Chapter 16: Missing

Going back to classes was upsetting. I was sort of glad that I only had this Spring semester and the upcoming Fall semester left. I could graduate early and get my degree by December of this year. Yes it was an entire year away - almost - but I felt like I had accomplished a lot since I started a few months ago. Hec was only in one of my classes but the girl that he had been eyeing out had been in all of them.

"Hi Ana," she sat down next to me the first day school had started back up.

"Hey Ven," I smiled at her.

We had struck up an easy friendship. It annoyed Hec when he would see me at the college's coffee shop with her. According to him, it looked obvious that I was trying to set the two of them up.

"Hec, I only went to get a coffee with her because we have a late class. It was a long day. I'm not feeding her information about you, trying to put you on a pedestal or something like that," I waved him off as we drove to work.

"I just don't want to look like I'm after her."

"But you are," I pointed out.

"She just turned eighteen for crying out loud."

"So that makes it totally legal," I smiled.

"I want her to have a life."

"And dating you wouldn't be having a life?"

"I have a kid, Ana," he looked at me as came to stop light. "I mean, it's not my kid. My ex cheated on me, made me believe that it was mine and then took off once the kid was born. Yes, my sister and Zeke adopted him but to me that will always be my kid, my responsibility, my drama that I don't want to drag her into. She just started her life. I don't want to add things onto it."

"She has a story of her own, you know," I began. "Maybe for now just work on being her friend instead of awkwardly sitting there and saying anything."

A car started honking behind us and when we both turned to look forward, confusion appeared on both of our faces. The light had not turned green. Why in the world was that person honking at us to move? I felt Hec's hand grab mine and gave it a quick squeeze. It wasn't the light that he was looking at. Just under it was a black car with Mr. Marcus inside of it.

"Is he blocking us," I asked, my voice barely as a whisper as Hec moved to get his phone.

His eyes moved between me and Hec until it settled on just me. I wondered what he was going to do. There were cameras up above because we were below a speed light, he must have known that whatever he did would be recorded. Unless, I looked away and towards the stop light to see that it was still red. Something was seriously wrong. Why was it still red?

"Hey," Hec said into his phone. "Ana and I need your help."

I wasn't sure who he had contacted but Mr. Marcus had also noticed as well and got out of his car. He lifted his hand to wave at us and the second he did, the traffic light started blinking. My heart had gone into hyper drive. My hands fumbled in my bag for my gun that Eric had got me and right when I pulled it out, I felt Hec's hands stop me.

"What's your problem, buddy," the guy in the car behind us shouted, still honking his horn.

Mr. Marcus had a cigarette in his mouth as he grinned over at me and Hec. He took it out slowly blowing the smoke in our direction before pushing off the car and walking towards the driver's side.

"He's leaving," Hec assured me. "And the police are on their way anyways."

"He's got away from them before," I tried to pull my gun out again.

"Ana," Hec cautioned. "If you show that to him now, he'll expect you to have a gun on you. The next time he stops by, you'll have it and he'll be taken by surprise. Trust me, he's leaving. Look," he motioned to the car.

Instead of getting in though, he grabbed something that was inside and threw it over towards us. I ducked my head and Hec went to cover me as best as he could. It made a soft thud on the hood of his car and when we both looked up, Marcus was in his car and speeding down the street.

The guy from behind us came out and knocked on Hec's window making me release a small scream. "Sorry. Are you two okay? Did you know that man? Do we need to call the cops?"

"No, it's okay," Hec looked at me and then at the front of his car.

The guy decided to stay until the police arrived - as an eyewitness to whatever took place. The bomb squad, as Hec called them, arrived first to inspect the package and ensure that it wasn't anything hazardous. When we saw the police officer who showed up, I let out sigh of relief. Zeke took the guy's statement and every now and then would glance at me with a look of concern on his face. After the guy had left then Zeke decided to talk to me and Hec.

"I already called your boss to let her know you both won't be coming in today."

"I needed that shift," I sighed.

"Don't you work at the Bank also?"

"Yes but I was saving money for my brother's wedding in April. I was going to be on vacation for two weeks, one of them without pay," I explained. "I know I'm staying with family but I didn't want to depend on them for the whole trip."

"Is Lauren going up too," he asked.

I nodded. "Dillon wasn't going to take her but then decided to so as to get on her good side."

Zeke chuckled and shook his head. "I know they had a spat. Shauna and her have been having all these 'girl's nights' or 'girl talk' lately. It's driving me insane." He looked to Hec then and gave him a small smile. "Micah is over at Tobias's place right now. He wanted to come over when he heard about his dad but I told him to stay and watch the kid."

"Thanks," Hec nodded.

"Did either of you see what was in that package?"

We both shook our heads. "The guy behind us was the one who grabbed it. Obviously it's light since it didn't make that much of a bang when it hit Hec's car," I answered. "The only problem is that I'm not sure I want to see what he gave me."

"Well it might help," Zeke said as he motioned for one of the other guys to come over with the package. "Anything," he asked the inspector.

"It's not a bomb and there is nothing in it that could be considered hazardous. We even had the fibers tested if it was laced with chemicals. There's nothing showing on our radar. No tracking device, no electronic microphone or recorder and definitely no sign of chemical or powder poison on there. We're not sure what it was meant to do," he looked to me and Zeke, "other than send a very cryptic message."

"I'll have it sent down to the lab again once we look at it. Thanks Fernando." Zeke unraveled the brown paper bag and then stuck his hand inside. "Does this mean anything to you?"

I gasped the second he pulled it out. It was a grey and white bunny doll with long ears. It had a white bow around its neck. It looked the same as...

"You've seen this before," Hec asked turning to me.

"Only in a picture," I whispered taking a step forward.

"So it does mean something to you," Zeke pressed.

"It means something to Eric," I looked up at him. "I've seen pictures of him and his niece holding that bunny. He got it for her when she was born. He said that she looked so tiny, like a little bunny."

"Do you know if this is that exact bunny?"

"I wouldn't," I shook my head. "I mean it looks like it but I..."

"Is Eric at home? Do you want us to escort you there?"

My head shook again. "Eric went to Erudite for work. He won't be home until Friday. His sister is coming in with him then," I looked at the bunny, "as well as his niece."

"Don't mention it to them yet but give Eric a call," Zeke advised. "Let him know what happened. Now where exactly was Marcus's car parked?"

Hec showed him and then the two of them were talking as I looked at the bunny for the longest time. I picked it up examining it before putting it back in the bag. I knew that Zeke would have to take it and put it into evidence. Considering that someone had tampered with my lock and key there was no way in the world that I was taking home this bunny until it went through the proper authorities.

Zeke escorted us to Eric's apartment. Hec decided to stay the night, despite the fact that I assured him how safe Eric's place was. He stayed in the room that I would sleep in downstairs while I slept in Eric's bed.

A part of me didn't want to call Eric about this. But at the same time I wondered if the bunny had been his niece's one. At first our phone conversation revolved around his job and things that he was doing and then when he had finished and asked about my day, I grew quiet causing him to worry. When I finally told him that I was on my way to work from school and got waylaid by Marcus, he started yelling.

"Why wasn't that the first thing that you told me!?"

"I didn't want to make a fuss," I sighed.

"Make a fuss," he repeated. "Goddamn it, Ana! Something could have happened and you're treating it like it's nothing."

"I'm not treating it like nothing," my voice began to get louder. "I was scared out of my mind when I saw him. I tried to grab my gun and shoot him!"

"What," he shouted.

"Well, I don't know if I would have shot him but I did reach for it. I was just so scared. He was stopped in front of Hec's car and the light was red for the longest time. There was this guy behind us honking..."

"So someone else was there with him to cage you two in?"

"No, he stayed until the police came so he could offer up his statement. I don't think that he was part of it."

"You don't think he was, meaning that you're not so sure yourself. That guy in the back could have been an accomplice."

"But he stayed and talked to the police! They took his statement!"

"Marcus could have paid that guy off in a second and there went your eyewitness testimony!"

"Okay fine," I replied, getting angry and frustrated. "I don't know what the guy's intentions were. You happy now? He could be working with Marcus! He could have called him to let him know what street we turned down on because he wanted to get to me before I went to work. Is that what you want to hear? You want me to be anxious and scared about every little scenario that could have gone wrong tonight? Well I am now! Thank you so much Eric," I shouted back. I wiped my face not realizing that tears were coming down my cheek.

It was quiet for a while and I knew that I should have apologized. Eric was just trying to figure out what was going on and I blew it back in his face. At the same time I didn't like that I felt so vulnerable without him here.

"I'm sorry," he said in a calm tone before I could tell him. "You're going through something right now and the fact that I'm yelling at you isn't helping anyone. I apologize for that, Ana. I just," I heard him take a deep breath. "I know what people like him are capable of. I just don't want you to trust others so easily."

"I don't," I whispered. "And I should really be the one to apologize. You're just trying to get a feel of the situation."

"I didn't have to yell."

"Neither did I," I replied.

"Where are you right now?"

"I'm in your room."

"You said that Hec drove you to my place and the police offer escorted you there," he questioned.

"Yes."

"What did the police officer do," asked Eric as I began building a nest out of all the pillows and blankets on top of his bed.

"He looked the place over to make sure no one was here and there was no sign of forced entry anywhere."

"I'm calling Brandon and Owen to do another perimeter check."

"Will they do that for you?" I glanced at the door and then back down. "You know what they want from you. If..."

"They'll do these few things for me. It's nothing major for them. Is your friend still in the apartment?"

"Hec is downstairs. He didn't want to leave. Eric, there's nothing..."

"I have faith in you, Ana," he stopped me. "I know that neither of you would do anything remotely close to that. To be honest, I'm kind of glad that he's there."

"Your trust in me is really endearing," I smiled. "I'm glad he's here too. I mean he's downstairs and down the hall pass the kitchen but at the same time, at least I know that someone is in the apartment should anything happen."

"I like those odds too. It means that if someone tries to get in through the front door, your friend will more than likely hear it before you do. And believe me if he did leave you all alone, I would have a few words with him. I'm glad he talked you into going to my apartment. Yours is not really the safest at the moment."

My eyes closed and I let myself finally lay back down on the bed. "I miss you, Eric," I whispered.

"I miss you too, Ana. I'm going to try and get a flight back tomorrow morning."

"Eric, you're already coming in early on Friday. It's only two days away."

"I know but it doesn't mean that I like it." There was a moment of silence and I could hear Eric getting into his bed.

Neither of us liked the day that he left. I held onto him until the airport security told me that I couldn't stay parked there any longer, twice. After all it was a loading and unloading zone only. Eric said that I could use either his car or the SUV for travel. The only time I used the SUV - other than to drop Eric off at the airport - was to go to work at the Bank and to run two errands which consisted of grocery shopping and picking up a gift for Eric's niece when they came over for the weekend. I had gone to pick up a Tinkerbell play tent and sleeping bag. Eric had said that he and his sister liked camping and I had a feeling that Eric's niece might like it as well.

"I'm not sleeping in that," Hec joked when I showed him the room.

"It's for Eric's niece."

I grabbed the blanket away from him and began to fold it up nicely. "You're excited about it, aren't you?" The blanket was placed on a nearby chair, waiting for Eric's niece to arrive before I turned to look at Hec. "Having his niece over, I mean," Hec explained.

"His niece and his sister," I nodded. "It is exciting to meet his family. I think I like the fact that he has a niece. I grew up in a house full of boys," I rolled my eyes. "It was nice to shop for a girl for once. It was also quite confusing. I wasn't sure what Princess she liked or if she liked pink, because not every girl likes pink."

"You," he asked.

"Red, yellow, sometimes orange," I answered. "Once I liked something that was black and it gave my mom a heart attack."

"Hey that rhymes," he chuckled and I shook my head.

I thanked him for staying over and pointed out once again that he didn't need to. But he didn't mind. He said that I should let Eric know about him staying over also and if Eric wanted to talk to Hec then he would explain that it is just to keep a lookout for anything suspicious. Hec still seemed nervous when I told him that I was calling Eric but it was obvious that we had nothing to worry about. Eric trusted me and that made me feel a whole lot better. A part of me was wondering if Eric would do the same for any girls that he knew but I quickly shook my head at the thought.

"Tell me again why you didn't use my car," Eric asked as I pulled the covers up to my chin and snuggled deeper into the bed.

"I knew that Hec and I finished classes the same time and that I had to work tonight also. Besides your car scares me and the SUV is kind of intimidating."

Eric chuckled. "I thought you liked my car."

"I do when I'm riding shot gun in it. Hearing the roar of the engine and the vibrating beneath me is quite overwhelming if I take over. I don't think I could handle all that muscle power you got under there," I said before realizing my mistake.

"Are we talking dirty right now," he asked and I could practically sense the smirk over the phone.

The first night that Eric had been gone, he tried to get me to talk dirty with him. I couldn't really do it and half way through the talking, I realized that I could barely touch myself either. It didn't feel right and to be quite truthful, I had never really done it before. The second night Eric told me to remember how it felt like for me when he was there. I couldn't do that either. I knew how it felt but I couldn't repeat the feeling, it just wasn't the same. Somehow tonight, I could tell that Eric had a game plan about how we were going to do this and I just hoped that it could work.

"No," I answered, "And besides Hec is in the apartment."

"Don't scream so loud then," he replied. "Put the phone on speaker and leave it next to you on the bed. Wait," he called out just as I set it down. "Take a picture of yourself."

"Really Eric, that's so juvenile."

"I want to see you," he breathed deeply.

"You already have pictures of me on your cell phone."

"Not of how you look right now," he countered.

"I highly doubt that anything I have on right now is close to being seductive."

"Well, what are you wearing," Eric said teasingly.

I often wondered how it was that Eric and I could tease one another so easily. Was it just the fact that he liked being honest with me so if he was feeling rather randy then he'd let me know instead of trying to be modest about it? I wasn't sure half the time. But Eric made me feel more sexually open than I ever felt before. There were still moments when I wondered how someone like me could appeal to someone like him but he never did seem to falter in his attraction for me and deep down inside I think it was helping me a whole lot.

"Nothing sexy that's for sure," I answered. Yeah the old, frightened Ana still showed herself every now and then.

"I highly doubt that, talk to me," he assured being the ever caring boyfriend.

"This would be so much better if you had an iPhone. We could just face-time each other."

"Androids are better. Now, stop trying to change the subject. I asked you a question."

I bit my lip and looked down. I truly wasn't wearing anything that provocative but knowing Eric he would definitely turn this into something worthwhile. Releasing a breath, I tried to relax and let out my nerves. "I have on one of your shirts," I replied as I heard Eric groan.

"Let me guess," Eric began, "the white one."

"Mm," I sighed in agreement. "That and well, you'd have to find out if anything else is underneath it."

"Fuck. Lay back for me," he instructed. I put the phone on speaker, set it down next to me as I slowly rest my head against the pillows. "Close your eyes," his voice is gentle and I do as he says. "Imagine me there, hovering over you with our bodies barely touching. My nose is nuzzling your hair, taking in your scent. You smell good."

"Eric," I whimpered as I felt chills spreading through me.

"Relax baby. Tell me what you want."

"I'd tell you to kiss me," I whisper.

"Ana," he whispers back, "your lips are so soft. Just like the rest of you. After a kiss, I'd know I just want to taste you more. Slowly I'd trail my lips down your jaw, your neck and over to your shoulder as my hands move up your side."

Without me even knowing it, my hands slowly started to move up my sides trying to copy Eric's words. It still felt weird but Eric's voice was drawing me in and somehow I did feel a little throbbing ache in between my legs.

"Where am I right now, Ana?"

"You've just discovered that I have nothing under the shirt," I replied as my hands moved his shirt higher up my body.

"Baby," he groaned.

"I've been waiting for you all day, Eric."

"And I'm right there with you," he whispered. "We're going to take this nice and slow. Are your eyes still closed?" I moaned in response. "Good. Now feel my fingertips on your skin, tracing your every curve. My lips are moving down your body. Move your hands there, Ana." I did as instructed. "Slowly now or I'll be forced to punish you."

"Punish me."

Eric growled. "I can smell you. You smell so sensual right now. Did you put on that lotion that I love?"

"Yes," my lips turned into a smile.

"I don't know what scent that is but it drives me crazy. You know it does. It makes me just want to eat you up, devour you. Your body writhing under me, demanding to partake of the feast before me," he said and I parted my mouth releasing a gasp as my hands came in contact with my center. "Where am I now?"

"Between my legs," I boldly stated.

"Perfect," he released a deep breath. "Now move your fingers back and forth over it."

I screamed Eric's name the second my fingers touched my little nub causing him to chuckle.

"Are you done already baby?"

"Shut up," I smiled pulling my hands away from between my legs. I didn't finish, I don't even think I came close to it. But Eric's description had made my body go into a sensory overload in a way and I honestly felt like he was right there with me. My eyes opened and I remembered that I was back in Dauntless, in his apartment without him while he was miles and miles away from me. "You're not here," I whispered in disappointment.

"It almost worked didn't it?"

"Yes," I closed my eyes again. "It was like I felt you here but then, you weren't. You just made it feel really good."

"Did I make it too intense for you? We didn't even get to the good part."

"Stop teasing," I replied with a slight pout.

"Aw," Eric said. "Is my Ana pouting?"

"I hate that you know I was."

Eric released another chuckle and the next thing you know is that we're both laughing.

"I'm sorry," I reply. "Did I ruin the moment?"

"No," he replies and I could tell that he's smiling.

"I wish I was good at this sort of thing. I feel so stupid that I can't even have decent phone sex with my boyfriend."

"Hey, don't start with that. Now I really want to fly out tomorrow morning to wipe away any doubt of you not being good at anything for me. That right there just ruined the moment."

"It's just that..."

"No, don't even say it Ana. I chased after you because I liked what I saw and now that we're together, I want to keep it. I'm not giving you up because I still fucking like what I see, every damn day. You're not comfortable with this tells me that we just need to work on it. And if down the road, it never happens then who the fuck cares, Ana. That will just mean that you and I will always be together at night, instead of you being miles away from me, okay?"

I didn't respond for a beat.

"Okay," he asked again.

"Okay," I replied.

"I'm sorry," he said suddenly. "I didn't mean to get angry."

"Okay, if you want me to stop with the whole insecurity thing then you need to stop apologizing because so far you've been nothing but considerate and patient with me. You've given me more than I deserve Eric. I just," I paused and shook my head, sitting up and pulling my legs to my chest. "I miss you Eric. I thought that being apart was going to be okay. And it's not even an entire week yet. Then that incident with Marcus happened and I wish you were here."

"I know, Ana. Fuck I miss you too, so much. I wish, damn it I wish I could just hold you."

"You're probably wishing you could do other things to me too."

"Without a doubt," he chuckled which made me smile. "I'm glad I got you to calm down though. Today was just a bad day wasn't it?"

"Yeah it was. What do we do about Marcus?"

"He's not supposed to talk to you, according to the injunction or be within so many feet of your workplace. But because of whatever trumped up story his ass of lawyer made up, he's free to walk around and throw packages of stuffed animals at you." The growl he sported informed me that he was still upset about the accusation that he was using me to put away a rival of his Aunt. I knew Eric wasn't and told him every time he felt frustrated about it. But that didn't stop the lawyers and judges from believing Marcus over him and his family - and that family now included me. "I just know that they're going to make this your fault somehow. It's sickening really. The guy attacked you, tried to kidnap you and he's fucking walking freely, taunting you from a distance."

"Do you think we should call your sister and let her know?"

"I don't want her to panic and go into hiding again or worst turn to her ex. And if that bunny was missing then my niece would have called me, she goes everywhere with that thing. I'm just wondering why and how Marcus got a hold of it and decided to threaten you with it. I'll have Brandon and Owen take a look outside. If they see anything wrong then I'll have them contact you but other than that, don't go anywhere just yet."

"Alright," I sigh.

"I'm wondering why you're still with me."

"What," I sat up, hoping he wasn't going to say anything that would hurt me or us.

"I'm dangerous. For obvious reasons a good girl like you shouldn't by any account be with a guy like me."

"But you're not involved with your Aunt, Eric. And if anything, you've been so protective of me. I know that I should have run for the hills the second you told me about your past but that's just it Eric. It's in your past. We're together and I'm going to show you that for obvious reasons a guy like you deserves a good girl like me."

An idea hits me as I'm saying that. Excitedly, I move on the bed and almost cause the phone to slide off.

"Ana, what's going on?"

"Just stay right where you are," I say to him. I grab my iPad and start setting it up on the edge of the bed. Moving towards the radio, I grab the remote and play a slow song.

"Are you going to dance for me baby?"

"You'll just have to wait and see now won't you," I replied and ran back towards the phone.

"Wait, what," he says as I click the end button.

I can't ruin the surprise for him. After I check to see that the door is locked I press record on my iPad and start moving to the music. I looked over at the iPad and tried to do just as Eric told me, imagine that he was there. He was the one I was looking at, sitting on the bed - not my iPad. Biting my bottom lip, I smiled sweetly over as I moved my hips and ran my hands over my body.

Closing my eyes, I lifted my hands in the air and began to sway the best way I could. Either this was going to come out really sexy or I was just going to end up looking 'cute'. Whatever it was, Eric was still going to get a surprise when he opened up this video. I giggled, laughed, sang along with the song - all the while pretending that it was Eric sitting there.

My hips began to bounce when the song picked up and I did my best to dip low to the ground when it began to slow. I'd whip my hair over my head and twirl around. At one point I didn't think I was doing any sexy moves. I was just moving at one point.

When the song was ending, I pretended to crawl over the iPad, leaning it back in bed and looking down at it. I sat up right in front of him and gave Eric a perfect view of under the shirt and between my thighs before picking up the iPad and lying down on the bed and holding it out in front of me.

"Come home to me," I whispered. "I'll have another surprise for you when you wake up," I promised before pressing end.

I sent him the video before putting my iPad on its charger and turning off the radio. I went through my nightly routine wondering about the video. It had been quite some time. Glancing at the clock and then down at my phone, I realized that I sent the video to him twenty minutes ago. I sent a text to Hec who texted back that everything was quiet down there. He'd probably leave in the morning to go Grandma Ruth's bakery - because he couldn't function unless he had his Boston Crème Pie donut from there along with the occasional 'free' bacon and eggs - because his sister is married to Grandma Ruth's grandson - from over there.

I was just about ready to give up on Eric calling back when my phone rang. Quickly I answered it.

"You're trying to kill me, I know it," he groaned into the phone.

"You liked it?"

"I loved it. It was perfect. I took a couple screen shots while you were dancing."

"Oh God," I rolled my eyes and pulled the blankets over me.

"What? I appreciate my beautiful girlfriend flirting with her naughty dance moves in my bedroom."

"Did you have a hard time opening it?"

"No, why did you put a password on it or something?"

"It's just that you took a while to respond and..."

"I uh," he paused and chuckled, "you provided me my release with that little video."

"I did?"

"You really have no idea what you do to me, Ana Summers. I can't wait to see what you have in store for me in the morning."

The alarm was set for 4:45 a.m. and I knew that Eric would be waking up in a few minutes over in Erudite. My body was telling me that it was too early but I wanted to do this for him and hoped that he would get thrilled as he did the other night. I shuffled through the songs on my iPad. I had the perfect song last night but now it didn't seem to fit. So I decided to look again. It wasn't anything tremendously sexy but I felt that it was just right especially for what had been happening lately. I remember playing the song once back in Amity.

"No guy thinks like that," Cain turned off the radio as a few of his friends laughed. "And if he is he's just faking. It's just too much work, am I right," he asked as he and one of the boys that was there shared some sort of guy handshake.

"Well, I think there are guys like that. I mean don't you feel that our relationship perhaps..."

"Now this is a song that rocks," he cut me and began playing a hip hop song about being unfaithful. I didn't take to it at first but when Cain had moved to stand in front of me, I couldn't help but smile back.

I shook my head as I stared in the mirror of Eric's bathroom. It had been a while since I had a memory of him or a flashback. I looked down at the song on the iPad as my thumb hovered above the play button.

"There are guys like that," I whispered setting the iPad down.

I took a shower first and decided to blow dry my hair. While still in the towel, I pressed record and then turned to play the song as well. As I brushing my hair I started to sing along with the song. The entire time I stared at my reflection and tried to put on a happy smile. I was doing this for my man. I trotted out of the bathroom to get my clothes, moving the iPad so that it could keep recording me.

Standing in front of the iPad, I'd hold up an outfit for work and then shake my head. Then go for another outfit and look tentatively at the screen as though Eric were looking back and giving me the okay. I smiled, dropping the towel as I turned around and began to get dressed. All the while, I would sing a few lines from the song. I left the iPad back in the room and went to the bathroom, continuing to do my hair into a lazy side braid. I looked back in the mirror and titled my head.

"I'm trying to get ready for work, stop distracting me," I smiled before turning back to the mirror.

I finished singing the song before looking myself over and deciding that despite it being a very girly or mushy thing to do that Eric would appreciate it. It was as if he was here, watching me get ready in the morning, trying to get me out of my clothes before we leave or hoping to lure me back towards the bed before I made it out the door. I smiled again at all the memories of him and believed without a doubt that Eric would probably do something romantic at this moment. I whirled around and looked straight at the iPad.

"Will you dance with me before we have to leave," I asked as the song played again.

Hurrying over to the iPad, I pressed stop as a tear fell. I'd hope Eric wouldn't see me crying. The song made me emotional and I truly missed Eric. I sent him the video and five minutes later he called me.

"Good Morning," he said and I bit my lip at how happy he sounded. "I just want to say that I love you, Ana Summers. And I'll always want to dance with you."

I smiled and looked down, trying to wipe away my happy tears. "Thank you for making me feel wanted, Eric."

"That's so sweet," Myra said as I explained what happened when I got to work.

"I was aiming for sexy last night and then this morning I was going to do the same but I opted for that instead."

"I haven't heard that song in a while. And I love country music," she said.

"I know you've told me."

"What I'm shocked about is that you still haven't, well you know," she nudged me playfully.

"The whole experience is uncomfortable."

"Girl, I'll give you a toy. Toys are better," Myra said.

"Oh God, you actually have one," I whispered.

"They're not illegal to carry around. And sometimes they're a girl's best friend."

"What are, diamonds," asked Kimber as she walked in the back of us to get a box of pens.

"No," Myra answered and before I could stop her she continued. "Vibrators," she said nonchalantly.

"Honey," Kimer turned around to look at me. "Weren't you single for like a year?" I nodded. "So you mean to tell me that during that time, you never..."

"No, she didn't," Myra answered.

"I don't know why I told you."

"Because I'm your friend," she replied to me. "As as your friend, I'm going to get you that for your birthday."

"Valentines Day is closer," Kimber reminded her before she walked away. "And now I know what to get you for Secret Santa next year."

"That's right," Myra smiled. "Hey we could have a 'passion party'! Did you ever hear of those? What am I talking about," she shook her head. "You probably haven't. Oh my God! What kind of friend am I to not get your back on this? I am so throwing you one for your birthday."

"Whatever you say," I smiled at her before turning to help the next customer. "Can I help..." I froze mid-sentence and my jaw dropped. There in the middle of the Bank lobby was Cain Banner, my ex fiancé.

His hands were in his pockets, leaning against the counter where our deposit slips were. His lips twitched upwards when he noticed that I finally spotted him. Elena must have called him because he glanced that way and held up his hand as if to say 'hold on, I'm scaring my ex right now'. Myra cleared her throat and leaned forward.

"Sir, I can help you here," she called but he continued to look at me.

"Hi JoyAnna."

My eyes finally turned away from him and looked down at the counter.

"You're looking good," he said and from the volume of his voice, I could tell that he had moved and was standing in front of my window. "I can't believe you're working here. Actually I can't believe you're working at all. Then again," he chuckled and I knew he was going to say something stupid. "You only quit because I wanted you at home. Speaking about home, why didn't you go back to Amity? I thought for sure that you'd run..."

"Alright buddy, are you doing a transaction or not," Myra came to stand next to me. I glanced at her and she nodded at me before turning back to Cain.

"Sorry, I didn't think I needed to. I came here to pick up Elena for lunch. I just wanted to say hi to an old friend."

"You and I were never old friends," I finally responded. "Now, I'm going to have to ask you to step away from my..."

He leaned forward causing me to gasp and take a step back. "Still no backbone," he smiled. "I don't know why I thought you'd make a good wife."

"Cain," Elena appeared behind him. "Let's go! I'm starved."

Cain pushed away from my window and began walking away. "Goodbye JoyAnna. Perhaps I'll see you around," he called back.

Brandon was the first to stand from his desk when Cain walked out. He stared at Cain before looking over at me. I subtly shook my head and turned to close my window before hurrying to the bathroom.

I am debating between the two songs that she could have danced to. I wanted it to be "Work from Home" by Fifth Harmony and then for some reason I had "Starving" by Hailee Steinfield, Zedd & Grey stuck in my head.
As for the second song (where she is getting ready) I chose "Wanted" by Hunter Hayes. I thought that described Ana and Eric's relationship pretty well.
Hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving. I can't believe that it is December already!