Chapter 10: The Meeting I

I got to work the next day with only one thing on my mind 'what exactly does Anne plan to tell Luke'. Luke, I like this name, it fits his completely innocent face-built body- persona not as if I know any type if persona.

Thankfully that morning I escaped another Jane's questioning because I came early. I settled in my seat and I look around for Anne only to see her laughing with Nate. Nate? I thought she had work to do. Immediately hurry to them,

"Hi Nate," I say to him,

"Hey Amber, I see you came early today." he replied. I nod,

"As you can see," I point at my self

"What's the special occasion?"

"Do I need a special occasion to come early to my place of work?" I return,

"Nah, I didn't mean it like that." he raised his hands in surrender

"Well good morning to you," Amber said eyeing me

"Good morning. I thought you had worked to make up for." I said as I dragged her away from Nate with a barely heard 'excuse me'

"Well, I did. Just went to get coffee." she responded as they sat on her chair. I nodded absently. I needed to ask her what she wanted to discuss with Luke. As I opened my mouth to tell, ask her she spoke first

"So what's his name?" she asked

"Who?"

"The guy from the bus, yesterday. And do not tell me you did not ask for his name. I mean who does that-" I cut off her rambling

"His name is Luke."

"Huh, Luke. What does he look like?" She asked

"You will see him, when we meet him. For now, work" I said as I pushed off her table and strolled towards mine.

"Wait, you got to tell me how he looks," I left her hanging and started with my work.

Time passed slowly and because of that, I finished all my work for the day or maybe it was because I was just bored and nervous. Being bored and nervous is not a good combination I tell you. Finally, fifteen minutes until two o'clock came and I shot out of my seat, I looked at Anne who was already looking at me and nodded. Thankfully, Anne had spoken to Jane earlier in my absence because I am not sure I can stay in the same room as Jane without saying something snarky at her, which would of course ruin our chances of leaving. I immediately packed my belongings since I will not be coming back for the rest of the day. I took my purse and walked towards Anne, holding my elbow out,

"Are we ready?"

"We are." She replied hooking her arm through mine.

Ten minutes later we got to Kay's and I pushed the door open, ushering us in.

"So I'm not sure he would be here yet, so let's just pick a table and wait for him," I said to her looking at me watch. She tapped me,

"Is that him?" She said pointing to Luke who was waving enthusiastically at me. I laughed,

"Yes he is." I replied and started walking towards the table he had chosen.

"Hi, I see you've gotten here." I said sliding into a seat

He gestured to himself,

"I have."

"Okay, so this is my friend Anne, Anne this is Luke." I said, pinching a dreamy eyed Anne. She snapped out of it and smiled politely, shaking his hand

"Hi, I'm this girl's best friend although she never admits it."

"Hi, I'm the guy she just met yesterday." he said and laughed awkwardly

"Okay, let's order." I waved a waiter towards us and ordered an iced Americano with a pickle sandwich, Anne ordered a cappuccino with strawberry cake, while Luke ordered an extra large iced Americano only.

After that, we sat there looking at each other awkwardly,

"Okay, to clear this air of awkwardness around us, Luke my friend wants to talk to you as you know, so just let her and pay no attention to her ogling or her flirting with you, she has a boyfriend. Someone you do not want to piss off. So right now, I am going to ignore the both of you. Carry on," I finished and brought out my phone,

A few minutes later, they began talking about something I had no interest in whatsoever. I did not pay attention to them and instead focused on scrolling through my Instagram feed.

Another few minutes later our food came,

"Thanks." I smiled at the waiter, since the two were too busy talking to each other or rather Anne was too busy laughing loudly to thank her. What were they even talking about? I learned in to catch their conversation, but they moved out of my reach and stopped talking.

"Okay. I don't like games; tell me what you guys are talking about."

"No. We won't, you said you were not interested." Okay she is right.

"I said I was going to ignore you, I only said I was not interested in my mind," I moved to defend myself, rather feebly

"And besides how do you know, I said it in my mind?" she cocked her head at me,

"Why won't I know, I'm your best friend after all,"

"Ugh, damn best friend telepathy," I folded my hands pouting.

"So, are you going to tell me or what?" I asked Luke, who was listening with a smile,

"And besides, why are you siding with her? I was the first to know you." I questioned, muttering 'betrayer' under my breath. He caught it and laughed loudly. The baritone echoing across Kay's.

"I would have, but Anne here has won me over with her flirting and googly eyes." he smirked,

Bastard, using my own words against me.

"I'm not a bastard. I'm well aware of my father and he's currently with my mother, probably receiving an earful about his laziness."

Oops. I said that aloud. I looked at him, fluttering my lashes innocently. And they burst out laughing.

"What?" I ask confused

"Don't ever do that again. You look constipated," he squeezed out

"Gee, thanks for pointing that out." I snapped sarcastically.

"Okay. Please tell me what you guys were talking about or rather what you were saying to Anne."

Taking a sip from his extra large Americano, he looked at me and started.

"Oh, just some stuffs about my work."

I wonder what work he does,

"I work as an editor in a publishing house,

Explains the amount of papers I saw in his bag the other day.

You might know it, Shield books?" I brightened

"I know The Shield books, wow you work there, nice." I nodded, feeling a little proud.The shield publishing house was the hotshot publisher around here. I looked at him in awe, newfound respect coming through. Then I looked at him again, he didn't look like a book editor, he looked more like a model with his dark hair, abyss like eyes, strong jaw, smooth skin like a baby, and his six foot something height.

"I know that look," he accused

"What look?"

"The look that says, I'm not fit to be an editor,"

"What! No, you look like an editor, I mean not that you look like a nerd, and not that I am stereotyping book editors to look like nerds. Oh God what am I saying? I stop my monologue when they both burst out laughing again, Anne choking on her cake. I quickly handed her, her drink while patting her back, pushing my confusion to the back of my mind. Luke called the waiter asking for water and he, seeing the coughing mess, which was Anne, sped up to get us some water.

Moments later, she calmed down with more hitting on the back and a whole load of staring from the entire cafe. I gave her a tissue to wipe at her red-rimmed eyes; in short, she was red all over,

"Are you okay?" I asked worriedly

"I am, just a little winded. Excuse me; I need to use the ladies."

I watched her worriedly as she left.

"She would be okay. Just a little choking accident," Luke assured me relaxing in his chair,

"That's definitely not little; she coughed for over a minute,"

"It's nothing. You worry too much."

"Do I? Of course you won't know; you just met me the day before." I scoffed at myself

"Trust me, I've known you for just a little over twenty four hours but damn, you worry a lot. And over think."

I did not have any reply to give him so I just nodded and ate my sandwich. Anne returned from the ladies all fresh and fired up, which made me remember she was laughing at something before the food went down the wrong pipe. Therefore, I decided to ask:

"Okay. Why were you guys laughing?" I queried. They thought about it for a second and snickered in sync, and asked together again

"Who Wouldnt?" they spoke simultaneously,

"Jinx," they both shouted at the same time

"Jinx again," they shouted again

"Jinx three," Anne shouted first this time. Luke looked confused

"You owe me a coke." she slapped his arm

"Wait I thought Jinx stopped at two."

"Yes it does, I made it three," she replied proud of herself,

"So you owe me a coke," he grunted saying nothing.

"Okay, if you guys are done with this charade are you going to tell me why you were both laughing?"

"Oh just because you were frenetic and you looked like you have been caught in a trap. A bear trap." he said to me, then to Anne

"Does she do this always?"

She sighed, "So much she gets so guilty easily it's disturbing,"

"Huh, so sad." he sighed. What!

"I just hope the poor girl isn't tricked into doing something she doesn't like because she is feeling guilty." she said solemnly

"I hope so too." he said holding his chest

"What the heck! I'm right here you know."

"Oh you poor child." Luke patted my head across the table.

Okay now he was overdoing it. Opening my mouth to give him a piece of my mind, I froze, with my mouth still open. After my initial shock, lasting for approximately five seconds my brain clicked and I immediately flew under the table. Of course what I saw or rather who was none other than my ex of the day before.