Nadia groaned, sliding a hand over her face squinting at the sun streaming through her window. Her phone was incessantly vibrating on her night stand. She sighed, picking it up and holding it to her ear, "What?"

"Well good morning to you too...did I wake you up?"

"Yes, Nervy, what do you want?"

"I knew your ass would still be asleep," she grumbled, "I'm at your door, you need to get up. We're going to brunch."

"What?" Nadia sighed, pushing her blankets off and trudging to her door. She hung up the phone and stared at Minerva's too perky face.

"We're going to brunch with Cameron and Luca! Cameron said Luca asked you about it last night. So come on, you need to get dressed." She grinned, pushing her towards the bathroom.

"Oh, the brunch thing. I don't want to go," she said, shaking her head, "Last night was nice, but I don't think I want to get to know my boss like that."

Minerva raised an eyebrow at her, "Bitch, get in the shower. You're not doing this again. Any time a guy shows a tiny bit of interest in you, you ghost them."

"Yeah and for good reason. I'm not going, I don't need any new friends." Especially not a friend she finds extremely attractive. She already made it up in her mind that she wasn't going to brunch. She was going to spend the rest of her weekend in her apartment reading and watching TV like usual.

"Nadia, it's been three years, it's okay to be friends with a man. It's just brunch and it's not like you're going to be alone." Minerva sighed and put on her best pout, "Please come with me?"

She stared at her big brown puppy dog eyes and groaned, "Fine, but just brunch then I'm coming back home."

"Yeah, yeah sure now get in the shower. I'll pick out something for you to wear." She grinned, nudging her into the bathroom.

This is not how she planned to spend her Saturday morning. She wasn't even going to mention the damn breakfast invitation to Minerva. But no, Cameron had to ask her too and Luca told him about it. She slid her hands over her face, letting the water trail over her back.

Her heart thumped in her chest at the memory of their conversation and that lovely walk home. She can't deny she wants to see Luca again outside of the office, but she shouldn't feel like this. She hasn't felt like this in a long time. Not since...since Jonathan. She shuddered and took a deep breath, reciting the mantra her therapist taught her.

Not every man is like him and he is not every man.

After three years she thought she'd be over these mini panic attacks, but they're much better than they used to be. That man can't get anywhere near her anymore. He can't touch her and he can't watch her.

She shook her head, maybe Minerva's right. Maybe she needs to try to get out of her shell. Luca seems like a really nice person. His bodyguards are still something that concerns her, but they were pretty nice too. She didn't get any bad vibes from them.

A blush burned over her cheeks, it's kind of cute he called her Persephone. And she loved the way it felt to dance with him, it might be nice to have someone to talk to about the books she's reading too. Dr. Ami will be so proud of her for trying to make a new guy friend, at least she'll have something new to tell her at her next session.

This is a good thing, brunch is progress. Minerva will be there and she adores Cameron, it'll be a safe space to get to know Luca without the liquid confidence from last night.

"Nadia! Hurry up, girl!"

"Alright!" Nadia called back to her very impatient friend. She must've had a good night with Cameron if she's this eager to see him again.

She turned off the water and hastily wrapped a towel around herself. She carefully stepped out of the shower, mindful not to trip over the lip of the bathtub. She opened the door and padded down the short hallway to her bedroom.

"I laid a dress out for you and no you can't wear pants. It's a beautiful summer day, you need to show off those legs." Minerva called from the living room.

She rolled her eyes and sighed as she stared at the orange mini dress with tiny yellow flowers printed over it. She didn't mind it, it was nice, short ruffled sleeves, a neckline that dipped in a low criss-crossed 'v', and the hem would lay just above her knees. Minerva had excellent taste, while Nadia preferred a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, she supposed it wouldn't hurt to put in a little effort today.

She lotioned herself up and shrugged the dress over her head. She stared at herself in the mirror and decided to braid her hair around her head like she usually does. She put on some light makeup, painting her lips with a matte mauve lacquer and slipped her feet into some yellow beaded flats.

"Alright, Nervy. I'm ready, let's get this over with." She sighed.

She grinned, looking up from the magazine in her lap, "You look so cute! I love that dress on you."

"Thanks," Nadia shrugged and a mischievous smile spread over her lips as she finally took in her friend's attire. She was wearing a sheer white maxi skirt with a yellow off the shoulder crop top. Her curls were piled on top of her head, chandelier earrings hanging from her lobes. She looked flawless, she always does, but this seemed a bit extra for brunch. "You're looking exceptionally well this morning. You really like Cameron, huh?"

She laughed, popping up from the couch, "Girl, I'm trying to steal that man for myself. He's such a sweet guy, " She smiled, looping her arm through mine, "You don't see it, but we hit the jackpot last night. Men like Cameron and Luca are a dime a dozen. Shit, I might just get my M.R.S."

Nadia burst out laughing, "You're a mess, you just met the guy." She shook her head, grabbing her purse from the coffee table.

"Sometimes you just know," She laughed, looking at her watch, "Come on, we have ten minutes to catch the 'T' and I'm starving."

It was a short metro journey to South Station and a five minute walk to the diner. As they neared the restaurant, Nadia's heart was pounding in her chest. She let out a breath, she shouldn't feel nervous like this. It's just food and she sees Luca every damn day at the office. This is no different.

But she hasn't gone out to meet a guy like this in such a long time. She stopped walking and shook her head, she can't do this.

"What's the matter?" Minerva asked, looking back at her.

"I-I don't want to do this. I'm going home." She said, turning around but Minerva grabbed her hand.

"Nadia, it's alright. We're just having breakfast. It's not a date, we're just going to eat food with friends."

She took a deep breath, laughing at herself. When Minerva put it like that it seemed ridiculous that she's acting like this, "I'm sorry, I think I'm just nervous. I-I haven't done this in a long time."

"I know and this is just a baby step. We're all friends," She smiled, "Plus, you were fine with him last night."

"I had alcohol, it subdued my nerves." She grumbled.

"You'll be fine. Come on, we're going to have fun and if you're not enjoying yourself we'll leave, okay?" She said, patting her hand.

She nodded, taking another deep breath, "Okay."

Minerva opened the door to the diner and the delicious scent of bacon and eggs filled Nadia's senses and her hunger replaced her nerves. Leave it to some good diner food to make her feel better. She was absolutely starving and she could use a good cup of coffee too.

"Sit anywhere you'd like ladies and I'll come around with some menus." A waitress called from behind the bar.

"Thank you." Minerva smiled as we continued into the restaurant.

"Hey you two!" Cameron chuckled as he waved them over to a table in the back of the room.

Nadia's heart was thumping again as she laid eyes on Luca. His hair wasn't in it's usual gelled state, his faded blue UCLA t-shirt hugged his broad shoulders, his pectorals perfectly defined under the cotton shirt. A tired dimpled smile curved over his lips as they approached.

Dear God, this man is sexy in a suit and perfectly coiffed hair, but this casual look made her throat go dry. Shit, she needs to calm herself down.

"Good morning!" Minerva greeted, as they slid into the booth across from them.

"Glad you two joined us, we weren't sure you'd come." Cameron grinned, his eyes taking in the flawless woman across from him.

"Of course we'd come, we're late because I had to drag this one out of bed." Minerva giggled, poking her thumb in Nadia's arm.

"Sounds like this one." Cameron scoffed.

Luca chuckled, "It's been a while since I've gone out like that, Cam. I can't hang like I used to and I really need another cup of coffee." He sighed and his golden eyes slid to Nadia, "How are you feeling this morning?"

"I haven't had any coffee yet, so I'd say I'm still feeling exhausted and I'm starving." She sighed and her heart pounded at the boyish grin that tugged at Luca's lips.

"So that popcorn didn't do you any good, huh?" He chuckled, "I told you that wasn't good after a night of drinking."

She rolled her eyes and her earlier anxiety washed away from his gentle teasing, "Well, I didn't wake up puking so it did something."

"That's true," He mumbled, sliding his menu across the table to her, "So, what would you like to eat then?"

She picked up the menu to stare at the options. She slid her eyes over to Minerva. She and Cameron were chatting and flirting with each other, lost in their own world, naturally. She's on her own with Luca, this is starting to feel more like a double date than a brunch with friends. Her eyes slid back to the menu and she sighed, she can do this.

She still feels comfortable around him and she's not even drunk. This is an excellent sign. She smiled, putting the menu down, "I'll have the All-American with a stack of three pancakes."

Luca's eyes grew wide and a bright smile spread across his lips, "I'm getting a bit weirded out about how much we have in common, Nadia. That's my go to hangover meal too but I like strawberries and whipped cream on my pancakes."

Nadia scrunched her face in disgust, "Oh that's just wrong. You ruin the integrity of pancakes if you have anything other than classic maple syrup with them."

A laugh burst from his lips, his eyes dancing with amusement, "I didn't realize pancakes had integrity."

"You clearly don't value a good pancake." She scoffed but couldn't stop the permanent smile on her face.

"I guess not." He chuckled as the waitress stopped by the table to their orders. Maybe this brunch won't be so bad. She's not sure why she was ever afraid to come. Luca might be different than the guys she's dated and ghosted in the past. She...she can give him a chance to be her friend.