Things had returned to normal it seemed since Bridgette had spoken with Luke. He had confirmed they were back on for their Tuesday evening run and they had exchanged a few texts here and there throughout the weekend. Life seemed to be going so well for Bridgette. She had recently received a promotion to senior editor at work, she and Paul were hitting it off and they had selected this coming Saturday as their first official date and she and Luke were back on track.

It was Sunday night and Bridgette was frantically riffling through her closet, trying to decide what she would wear out on she and Paul’s first date. “Seriously I have nothing to wear!” She huffed as she spun on her heel and walked over to her phone. She selected Harper’s name and hit the call button, standing in the middle of her room with her hand on her hip as if she were ready for action. “I have NOTHING to wear!” She shrieked when Harper picked up the phone.

“Uh well hello to you too and what the hell are you talking about?” Harper had pulled the phone away from her ear as Bridgette screeched into the phone.

“For my date with Paul! I literally just went through my closet twice and I have nothing. You have to help me out, do you have something? I’m thinking sexy but not provocative, not trying to send that kind of message.” She babbled on for a bit about the perfect outfit and what it would and wouldn’t accentuate.

“Okay well first of all calm the hell down, you’re getting weirdly high pitched and this date is a full week away.” She enunciated the word ‘full’ to drive the point home. “I’m almost 5 inches taller than you Bridge so my clothes aren’t going to look right on you, you know this. Remember when you tried on my gold sequin dress in Vegas and it looked like you were a kid wearing her mom’s oversized shirt?” She laughed at the memory of Bridgette trying to make the frock work on her slim, petite frame.

“Ugh true…dammit! What am I going to do?”

“Well, call me crazy but how about this idea…you guy buy something?” Harper’s words were dripping with sarcasm.

“Well yeah I know that’s an option, I just had hoped I had something tasteful. He’s just different from the other guys I’ve dated Harper…he’s sophisticated and a doctor, I can’t just show up in some dress I’ve worn to a million other dates.”

“What are you guys even doing? Your text yesterday didn’t even tell me what your plans were.”

“He said he’d make reservations at RPM Steakhouse and then we were going to take one of those fancy boat rides on Lake Michigan.” She was clearly excited by her tone and delivery but the other end of the phone was silent. “Uh hello? Harper?”

“Bridge you don’t even eat steak…or meat for that matter. Why is he taking you to a super high end steakhouse? Did you not tell him you’re vegetarian?”

“No it felt a little rude, besides I’m sure I won’t have a problem finding something on the menu.” She brushed off the sentiment.

Harper shook her head to herself, “Well as long as you have a great time and he treats you well I guess that’s all that matters.”

Bridgette seemed a little annoyed by Harper’s comment but she brushed it off and the girls wished each other a good night. As she went about her nighttime routine she made a mental note to set some time aside this week to hit up Nordstrom to find the perfect dress for Saturday. Before she climbed into bed she pulled her phone out again and typed out a message to Paul before heading to bed.

Hey, I hope you’ve had a nice evening. I’m heading to bed and was just thinking about you. Wanted to tell you goodnight and that I can’t wait to see you on Saturday!

Monday came and went, it was another busy day at the office buried in manuscripts. She loved her job, it often felt like more of a passion than a job to her. She was one of the lucky ones who landed their ‘dream job’ after college and had continued to fall more and more in love with the publishing world.

She was wrapping up for the day when her phone lit up with a message from Luke.

Hey sweetheart, how’s Monday treating you? We still on for our run tomorrow night?

A smile slowly spread across Bridgette’s face. Luke had called her sweetheart since the first time she met him. It was a bit of a mainstream pet name but it was special to her when it came from him. Since getting over her initial heartbreak of telling Luke she had feelings for him without reciprocation she had convinced herself she had moved on but sometimes she felt things…like tonight. Why did she feel butterflies when he text her? She hadn’t seen him I’m a week and a half and she was feeling a little nervous about their run tomorrow night. She pushed the feelings aside and picked up her phone to type out a response.

Hey handsome, yes absolutely! My Monday has been alright, feeling like I’m finally getting my head above water. How are things going at work? Any better yet?

Good! I’m sure you’re kicking ass and raising hell like usual. Work is still stressful but getting more manageable. Thanks for asking, I’m sure our 10 mile run tomorrow night will help me clear my head. ;)

TEN MILES?! Boy you are out of your damn mind, I’ll be on your back for half of that FYI.

Luke laughed out loud as he read her message. She always knew how to put a smile on his face. She was quick witted and sassy and it drove him crazy. She was like a puzzle to him, something he couldn’t ever seem to figure out or define. It was infuriating and exciting at the same time.

Nah I’m just teasing you. We both know you’re too lazy for that kind of endurance. Just a 5 miler…but don’t think I won’t push your boundaries someday. See what that little body is capable of handling. Don’t stay at the office too late and have a goodnight ;)

She couldn’t help but feel a small blush creep up her neck when she read his message. She knew he didn’t mean it to be sexual but why did her mind immediately go there?! For a brief second she let her mind wander and it immediately went to images of her and Luke naked and sweaty. Images of him thrusting into her as he pushed her to the edge. She stood up quickly and slammed her laptop shut as if that would make the thoughts go away. She felt flushed and embarrassed as if anyone could see what she had just imaged.

“Ok time for a drink Bridge,” she said to herself as she gathered her things and headed toward the elevators. She made plans to pick up a bottle of wine on the way home and decompress a bit. She had just reached her car when her phone screen lit up again.

If you’re still at the office you’re going to be late for my 6:30 bootcamp…Your ass better be here, you signed up!

“Shit!” She had completely forgotten about her commitment to Harper’s bootcamp class. She looked in her backseat and sure enough, she had remembered to bring her gym bag with her to work this morning. “Phew!” At least she would only be late instead of having to completely bail on the class. She jumped in her car and tapped out a quick response to Harper before throwing the car into drive and speeding off to the gym.

Of course I’m on my way! Such little faith in me :)

Bridgette squatted, kicked and punched her way through Harper’s bootcamp class. She had always considered herself to be in decent shape but this class took things to a new level. She always hated the moments leading up to the class but she was loving the benefits she was seeing reflected in her body. Her abs were flat and defined, her butt felt firmer and higher and she finally had some arm definition. She was hopeful she’d be able to kick Luke’s ass on their run tomorrow but she knew it was highly unlikely. Luke was extremely athletic, he not only played multiple sports his entire life but he was one of those guys that could eat whatever he wanted and still have bulging biceps and six pack abs…abs she couldn’t seem to get off her mind lately.

Bridgette always held on to feelings for Luke, she knew it but refused to admit it. Sometimes she went back and forth on the type of feelings…she would convince herself she loved him like a brother, that of course she would have feelings for someone she had know for a decade. On nights like tonight though she knew the thoughts she had about him were NOT brotherly in nature!

“You were really kicking ass back there tonight!” Harper gave her friend a double high five as she walked up after the class was over. “Be honest, were you planning on coming tonight if I hadn’t text you?”

Bridgette laughed as she hung her head, “I actually brought my gym bag this morning but I got busy at work and completely forgot so thank you for reminding me. It was definitely worth it and I really needed it, trust me.”

Harper’s brow furrowed, “What’s going on?”

Bridgette let out a loud sigh, “How much time you got?”

“Help me put the weights and steps away and tell me what’s going on.”

The girls went around the room picking up the weights and breaking down the steps to put things away. “Wait so you have your date scheduled with Paul but now you’re worried because things are finally getting back to normal with Luke?”

“Yes. I know he’s been super stressed and busy with work, I get that I’m in a similar situation so I don’t want to try to dig into our relationship and see if there’s more to things if it’s just going to add stress on to his life. Also…I had like some weird thoughts about him.” Her voice went up about two octaves and she looked down at her shoes awkwardly.

Harper turned around slowly, “Uhhhh what kind of ‘weird’ thoughts?” She said with air quotes. She couldn’t help but smile as she saw Bridgette’s discomfort grow.

Bridgette groaned and covered her face with her hands. “I don’t know! Just weird thoughts! I’m super excited for my date with Paul and then these random thoughts about Luke popped in my head tonight when he made a kind of sexual comment. He didn’t mean it sexually but it just made me picture him naked! God I can’t believe I’m saying this out loud.”

Harper let her head fall back and laugh. “Bridge I’d question your sanity if you didn’t have random thoughts like that about Luke. You guys are always together, you have shared so much of your life together and he looks like damn ken doll. I don’t think it means anything…unless it does?” She raised an eyebrow at her friend.

“No, no! NO. Definitely just a weird, random thought.” She debated telling Harper that she had once told Luke she was in love with him back when they were in college. Even though she had only garnered the courage to tell him through alcohol it didn’t change the reality of her feelings back then. She had never told Harper about that night, mostly out of embarrassment but also because she knew her friend would make a big deal of the entire situation. Over the years Harper had asked her if they had ever slept together or kissed or if either had feelings for one another. She had always been able to keep her friend’s curiosity mostly at bay by ensuring her that they were more like siblings than anything else.

“Well, again I’m sure it was just nerves…speaking of you find anything to wear for your date yet?”

“No, I’m going to Nordstrom on Wednesday after work. Luke and I have our run tomorrow and then you have me back in this hell hole on Thursday and Friday so it’s really my only time. Speaking of time, it’s late and I am exhausted. I’m going to head home, Paul said he would give me a call tonight after his conference.” She was giddy as she skipped towards the door of the aerobics rooms.

“Ohhhh you face-timing? Going to run home and slip into something a little more sexy?”

Bridgette’s face flushed as she shushed her friend, “People can hear you!” She blew her friend a kiss and scurried off to the locker room to grab her things.

She had to admit the thought of sexy time with Paul was enticing and nerve inducing. She hadn’t been with very many guys, she took intimacy personally and liked to build a connection before she shared her body with a man. Luke always given her a hard time about it but it just wasn’t her style to be so cavalier about it all and for as much as he teased her he always told her how admirable and desirable it was that she had such high standards.