"We may need that intervention." I grumbled, handing Susie her bagel and coffee.

"Why?" Susie held a smile that told me she already had an idea.

"You can't tell your cousin about my rough weekends anymore."

"What was I supposed to do? He asked about you. He really likes you."

"Susie, he's nice, but I'm not his girl." I laughed, shaking my head.

"If it weren't for your rule he would've been more forward."

"Well, he seemed pretty forward last night with a bottle of champagne in his hand asking if he could wind me down."

"Oh god. Don't tell me that. He's like a brother."

"Oh don't worry. Nothing happened because I had an old friend over. Made things real complicated when he found out that my relationship with the client's best man is fake."

"I don't know what you mean by any of that- and it just seems too complicated for me. So don't even try explaining." Susie laughed, shaking her head as she returned to work.

*

"Samantha brought Moscato." Oliver called out as he lifted the wine.

A heat reached my cheeks as I admitted, "I saw you drinking it at The Art Tasting, so I figured you must like it."

I smiled as Abby pulled me into a hug, "Thank you so much!"

"No problem."

Abby led me in, a hand on the small of my back, gently. "We've got wine!" Abby called out to Will and James who stood idly by the kitchen counter.

"Samantha, it's good to see you." James greeted, and Will gave me a small nod.

"Dinner'll be done soon. Make yourself at home." Abby's smile was friendly and welcoming. I followed Oliver to the couch and spent the next twenty minutes watching tv. I noticed a few of her framed photos, but didn't get a chance to really check them out. The guys came out to watch the television as well, after Abby insisted we all keep out of her kitchen.

"Can I use your bathroom?" I asked Abby, as I set my empty glass on her counter. She turned and nodded, "Of course, it's the first door on the right."

I followed her directions, and after I finished, I lingered in the hallway for a bit, admiring the walls. Her apartment looked more like a home with all her framed photos. There were photos I hadn't seen in her album that I went through at work. One photo in particular caught my attention.

Everyone in the photo seemed to be glowing, and laughing at something all together. It had to be a candid. Abby and James were in the middle, and two older couples on either side of them. I assumed Abby's parents were near her, and James' near him.

"That was one of the best days of my life." Abby began, coming up beside me. She wiped her hands on a kitchen towel, never breaking eye contact with the photo.

"I didn't mean to lurk. It's just a beautiful picture." I excused, looking back at the photo. The backyard was gorgeous, fairy lights draped around the yard.

"No, it's okay. I love being reminded of these moments."

"What made that day so perfect?" I asked.

Abby laughed, taking me by surprise. "It was far from perfect." Her bright eyes met mine, "I just loved having everyone closest to me around me."

"Where was it?"

"My parent's house. I love going up there. Especially when the entire family gets together. It's my second home, it's like a memory bank to me." I couldn't even describe the twinkle in Abby's eyes, but that nauseous feeling hit my gut again.

I nodded, "Are you sure there's nothing I can help with for dinner?"

My question seemed to pull Abby out of her moment, "No, dinner's done and the tables set. The only thing missing was you." She smiled.

We made our way to the kitchen, and Abby grabbed a few glasses. "If you don't mind me asking," She paused, glancing at me, before continuing when I shook my head, "What were you and Will?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, boyfriend-girlfriend? Friends with benefits? An almost?" Abby whispered, coming close. I wasn't sure how to answer that. It was bound to be a subjective answer. I had thought we were an almost, but according to Will-

"We were just friends." I replied.

"And your boyfriends never had a problem with you being close with a guy?"

"I've never had a boyfriend." I admitted. She glanced at me, her eyes narrowed in curiosity.

"Before me, she means." Oliver corrected, coming into the kitchen. I glanced at him, before remembering the fake relationship I was still in.

"Right." I gave Oliver a real smile, silently thanking him for the save.

"So, eight months. Oliver, when are you going to tie her down?" Abby grinned.

I grimaced, making Oliver laugh and Abby gape.

Oliver threw an arm over my shoulder, "Oh right! She doesn't believe in marriage."

Abby stared at me like I had three heads. "Really?"

"It's not that I don't believe in marriage," I shot Oliver a side eye, "I just don't think it's for everyone."

"Hm." Abby rose her eyebrows in thought as she grabbed the glasses. She left the kitchen, and I hit Oliver's arm with the back of my hand. "What? Am I wrong?" He grinned knowingly.

We began eating and I avoided most eye contact as I tried to focus on what made Abby's apartment feel warm. Her place could feel like home to anyone and everyone, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

Small discussions were had and I could honestly say I was warming up to James and Abby. I could see myself as being good friends with them outside of work conditions- which was rare.

"Have you met Oliver's parents yet?" Abby asked during the middle of dinner.

"No."

"You might just be Oliver's dream girl." Abby chuckled softly. James and Will glanced at each other like they had missed something.

"What did we miss?" Will was the one to speak up.

"Okay, so what would you say if I said I don't think marriage is for everyone?" Abby asked James. I stared at Abby, concern flooding my body. James' face dropped, he finished chewing slowly as he thought. He swallowed hard and his jaw flexed.

"I'd ask you what changed your mind? Last year, you were about ready to tie the knot." James let out an uneasy breath that sounded like an attempt at a lighthearted chuckle.

"No, it's not me. Of course I believe in marriage- marrying the person who you think is right." She comforted him, squeezing his hand softly. "It's Samantha. Oliver had told me she doesn't believe in marriage, but she explained herself. It's just that she doesn't think marriage is for everyone."

As Abby spoke her words, James' jaw seemed to be an indicator of his stress levels. I had dug my hole by opening my mouth at all, and James' face was enough to make me regret almost everything. I watched in recognition as he realized my predicament- and my purpose driven question. Why was I, someone who hadn't taken relationships seriously for years, in charge of helping an honest man propose to a woman he truly cared about?

His silence was all I needed, and although I noticed Abby frown at his change in demeanor, she began to pull Will into a light conversation. James continued to stare daggers into me, before he abruptly scooted out from the table and excused himself. We all glanced at each other in silence, and Oliver stood, "I'll go check on him."

Guilt and fear consumed me. What have I done? He's going to assume I'm out to ruin his proposal. I could vaguely hear voices beginning to grow as Abby kept the mood up. "I think I should get Oliver to take me home." I stood, bringing an immediate frown to Abby's lips.

"No, please don't leave. I'm sorry about James. I don't know what's gotten into him." Abby glanced at where they had gone.

"It's fine really, I've got a long day ahead of me tomorrow. I should get going. Thank you so much for dinner, it was delicious, and I love your interior design." We shared soft smiles as I set my table napkin on my seat and followed the sounds of voices. I knocked, and the voices slowly came to a stop.

I entered into a tense office space, James' face tight and contorted in anger. "Shut the door." I did as he said and didn't open my mouth to speak.

"James, this is her job. She knows how to separate her personal life and work duties." Oliver attempted to defend.

"Does she?" He snapped, turning on me, "I think you're forgetting that this is your job. You aren't getting paid to laugh and eat dinner at my girlfriend's house because you're actually friends. You're here because you needed more time to figure out what she'd like. Had you not been distracted the last couple times you'd have gotten it by now." I swallowed that pill of truth.

"I apologized for the previous times. Tonight's helped already. I have a lead on what I think she'd like." I stopped short at the sight of James opening and closing his mouth, fighting with himself to speak.

His eyes narrowed on me and he took a bold step forward, "You better not screw this up. This needs to be perfect." His eyes were hard as he continued, his chest rising and falling, "I love her, and she better get that from this party. If this is a bust, and I lose her for some reason-" He shook his head.

"You're not going to lose her." Oliver butted in.

"I better not." He spat at Oliver. I hadn't realized the cool, calm, and collected James I had met these past few times was the softer side to a much more professional demanding man. His shoulders were tight, and I found myself shrinking beside his towering figure, with my feet frozen in place. "This better be some unforgettable party. This isn't just some rinky-dink party that you can half-ass."

My brows twitched, before I took in everything he said. He was right. He was my client, and I was acting like this wasn't a job- and a big one at that.

"There better be a damn good reason why a girl who doesn't believe in love is taking care of my request." He shook his head again, "I won't think twice about dropping your company for one that'll take my business seriously. If this goes belly up, I'll be sure to let everyone know how much of a joke you are."

"That's enough." Oliver spoke up. I hadn't even realized I hadn't taken a breath. In one move, and grabbed my purse, and dismissed myself with an, "Understood."

I waited for Oliver out by his car, with wet eyes and a tight jaw. How the hell had I managed to screw up this bad?