Chapter 6: Supervisors

"What do you mean he asked about me," I stared blankly at Dillon.

The day after I had dinner with Eric, Dillon showed up at my job and took me to dinner. It wasn't until we had sat down at our table and had finished ordering our food that he told me the reason for the unexpected visit.

"He asked if I heard from you lately," Dillon replied. "He said he was worried about you but wouldn't tell me anything more than that. Would you mind telling me why I got called into his office just to have him ask how my cousin is doing and if I was sure that she was okay?"

"Maybe he was just checking up on me since some weird customer followed me," I shrugged not wanting to go into details about what transpired last night. But mistakenly I had given up a tiny bit of information.

"Now how would Eric know that someone followed you last night," my cousin questioned as he relaxed in his seat. I didn't like that smug little expression on his face. "That is unless he was there with you," his lips turned into a mischievous smile.

I took a deep breath and decided to explain what had happened.

After I shut the door last night, I stayed there on the floor crying. I cried so much that I ended up crying myself to sleep. It was such a bad night that I woke up with a stiff neck and a sore back. My eyes were watery and heavy that I knew I was going to be rubbing my eyes all day.

I had been slow moving at the bank and not just because of the physical soreness of my body but more so because of the emotional exhaustion.

I didn't process transactions efficiently enough and I didn't greet members in a timely fashion. Myra had asked if everything was okay and I told her that it was. Elsa constantly hounded me. I almost brightened up when Hec called. I wanted to tell him about my incident last night and I knew he was calling to see if I was okay but when I went to pick up the phone, Elsa had beat me to it. I don't know what she said to him but she hung up the line and continued to work as though nothing happened.

It was right before I balanced and closed for the day that Mrs. Rodriguez asked to see me in her office. I nodded and gave a small smile to Myra who again asked if things were okay. Elsa's eyes narrowed at me the entire time.

"Did something happen last night or with a customer early this morning," Mrs. Rodriguez asked once I sat down. "You know the saying is that the customer is always right but that saying only applies to a customer who is reasonable. Did Mrs. Giovanni trouble you a lot? I've noticed you're her favorite teller now."

I shook my head and let out a small laugh. "She's a sweet lady, reminds me of a grandmother. And actually she was concerned about me too."

"JoyAnna," Mrs. Rodriguez pressed in a way that reminded me of my mother trying to get one of my brothers to come out from hiding.

Without warning, I started to sob in her office. She got up quickly to close the door and then came back to sit down in the chair next to me, draping an arm around my shoulders. It took a few minutes of falling tears and sniffles until I was able to tell Mrs. Rodriguez that I had been engaged before.

"Ah," she nodded understandably and then gave me a kind smile. "That is why you and Hec are so close. You understand one another."

My lips twitched to form a smile and then dropped. "Not too much people in my family have ever gone through something like that. Hec knows how I'm feeling and it's good to have someone who will listen, someone who went through it. And then I know you said to keep our friendship quiet and that I could get suspended or let go because..."

"Wait who said that you would get suspended from work? Or even let go," she questioned.

"Isn't it company policy about employee relationships being friends or dating?"

Mrs. Rodriguez let out a small laugh. "That would be if Hec was working here. If you and Hec were in a romantic relationship, which I know you aren't because he has assured me almost every time I ask. Not that I have anything against you, Ana. I like you. But as a mother, I'd like to know what my son is up to," she said which instantly got a smile out of me since it was reminiscent of my mom.

"But there's no policy with us being friends or if say I went to dinner and received calls from another employee's son?"

She wrinkled her nose and looked at me in question. "I feel like there is more to this story."

"I was told that I could get suspended for dating Hec or any other employee's son."

With a deep sigh, Mrs. Rodriguez glanced towards the window where the blinds were drawn and then back to me. "Is this something that Elsa told you?"

I looked shyly away not wanting to get her in trouble but Mrs. Rodriguez understood my answer.

"I shouldn't be sharing this but I know that you can be trusted. It was Elsa who had gotten in trouble when she was a teller for sleeping with several people in the Company. Now we normally don't care about that sort of thing. You can sleep with whoever you want to, date whoever you want to," she emphasized for me. "But when you use that as an excuse for your behavior, thinking that you should be catered to then it becomes a problem. She would lord her position over others and that is why she ended up getting into trouble."

"I heard that there were other employees," I stated, "at least that's what I was told."

"There are a few who were scrutinized for dating other employees or their relatives because of the whole ordeal. But they didn't have false intentions or use that to further their ambitions or cause drama in the workplace. As far as I'm concerned, and I am the manager, you and Hec are not in trouble. If you decided to date my son then that would be okay. If you decided to date another employee's son then that would be okay also because I know you wouldn't do something like that."

"There's really no policy then," I asked again.

"We can't dictate who you date or do not date, Miss Summers. If you wanted to date Brandon then you could. As long as you or he didn't let it interfere with performing your job here at the bank. You are fellow workmates during work. And you do not bring your personal life to work. In other words, if you argue at home then you don't argue here. You keep it strictly 'business' during work hours. That is sort of like Brandon and Kimberleigh's situation. They're related, you know that right? But of course there should be no favoritism and if you've noticed Brandon likes to crack down on everyone. They're both good workers and that's why I don't mind them working here. If for some reason there is favoritism or a misuse of authority then it becomes an issue."

I felt better about my friendship with Hec. Mrs. Rodriguez made me feel less frightened about losing my job. So I could be friends with Hec but I wondered about my dinner with Eric. What if Elsa found out about that? I turned around just as I was about to exit Mrs. Rodriguez's office.

"Do you know Mrs. Coulter's extension?"

"Mrs. Coulter," she asked.

"Yes, I believe she works in the call center," I pointed upstairs. "You see I," I looked down at my hands. "I went to dinner with her son last night and I don't want Elsa to get word of it and try to use it against me somehow. See I know that she used to date him also and it was really him who Elsa warned me that I couldn't call and I..."

"Who did you go to dinner with?"

"Eric, Eric Coulter," I answered.

Mrs. Rodriguez first displayed a look of shock and then smiled. "Miss Summers there is no Mrs. Coulter that works for the Bank of Dauntless. I think you should call the HR manager."

"Miss Matthews?"

"She will be able to alleviate your concerns more fully and," she smiled, "she'll also get you in touch with Mr. Coulter's mother."

The second that I had finished balancing my drawer and logged out of the computer, Dillon walked into the bank. He shook Brandon's hand and talked to him for a little while until I strolled over towards them.

"What brings you here?"

"I thought I'd take my favorite cousin to dinner," he shrugged.

Of course that was only a cover to get me alone so he could ask me about Eric.

"He called me into his office," Dillon explained as we ate our dinner. "Asked if you called me back last night and I told him that you only sent me a text to let me know that you had arrived at home. He seemed deeply concerned that something had happened to you and I wanted to tell him that you were followed by a customer. I didn't though because that is not my story to share. But judging from what you just told me, he was the one who saved you last night."

"I wouldn't call it..."

"He saved you," Dillon waved his hand to silence me. "He took you out to dinner and then you freaked out when he showed how seriously interested he was in you."

"I didn't freak out."

Dillon chuckled and nodded. "Yeah you did," he replied. "Ana, we already talked about this. Elsa is a climber, you shouldn't let her tell you who you can or cannot date. Only you can tell yourself that. I can't believe you let her get to you."

"She said I could lose my job if I called Eric," I pointed out.

"And now you know a little background story about her, although it probably wasn't right for your manager to share that information about your supervisor," Dillon noted.

"You told me things about my supervisor."

"Yes but I'm not a manager who should be keeping things confidential."

"I think she only told me because I told her about what happened with Cain. I guess she finally understood why I am so close with her son," I added. "Honestly though, I can't tell you exactly why she told me. But she did and now I know. I was worried not just about my friendship with Hec but what if Elsa found out that I went to dinner with Eric? Then she could still suspend me or worst, let me go."

"You got confirmation from your manager that she cannot," he reminded me. "She only got in trouble because of what she did and you wouldn't do that. The only thing you're worried about is the fact that you had a small flashback of a dinner you had with Cain where he flirted with the waitress."

"It was more than just a flashback and I don't like that you're downplaying my past relationship."

"I'm not downplaying it. Eric asked you for honesty Ana and you basically treated him how you thought you would be treated."

"You're taking his side?"

"From what you told me, it sounds like he did nothing wrong but take you to dinner."

"It's so typical," I shook my head and looked away. "Guys! You are all the same. You don't care about what we're feeling and just..."

"Stop it Ana," Dillon raised his voice, making me look down shamefully. "You know that I care about you. I have been there for you from the moment you decided that you wanted out of that deceitful relationship with a heartless asshole who belittled your feelings. You stayed with me until you got your own place. Hell, I even helped you look for a vehicle. It wasn't the best obviously but it was put to good use and something you could afford. I stayed up with you when you cried at night after what that bastard did. I encouraged you to go back to work and apply at the bank. I answer my phone when I'm dates because you are like a sister to me. I mean we're cousins, Ana! I'd always look out for you. So don't tell me that I'm downplaying your past relationship when you know damn well that I've done a whole lot for you when you needed me."

A small intake of breath left my mouth and Dillon immediately sighed.

"I'm sorry Ana," he said as the tears fell down my face. "I shouldn't have snapped like that."

"No," I sniffed and wiped my face angrily. "I shouldn't have accused you of not caring or," I sighed, "comparing you to the rest of the male population."

"You do know that not all of us are like that, right? Your friend Hec isn't like that."

"Well, he's the exception."

"I'm not like that."

"You neglected your date to answer a phone call from another girl," I pointed to myself causing Dillon to chuckle. Some of the tension that created slowly disappeared and I found that my eyes finally stopped leaking its watery tears.

"She actually knows your story and," he cleared his throat, "it's pretty serious now where I was thinking of introducing the two of you. Well, you know her but you don't know her as my girlfriend."

"Wait," I finally smiled. "My cousin has a girlfriend and didn't bother to tell me?"

Dillon licked his lips and smiled. "It's real recent, as in last night recent," he nodded. "I asked and she said yes. Of course that was before you called so we were sort of celebrating our relationship when..."

"Oh God," I rolled my eyes.

"Hey I almost got her there until you called."

I leaned over and playfully hit his shoulder which got a chuckle out of him. "Did you just say that she knows my story?"

"The basics," he shrugged. "I told her that you moved out here with your ex fiancé who constantly cheated on you. For the past couple months you've been out on your own and that if you needed anything you would call me. It was late at night so she understood. She actually wanted us to go and find you because she's pretty sure that she knows the customer who was stalking you."

My eyes narrowed at him.

"Are you upset because I told her about Cain?"

I stared him down evenly recalling his statement about what he told his girlfriend.

"Are you upset because I talked about you without asking you first?"

"You're dating Lauren," I spat out quickly. Dillon straightened out. "Who else would it be? She," I looked down. "She warned me about Mr. Marcus. She saved me a couple times from helping him. And you just said that she knows the customer who would be stalking me."

"Coincidence," he narrowed his eyes in a challenge.

"You also said that I know her. Well, I know her from work. No wonder she," I paused and started to laugh. "She's been flirting with you whenever you come into the bar too."

"She's the reason why I like going to the Chasm," he replied and I took that as confirmation that he had started dating my co-worker. "I thought at first that she was just being friendly with me because that's part of being a waitress there, right? Then I realized that it was just me."

I shook my head at the goofy look on his face.

"We started running into each other at the store, at the gas station and then at laundromat."

"Don't you have your own washer and dryer at your apartment?"

"This is when my cousin was using it because she didn't have one at her apartment," he clarified.

"That's right," I snapped my fingers. "You had to wash you beddings because Taylor threw up on them the night before."

"Jerk," he muttered about his friend. "I saw her there and we went to get lunch. Then we got lunch again," he smiled, "And again and again. Then we decided to have dinner and I asked and she said yes."

"I'm happy for you Dillon. Lauren is pretty cool."

"She is determined to take you under her wing now," he smiled. "Apparently something about how you girls need to stick together," he rolled his eyes which made me laugh. "Enough about me, we're getting off the subject here."

"What were we talking about?"

"You," he narrowed his eyes at me, "You, going out on a date with my supervisor."

"That is so funny, because at the Chasm, Lauren is one of the shift supervisors," I smiled. Dillon just stared at me pointedly. I sighed and turned back to my food. "I'm scared Dillon. So maybe I'm a little more relaxed that I won't lose my job if I go on a date with him. And maybe I should ask the HR manager to talk to his mother just to let her know that I'm not like Elsa. That would calm my nerves down a bit more. But there is still that nagging sensation in me that things are similar to Cain. And Cain..."

"This isn't Cain we're talking about."

"But they're the..."

"Don't say it, Ana," he pointed a finger at me. "Look," he rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm not saying that there aren't some similarities. So Eric comes from money, like Cain does and the cars are similar and the people they know are the same but Ana just because you saw him talking to the waitress doesn't mean that he was thinking about picking her up. I've been working at F.E.I. for five years, meaning that I've known Eric for five years. And in all that time that I've known him he's always been this no-nonsense, straight-laced, well-organized boss. He's smart and skilled at what he does. He's always working hard for the company, for those who are part of his team," Dillon explained.

It confirmed the no-nonsense customer persona that Myra described but what Dillon said next sounded like someone else.

"But this morning, the guy was distracted. He was late to a meeting that the managers held. He asked us questions that he knew the answer to. He was out of it. And then I go into his office and he asks me about my cousin who I find out went to dinner with him. Ana I think he's been worried about you all day. That does not sound like something that Cain would have gone through. It sounds like someone who genuinely was concerned about someone other than themselves, and that someone is you."

"You didn't call him back did you," asked Myra the following day at work.

I told her what my cousin said and she agreed that I should have called him. "I threw away his business card."

"Did you talk to Miss Matthews? Mrs. Rodriguez told you to give her a call."

"I know," I released a sigh sitting down at my station, "but after I had dinner with Dillon I just went home and sulked."

"Argh," Myra groaned. "The next time he comes in or calls, I'm just going to tell him to pick you up already. This is pretty childish Ana."

"Hey you ignored Edward for way longer than a week and..."

"And you ended up taking matters into your own hands so that you could give me and Edward the push we needed," she pointed out. "It's time for me to do the same. You like him Ana, I can tell. Forget about your loser of an ex and move on. Eric is a different person with you. He is harsh and demanding when he comes in but that time he spoke to you and then the constant calling and the conversation at the restaurant and the fact that he saved you," Myra listed.

"Now why does everyone keep saying that he saved me," I questioned. "He just happened to be working there and..."

"He saved you," she interrupted the same way that Dillon had the day before. "And," she turned her head, "I'll bet this week's paycheck that those flowers coming in now are for you."

I turned my head as well to see a beautiful bouquet of flowers walk through the lobby of the bank and straight to my counter. I looked for a card and couldn't find one. It wasn't until I heard a gasp that I looked up to see another flower arrangement enter the bank. And right behind that was another. The first was yellow and orange. The second was red and pink. The last one was my favorite. It was blue and purple and that one had that card inside.

"I had a nice time," Myra began to read the card. "I hope I didn't do anything wrong and if I did I apologize for it."

"He was the perfect gentleman," I shook my head moving one of the flowers to the side as Kimberleigh came by to take a picture.

"I'm going to show my boyfriend that this is how it's done," she said typing away on her phone and walking back to her station.

"But I'd really like to have another chance if you are willing to give me one," Myra finished after Kimberleigh went back. Then she started to laugh. "He signed the card: Mr. Coulter."

Myra had been a real gem that day. After work, I decided that I was going to ditch work at the Chasm and my evening class. After we dropped off the bouquets at my apartment, Myra drove me to the building site where Eric had 'rescued' me. She dropped me off and wished me good luck as I waited outside in the lobby. The receptionist smiled occasionally at me before she continued to type away at her computer. She had told me that I couldn't be here, that it was after hours. But after I mentioned my name and that I came to see Mr. Coulter, she nodded as though she were expecting me and told me to take a seat.

"So you're going to say yes," asked Myra when we were in her car.

"I don't know what I'm going to do. But I know that I'm going to try and tell him to not send me flowers anymore, maybe he should stop calling too. I don't know."

"Nope," she shook her head. "That's not why I'm taking you there, Ana."

"I'm scared Myra."

"He's not the boogie man," Edward interjected. And if you're wondering, yes, Myra face-timed Edward so that they could tag team up against me.

"He could be. You don't know," I sassed back as Edward rolled his eyes on Myra's phone. "I don't know why you all are pushing him on me."

"We're not pushing and if anything you were the one who's been encouraging Myra and I to get together," Edward shot right back.

"That's right baby," Myra added as he winked at her and she blew him a kiss.

I scoffed which made the both of them laugh.

"You have to at least tell him something," Edward said. "He deserves an explanation of why you ran out that night. Maybe he has an explanation of what you saw."

"You mean an excuse," I shook my head. "He's just going to lie and tell me..."

"You seriously need to stop that Ana," Myra replied as we stopped in front of his building. "You're automatically dismissing the idea of anything good coming out of this. Yes, he's probably a slave driver as a supervisor for his company. Yes, he's a customer who has a stick up his ass. But the Eric that you described sounds like a different person."

"See, he's deceptive. He knows how to mask..."

"No," she shook her head as she turned off her car. "

"Miss Summers," the receptionist called. I quickly stood up and nodded before walking down the hallway towards the office where I remembered Eric had been.

My hand was shaking as I went to knock on the door.

"Come in."

I closed my eyes and pushed through the door. Once inside, I slowly closed it behind me and stayed close to the exit instead of venturing further in. I stood there watching him as he worked at his desk. He put the pen down and then turned to face me. His gorgeous cloudy eyes pierced mine. He didn't look upset or shocked to see me. Instead he just sat there staring at me.

"Hi," I said softly as he stood up.

Before he was able to even walk towards me, I took a quick step back bumping into the door causing him to stop. He sat on the edge of his desk and signaled for me to talk first.

"Thank you for the flowers. They were beautiful," I tried to speak louder but my voice had come out raspy.

"Your welcome. How have you been?"

I was so nervous that I rubbed my hands against each other and then wiped the sweat that was forming in my palms on the side of my skirt. He must have noticed my fidgeting because he pushed away from his desk and came to stand in front of me. I quickly looked down and away from him to get my heart beat and breathing under control.

"Were you healthy enough to go to work? Has that customer been bothering you?" He took his hand in mine and I quickly pulled it back.

"I'm fine."

"Why do you do that?"

"Do what," I finally looked up at him.

"Pretend," he answered taking another step closer until our bodies were mere inches apart. "I can tell you like me, or at least you want to. But you pretend that you don't."

"Eric," I shook my head.

"Ana," he whispered gently taking his final step which bought his body right up against mine. "Let me take you to dinner this weekend. Let me show you what I think our wonderful date would look like."

I simply nodded before Eric leaned in and pressed his lips softly to my shoulder. I gasped at the thrilling sensation it sent through my body.

"Am I being too aggressive," his warm breath fell on my shoulders, "remember to tell me."

"No," I whispered.

"I'll slow it down," he pulled back enough to look into my eyes.

"No, you're fine," I rest my hand on his chest and slightly nodded.

Later that night after he had finished closing up his office, we did go and get a bite to eat. I didn't ask where we were headed. I sent a text to Myra to let her know that I was going to get something to eat with Eric. We drove towards a small mall that looked mostly deserted except for the various twenty four hour drug stores, gas station and Wal-Mart that was located here. Eric had done the same thing as before, he threw his tie in the backseat of his car and rolled up his sleeves before walking me into a Denny's.

"I haven't had pancakes in a while," he said with a small smile. "I hope you don't mind."

"No, this is fine." He studied me for a while before I nodded. "Honestly," I added knowing that's what he wanted, "I'm okay with this."

It didn't take that long for us to be seated. Eric and I remained quiet the entire time that we were waiting for our seats and even after we had finally been seated at a table. Every now and then I would glance up to notice that he was looking at me. He'd offer a smile again before looking away. I knew he wanted an explanation and like Edward had mentioned, he deserved one.

For the second time, Eric didn't ask too many questions when ordering his food. He wasn't fussy over his meal as he had been with me. He knew he came here to eat breakfast food and that is what he ordered. I almost convinced myself that he only had acted that way because like he said he wanted to observe me and see how I would react. I was the exception. But when the waitress smiled a bit longer at Eric, my mind automatically dismissed that thought of me being special.

"So," he cleared his throat. "How have you been, really? I hope your headache wasn't that bad."

"It wasn't," I shook my head.

"You mind telling me then why you looked so flushed that night or were you using a headache as an excuse to hide from me?" I glanced up at him and bit my bottom lip. "I already told you this, Ana. I don't do games," he emphasized each word.

"And neither do I."

"Then tell me what went wrong," he stated.

My hands were folded in my lap as I looked down. I don't know how much time passed by but I said movement on the table. My eyes shifted to see that Eric held out of his hands to me. I placed my hand in his and felt that spark, that jolt that makes all girls swoon and go weak in the knees. His thumb ran soothing circles on the back of my hand.

"Did I do something wrong," he asked again.

"No," I answered. "You're charming and I like that you value honesty. I know that you must be a hard working individual to be the supervisor at a place like F.E.I."

"But," he pressed.

"But I'm worried that... I'm worried that I'm not right for," I paused again and shook my head.

"You can't start something if you don't intend to finish it." My leg started to bounce nervously. I shut my eyes close and shook my head. "Come on, Ana. I'm waiting." His deep sexy voice traveled across the table. That added to the soft touch of his hand was getting me all hot and bothered. Not only had my leg started bouncing, but now my heart was beating rapidly.

"Please, Eric," I pleaded.

Eric sighed. "I'll let you off the hook this time. But I'd really like to know what you're scared about," he said in a stern voice. "Promise me, that you'll tell me instead of jumping to conclusions and assuming that I won't like it."

I nodded in agreement. "I promise."

He lifted my hand to his lips and touched his mouth to it. I felt his breath fall across my hand and chills spiked all over my body followed by what I was hoping wasn't an orgasm. But somewhere down there, my body was heated and I shifted in my seat when he released my hand.

"I thought I explain to you why I was rude to that waitress at Chili's," Eric said after taking a sip of water. He flicked his arms out and it looked like a purely business move. A serious expression dawned on his face as he sat there.

"You don't have to Eric."

"No I think I do and even so I want to tell you," he clarified. "The waitress came back after you went to the bathroom and I thought it was to deliver your drink but she stated that she forgot it and when I asked her politely to go and get it, she tried to hit on me."

Surprise, surprise.

"I had told her that I was on a date, to which she laughed."

Because who would ever think that someone like Eric would want to date someone like me?

"I explained that she was being highly unprofessional and asked where her manager was. When she pointed out that he was in the front of the restaurant, I told her to tell him that I wanted to put in a complaint about her inappropriate behavior which took the smile right off her face. Perhaps," he straightened out. "I shouldn't have been too harsh on her but I felt that she was being rude to you all night and I didn't like that you were being treated that way. You had just gone through a traumatizing ordeal and your night just didn't seem to be getting better with her actions towards you. I wanted you to feel relaxed and safe, especially after what happened and definitely because you were with me."

Our eyes met and the way he said it, that determined look in his eye made me feel that he meant every single word.

"I'm a little protective of things or people that are close to me," he added. I nodded and looked back down at my lap. "I think I am being too forward," he said causing my head to shoot back up. "I don't want to scare you away Ana so we can postpone dinner."

"You don't want to go out with me," I asked softly.

"The complete opposite actually," Eric answered. "But I can tell that you're holding back so I don't want to force it on you. Maybe dinner is a bit too much right now, so I'll let you decide what you want to do."

Half of me wanted to say yes. That was the part that was telling me that here in front of me was a really nice, honest, decent and caring guy who was interested in me and my wellbeing. The other half of me wanted to run back to my apartment and hide again. That was the part that was shouting warnings and reminders that I had gone down that path before and look at where it got me. I was far away from my parents, my brothers and my home. I only knew Dillon and Peter. I had finally made friends and learned that my friendship with one of them wasn't so forbidden or against the rules as I had thought it would be. I was finally leaning to stand. What if Eric knocked me back down again? I wouldn't know if I could get back up.

But hearing Hec, Myra and Dillon's voices in my head telling me to give Eric a chance, helped me a lot. Hec knew what had happened. He had been used and wouldn't put me through the same situation again because he knew how it felt himself. I had encouraged Myra and she took a chance. Perhaps I needed to take one as well. Taking a cue from Dillon, I took a deep breath and offered Eric a small smile.

"Why don't we meet up for lunch instead," I shrugged, "we can start there."

"That sounds perfect," Eric smiled back.

I gave Eric my cell phone number after he dropped me off and walked me to my apartment door. And as I expected, he called me the next day and the next and every day after that. I had gotten into the habit as well of texting him 'good morning' first and then sometime during the day he would call and ask how I had been and see what I was up to. Some days we would talk on the phone for a long time that it took up either his entire lunch hour or my entire break in between work and classes. He didn't give up in his pursuit of me. Eric reminded me constantly that he still wanted that perfect date but gave up in demanding it be soon. He let me set the pace and I liked it.

A week after we ate at Denny's, we finally met up for lunch. I had off from both jobs that day and Eric wasn't due into the office since he had a meeting that afternoon. We went and got a meal from Subway before we made our way to a nearby park and ate at one of the tables.

"Tell me about your classes," he said as we sat there.

We talked at the park for almost two hours until he got a reminder on his phone that he had the meeting. He rejected it and we ended up talking for another half hour until he got phone calls in from one of the big bosses.

"Argh," he groaned causing me to laugh. "I have to run. I thought I could postpone it but..."

"It's for work so I understand," I waved him off.

I had remembered a whole lot of calls from Cain's 'work'.

"Cain," I tried to pull him back in bed but he shook my hand off and started to put his clothes back on.

"Its work Ana," he said in a scolding tone.

"But surely you could have spared a few minutes," I said trying to wrap my arms around his midsection. "We were getting to the good part," I kissed his back but it didn't work.

"Ana," he practically growled and I removed my hands quickly and shuffled back on the bed.

"I'm sorry Cain," I apologized immediately.

He put on the rest of his clothes and then turned to kiss my forehead. "I'll be back before dinner. I'm sure it won't take long."

"Bye," I shouted as he walked out of the room. That was the first time he had left and didn't say 'I love you'.

"I really was hoping to stay for a little while longer," Eric's voice interrupted my memory and I shook my head.

"Work is important so," I stumbled over my words feeling a sob threatening to bubble forth.

"Being with you is important to me too," Eric added before holding out his hand to me. I took it graciously and went with him into his car. Eric ended up dropping me back off at my apartment and walking me to my door.

We made plans again for another lunch over the phone that night. It was the following week when I had been working at the bank that I was supposed to meet up with Eric. That morning though, I ran into someone I was hoping that I would never see again. I quickly ducked under the counter and motioned to Myra to help the next person in line.

"Hello, what can I help you with today," she said as I strained my ear to listen.

"Why hello there gorgeous," Cain said and I could tell that he was smiling at Myra. "Is there an Elena working here or..."

"Cain," I heard a squeal and saw Elena walking towards Myra's station.

"Hey baby," he told her. "Ready to go?"

"Yup," she answered. "I'm going on my lunch now. Be back soon," she called out and disappeared.

When I had informed Myra that Cain was my ex fiancé she got irritated. "You should have told me sooner, I would have thrown him out or..."

"Is Elena dating him now? I swear the girl he was with was named Tasha," I interjected.

Myra scoffed. "Elena's sister is named Tasha. I wouldn't be surprised if Elena stole Cain from him"

"She would steal her sister's boyfriend?"

"They like to share from what I heard," Myra shook her head and stuck out her tongue.

Elena returned with her hair a little messy and her hands smoothing out her skirt. Myra was the one with enough guts to ask her about Cain. Tasha and Cain were dating and throughout the time they were together, Tasha and Cain would have a threesome with friends. One night there was no friend and Tasha asked if she wanted in and she said yes. I was disgusted and remembered once that Cain had asked if I would ever consider doing that. When I had told him my answer was no and would probably always be no, he said that he wanted one and hoped I would make it a gift. I guess he found someone who was more open to that sort of thing.

"Anyways, Tasha went back with her boyfriend and Cain and I have just been messing around from time to time," she smiled and then went back to her station. "Speaking about lunch dates, Ana I think yours is in the lobby."

Eric had decided to bring me lunch and we ended up eating at a bench outside under the tree. The lunch date was totally different from Elena's and I was reminded of a strong failing of mine. I wouldn't be as bold to have those types of lunches. This was all that Eric was going to get out of me, a boring lunch and I hated myself for it.

"Hey, you okay," Eric asked.

"You don't need to ask me all the time," I told him trying to reassure him with a smile.

"I do if I'm worried," he said smiling back. It was a gentle smile. Eric reached out to touch my cheek and I closed my eyes at how warm and comforting it all was. "I think about you a lot, hoping that you're safe and having a nice day." His hand moved and instead I felt his soft lips press my cheek.

My eyes shot open and his smiled widened causing me to blush and look down.

"I like it when you smile," Eric whispered.

"I like it when you smile too," I said as we both stupidly smiled at one another.

I liked being with him and wouldn't have minded at all if we had started 'dating' but I was so scared of rejection and being hurt that I kept him at arm's length after seeing Cain. I wasn't exciting enough. I wasn't adventurous enough. I wasn't brave enough. I was boring and simple and not worth it. I said goodbye to Eric and went back to work, knowing that today's lunch was going to be one of the last times I would speak to him. He didn't need to pursue someone boring like me.

In fact the text messages and calls slowed down as well and when it had reached a point that he didn't call me for an entire week, I broke down and cried.

"I am boring," I whispered as I wiped my tears on my pillow and cried myself to sleep.

I poured myself into work and classes. Hec told me that I shouldn't shut myself off again but I didn't to put myself at risk when I knew what a guy expected. I would never give someone a threesome. Then the more I thought about it, sex with me was just uneventful in itself. It was so bad that Cain would stop in the middle of it to answer phone calls from 'work', from Tasha or whoever it was that was calling him. Conversation with Eric was nice but that was all that I could offer him.

"You and I need to go out," Peter said one day after I had been avoiding his calls.

"Did Edward call you," I asked.

"Yes he did," Peter bluntly answered. "He said that you've been sulking about. Myra told me you don't go out with them anymore. And then Christina said you've been less cheerful at work. You've avoided me long enough. If you don't meet me for lunch, I'm going to call my sister. Do you want me to call Blossom because I will and she'll be here and I know you don't want to face her?"

"Fine," I huffed. "But I'm not getting all dressed up. Where are we going?"

"Why don't we go to Starbucks? They have one inside Target. I'll meet you there."

And so I took a fifteen minute ride on the bus to Target and walked towards the Starbucks in the front. I had spotted my cousin sitting in the back, looking impatiently at his phone. I guess he thought I was going to bail on him.

Peter glanced at the front and I smiled at him as he let out a sigh of relief. Yup, he thought I wasn't going to show. I was just about to walk towards him when something else caught my eye. It had been an entire month since I saw Eric. Imagine my surprise when there at Starbucks was none other than Eric.

I looked quickly at my cousin who waved me over again and panicked. He was talking intimately with a perfectly beautiful blonde. My heart stopped, my breathing picked up and my stomach felt queasy. I don't know why I felt sick about it. He really didn't need to wait around forever for me. He probably figured that I had been moving too slow for him and I couldn't blame him. No, I couldn't, I thought as I stood there. I watched as he took the blonde's hand and kissed it before smiling at her. I was just about to walk out of there when his eyes landed directly on mine.

My feet couldn't move and neither could my face. I felt like I was watching Cain.

"Who was that," I asked Cain as he got back into the car.

"An old friend of Beth's," he answered. "She was really close to our family growing up," he nodded towards the girl who smiled and waved. "She thought you were Beth."

"But you told her who I wasn't, right?"

"Yeah, I told her you weren't Beth."

"Ana." I gasped and jumped a little at hearing Eric's deep voice. He was standing right there in front of me with his strong hands on my shoulders, steadying me. I looked back at the blonde who was watching us with a smile on her face. It wasn't a cruel smile. It was more of a friendly one. "Are you okay? I'm sorry if I startled you."

"I'm fine, I just," I shook my head. "I was just coming here to meet my cousin," I motioned to the back and then looked at Eric trying to muster the happiest smile that I could. "How have you been?"

"I've been doing okay," he replied and moved his hands away from my shoulders. "How are your classes going?"

"Great actually," I said with a genuine smile. All nervousness had disappeared and I was glad to be speaking of something else. "I decided to sign up for another class. It's not really a requirement. It's about mythology. They had a flyer up, met the professor and a couple other students and it was actually more fun than it sounds," I told him. "The professor gives us amazing assignments. I had to go to the planetarium and look at stars."

Eric smiled. "I wish I had been there."

"No you don't," I shook my head. "There are far better ways for you to spend your evenings than to be with boring little me."

"You're wrong Ana," his smile dropped and he took a step forward. "Everything about you intrigues me. The problem is that you still won't let me in."

I looked down and shuffled my feet awkwardly. I hated to admit it but Eric was right. I was playing it safe. I was keeping my distance from him. I didn't want to get too close because then I would get attached and things would just end up the way they did with Cain. Looking down, I finally remembered that I decided to come here with just a yoga pant and a large sweater. My hair was in a lazy braid and glancing back at the blonde, I knew I looked like nothing compared to her.

As if he could read my mind, Eric cleared his throat. "You look great Ana."

"Thanks so do you," I replied giving him another smile. And he did, he looked so damn good. "Well I should let you get back and I have to see my cousin so, bye Eric."

I walked around him as he muttered goodbye. Just as I thought I was going to get away, his hand shot out to grab onto my elbow. "Please call me, Ana."

My eyes looked back at the blonde. I paled in significance. That was the type of woman that Eric deserved. Then I realized how very shady it all was. Eric was talking to me when his date sat down right there. Either one, she was oblivious that her date was talking to another woman or two, she didn't care because one look at me and she knew I wasn't any sort of competition for her.

"If you want me to," I told Eric.

"I do," Eric said in firm voice releasing his hold on me. "Please, Ana."

I nodded and hurried towards Peter.

ERIC

I couldn't believe that I ran into Ana after such a long time of not seeing her. She looked god. Hell, she looked great. She always looked great to me. Maybe that was an exaggeration but that is how I felt. I could tell right away that she was uncomfortable with seeing me there. She was always frightened when I got close and I could never figure out why. I hadn't done anything, at least that's what I believed and what she told me. But there was this nagging feeling that something was wrong and she just wouldn't tell me.

When I returned to my seat after watching her go to greet her cousin, the more I prayed that she would call me again. I didn't realize just how much I missed those text messages in the morning or those calls throughout the day.

"Who was that?"

I looked up to see Jessica smiling. I couldn't help but glance to the back of Starbucks and look at Ana again. We talked for a few minutes and she went and ran away again like some scared little bunny. I had been patient enough and gave her space when she needed it. But I liked her. I liked her a lot. And when I set my mind to do something, I usually do it. I had never felt this need to be with someone as much as I did with Ana. I knew she liked me too, but she was scared and ready to hide in a hole.

I turned back around to see my sister still smiling at me. She always could figure me out so I told her how I felt about Ana.

"Don't give up Eric," she patted my hand. "Women are usually like that because there's something in their past that may have hurt them. She's hurt. You did the right thing in giving her time and letting her choose her own pace. Just don't give up."