Talia Nassar

Lucas loves me.

That thought continues to permeate my mind like ink in water.

After trying to boost morale among my existing employees, I threw myself into the strategy deck I'm preparing for the board. At first, I was able to distract myself from the shock of letting Imani go and the life-altering conversation with Lucas. The strategy I'll be using to win the position is nearly done and just needs some fine-tuning. Even Cora is impressed with it and didn't have many notes on things to update.

Yet I'm at a point now where I can't deny or escape Lucas' words any longer. A warm buzz settles over me every time I replay everything he said to me in my office. His declaration of love has dissolved into me like it's a powerful nutrient running through my veins. And every time I picture my life without Lucas, a searing pain courses through my chest as if the nutrient needs replenishment straightaway.

It got so bad that I made an unplanned trip during the week to Lucas' building to "talk with their Accounts Executive and get Ethan up to speed on some things" AKA potentially run into Lucas. I needed to numb the ache in my heart and assess if he's as dazed as I am. Yet, he wasn't in the office when I got there so I never got the chance to see. And I couldn't settle on a decision yet so I couldn't really reach out to him intentionally.

Now, I'll be face-to-face with him again at his parent's house. Despite still not knowing how to move forward with him, a swirl of excitement and nervousness fill me leading up to the Labor Day party. I'm going to see him again and the world will fall back into its regular orbit, even with the millions of unknowns.

I pull up to the sprawling property with fields of green and a long-winding driveway that leads to the mansion. The afternoon sun shines brightly over the beautiful landscape.

Something tugs at my mind. It feels like I've been to this house before. It doesn't hit me until I hand my keys to the valet attendant. The Christmas party all those years ago. The first night I met Lucas.

An attendant directs me toward a path on the side of the house. Cradling a bottle of wine, my gift for Lucas' mom, I follow a couple of people walking down the brick path to a poolside area that carries hundreds of people mingling with each other. My pulse picks up speed as I search the animated faces for Lucas.

"Oh, my God! Talia, you're here!" A woman's voice pulls my attention away from the crowd. I turn to find an older woman I don't recognize smiling widely at me. The woman looks to be in her sixties with her slightly wrinkled skin and streaks of gray in her hair. Before I can respond, the woman wraps her arms around me. "I'm so glad you made it!" She's hugging me like we're long-lost friends who haven't seen each other in years. Do I know her? She retreats and squeezes my arm. "You angel! Is that for me?"

Ahh. Lucas' mom!

"Oh, uh. Yes, Mrs. Handler. Thank you for having me and it's nice to meet you." I pass over the bottle of wine, smiling politely.

"Please call me Debra!" The woman's striking blue eyes remind me of Lucas'.

I try to hide the slight shake in my hands by locking them behind my back. A man walks by, and I steal a glance, hoping it's Lucas. It isn't. "Thank you, Debra. Do you know where-"

"I have been watching the entrance all afternoon waiting for you! Oh my goodness, you're wearing white. White's a beautiful color on you! I bet you'd look amazing in a long white dress."

I glance down at my white dress that hits just above my knees. "Thanks."

"Come! Let me introduce you to some friends." Debra leads me through the crowds and starts introducing me to random people. Names are said but I won't be able to remember any as my mind is on one man. My body buzzes in anticipation. I have to be running into him sooner or later.

A child's squeal from the grassy area on the side of the pool catches my attention. I glance up and my stomach flips seeing Lucas toss a young girl who can't be older than six, in the air. She giggles loudly in his arms as he tickles her.

"Isn't he great with kids?" Debra's voice pulls me away from the scene.

I clear my throat with my gaze gluing back to Lucas. "I've actually never seen him like this. Like outside of a work setting with friends and family." I study him for a moment, my heart swelling within my chest and my smile growing. He's playing some sort of tossing game with the young girl and it looks like his VP Kyle and some other guys I don't recognize are playing too.

"Oh, he's great with kids. That's my niece's daughter, Sophie, who just adores him. My Lucas knows the important things in life. He's family-oriented, wise, a very loyal and thoughtful man, would make a great husband to any lucky lady."

I nod and chuckle before turning back to Debra. "You don't need to convince me."

Debra smiles knowingly. "Sorry, dear. I know I can get carried away. You need to stop me before I overstep. I've just heard such amazing things about you from Lucas and was just floored to see you. Anyway, I should probably go and not get into too much trouble. It's been such a pleasure, Talia. I bet Lucas will be very glad to see you. I'll be around if you need anything."

"Thanks, Debra. I appreciate it."

After giving Debra a quick hug goodbye, I make my way to the game that's happening. "You guys got room for one more?"

My heart skips a beat when Lucas' gaze shoots up. I smile widely at him and warmth fills my belly when he reciprocates my smile. "Hey, Tal! Yeah, of course." Up close, he looks so good. He's wearing a light blue button-down, short-sleeved shirt and slacks. A more casual look than I'm used to seeing on him.

"Nah uh! We don't have space!"

"Come on Sophie, be nice," Kyle says before turning back to me. "Good to see you, Talia. I hope all is well."

"Thanks, Kyle. You too."

"Talia, this is my cousin, Sophie," Lucas says while holding the young brunette's shoulders. "And this is her uncle and my cousin, Noah." He points his head toward a young man standing next to him before moving it toward the last man in their group. "And that's my friend, Chance."

"Chance is a potty mouth," Sophie says while crossing her arms.

"I'm fucking not, you snitch!"

"See?" The young girl raises her brows in satisfaction as if she won an argument. Everyone laughs.

"Nice to meet you all. And I can wait for the next game if this one's full."

"No, no! It's all good. We were an odd number anyway, so now with you, we could do three on three." Lucas rubs the back of his neck and his bulging bicep catches my gaze. I gulp before looking down. I'm out of my element here. My stomach is doing somersaults. What is going through Lucas' mind about me?

"No! I have a better idea!" The young girl throws her hands up. "Let's do girls against guys!"

"I thought a second ago you were telling Talia she couldn't play and now you want to be on her team?"

"She's pretty and smells nice."

"I can't argue with that logic. Boys, let's move to the other side."

While I've never played corn hole before, I pick up the game pretty quickly. My teammate doesn't have the best aim, but we're able to get a point here or there. Lightness blows through my chest as I witness Lucas in his element, surrounded by people he loves and people who love him. Sophie jumps into his arms every time she grows tired and Lucas holds her as he continues to play the game. My heart continues to swell within my chest and my cheeks begin hurting from smiling and laughing so much. Sophie and I are becoming fast friends.

At one point we switch teams around and Lucas and I are on the same side. My stomach does Olympics-level gymnastics when he whispers in my ear how pretty I look. His lips grazing the shell of my ear sens shivers down my spine.

I can't help myself, I hook an arm around his waist and lean into him. "I missed you this week."

"I missed you too, Tal," he says before moving his arm around my shoulder and planting a kiss on the top of my head.

"Are you guys married?" Sophie asks immediately after.

"In Lucas' dreams," Chance responds.

When the guys laugh, Sophie joins in a long second later.

"No, Soph. We're not married."

"But why are you next to each other like that? Uncle Noah told me I can't hold hands with a boy until I'm married."

Everyone glances at Noah who shrugs. "Does anyone disagree?"

The guys look at each other and shake their heads.

"That rule only applies to you, Soph," Lucas says before turning back to me and placing his lips on mine.

The kiss sends electric currents throughout my body and I mold against him before realizing where we are. "Lucas!" I say with amusement as I lean back and bring a hand up to my lips, the zings of pleasure still unfurling throughout my body.

I quickly glance around to see if anyone we work with saw us as Sophie yells, "Ewwwww! You got Lucas cooties now!"

Thankfully everyone crowded around the pool and grass areas seem occupied enough not to notice. I giggle and lean into him as we continue our game.

After a few rounds, Sophie starts to lose steam quickly. She ends up falling asleep on Lucas' shoulder as we make our way back to the main party. The sun is now setting, creating an orangish glow over the space. Torches light up the pathways around the property.

"Oh, shoot, I have to take this call," Lucas says as he holds up his phone. He leaves me with Kyle while the other guys make their way to the food tables.

"He cares a lot about you, you know," Kyle says.

"I know."

"And it's not just been recently. I think he's cared about you for a long time."

"What do you mean?"

"Do you remember the first time you came to the Handler Finance offices?"

"When he talked over me during the staff meeting? Yeah." I make a mock annoyed face.

Kyle chuckles. "Alright, yeah that was a dick move and we were all weirded out by it. But, something happened after you left."

My eyebrows shoot up. "What? What happened?"

"Some idiot made a crack about you, and Lucas lost it. He defended you and since then, I've not heard a single negative thing said about you in the office. I mean some guys may still think some stupid stuff about women in the field. But not even a whisper of anything remotely similar to what was said during that meeting has been said again."

I blink a few times, trying to process the information.

"Anyways, I'll catch you later. I'm going to grab another drink." Kyle turns to leave but pauses when I grab his arm.

"Thank you, Kyle."

He smiles and nods. "Sure. I want my best friend to have the best and I think you're that person for him. Just don't fuck it up."

I smile. "I won't. I promise."

After Kyle leaves, I stand frozen for a moment processing that day all those months ago. Concern was etched on Lucas' face when he came back to talk to me in his office. When I did tell him about the rumor that had spread around about me, he seemed more heartbroken than me. "I'm such an idiot," I whisper to myself.

Kyle's words are like the last piece of the puzzle of my feelings toward Lucas. It's as if the impressionistic painting that stares back at me is clearer than ever. It's a picture of us together, taking care of each other, supporting each other, and being there for each other no matter what came our way.

My pulse floods up to my eardrums as I move quickly through the crowds. I'm a woman on a mission to tell Lucas exactly how I feel about him. If I hold it in any longer I'll explode.

I love him. I love Lucas!

Sweat lines my palms as I speed walk past the buffet table and into the house. More people are mingling in the kitchen and flashbacks from my and Lucas' first conversation back in college appears in my mind. I move to the living room, and our time playing the game around the couch area surfaces. Flutters fill my stomach.

I love Lucas. I love him.

I practically sprint back outside and smile widely as soon as I spot him on the far side near some tables. After smoothing my hands against my dress and taking a deep breath in, I start walking toward him, excitement dribbling through my veins.

He's chatting with some guy that looks a little familiar. I stop dead in my tracks, my stomach dropping and my smile instantly vanishing. The guy Lucas is chatting with is none other than Gary.

My ex-boyfriend.