Ivan and Laurel walked around the large pond in the middle of the park downtown, it was one of their favorite places as young teens. Ivan lead the way, Laurel walked a few steps behind him as she watched the other people at the park. A mother was having a picnic with her two small boys as her husband and a small girl fed ducks. Two teens ducked behind the rose bushes hand in hand and obviously in a hurry. An elderly couple sat on a bench, her head resting on his shoulder as he read a book in a soft even voice.

Together they rounded the pond and stepped up onto the old, worn wooden boards that made up the small gazebo in the park.

"This place looks exactly the same,"  Ivan said.

"Yes, it does."

She leaned against the railing, her back to the park, staring at her shoes. It was slightly more awkward than she thought it would be bringing Ivan here. They had shared their first kiss in this very same spot, it hadn't been great. Ivan was worried about pushing his boundaries and she was inexperienced, Ezra had been just a few yards away not paying attention as they tried to sneak in their first kiss, fumbling hands and clumsy mouths.

"Are you...thinking what I'm thinking?"  He asked gently.

"I was...I was thinking about our first kiss, actually." She said with a small laugh feeling ridiculous.

"Me too."

She laughed and shook her head, turning to look out at the park.

"It was so awkward," She said with a laugh.

"Gee, thanks."

"Not you, but...it was awkward."

"Yeah it was, I just...I didn't want to scare you off I wasn't sure that you felt the same way I did and then Ezra insisted on walking to the park with us, which I didn't plan."

"I did feel the same way, I remember waiting and wondering if you were ever going to do it."

"I wanted to, for a long time. Trust me."

"Do you remember...the day we met?" She asked.

"In school, Ezra was new and someone pushed him down in the lunch line. You turned around and punched them in the face...got detention for 2 weeks. I think I knew right then that I was in love with you."

"We went to the same school for years, you never noticed me until then."

"We had some good times the three of us," he said.

"Yes we did."

"A lot of them were here, out first kiss, our first real date, the first time you let me get to second base." He teased.

"Thank you for coming back here with me. I know it's not easy being here with all the memories," She said with a heavy sigh

"You're welcome."

"We should probably get back, mom will be cooking dinner." She said.

"Okay."

Laurel pushed away from the railing and turned preparing to leave when Ivan straightened and caught her by the wrist.

"Wait, before we go back..."

He turned her and without another word leaned forward and kissed her full on the lips. She froze and then slowly melted slightly into him. His lips moved gently over hers, this time was different than their first time.

There was no awkwardness, no fumbling hands, no sloppy kisses. He kissed her gently and surely, one hand framing her face. When he pulled away he saw the surprise in her eyes.

"For old times sake." He breathed.

"Oh," Was all she managed in reply.

Across town Rex was at the gym, he tried to make it a point to stay in shape. Even if he was a real estate agent that was no reason to let himself go, he was lifting weight when Ella walked into the room. Stumbling over various items and trying to ignore the cat calls as she walked.

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"Sir, I have called every woman I can think of none of them can go to the wedding." She said as she approached.

"Ella, I told you not to call me sir."

"Well, I still can't find you a date."

"Alexa?"

"Married."

"Hmm, good send her a bottle of wine from me." he said, standing and wiping his face with a towel.

"With all due respect sir, I don't think sending a woman you used to have casual sex with a bottle of wine for a wedding present."

"Probably right, damn, she was good though."

He turned and took off at a slow jog around the room, cooling down and checking his watch every so many seconds. Ella rolled her eyes before following him, her heels making it difficult to keep up.

"What about Lillith?" He asked.

"Married."

"Marie?"

"Lesbian now, way to go on that."

"Damn, what about the blonde from a few months ago. What was her name?" He asked.

"Sophie, she's pregnant."

"Shit, is it mine?" He asked.

"All likelihood says no."

"Thank God."

He slowed his job and checked his watch again before walking towards a long hallway and starting back the hall. Ella followed him without hesitation, she was looking at her phone when he abruptly stopped and turned causing her to slam into him.

"El, this is the men's locker room." He said.

"Oh, right, sorry."

"Okay, I have an idea."

He stepped out of the locker room doorway and took up a seat on a bench across the hall. Ella followed sinking onto the bench next to him crossing her legs delicately at the ankle.

"Well, let's hear it then."

"Why don't you come with me to the wedding?"

"Me? Sir..."

"Come on we spend every day together anyway. I get to go to a wedding with a woman on my arm and you get a nice night out without worrying that the creep is going to feel you up at some point."

She scowled at him and pushed her glasses back up her face, she wasn't his type and she knew that. She was nowhere near the kind of girl he usually took out but that didn't changed the fact that he was a man-whore.

"Is it a crime to just go alone?" She asked.

"No but I don't feel like listening to all the great aunts who mean well asking why I don't have a girlfriend. At least if I have a date they have to keep the pestering to a minimum."

"I have nothing to wear."

"I'll give you the company card and you can get yourself something nice to wear, shoes, hair, make up all of it."

"I don't know sir."

"Would you stop calling me sir? Just...do me this favor. Hell, I'll pay you as if it were a day in the office same wages."

"Same wages, just to go to a wedding with you?" She asked, not really sure she believed him.

"Yeah, just drinks, a dance or two and a good meal."

"And you keep your hands to yourself?" She asked.

"I'll try my best," He said, rolling his eyes.

She glanced down at herself, she may not be his usually tall, long legged, big breasted blondes but she didn't find herself that repulsive. Sure her dark curly hair was always a bit messy, her glasses were thick and covered most of her face, buy tucked into her suits was a decent body. Small framed perhaps but decent.

"Fine, I'll go with you if you just stop making me call your exes."

"See, this is why I pay you the big bucks. You're the best assistant I ever had."

He leaned over to playfully pinch her cheek then stood, heading into the locker room. She watched him go then with a heavy sigh turned back to her phone and his busy schedule for the day.