to tell you everything tonight." Luke said as Penelope turned to look at him. Penelope nodded.

"Let's me change and let's order some food. You must be hunger." Penelope said.

"Yeah. I'll go get my suitcase." Luke said as he got up.

"No let me get it." Penelope said as she placed a hand on his chest. Luke look at her taken back. Hadn't she said she trusted him. Penelope smiled at him. "I do trust you. I just want to apologize to Prentiss."

Luke smiled "ok. I'll order room service. What do you want."

"Whatever you have." Penelope said as she walked to the door and left. She was nervous as she approached Prentiss door. Prentiss opened the door already in her PJs. "I am sorry if I disturbed you. I came to grab Luke suitcase."

"Sure please come on in." Prentiss said as she opening the door wider letting her step in.

"I wanted to apologize for putting you in a situation like that. I am sorry. I should of just talked to Luke first." Penelope apologized the moment she heard the door close behind her.

"No Penelope it's ok. I completely understand. I just wished I had stopped Luke from doing something so stupid." Prentiss said feeling at fault as well. Prentiss and Penelope just stood there looking at the each other feeling out of place. "So what took you so long to come and collect his things? Makeup sex?" Prentiss joked.

Penelope looked at Prentiss shocked but then both began to laugh. "No no. We were just talking about him and his life."

Prentiss looked over at Penelope happy. "Oh that is awesome. I am so happy." After hearing what Penelope had said earlier she was glad to hear Luke opened up about himself.

Penelope smiled as she grabbed the suitcase from the stool. Penelope felt like she should say more but with everything that happen, she thought it was best to let it be. She smiled at Prentiss as she turned to make her way out the door.

"Penelope wait." Prentiss said behind her. "Ask Luke about flag football." Penelope looked at Prentiss confused. "Trust me." She said she said grinning. Penelope smiled and nodded her head before leaving.

Penelope entered the room to find Luke standing in front of the TV flipping channels. She left his suitcase near the closet and grabbed hers. It was laying on the floor now on the opposite side of where she left it. She paused for a moment.

"Penelope you ok?" Luke said as he was now facing her.

"Yes." Penelope said as she mentally shook the thought away. "I'll go and change." Penelope rolled her suitcase to the bathroom.

"They had only a selected menu since it's so late. So I just order burgers and fries." Luke said as he watched her move in front of him to the bathroom. She was as expressionless as the moment they got here. Was she lying about trusting him? Today was a roller coaster of emotions. Did he overwhelm her?

"Sounds lovely" she said closing the door without looking at him. Penelope turned to look at the mirror. Talking to herself in a whisper "You are doing so well of not getting attached. You are his wife and he values this relationship. Don't overthink anything. Respect is not love. Carve it into your mind and heart, he will never love you." Penelope brushed her teeth and stepped into the shower. People would think she was hurt by thought of the affair because she loved him but no. She was upset because she thought this marriage meant nothing to him. He didn't value it the way she did but he did. She had paused for a moment when she grabbed her suitcase at the door, earlier. She nearly let her heart cloud her judgment. No one in her life came running after her before. No one worked so hard to convince her. But that wasnt love. This wasn't love. It was respect, respect for their relationship. She closed the shower and wore her clothes. She shook her head, took a deep breath and smiled as she left the bathroom.

The food had arrived. He was standing there chewing on a fry when he turned to look at her. He was worried but the moment she smiled as she approach him, he felt better. "Let's eat." He said handing her a burger. They sat quietly at the edge of the bed eating as they watched tv.

Penelope turned to him "so I am suppose to ask you about flag football." Luke stopped chewing and suddenly started coughing. Penelope grabbed the bottle of water and handed it to him. He coughed and took sips in between. 'Wrong pipe' was the only thing he was able to muster up. After he felt better he remained quiet. Penelope eyes him from the side sensing his uneasiness. "Soo… flag foot.." she didn't even complete her sentence before he spoke.

"Nope." He said looking straight at the TV.

"Luke come on." She said grabbing his arm.

"I am done eating. Are you? You want anything from the table before I put it outside." Luke said getting up avoiding her. Penelope got up and threw the napkins she had in her hand on the table. She turned and stomped towards her side of the bed before getting in. Luke grabbed the table and rolled it outside. He walked in to see Penelope sitting with her back against the headboard with her arm crossed staring at the TV. Luke walked in and got in on his side. "In gym class every 2 to 3 weeks we had a different sport to play. This time it was flag football." Penelope uncrossed her arm and Luke continued, "Me and Matt were out in the field with the rest of the class. Prentiss had a free period during that time and usually had her lunch on the bleachers. We were a bit riled up and class was about to end. The other team were off by one so we were all a bit more aggressive. I had the ball in my hand and I was running towards the goal as a player from the other team was running behind me." Luke paused and Penelope turned to look at him smiling knowing where this was headed and was ready to enjoy the ride. "He caught on to my belt but he ended up tripping and took my pants and underwear with it." Penelope fell over in front of him laughing. Ok she didn't know where this was going. She thought he probably ran into a pole or made a touchdown for the other team. Luke ran his hand over his face. "He pulled it down to my ankles making me fall forward with my ass up in the air. It was so embarrassing. I quickly pulled up my pants but the damage was already done." Penelope came up gasping for air as she laid her hand on his shoulder falling back down in front of him laughing. Luke watched her and began laughing himself.

"Ohh that was hilarious. Did they make fun of you?" What was the worst one?" Penelope said as she tried to stop laughing.

"It happened so quickly not that many people saw but it spread like wildfire in the halls. For the girls who saw or heard, they smiled at me as they passed me in the hall. If you know what I mean." Luke said smirking at her.

She punched him in the arm "cocky asshole"

Luke laughed, "that was the most embarrassing day in my life and that wasn't even the end of it."

Penelope jerked his arm, "there's more! Come one tell me."

Luke shook her head before speaking, "Well after that fiasco, I didn't want to go to class so me and Matt went out to search for Prentiss. We were walking towards the library and I found her standing with her back towards us. So I sneaked up behind her and wrapped her in a hug and passed a flirting comment of how much I missed her or something like that. The next second she appeared before me. I froze and everyone around me was laughing. I quickly released the person I was holding. It turned out to be one of the teachers there and she was wearing the same sweater Prentiss was. She had something in her mouth so she didn't say anything but when she removed it, she went off on me. Matt and Prentiss stood on the side laughing." Penelope held her stomach laughing. "You know what they say trouble comes in three." Penelope covered her mouth. There was more. "Prentiss had signed us up to volunteer to help plant trees at a near by park. I saw Prentiss staring at a guys ass. I told Matt and he walked over to her and coughed in her ear. Prentiss turned and realized we were staring at her, she turned so red. I, being the idiot that I am, pulled up my pants so it wasn't so baggy and I could showcase my ass. I slightly bent over asking Prentiss if she saw anything she liked. The team lead came over and told me to quit it. I grabbed my shove from Matt and bent over to start digging when my pants ripped open." Penelope grabbed Luke arm and fell onto his shoulder. "I had apparently pulled them up a bit to much."

Both their face were red, Penelope from laughing and Luke's from embarrassment. Luke continue to tell her stories as they laid next to each other looking up at the ceiling. It was random stories. Stories about his parents, school, friends, work and stories about himself. Penelope began to feel the heaviness in the air as Luke slowly got very quiet. Both had one thing on their mind, Scarlett.

✦XO✦