Almost Lost, Never Forgotten

by T. L. Sieving

  Luke is ridiculously in my face today; I get it, stick close but don’t interfere with my work.

  I text Jax and ask him to meet me at 3pm and to bring food. It’s the only free time I’ll have today; I’ll be working late prepping for the end of the interviews.

  Rebekka walks over and gives me some unexpected and shocking news. Some baseball teams have requested I cover their team interviews. The promo that’s been running is receiving outstanding reviews. I know it’s a mix of the interview and how comfortable Chase and I were together but it’s a huge honor.

  Of course my phone rings at exactly 3pm and I know my lunch date is here. “Hey gorgeous, can you come down and escort me up to a nice quiet conference room where I can romance my girlfriend?”

  “If you’re going to romance me I may not be able to work the rest of the day, but I’ll try. I’m on my way down.”

  I save my work and head down to the reception area to bring Jax back up. It’s much easier for us to eat here then to walk out in public and try to eat. Jax’s celebrity status has continued to grow and we’re tracked everywhere.

  “Hey Cindy, I see you met my boyfriend Jax,” I say to the receptionist who is ogling Jax. She’s a 60 year old women and she loves when celebrities come in. She’s the nicest lady but she really is drooling over my handsome man.

  I stand on my tip toes and lean up to kiss him. He looks so good in his tight black shirt and low hanging pants. “Follow me handsome,” I whisper in his ear.

  “Thank you Cindy for taking good care of Jax,” I say to her and she blushes a bright red.

  “It was my pleasure, good-bye Mr. Jax,” Cindy beams.

  On our way up in the elevator Jax squeezes my butt and although I’m turned on by it I remind him these elevators are watched by security… and Cindy.

  “Mmm,” I moan partially because of the smell of the food, but I’m also trying to drive him crazy. I have a very tight black skirt on and I know when I lean over he can see down my blouse.

  I’m a tease and I know it, but Jax teases me just by being here. He brought some subs for lunch and they smell delicious.

  We sit down at the conference table and I want to start the conversation so I make sure I get it out.

  “Hey, um, remember how I was taking care of Chase after he was hit by the ball last week?”

  He’s chewing his food but shakes his head like he remembers. “Yeah, I saw it and was so happy you were there to help him through that.”

  “You were happy I was there?”

  “Yeah! Chase is a great guy and I can never repay him for helping you that night I wasn’t there for you.”

  “Great guy; didn’t you just meet him?” I don’t know why I’m being defensive but he did just meet Chase and I’ve known him almost his whole life.

  “Well he seems like a great guy. You’ve known him a long time; he cares about you, Sam seems to like him and we hold conversations easy enough, you just don’t meet people like that all the time.”

  “Are you BFFs now?” I ask knowing I’m giving attitude.

  He takes a sip of his soda and faces me. “Do you not like this Lucy?”

  I don’t know what to say to him, but it’s a lot to take in. “It’s a surprise, that’s all.”

  “Yeah I get it,” Jax says and takes a deep breath. “People like you and Chase are not easy to meet once someone is known to be rich and famous. You both treat me like a normal person and…,” he stops again and looks close to tears, “it’s not easy to trust or find people like you, Lucy.”

  I smile at him because I know what he’s saying. Sam has said this in one way or another to me for a long time. Great, now I feel like a total bitch for giving him attitude.

  “Well that night I had to wake Chase up every hour since he had a pretty bad concussion,” I tell Jax. “I was sitting in a chair most of the night, but…” Jax senses what I’m about to tell him but doesn’t look mad. “I ended up getting into the bed with Chase.” I get it out and look at him.

  “Did you kiss him?”

  “No,” I quickly answer back.

  “Did you almost kiss him?” he asks for further clarification and I answer him again with a no. “OK, well Lucy I don’t think you need to feel guilty then.”

  “We cuddled,” I blurt out not taking my eyes off of his.

  “You got into bed with him and cuddled up to him?” he asks.

  I have to give it to Jax, he is making sure everything is crystal clear.

  “No, I woke up and we were cuddling.”

  “Oh,” he laughs, “Well I don’t think that’s a big deal Lucy. Honestly if you got into bed with him and started cuddling I’d still be ok with that,” he adds and I give him an odd look.

  I don’t know what kind of relationships he’s used to but this isn’t what I expected from him or expect in a relationship.

  “I make out with people naked during my job; do I need to call you when I do that?”

  “Um, I guess not?”

  “What if I enjoy it?” He asks me.

  “What are you talking about, Jax?”

  “Well, I work with some of the most beautiful women in the world and I do naked scenes with them, is that going to be a problem with you?”

  “Your job is not a problem for me Jax!”

  “Ok,” is all he answers me.

  I can’t let this topic slip by; I need to be more honest with him, “So if I wake up and lay on Chase’s chest in the middle of the night and wake up with his arms around me it’s the same as you making out with actresses?”

  “Hmm, are you jealous?” he asks me, and I can’t help it, I am a little jealous.

  I don’t really want my boyfriend kissing other women or even worse, liking it. The thought of Jax laying in bed, almost naked, with another women or… Oh.My.God, Sam! He will be making out with Sam.

  I try to stay calm. Why didn’t I think of this before? I did think of it… but obviously I didn’t think it was real. I’ve always thought of Jax as a normal person, my friend and now my boyfriend. I never thought of him as the guy he plays in movies.

  I saw a crazy actress fumble around him acting crazy. I can’t be a crazy girlfriend.

  I keep it together and finish lunch flirting instead of showing him I’m actually freaking out a little bit. We finish our nice lunch and I walk him out.

  My afternoon/early evening is packed with PR and Executives going over the show and feedback from the promos. Dennis the head of… something, pats me on the back and looks me up and down, he’s seriously creepy and thankfully Rebekka is near and pulls me away.

  “Not the first creepo you are dealing with, huh, Luciana?” Rebekka asks me with a lifted brow.

  “Nope,” I reply back to her trying not to show her exactly how much these creepos creep me out.

  “Your cousin is an analyst and is quite pretty; she must be filling you in on how this works.”

  “Chloe is absolutely gorgeous so yes she deals with this, but she has dealt with it her whole life, it’s different for her,” I say to her.

  My cousin Chloe is absolutely perfect but it’s her boyfriend Derrick who keeps her grounded.

  Rebekka leaves me and I start to think of the times that Chloe and I had in NYC. I miss her so I decide to send her a text and see how she is. A few seconds later she texts me back letting me know she’s covering Chase’s game tonight. That lucky biatch; she’s already an analyst at ESPN.

  Chloe reminded me that Chase is playing tonight and I want to check in on him and see how he’s doing. I decide to call him and risk getting his ‘non-girlfriend’.

  It rings 5 times before voicemail comes on. “Hey this is Chase, leave a message.”

  “Hey Chase it’s Lucy, I was calling to check in and see how you were feeling. I hope you don’t push yourself. I’ll be watching the game, Good luck. I’m thinking of you.”

  Shit! That’s the second time I’ve told him I’m thinking of him. I didn’t mean to say that.

  Ugh, I
’ll be working well past the 7:05pm start of the game, but that’s a perk of working for a broadcasting company, I can watch the game at work.

  I mingle with some more people and discuss ideas and I can’t believe they are so interested in my opinion. I give them some ideas on how we can leverage some of the non-profits that these elite eight players are a part of. It’s one thing to be thought of as the next generation to be in the hall of fame, but another to know how much they are doing for their next generation.

  At 7:05pm, exactly, I turn the TV on and listen while I finish some work. I’m super pumped to meet my next interview, Chris Libett. Chris didn’t start playing baseball until college and was quickly a top player. I love his story and Chris seems like a real down to earth guy.

  The Mustangs are up to bat so I pay more attention as the analysts are all talking about Chase being back after a concussion took him out for a few games. It’s so awesome seeing Chloe cover this, I’m so proud of her.

  Chase is up to bat and looks ready to go. The first ball that comes toward him is good and he doesn’t swing. The second ball is perfect and he doesn’t swing either. “Shit!” I say out loud. I hope he isn’t scared of the ball, which is pretty normal for players after being hit.

  The third ball comes and again is perfect, Chase swings and hits it perfectly earning him a home run! I jump up and shout which earns me stares from others but whatever people; we work in the sports department.

  I watch about half the game before I’m ready to head home. I call Sam who is still at work but is also ready to leave. She says she will come and get me so I finish up a few things before I head down.

  My desk phone rings and I see it’s coming from the receptionist so I answer it. It’s a male voice saying he has flowers for me. I look at my watch and see it’s after 8pm. Flowers aren’t usually delivered this late and security would have called it up not reception.

  Shit! I look around and the floor is almost empty. I grab my cell and hit the button for building security. I mute my office phone and tell them I need them on my floor immediately. I un-mute my phone and tell the flower person to leave the flowers at reception and they will be delivered. Whoever it is hangs up and I’m totally freaked. I see the elevator open and thankfully I know the security people that come onto my floor.

  I’ve never been so relieved in my life. I let them know what happened but they didn’t see anyone come in with flowers. They escort me down and wait with me for Sam. Sam pulls up and sees the welcome committee and I know she is already freaking out.

  I try to stay calm and once I’m safely in the car with Sam and James I get my phone out before saying anything. Sam is staring me down but I need to make sure it wasn’t Jax who sent me flowers.

  8:21pm

  Me: Hey Jax, did you send me flowers today?

  8:22pm

  Jax: Sadly no.

  No one else would send me flowers so now I’m a little scared. Whoever called knew I was still at work and so could be waiting for us at our apartment. I tell Sam everything I know and she calls and has extra security sent in to sweep our apartment and stay with us.

  When we get to our place Luke opens the door and gives a rundown of what’s happening. They have swept our townhouse and it’s safe. They have swept the reception area and the floor I work on and found a note with flowers that read, “Soon Lucy, soon.”

  They are already analyzing the note and although they are handling everything the police know about it. It’s no surprise that the Renault’s would have a faster and better investigation than the police, there’s so much crime and need for the police and not enough resources for them.

  Chapter 28

  What an exhausting night. I’m petrified of this maniac that apparently thinks, ‘Soon Lucy, soon’. Thankfully I feel safe in my home. Sam and Jax are here and so is Luke, he will be staying with me 24/7 until they catch this dirt bag.

  I try to stick with my normal routine but I won’t even try to be brave, Sam and Jax are sleeping with me tonight.

  I try to lighten the mood as we’re all sitting around looking pretty pathetic; “so, Sam, are you going to be making out with Jax in this movie?”

  She looks over to me and then to Jax and back at me again. “Um,” is all she says and continues to look back and forth between us. I don’t take my eyes off her.

  She looks seriously uncomfortable and I start to feel a little brainless that I haven’t even really asked her anything about the movie.

  “Um,” she says again. I laugh, “Yeah I got that part Sam!”

  “Yeah, um… we have a few make out scenes,” she says and looks a little taken aback that I asked.

  I don’t even want to turn and look toward Jax. I should have wrapped my head around this situation a little more. I knew he was an Actor but I didn’t have to see the reality of it and certainly never thought about seeing him hook up with my best friend.

  The doorbell rings and breaks up the awkwardness I caused. Luke answers and Ana runs in, “hey guys what’s with all the extra company tonight?”

  I fill her in on everything going on and she’s pretty shocked. She’s been traveling so much lately and barely comes back home to New York.

  “So who’s going to be here with you when Sam and Jax leave in a couple weeks?” Ana asks.

  My face falls. For the first time I am faced with the reality of being here all alone in New York City. Not having Sam’s car or security, could I really be safe?

  My whole world comes down on me and I can’t stop my brain from moving in a 100 different directions.

  I finally get into a relationship after a very long drought - I see Chase face to face after 4 years and he’s a total prick to me. A maniac kidnapped my best friend when she was a teenager and was never charged with it; then tried to intimidate her a few weeks ago - on the same night a maniac tries to drug me and do whatever. Chase happens to be there and saves me but that doesn’t stop this maniac from wanting whatever he wants from me. Meanwhile I’m moving nonstop across the country weekly completing a once in a life time work opportunity that is going great.

  I’m shocked that I’m not on the ground shaking, “I’m going to go to bed guys. Ana, lunch tomorrow don’t forget - Love you guys!” I get up and walk upstairs.

  I walk into my room and Ana’s right behind me, “what was that about?” She asks me.

  “Yeah… um… well it was all a little too much for me,” I answer in a shaky voice.

  I change into my pajamas and Ana catches me up on what she’s been doing. Thankfully she’s willing to talk about herself, which actually helps a lot.

  Her styling business has taken off; she’s working on her own thanks to all the connections in the buying world she has made over the years. Designers are using her to help them determine their next line and she’s getting dibs on the best clothes to put on her clients. It’s the perfect set up.

  With her success comes a shit ton of traveling and I’m sad that all of our recent accomplishments are moving us all away from each other.

  I curl up in bed and Ana gets in with me. It’s good to spend some time with her and catch up. I miss her and wish she wasn’t living with her designer friends.

  I fall asleep at some point and when I wake up Jax and Sam have joined Ana and I in bed. I smile and lay back down. I have the best friends in the world and I love them dearly.

  It was such a crazy night; I’m emotionally and physically exhausted. I slept like a log and didn’t wake up until 5:30am, which is way past my normal time.

  Even though we should be rushing around getting ready we each take our time and decide to go out to breakfast. We enter the diner that is down the street from us and have a nice breakfast all together; it’s something we haven’t done in way too long.

  Ana catches Sam and Jax up on what she’s been doing and they are talking to her about some wardrobe work that she may be able to help with in the movie. Sam looks so excited talking about the movie and Ana could really help because she kno
ws Sam’s tastes perfectly.

  They all listen as I tell them about the positive feedback I’ve received so far and how some teams want me as their analyst. Jax is coming with me to Boston later this week for my interview with Chris Libett and then I’m done traveling, my 8th interview is here in New York.

  NBC security is up to date on the stalker matter and Rebekka is insisting I work remotely since she feels NBC was breached yesterday. Sam and Jax agree that working in that large building with my crazy hours would leave me more open to something going wrong.

  “Hey here’s a crazy idea guys, why don’t we all go to Boston today? No one really has to work from anywhere specific - and this takes me completely off my normal schedule… which will stump the stalker. I won’t even tell NBC I’m going early.”

  I see smiles on everyone’s face. Jax gets his wallet out and throws a $100 bill on the table and we all get up with huge smiles on our faces. We’re all giddy with excitement for a super secret mission of together time safely outside of our normal routines.

  We walk back to our townhome and run inside. Ana and Jax each head home and Sam and I will pick them up in an hour. We’re taking the Renault Financial plane to Boston and Luke and Shane will come with us for extra security. Renault Financial has a building in Boston so they have extra security for us at the hotel. Sam’s parents are going overboard but they feel responsible for finding this guy since he attacked me in their place of business.

  I grab my phone to send some emails while I wait for Sam to pack and see a missed text from Chase last night.

  11:30pm (last night)

  Chase: Feeling much better did you see the game?

  I feel bad that I missed that text last night.

  9:09am

  Me: Hey, I saw the home run you scored in the first. Nicely done! How are you feeling today?

  9:10am

  Chase: Did you see the HW in the 8th?