Hey everyone! Hope you had a Merry Christmas.

Here's the third chapter of this story.

Happy reading & Hope you like it!

Xoxo

Nina

Disclaimer I own nothing except my imagination.

"So how was the meeting?" Just as he had promised, Atwater stopped by his friend's apartment with a six pack and some take out. It was pretty late, which only meant that Gracie was in bed already and they could talk about everything that was worrying Adam, allowing him to blow off some steam.

"It was great actually."

"Really? That's cool. Were you able to explain the whole situation?"

"Yeah. The principal was super supportive about it."

"How about her teacher? Was she on board?" Kevin showed a lot of interest in this. He cared deeply for his friend and also for Grace.

"You are not gonna believe that part bro." He said as he sat on the couch, next to Kevin and flipping through the channels until he found the game he was looking for. "Remember that hot chick from the bar?"

"The one whom you know nothing about?" He said almost laughing to tease his friend and Adam only shook his head and smiled as he rolled his eyes.

"Her name is Kimberly and she is Gracie's teacher." The full-on grin on his face gave out the feeling of victory that was invading his chest.

"Say what?"

"You heard me man. Turns out the universe wanted us to meet again."

"You're beginning to sound like my mother bro." They both laughed. "So?"

"So, what?"

"Did she say anything?"

"No, she just seemed super pissed when she thought I was married and I had a kid, but then backed down. I gave her my card."

"She's not gonna call you bro."

"Why not? Quit being so negative."

"You are related to one of her students, is that even legal?" That got Adam thinking, he hadn't contemplated that scenario.

"I'm her uncle, not her dad."

"Don't get your hopes up just in case."

"Whatever, I'm just glad I found her. Who knows, maybe we can finish up what we started." He shrugged but the smile never left his face. He was well aware he knew nothing about this girl, but he liked her and he sure was able to disconnect and drift away from all his dramma that time he was with her. So why not hope for another mouthful of fresh air?

"How are things going with that guy you're dating?" Kim asked her friend as she brought over the two glasses of wine.

"You can call him Matt, you know? Things are great and he really likes you."

"Why wouldn't he? I'm one hell of a charming person with an amazing sense of humor." Both girls laugh. Although those words could be used to describe Kim, she wasn't one to brag about them or brag about anything at all. Kim Burgess was a kind and humble girl who liked to have fun and always found the best in everything and everyone. Even though lately that was harder for her, it was as if life was determined to challenge her positivity and her ability to have fun.

"He even wants to set you up with one of his friends."

"Come on Sylvie. You know I'm not up for that, especially those firefighter friends of his."

Sylvie Brett was one of Kim's closest friends, so close they even worked together, the two first grade groups in school were their groups, which made them spend almost every waking moment together.

"Let me tell you, some of them are pretty hot. If I wasn't dating Casey I would have probably hit on quite a few of them." Kim laughed.

"You're impossible."

"Besides, I think you could use the fun. It's been long enough now Kim. You deserve to live a little."

"I am living."

"You know what I mean. A life outside of work and hanging out with me or the girls in one of our houses."

"I'm not sure I can do that yet."

"You looked like you could do that and much more two nights ago. What happened to that guy? Have you heard from him since?" Kim bit her lower lip in frustration and ran her hand through her face.

"That was a mistake. I should have never listened to you."

"So, he never called."

"He didn't, but because I told him not to. We exchanged nothing, no names, no numbers, nothing."

"Just saliva." Sylvie added as she laughed, completely mocking her friends. "That's a shame, because he looked hot and like a pretty wild ride."

"Yeah, he was hot. Is hot."

"Was or is?" Kim sighed at her friend's question.

"Something weird happened today."

"What?"

"You know that meeting I told you about?"

"Yeah, the one with Gracie's parents."

"That one. Turns out the parents didn't come, they're not in town or something."

"What's weird about that? It happens all the time."

"I know. It's just that Gracie's uncle came in instead." Sylvie looked at her friend with big eyes and slightly moved, waiting for her to say something that would suddenly make everything make sense. "The guy from the bar is her uncle." The blonde just started to laugh out loud. "I'm not sure what part of this situation you find amusing. This is not funny!"

"You're shitting with me, right? Everything about this is funny. Especially the part that this is Gracie we are talking about, the one you have the strongest connection with and the girl who reaches out for you as if you were her mother on campus."

"Ok. You might have a point there."

"See? I just can't believe that out of all the men in Chicago you managed to make out with someone related to our kids." The smile on her lips was permanent.

"It's just a reminder that I can't get carried away by your clearly horrible advice, and that everything that happened that night was a mistake. Especially kissing Adam."

"Mmm, Adaaaam." Sylvie teased her friend. "I think you're misreading the whole thing. I think that this is life telling you to open up, and maybe Adam is the one you should open up to. If you know what I mean." The brunette just rolled her eyes. If Kim had a great sense of humor then so did her friend. "What do we know about him?"

"Not much. The meeting was strictly professional. I only know his name is Adam Ruzek and that he is a detective."

"CPD?"

"I guess." She answered as she took his card out of his pocket and placed it on the coffee table next to the bowl of French fries they had in front of them.

"Gosh, he looks good even in this crappy picture." Kim yanked the card out of Sylvie's hand, she hadn't even looked at it carefully yet. "Easy there tiger." Sylvie laughed again at her friend's reaction. "I'm sure Matt knows him. He has told me about cases in which they have to work with the CPD. Do you want me to ask him?"

"Hell no!"

"Why not?"

"Because."

"That's not a valid answer."

"What if he finds out I'm asking about him. He's going to think I'm interested, or that I want us to hook up or something."

"And you don't?"

"No."

"Not even a bit curious about this guy?" Sylvie couldn't help but to push her friend. She knew exactly how much she needed to break free from all the pain she was feeling. She watched her cry, she hugged her when she was sad, and she waited patiently for Kim to heal. The only thing that she hadn't tried yet was giving herself another chance, and maybe now was the perfect moment for that.

"Ok. In all honesty, maybe I am a little curious about him, but mainly because his story of his brother and sister in law being away on a business trip seems weird."

"Do you really expect me to buy that?" She asked just as she was sipping the last of her wine. "And be honest or I won't refill your glass."

"I swear I'm telling the truth. But I will tell you that I think the guy is cute. I mean we ended up kissing for a reason." Kim's cheeks were lightly blushing, making Sylvie smile.

"I knew it!" She screamed as she got up from the couch and took both glasses to the kitchen to pour more wine in them. "So, what are you planning on doing next?"

"What do you mean? There's nothing to plan."

"You're just gonna see what happens? That sounds boring."

"Well, look where being impulsive and fun got me."

"It got to meet a pretty hot guy. I don't see how that's negative."

"Don't push it Sylvie."

"Alright, I'll let it go. But you better keep me updated." Was she really going to let it go?

"When didn't I?"