Since The Day

Chapter 7

Friday. Finally. I smiled knowing that all Friday's are half days for people in the marketing area of the Hall Of Fame, unless there's a bug campaign. But lucky for us... There's nothing today.

I rolled out of bed and got ready for the day. Maybe with my half day I should try to find an apartment. I can't live here forever. I want to make a home cooked meal.

When I got to work I sat down at my desk and decided to read news articles.

Puppy saves little girl, Luke Bryan has a new girlfriend, Vince Vaughn to star in a new movie, Shawn Mendes sells out Madiso- holy Bejesus! Luke Bryan has new girlfriend!?

I quickly opened up the article to see a picture of Luke and I at the Predators game.

Wednesday, November 6 07:03

Looks like Luke Bryan may be taken off the market. Bryan, 37, was spotted at the Nashville Predators game last night with his arm around a girl who had his jacket on. According to our research Bryan has been looking for new ways to improve his popularity and was assigned Carrie Boyd by the Country Music Hall Of Fame. Boyd, 33, is apart of the internship program at the Hall Of Fame. The two were also spotted at Chuy's Mexican Restaurant on Tuesday around lunch time. Does Nashville's most wanted Bachelor have a girlfriend?

I sighed and ran my hand through my hair. This cannot be happening. I don't think it was in my contract about dating clients... Even though we're not dating... I just don't want to lose my job. I'm enjoying the city and... I may even take the job if it means I'm staying in Nashville.

Trying to keep myself calm I took a picture and sent it to Luke.

Me 9:43
Luke... What is this? (picture here)

Luke Bryan 9:45
My goodness. I'm sorry darlin'. You have a half day today, right? I'll pick you up and the two of us can talk about it.

Me 9:50
Okay.

Luke Bryan 9:51
Don't worry. It will be in private. We'll figure it out.

I sighed and then typed back...

Me 9:52
Okay. See you @ 12.

And I left it at that. Just as I was sitting there Tyler walked in with an extra hop in his step. "Good morning Carrie!"

"Morning," I mumbled stuffing my face in my hands.

"What's wrong with you today?! It's Friday! You can't go wrong with Friday's," Tyler exclaimed as he flopped into his office chair with a grunt.

I took my hands off my face and have him a deadly look. "Look at the top stories on MSN," I demanded.

He opened his laptop, did some typing then began reading. "Holy crap. You guys are dating! You didn't tell me this yesterday when I asked how the game was! Carrie!"

I shook my head rapidly. "Tyler! Don't get me wrong, he's extremely hot... But we're not dating! And he probably doesn't even want that! He's Luke Bryan for crying out loud! He could have any girl he wants, why would he want to be with me," I complained.

"Carrie! Stop freaking out! Why wouldn't he want to be with you? You're young, beautiful, super nice and smart! What else could he want in a girl," Tyler argued back as he folded his hands on his desk and gave me a look.

I let out a shaky breath. I couldn't answer that. I just couldn't. "I-I'm going to go grab some coffee, do you want any," I asked as I stood up from my desk.

Tyler gave me a blank look, "No... Uh... I'm fine."

The rest of the work day was a breeze. When it came to leaving I ran to my hotel room and quickly changed into jeans and a Tshirt. I could see Luke's truck was waiting for me outside of the Hall Of Fame window when I walked into the lobby. I quickly ran to his truck and opened the door, sliding into the passenger seat.

"Hey Carrie," Luke greeted as he moved back onto the road.

I sighed and looked over at him with a straight face, "Hi Luke."

Luke sensed my frustration. "Look, I know that you're mad about this situation... I am too. I want to have a personal life too... But... It is what it is and we'll figure this out."

I nodded slowly and rested my arm on the center counsel. Next think I know is Luke's rather large, warm hand his holding mine. Oddly enough it calmed me down. "Okay Luke... I'll trust you on this... But uh... Where are we headed that's private," I asked looking over at him with a questioning look.

Luke shot me a smile replying, "Casa De La Bryan."

I giggled, "Please never say that again Luke. That didn't sound good with your southern drawl." I said 'southern drawl' with a really bad southern accent.

It was Luke's turn to laugh. "If you say to darlin'. But uh... I hope that's okay with you. It was the only place I could think of."

"That's fine by me," I replied and looked forward.

When we got to Luke's house my eyes went wide and I looked at him, "Luke. This is a mansion! You're absolutely nuts! You live by yourself too!"

Luke chuckled as he pulled his hand from mine and shifted the truck into park. "Yeah, it is pretty big for one person. I'm hoping for someone to change that one day though," he replied as he hopped out of his truck. I hopped out as well and the two of us walked to the front door together. Once Luke unlocked it he directed me in.

The two of us sat in his kitchen. "Would you like anything to drink Carrie? Beer? Wine? Water," Luke offered as he walked over to his fridge.

"You got Miller Lite, right," I asked him as I folded my hands on the granite counter.

"I sure do," he quickly replied as he pulled two bottles out of the fridge. "Here ya go Darlin'." He placed an open beer in front of me.

"Okay... So what's going to happen," I asked as I sat there looking at him in question.

Luke looked down and sighed before looking back up at me. "Well... I... I..."

"Luke say whatever you want to say," I calmed him and placed a hand on his knee.

He looked up with me with a hopeful look on his face. "Carrie... I just... I wanted to... Will... Can... Can we make the rumor true? Will you... Go out with me Carrie," he stumbled upon his words. I scrunched my eyebrows. "Carrie... You're just... You're so beautiful and smart."

I sighed as I took my hand off his knee and looked down at my hands, twiddling my thumbs. "I- I don't... Know if I'm ready for something like that," I mumbled looking up at him with a scared look on my face. A tear ran down my right cheek.

Luke's brown eyes went wide. "Carrie! I'm sorry... I didn't mean to make you cry! Oh god. I'm such an idiot," Luke blamed himself as face palmed himself.

"It's not you, Luke... It's... Thomas," my voice broke off at saying his voice.

"Thomas? Me? What'd I do," Luke asked confused. Fuck. I forgot his actual name was Thomas.

"No... Thomas Michael Mathers... My... Ex... He abused me," I admitted and let out a shaky breath while wiping my tears.

*** Holy Zeus! Thoughts!?! What's Luke going to say!?