As I rinse my bowl in the sink I hear the doorbell buzz. It's 7:15 in the morning who could that be?
I peep through the peephole to see Nayel standing behind the door. I open it, confused, "Hey, what are you doing here?" I asked eyeing him speculatively.
"Did I wake you?" Nayel asks stepping inside my apartment, and closing the door behind him.
"No, I was just having breakfast." I rest my hand on my hip.
"These are for you," Nayel says handing me a bouquet of white daisies, my favorite flowers, "and of course our regular" He hands me a bag filled with donuts.
"What's all this?"
"Daises are your favorite flowers no?" Nayel scratches the back of his neck.
My eyes snap open, "Shit, it's not our anniversary, is it? Nayel, I'm so sorry. Fuck!" I run to my living room frantically trying to find my calendar.
"Baby, no it isn't," Nayel says grabbing my arm and sitting me down on one of my kitchen stools.
"Thank God, I felt like the worse girlfriend ever"
Nayel kisses the back of my hand, "You're the best girlfriend"
I smile leaning over and kissing him on the cheek, "What's with the flowers then?"
"Oh, I just wanted to do something nice for you. Need to make up for all the horrendous shit I put you through" Nayel trails off.
I had a feeling he was going to bring up what Preston said at lunch yesterday before I have a chance to console him he speaks up again, "Did I really make you cry every day?"
"Nayel" I squeeze his hand and smile, "It doesn't matter. It's in the past."
"Can you please answer the question?" Nayel pleads.
I sigh, "Not every day." I say honestly.
"Was I really that awful?" Nayel's eyes were almost filled with tears.
"You were sometimes but I wasn't lying when I said I am too sensitive. You treated me the same way you treat all your employees and sure it's not the nicest but you don't see them crying and making a fuss out of it." I shrug.
"I'm really sorry Ria"
I cup his face in my hands, "Listen to me, It's okay. It's all in the past. Look at the way you treat me now. I don't even remember the things you said that made me cry in the first place."
Nayel moves away from me and runs his hands through his hair, "I just fucking hate the idea of you crying because of me" Nayel grunts lowly.
"Look at me" I stand in between his feet, "I love you. You love me. You treat me better than anyone could. Our journey was a little rough, yes but we're here and I don't give a shit about what we did to each other before. So can you stop beating yourself about this?"
Nayel rests his hands on my hips, "You're perfect you know that?"
I smile, "Yeah I know," I say moving away from him, "You know, we still have almost 2 hours before we need to get to work so why don't you show me how sorry you really are?" I slip off my robe and throw it at him walking to my bedroom.
.....
"Even though my apartment is literally only 4 minutes away, I love carpooling with you" I smile at Nayel who grabs my chin and presses his lips onto mine.
We walk toward the elevator when we hear a familiar voice, "Hey you guys" Preston says approaching us.
"Hi" I give him a quick hug and then he and Nayel nod to each other.
"When did you guys start carpooling?" Preston quirks an eyebrow at us.
"Maria's apartment is in the way so I sometimes offer to pick her up," Nayel says casually.
"Isn't your apartment like a 5-minute walk from here?" Preston turns to me.
"Yup," I gulp.
"As I said, it's in the way" Nayel adds pressing the button to our floor.
"I see," Preston says grinning at the floor.
....
"I miss going to Ralph's for lunch every day" Preston sighs flopping himself on my desk.
"You know you could always move back" I shrug.
"Wouldn't you like that?" Preston wiggles his eyebrows at me making me smile.
The phone on my desk rings and I bring it to my ear, "Maria, a word" Nayel says on the other line.
"Big bad boss?" Preston asks.
"Yup" I smile walking into his office but Preston followed right behind me.
"Preston" Nayel says, his tone laced with slight annoyance.
"Just thought we could run through the case before we head out in an hour," Preston says sitting down on the couch.
"I think we're prepared enough" Nayel buttons his suit.
"It's a big case, practice makes perfect." Preston grins opening the file.
"Could I help with something?" I ask Nayel, smiling softly and I see him loosen up a little.
"No, thank you."
"You call her in here just to look at her then?" Preston raises an eyebrow.
"When did you become so noisy?" Nayel rolls his eyes.
Preston laughs, "Maria, I'd love it if you could come to the hearing with us today."
"What?" I ask.
"I just feel like you need to be reminded of everything you're giving up on."
"Can you stop trying to pressure her into sticking to law? It's her decision what she wants to pursue." Nayel snaps at Preston.
A smirk appears on Preston's lips, "It's just a suggestion."
"I don't think it would help but I actually don't have a lot to do today. It'll be fun to tag along." I shrug then turn to Nayel, "If that's okay by you Mr. Nayel." I bat my eyelashes at him.
"Sure," Nayel says in a bored tone.
....
"And that is exactly how you win a case" Preston grins squeezing my shoulder.
"You've always been impeccable" I smile at him, "Seeing you in court may or may not have bought the lawyer out of me" I tease him.
Preston nudges me with his shoulder, "See! I knew I could shake it back to you." He kisses me on top of my head making me chuckle before answering his phone.
"You did great too" I smile at Nayel once Preston leaves us.
"I thought you might be too tuned in on Preston to notice me" Nayel rolls his eyes.
I bite my lower lip, taking a step towards him, "Nayel Jefferson are you jealous?"
"It's hard not to be when you turn into a fangirl around him. You've always had a crush on him. I'm not blind." Nayel says nonchalantly.
"What?" I gasp, "I do not have a crush on Preston"
"Yeah? Then why do you get all giddy in front of him, laugh at everything he says and agree with everything he says?" Nayel raises an eyebrow.
"He's a great guy and I admire him. He was my mentor, I'm always going to fangirl over him but I don't want to be with the guy" I say honestly.
"Sure" Nayel scoffs.
I giggle, "Okay, maybe there was a time when I first met him when I thought he was very handsome but I figured out soon enough he's just a good friend because we are too alike and we wouldn't be super compatible."
"You've actually thought about this?" Nayel scowls.
"Yes, when I broke up with Barry I used to wonder if there was something with Preston but I'm not attracted to him. I know it might not make sense but I just don't get the feels when I see him. I like him but I don't want to be with him in any aspect romantically or even physically." I tell Nayel honestly, "This Neanderthal caveman thing you get on every time I smile at a guy is hot but you need to tone it down."
"Alright," Nayel says, his expression unreadable.
"That was the judge, I need to file some paperwork," Preston says approaching us once again.
Suddenly Nayel moves next to me and wraps his arm around my waist, "We'll meet you at the office then." Nayel says squeezing my waist.
Preston grins eyeing us with amusement, "I knew it, I bloody knew it" Preston shakes his head, "I have been rooting for you guys from day 1."
"You mean to tell me all those times I was bitching about how much I hate him you thought wow they'd make a great couple?" I sass him.
"Yes because I knew there was this connection between the two of you. It was so obvious that Nayel fell in love with you the minute you walked into his office for the interview, you took some time but I knew you cared about him." Preston smiles, "This really does make me happy you guys," He says making me smile.
"Don't tell anyone at the office" Nayel says.
"I'm surprised more people haven't caught on. I knew you from the minute I walked into the office yesterday and waited at your desk for 20 minutes while you were in his office. I just knew you guys were fucking in there" Preston grins.
My cheeks heat up as I smack him on his arm, "You're gonna look me in the eyes and tell me it's not true"
"Shut up" I mumble hiding my face in Nayel's chest.
"She's a special one, you better take care of her," Preston says to Nayel.
"I know" I hear the smile in Nayel's voice.
It feels so good being able to be in my boyfriend's arms in front of a co-worker without feeling the utter fear.