After talking to Alexia, I hurry to finish all my morning orders so I can freshen up a little before Thomas arrive. It's been such a long time since I got ready to hang out with a guy. I'm not even sure how these things work anymore.

When I'm done with my tasks, I wash my hands, and redo my ponytail, noticing I should've at least washed my hair or something. I know he told me it was just a friendly date, but I used to put more effort into my appearance in the past.

I'm taking off my apron and considering putting on a little makeup when I hear Chloe knocking on the kitchen door. "There is a guy waiting for you in the main area..." She leans on the door and I can feel her studying me.

Since I've known her and Daniel, I've never really had a boyfriend or been on dates. I've always said that my primary goal was to make this bakery a success and that men and I always ended up in disaster, so I'm sure they're curious about Thomas.

"Yeah, can you tell him I'll be there in a second, please?" I redo my ponytail for the second time, now sure I'm in serious need of a haircut.

"A date in the middle of the workday?" she asks, and I can hear the amusement in her voice.

"More like having lunch together." I shrug and head to the main area, not allowing myself to overanalyze this whole Thomas thing.

I see him standing by the entrance, messing with his phone, and my heart skips a beat for no reason. Maybe my drunk self didn't fully comprehend how handsome he was yesterday, but now that I feel a hundred percent sober, I realize how handsome he is.

His longish, dirty blond hair falls softly over his eyes as he smiles at his phone. His broader shoulders fill his dark blue button shirt nicely. He towers over me, and I consider myself tall at 5'6''. But what really gets to me is the way his eyes soften when he turns to me.

"Thomas." I stop in front of him.

"Hey." He smiles, then looks past me, prompting me to look behind me too. Chloe and Daniel are both leaning on the counter, unashamedly grinning at us.

"So, uh, these are my assistants Daniel and Chloe." I look pointedly at them. "Guys, this is Thomas."

"Hi, Thomas," they both say together, flat out mocking me.

"Hey, nice to meet y'all," Thomas says politely then turns his attention to me. "Are you still up for lunch?" He points to a brown paper bag he's carrying.

"Yeah, sure! But how about some fresh air? It's a beautiful day. I thought maybe we could eat in the park across the street?" I hear myself saying and before I have time to take it back - because we alone in a park will scream I'm implying this is a date - he's already speaking.

"That would be great!" He nods and we make our way out.

We walk a few steps in silence and I realize I don't know how to behave in situations like this anymore at all. I was used to meeting guys at clubs or pubs, usually after a drink or two. We both knew what we wanted from the night before and by morning I'd be out of their places before they were up. But after that incident with that guy all those years ago, I've never really put myself out there again like this.

"Is that table okay?" He points to a wooden picnic table, breaking me away from my thoughts.

"Sure." I sit down and look around. This place is so nice and quiet, I should take the time to come here more often.

"This is a nice area." He smiles while unpacking the food.

"Yeah, I was actually thinking I should come here more often. I went from a boring job to something I love, but I'm still a workaholic inside, I guess," I say, glad I'm not making a fool out of myself.

"I can understand that. Doing something you love will do that to you. You usually work more, without even realizing you're doing it."

"You know, you never told me what you do."

"I'm a Vet."

"No way!"

"What? Why?"

"Handsome, an animal lover, and single?" I blurt, my hand covering my mouth and my eyes closing. Too much for thinking I could do this. "Okay, Can you just forget I just said that?" I open my eyes. "So you're a Vet." I clear my throat. "How nice!"

His eyes, dancing with humor, tell me he won't let this go. "I don't think I can, sorry!"

"And I'm not even drunk this time to use it as an excuse... I just tend to say what is on my mind and... Ugh! I'm sorry!"

"Nah, that's fine. At least you find me handsome." He winks then offers me a sandwich. "Chicken salad or Turkey?"

"Turkey, thanks." I let out a quick breath, trying to save face. "So, a Vet?"

"Yep. A vet. I couldn't imagine myself doing anything different."

"Let me guess, you were one of those kids who rescued and helped all stray animals."

"Guilty." He takes a bite of his sandwich and offers me a coke.

"Oh, come on! There must be something bad about you..." I frown playfully, a bit more relaxed now. "I'm sure you snore or have ugly feet."

"Ugly feet?" He laughs.

"It's a thing. Just saying." I shrug.

"You're funny..." He looks at me for a second or two.

"What every girl wants to hear..." I murmur, remembering how Greg used to find me funny, especially when we first met.

"Fishing for compliments on a first date?" He raises his eyebrows.

"I thought this was not a date?" I raise my eyebrows too, mimicking him.

"Ouch." He touches his chest as if he had been punched.

"Seriously, how come a guy like you is single?" I take a bite of my sandwich.

"You know, I should definitely hang out with you more often! You're too good for my self-esteem."

"Hmmm, evading the question... Please don't tell me you're here having lunch with me when you have a girlfriend back home." I joke, even though I'm being serious. The last thing I need is to find myself back into a corner again.

"What? No! No! No girlfriend or anything. I was in a relationship, but we broke up last year. She's in fashion. Got an opportunity to work abroad for a while and..." He shrugs.

"Long-distance relationships suck," I say, appreciating his honesty.

"Yeah, I think in the end we just wanted different things from life." He finishes his sandwich and turns his body so he can study me. "What about you? I could ask you the same thing. A gorgeous young owner of a bakery. How come you don't have a line of guys wanting to be with you?"

"Maybe I do," I say matter-of-factly, and he shakes his head. "Hot guy number two and I have a date at six today."

"I take back what I said, you're too bad," he says, making me chuckle. At least he seems to get my sense of humor.

"I don't know. I just find it hard to find a guy who will put up with me. I can be too much sometimes..." I tease, falling into old habits of turning the conversation into something sexual.

Maybe Alexia is righter than I want to admit and I really don't know how to enjoy a guy's company without turning it to more. I'm sure that's what that guy and Greg thought of me, and that's why they treated me the way they did.

Or maybe I'm just too fucked up.

"Does it have to do with the guy who is getting married?" he asks, not really buying my explanation.

"He's a jerk." I take a sip of my drink and sigh. There's no reason to be doing this with Thomas. He seems like a nice guy, but they all do in the beginning. "Sorry, I wish I could offer you more than friendship right now, but I can't. I'm way too messed up, you know? You look like a nice guy and all but-"

"I'll take it," he interrupts me.

"Uh, I'm sorry?"

"I'll take the friendship if that's all you're willing to offer right now."

"Oh!" I raise my eyebrows. I did not see that coming.

"I can be a good friend, you know? Besides, I live three hours away and work way too much... My sister is being a pain in my ass right now. I mean, I could use a friend."

"A friend?" I narrow my eyes. Since when does a guy want to be just friends?

"Yep," he says, his eyes throwing me off for a second because he looks... sincere?

"You're a guy and you really believe a man and a woman can be friends?" I ask, trying to figure him out.

"Don't you?" he asks, and even though he's trying hard to sound serious, his eyes do seem honest.

"Have you looked at yourself in the mirror?" I ask, and he bursts out laughing.

"You know, I'm really more than just a pretty face..." He bites his lower lip to stop his smile.

"Mhmm."

"What? I am! I graduated with honors and I own a vet clinic with two other friends. I do some volunteer work from time to time. I'm a good son and a good brother, even though my sister-"

"Is a pain in your ass. I got it!"

"I could keep going..."

"You have to know men and women can't just be friends. I think it's something in our genes, I don't know... In a way or another, things do get complicated."

"I think you're just afraid to fall for me..." He grins, making me roll my eyes. I've been trying to fall out of love with Greg and in love with a guy forever. I'm pretty sure I'm broken or something.

"You wish." I finish my drink and food and put all the trash back in the paper bag.

"So it's settled!" He offers me his hand and I laugh while brushing him off. I have to give it to him. He knows how to be persuasive.

"I have to get back to work." I stand up. "Thanks for lunch."

"I'll walk you back to the bakery." He throws the trash away and we start walking back to the shop. "My sister will kill me If I get back to her place without any cupcakes."

"I hope she's fine. You said she was on bed rest?"

"Yeah, she's been really stressed out lately. Her husband has been traveling a lot because of work and she lost her job a couple of months before she got pregnant... She's been home alone a lot, so I decided to take some days off to visit her."

"You're a good brother." We enter the shop, and I go behind the counter to get his cupcakes.

"Please, tell it to her. She thinks I'm her own personal assistant."

"Is she older?" I ask, handing him his treats.

"Four minutes older. We're twins." He takes a fifty-dollar bill from his pocket and throws it in the tip jar. "Before you go thinking I'm only here for free cupcakes."

"Smart move." I smile and we both stare at each other for a second.

"So, uh... thanks for having lunch with me. I really liked your company, you know? I think we'll be good friends."

"Right! Friends!" I snort.

"And as friends, I think we should exchange phone numbers." He offers me his phone so I can type my number.

"Smooth," I joke but end up typing it. He'll probably go back to his life after his visit to his sister and will forget all about me.

"I had a good time today," he says and I try not to smile.

"Me too." I nod.

"So maybe you could buy me dinner this weekend? You know, as friends." He gives me a full-blown smile, and I shake my head.

"As friends?"

"You don't have dinner with your friends?"

"You're good!" I let out a soft chuckle.

"Told you! Not just a pretty face! I'll text you later so we can arrange our dinner plans." He winks at me before leaving, and once again I'm having a hard time figuring out if I just agreed to have dinner with him or not.

Yep! He's definitely good!

A/N: He's good, right?! :)

Thanks for reading! Please don't forget to vote/comment and follow me here: CelesteABrook for news and updates. 

Find me on social media! <3

XOXO

- Celeste