Greya's POv....

Fynn looks like a walking zombie today and I look like a nervous wreck.

"Haven't you guys been on a date before?" Fynn coughs and wipes his red nose with a tissue. "You know, in high school? Nothing to be nervous about now." He coughs again, trying to pour himself a glass of orange juice.

Come to think of it, Becker and I hung out a lot but not on an actual formal date. Lox has a whole plan in mind for tonight and I'm anxious to see what it is.

"Shouldn't you be in bed?" I grab the juice and glass from him and do the pouring.

"You're going to get your germs all over everything," I joke around with him.

Suddenly a tall handsome figure walks into the kitchen. His blue eyes surrounded by streaks of red and his brown hair sticking up in all directions. Tim matching Fynn's zombie appearance.

"Wow, you both look terrible. Why don't you both go back and lay down and I'll make you some toast."

Chase slowly makes his way into the kitchen. "Grey, I don't feel so well."

Great!

I walk over to him and feel his forehead. He has a slight fever and probably the flu like the other two. I can't go on a date when the whole house is sick.

"Grey, you're going on your date. The three of us can take care of each other," Fynn coughs again.

"Yeah, don't worry, we'll take care of Chase, you go have fun," Tim's coughing now too. The three of them are a mess and still want me to go out.

"Alright, you three rest in the living room with a movie and we'll see how you all feel in a few hours."

I get no objections as the walking dead each find a couch and love seat.

I make them some toast and cover each of them with a blanket and then hide out in my room for a bit so I can warn Loxley I may need to cancel.

Texting is easier than calling, plus I don't think I could handle hearing if he's disappointed or not.

Me: Hey Lox! I'm still looking forward to our date. I need to warn you though that Fynn, Tim and Chase all have the flu and I'll have to wait and see how they're feeling in a few hours.

Lox: Morning Love! No worries just let me know. If you need me to bring over more soup or anything, I can do that?

He called me Love and now I'm wiping the happy tears that are rolling down my cheeks.

Me: Thanks B. Fingers crossed. I really want to go out tonight.

Lox: Me too.

I put my phone back on my nightstand and check on the guys. They're all passed out, snoring from their stuffy noses. There's no way I'm avoiding  this virus, it's only a matter of time.

What if I get Lox sick too? When he's sick, is it worse for him? Does he have seizures or increase muscle spasms? Shit, I didn't think of all that.

I grab my phone again and text Lox. I'd feel terrible if I somehow passed this virus to him.

Me: Hi again. I feel terrible about this, but can we do a rain check on tonight? I'm sooooo sorry Lox.

...

Three dots appear but no response for a few minutes. He's disappointed and I don't want him feeling that way.

Me: How about a virtual date tonight?

Lox: Yeah, ok. How do we do that?

Me: I know it's not as good as being with you in person, but I miss seeing your face and hearing your voice. We can facetime and we can talk?

...

The dots again. He probably thinks it's a stupid idea.

Lox: I'd like that. What time should I call you?

Phew!

Me: How's 7pm sound?

Lox: It's a date 😉

A little humor is good, means he isn't too disappointed.

I spend the afternoon cleaning and taking care of the guys who haven't moved from the living room all day.

After I've fed them all soup and crackers, I take a shower and dress into the clothes I was going to wear out tonight. May as well try and make this virtual date more real.

I brush a little blush onto my cheeks and apply some mascara. He usually sees my hair in braids because of soccer, but tonight I'm wearing it down. My hair just about reaches my butt and It's already wavy and soft, there's not much I need to do with it.

It's almost 7pm, so I check on the guys one more time before Lox calls. They're all sleeping again, poor things must feel miserable.

My phone rings and rush back to my room and sit up on my bead against the head board.

Lox's handsome face appears on my screen.

"Hi," I probably sound nervous because I am nervous.

"H...hi. Y...you look b...beautiful," he tells me.

"You look nice yourself." He does. He styled his hair so it's smooth on the edges but a little messy on top. His hair isn't hanging over his scar and I have a clear view of his aqua color eyes. He's wearing a button up shirt too.

"I d...didn't know h...how t...to dress f...for this so th...this is w...what I'd w...wear if w...we went o...out."

"Same here. I'm really sorry we couldn't go out tonight. I hope we can try again soon."

"Don't w...worry Love w...we can t...try again,"He smiles, his endearing dimples on display.

There he goes, calling me Love again and I can't help feeling all chocked up inside.

"W...what's wrong?" His voice laced with concern. I didn't realize I was frowning.

"You've called me Love ever since you heard it was my middle name." I say it more as a statement even though I'm curious to know why. Is there a part of him that remembers he always used to call me that?

"I...is th...that o...okay?"

He's stuttering more which means I'm making him second guess himself.

"Yes, totally okay," I try and convince him. I don't want him to stop calling me that.

"Y...you c...call m...m...me B...B so it's o...only f...fair y...you g...get a n...nickname t...too and y...your m...middle n...name i...is p...perfect," his nervousness masked by a shy smile.

He closes his eyes for a moment, concentrating on his breathing. He's stuttering with every word, so I know I need to say something that will make things more comfortable.

"What's your favorite color?"

His eyes fly open. He's smiling again and snickers to himself.

"G...green. L...light green." He's blushing now.

"Well mine's aqua blue," I smile back. He's referring to my eye color and I can say the same about his.

"Tell me more about yourself, anything."

"I d...don't remember m...much a...about m...me to t...tell y...you about, b...besides the ob...obvious," He's referring to his physical state and it makes me sad knowing that's the first thing he thinks about when he see's himself.

"I f...feel bad th...that I can't r...remember a...anything for y...you t...to get t...to know m...me b...better, I...I don't e...even know m...myself except th...the h...handicap v...version of m...myself who's s...spent the l...last three y...years l...learning h...how to l...live a f...functioning l...life."

Now I feel guilty for asking him. It must be horrible not remembering who you are.

"I'm fine with knowing about who you are now, Lox. What's your favorite food, your favorite music, what makes you the smart, strong, wonderful man I see?"

I've somewhat come to terms knowing that he's still the same person I know and fell in love with, but the trauma he's suffered has also changed him in a lot of ways too. I love him the same, but I need to accept and understand this new version of him too.

"I love t...to r...read, m...mostly about science. E...especially now a...after m...my accident, I'm always r...reading a...about n...new inventions that h...help with r...recovery. I l...like all m...music. I can r...read and write i...it t...too."

He takes a deep breath and rubs his eyes. He's saying a lot and I know how hard it is for him and his stutter has lessoned, so he's doing great.

" L...Liam says I...I used to p...play the p...piano, m...my mother t...taught me, although h...hard to b...believe she t...took the t...time to t...teach m...me anything." He shrugs at the idea.

"Playing th...the piano w...with one h...hand n...now probably w...wouldn't w...work out s...so w...well n...now." He shrugs again, doubt clouding his vision.

"Try it sometime, see what happens."

"M...maybe."

"Don't forget how brilliant you are too. I'm glad I sit next to the smartest guy in class, otherwise I'd be failing right now." That gets him smiling again.

"I w...was homeschooled b...but I p...played s...soccer t...too. L...Liam says I...I was g...good."

"I bet you were. Is that why you like coming to my games?"

He smirks. "Th...there's a c...certain g...girl I l...like to watch."

Shades of light pink creep across his cheeks again.

I wish we were on our real date. I wonder if he would kiss me. I'd kiss him right now if I could.

"C...can I a...ask you s...something?"

"Anything."

"It's n...not really a...a question m...more an ob...observation."

"Okay." I hope it's something I can answer truthfully.

"Cohen s...said you've b...been through a...a lot and th...the last f...few years h...have been th...the worst.... I want t...to help y...you. Make y...you happy a...again. I've s...seen y...you t...teary eyed a...around m...me. Do y...you miss y...your parents? D...do I d...do something t...to upset y...you?"

I'm staring at him, not knowing how to respond. I know he's seen me cry and I can't tell him the real reasons. He deserves the truth. He deserves to know he makes me happy not sad.

He patiently waits for me to collect my thoughts.

"If y...you're n...not ready t...to talk about i...it, I un...understand." He nervously rubs the back of his neck.

"Oh Lox, you don't upset me. You're not doing anything wrong. I'm sorry I let my emotions get the best of me sometimes."

There's a long pause. He doesn't know what to say. He wants answers yet he also doesn't want to push me.

"My parents both passed away before I turned 13. I miss them every day."

He keeps eye contact and listens intently while I try to explain myself in a way that won't jeopardize his identity.

"A few years ago something horrible happened to someone I loved. After losing my parents and grandmother, I was afraid to love anyone else for fear of losing them too. I took the chance and gave him my heart anyway. He meant everything to me, he still does, and I still lost him. I thought I'd never recover.... until I met you and you've been able to put a smile back on my face."

Lox is staring wide eyed. I wish I could read his mind, know what he's thinking.

His gaze softens after a minute. He's searching for the right words.

"I'm s...sorry y...you've had s...so much l...loss in your l...life. A p...person as w...wonderful as y...you doesn't d...deserve that."

The incredible person he is, doesn't deserve all he's gone through either. Tragedy is something we have in common, unfortunately. I'm going to make sure from here on out, we get through it all together.

"You make me happy, B. I want you to know that. "

He smiles again. "You m...make me happy t...too."

My nose is stuffy and a cough escapes my mouth. Oh no. My turn to be sick.

"I think I'm coming down with whatever the boys have."

"You sh...should g...get some r...rest then."

I'd love to look at him and talk with him all night, but he's right. I better get some sleep because tomorrow's going to be a sick day, I imagine.

"Thanks for this. I know we didn't go out anywhere but this was still nice."

"It w...was."

"I'll call you tomorrow."

He nods.

"G...goodnight, Love."

"Goodnight B."

I blow him a kiss and watch the joy it brings to his face and I'm happy hanging up and going to sleep knowing we're ok.