There are way fewer people mingling inside the building, and I love how excited and friendly they all seem. The place is surrounded by pictures and art, but the large glass windows show us what they really care about: Nature. Life.

I see his father talking with a tall red-headed woman, which I assume is Thomas's mother, and my heart warms. I've never really surrounded myself with many couples who are obviously in love. My parents being my first example of what not to expect from a relationship. But these two in front of me have just that kind of chemistry and easiness. So, even though they're just talking and nothing else, you can clearly see the love they have for each other.

"Hey mom," Thomas says, making them both look at us.

"Oh! You're done hiding your friend?" She smiles at him, then exchanges a look with his father, probably wondering why Thomas has a tight hold on my waist.

"Lisa, this is my mom, Carmen. The great mind behind it all here. Mom, this is my good friend Lisa."

"Hi, Lisa. It's so nice to finally meet you. Thomas has talked about you nonstop since the day he first met you when he went to visit his sister. We loved your cupcakes, by the way." She offers me her hand, which I promptly shake.

"Oh... Thank you! It's really nice to meet you too. This place is unbelievable. The work you guys have done is incredible. I'm really glad Thomas invited me." I look from her to him and smile.

"Will you be staying for the barbecue tomorrow? I'd love to get to know you more. Today is already crazy and I always feel like I'm rushing around, so nothing goes wrong," she says.

"Yeah. I'd love to." I smile, loving how nice she seems.

"You can even try riding a horse if you're feeling brave and all. I'm sure Thomas will be glad to teach you," his father adds.

"Really?" I look at Thomas.

"Of course." He pulls me even closer to him.

"There he is!" I hear a man saying and I turn around. He is about Thomas's age. Tall, black and really handsome. His light brown eyes are big and expressive, but what keeps my attention is his warm smile.

"Ethan." Thomas lets his hold on me go and rushes to hug the man. "Shit, man! It's being way too long."

"Man, it's good to be home." The guy holds Thomas for another second, before turning his attention to their parents and me.

"Carmen, Drew. Always good to see you guys." He greets them.

"Glad you're home safe, dear! You mom must be in heaven now that you're back," Carmen says after giving him a hug.

"A little mad I stopped here first to check the event before going home," Ethan says, turning to me.

"You must be Lisa. The woman who's charmed the shit out of my best friend here." He smiles at me.

"Uh... Yeah. I'm Lisa." I narrow my eyes at Thomas for a second and he just chuckles. "Nice to meet you, Ethan." I turn my attention back to him, offering my hand.

"The pleasure is all mine." He kisses the back of my hand, earning a glare and a shove from Thomas.

"Totally off-limits, man!" Thomas says.

"I thought you guys were just friends." Ethan smirks, raising his hands in surrender.

"I'm serious," Thomas says, making me frown.

"And I can make decisions on my own. Stop it with this macho bullshit. It doesn't suit you." I glare at him. "I'm serious," I add for good measure.

"Oh, this is going to be fun." Ethan chuckles. "Sorry, Lisa. I was just trying to poke the beast here."

"It's okay. Thomas can be a f-" I start then stop when I remember his parents in front of us. "It's all good." I clear my throat and give his parents, who are watching us with amusement, a small smile.

"How about a tour to the building, Lisa?" His mom offers, trying not to laugh at my embarrassment.

"Great idea." I nod.

*****

After our tour, we all stop at a food stand to get some hot dog for lunch. His parents are surrounded by people, talking about a new project they'll start at the end of the year, and Thomas and I are sitting at a picnic table nearby. Ethan left a couple of minutes ago, so it's just us now.

"Hey..." he says, making me look at him. "Sorry about earlier. The last thing I wanted was to offend you. I just... Ethan is just looking for a good time. He's my best friend and... You are... I was jealous. Irrational. I know."

"We can't be playing hot and cold, Thomas... We either want to give this friendship a real try or not. I've never met a guy like you before and I really like you. But I'm afraid to step out of this thing we have created, you know? Besides Alexia, I've never really had a friend that I could totally be myself with. Colleagues, yes. Acquaintances, yes. People who I enjoyed the club/bar scene with, also yes. But a genuine friend, besides Alexia? You're the first one to make me put my defenses down. The first one to see past the easygoing façade I have worn so well over the years..." I hold his hand, and he just shakes his head.

"Fuck, Lisa! I'm attracted to you, okay? I.. I am. There's something to you that makes me want to get closer. But I want more from you, too. I can't really explain it. I've always screwed up my relationships. I'm always traveling, always away, at the clinic or here at the shelter. I'm... At the end of every serious relationship I had, I felt like the problem was me. I don't want to feel like that with you. I mean, I don't want to risk it, but at the same time..." He takes a deep breath. His eyes flickering to my mouth for a second.

"I know..." I look down. "Maybe we should just take a step back. We've been talking every-"

"No! No stepping back. I'll be traveling on Monday and will be gone for almost two months. I want to be able to talk to you..."

"So what now?" I sigh.

"Let's take one day at a time as we have talked. I mean, we'll be back to our routine after the weekend is over, and we'll keep being friends. We're both adults who want to be friends and be in each other's lives. Sure, we can make it work."

"Told you a guy and a woman can't be friends..." I bump my shoulder to his, making him chuckle.

"It would be easier if we just had sex, right?" He studies me for a second and I smile. Yeah... it would be easier, but so much more complicated.

"I heard friends with benefits is still a thing." He shrugs.

"It never really lasts long, right? You either get married or get your heart broken."

"I hate I have to agree with you..." He gives me a small smile.

"I think I get it now," I say, looking at his parents.

"What?" Thomas asks.

"When you said you parents and grandparents were in love, remember? How you said this whole love thing just stuck with you?

"Yeah... But I'm thirty-one, Lisa. Have been in a few serious relationships. I just... I look at my parents and think I'll never really have what they have, you know?"

"Were you in love with all of your exes? I mean, if you can fall in love, then out of love... how do you know you've found the one?"

"I guess I was in love with the idea of love, the idea of what we could've had together. I don't know... Looking back now, I'm not so sure. They were all great women, but I really don't know."

"My dad cheated on my mom multiple times. The first time when I was just a baby. But there was this time... I think I was eight or nine. I had just got home from school and I heard him on the phone telling this person how much he missed her, how much he wished he could leave and be with her, how much he loved her. At first, I thought he was on the phone with my mom, but then my mother just got home and he turned the phone off quickly. They both never realized I had seen it all happen... But I saw the guilty in his eyes, you know?"

"Damn, that's harsh..." Thomas lets out a long sigh.

"The first thing I thought was why he was telling all this to another woman. What was wrong with my mom? With us?"

"Did they stay together for a long time after that?" Thomas holds my hands, and I give him a smile.

"Maybe a year or two..." I say and we share a couple of minutes in silence, just thinking.

"I was always in love with Greg, Alexia's ex." I take a deep fortifying breath before opening up about this part of my life. "I met him when we were around sixteen. We shared this instant connection, or so I thought. But then he met her and fell for her and I... I spent the next years hating myself for loving him. I felt so bad some days, so ashamed of myself. They were clearly soulmates and were planning a future together..."

"Lisa..." Thomas tries, but I cut him off.

"I learned to be happy for them and I truly cheered for them. Even though I loved him..." I laugh, remembering those days. "How pathetic is that?"

"You were so young..."

"The day they broke up I was so shocked, I didn't know what to do. I mean, they loved each other." My eyes well up, but I refuse to cry. "I just know that Alexia kept calling me, and I didn't know what to do. She was miserable, and I hated him for breaking her heart like that."

"He sounds like an asshole." Thomas scoffs, and I let out a humorless chuckle.

"I guess in a way we were all a bunch of kids trying to understand adult life... He's a nice guy and was confused, too. I just..." I closed my eyes, gathering to tell him about my biggest shame.

"What?" He squeezes my hand.

"Greg and I... After they broke up... I wish we hadn't crossed that line. We were both in a bad place when it happened. I was still pretty depressed after that guy tried to... you know... and Greg had just discovered Alexia was pregnant with Lucas's baby... It changed something in me. Like I broke something I'll never be able to repair."

"With Alexia, you mean?"

"Especially with her. We've talked about it over and over through the years and she's been so in love with Lucas that she could never really hold it against me. She has known both Greg and me forever and understands we were both messed up. But I still feel guilty. Still feel a little broken... I put a good front but..." I shrug, looking down..

"I know." He touches my chin, so I'm looking at him. "I've seen it since day one. And it's the girl behind the mask that I want in my life. The one who threw up all over my shoes and just laughed hard about it later. That is the girl I'm afraid to lose if we cross that line." He brushes the hair off my face and touches his forehead to mine.

"Thomas..."

"Let's mess this up, Lisa." He holds my face, pulling away a little to look into my eyes. "It's been all but a disaster for us when it comes to relationships. And I'll be dammed if I lose you because I was only thinking with my dick." He kisses my cheek and puts some distance between us.

"So, what now?" I tilt my head to side, studying him.

"One day at a time, Lisa. Let's make it our motto," he says with that trace of humor I love in his eyes.

"You're crazy." I shake my head, but can't help my smile.

"Come on, let's get out of here. Let's enjoy the weekend and prove to the world we can be friends, even though you find me too irresistible." He stands up and offers me his hand.

"Such a dork..." I murmur as we get up to leave.

------

A/N: Thanks for reading! To show your support, please don't forget to vote.

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- Celeste