Chapter 15
Laura
The weekly staff meeting drags on as per usual, but today I gaze out the window with a goofy grin plastered on my face.
Jake elbows me, “What’s with the smile? Did you win the lottery or something?”
I shake my head, feeling my cheeks heat. “No, nothing like that.”
“Come on,” he nudges. “Spill.”
I glance around. “I’ve...been seeing someone.”
Jake’s eyes grow wide. “No way! Who is he? When did this happen? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Shh! Keep your voice down.” I swat his arm, trying to stifle a giggle. “We’ve been dating for only a little bit.”
Jake hisses. “And you’re only telling me now?”
“I wanted to make sure it was serious before I said anything. But...” I bite my lip, feeling almost shy. “Things have been going well.”
“I can tell.” Jake gives me a knowing look. “You’ve been in a great mood. And you’re dressing nicer, doing your hair more. Not to mention you’ve been bringing homemade lunches instead of going out with the rest of us. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were in love.”
My face feels hot enough to fry an egg on. “I don’t know about love yet,” I say, trying to sound nonchalant. “But I am happy. Happier than I’ve been in a long time.”
Jake smiles and pats my arm. “I’m glad to hear that. You deserve it.”
I smile back, a flood of warmth and affection for my friend rushing over me. Maybe I haven’t won the lottery, but at that moment, I am the luckiest woman in the world.
“So come on, give us the details!” Jake says, leaning in. “What’s he like?”
I take a bite of my salad, savoring the memory of Dallas’s bright smile and mischievous eyes. “He’s charming, intelligent, has a great sense of humor...” I trail off with a dreamy sigh.
Jake snorts. “Sounds like you’ve got it bad. But what does he do for a living? Where did you meet? How did he get past that fortress you call a heart?”
I swat his arm again, fighting back a blush. “That doesn’t matter.”
“A meet cute!” Jake clasps his hands together. “How romantic. So when do we get to meet this paragon of charm and wit?”
“Soon, I promise.” The thought of Jake and Dallas meeting makes me smile. He’ll never believe it.
“It’s a date!” Jake pumps his fist in victory. “I’m dying to give this guy the third degree and make sure he’s good enough for my best friend.”
I batt his arm again, but I appreciate his protectiveness.
“Don’t worry,” I say. “He can hold his own. And...” I bite my lip, feeling almost shy. “I think you’ll like him.”
“If he makes you happy, that’s all that matters.” Jake smiles and squeezes my hand. “I’m thrilled for you, Laura. You deserve all the best.”
“Thanks, Jake.”
I find my thoughts drifting to Dallas more often than is probably appropriate. His texts fill me with warmth and make me smile at random moments. I catch myself gazing out the window during meetings, lost in daydreams of our next date.
My coworkers notice the change in me, of course. As much as I try to rein in my distraction, it is impossible to hide how smitten I am.
“Earth to Laura!” Maya waves a hand in front of my face during our lunch break. I blink at the concerned looks on my friends’ faces.
“Sorry, I was...off in my own little world there for a minute.” I duck my head, knowing I’ve been caught.
“Thinking of lover boy again?” Maya raises an eyebrow and the others laugh.
“Maybe.” I can’t deny it and see no point in trying. “We have another date this weekend and I guess I’m just excited.”
“Just excited?” Jen scoffs. “Girl, you look like you’ve been transported to another planet.”
I smile.
“Just don’t forget we exist now that you have your dream man,” Jen says, nudging me with her elbow.
“I won’t.” I shake my head. “You’re still my friends. It’s just...” I struggle to find the right words. “Being with Dallas makes me happy in a way I’ve never experienced before. The intensity of it surprises even me sometimes.”
“Wait, Dallas? He’s the guy you’ve been seeing?” Jen asks.
I nod.
Maya rolls her eyes. “You look at that man like he hung the stars in the sky.”
“Does it bother you?” I ask.
“Not at all.” Jen squeezes my hand. “We’re happy you found someone who makes you light up like that. Even if it means less gossip time for us.” She winks to show she is joking.
“Besides,” Maya adds. “Any man who can make our Laura this disgustingly sweet has to be a keeper.”
“He is.” The words come out softly but with conviction. Dallas is a keeper, and the more time we spend together, the more I realize he might just be the one.
I laugh, warmth flooding through me. My friends might give me a hard time, but their teasing is all in good fun. They want me to be happy, and if Dallas is the one putting that ridiculous smile on my face, they are willing to put up with it.
“All right, all right.” I wave my hands in surrender. “Enough with the third degree. We have work to do, remember?”
“Fine, fine.” Jen holds up her hands in mock defeat.
This weekend can’t come soon enough.
With the teasing over for now, we disperse to our respective desks. I sit down and open my email, but find myself gazing out the window instead, lost in daydreams of the future. One that might just include a tall, dark, and handsome lawyer who’s stolen my heart.