Manhattan, New York
Game One Designs
18th Floor

Lucky plopped down on the corner of Janice’s desk. Picking up her crystal paperweight, and tossing the heavy piece of glass back and forth from hand to hand. The assistant snatched it quickly from his left palm before he could break it.

"Look Sweetheart," she began. Returning to the memo that lay on her desk. "I know you’re like a nervous ball of energy but could you please go toss your own things around? In your own office perhaps?…You’re liable to break somethin’ in here Honey."

Shrugging off the comment, he picked up the next thing his fingers could wrap themselves around. A small 3 x 5 photo of her twin girls, that sat cattycorner on her desk. Once again tossing it from one hand to the other.

Apparently when Wallace told him he needed to get his ass back home, it wasn’t a lie. The word around the office grapevine was that the committee had discovered some type of problem with Lucky’s new design. Some kind of ‘glitch.’

But there couldn’t have been. He’d spent months on the thing. Countless nights on zero sleep and far more caffeine than any one person should have consumed.

And besides, if there was something wrong with the game someone would have let him know something definite by now right? It had to be just another case of office gossip. Too many people with not enough work to do.

"So you haven’t heard anything then Janice?" Lucky asked nervously. Finally looking down at her instead of glancing around the office like some paranoid psycho.

But as his father always said. ‘Just because you’re paranoid, doesn’t mean you’re not being followed…or watched – or somethin….’ Luke’s eloquence was astounding at times.

The older woman cocked an eyebrow. "Now you know I woulda told you if I’d a heard anything."

"Yeah…yeah I know," Lucky sighed with a smile. "How come you put up with me Janice?"

"Cause you’re cute."

Lucky grinned at her and then turned the picture in his hands to look at it. It was new one. She had a new photo of her girls every other month. He wondered absently if he’d be like that about his own kids someday. Proud and showing them off to everyone.

"Wow," he sighed. "Henry must be havin’ to padlock their rooms already…they’re gettin’ pretty gorgeous there Janice."

She grinned lovingly at the picture and then at her ‘boss.’ "Well their father’s not having to play guard dog yet……You know they only have eyes for you."

His eyebrows rose and he placed a hand to his heart. "Well you tell them that if I was a few years younger, I’d definitely have a tough decision on my hands……They’re really lovely Janice," he finished, placing the photo back down on her desk.

"Yeah well, they’ve got about 10 copies of your issue of Computer Techie at home –

Lucky’s entire face scrunched. "Oh God…burn them."

"They’d kill me!" Janice laughed. "As it is, their entire room is wallpapered with your mug…And you know, my stock has gone way up as a ‘cool mom’ just because I happen to work with you."

Rolling his eyes, Lucky smiled. "Well, glad I could help."

"So…" Janice began, taking in the faraway look that settled behind his eyes and the constant state of distraction he seemed to be in today. "Tell me about her."

"Tell you about who?" Lucky said, turning to her with wide-eyed innocence.

Janice tilted her head to the side as if to say ‘don’t give me that’ and Lucky hopped off of her desk. Jumping quickly into the chair in front of it. He bit his lip. He hadn’t wanted to seem too eager about spewing, but this was Janice after all.

"First off," he began. Trying to reign in his enthusiasm. "How’d you find out?"

"How do you think? I just kept nagging Wallace about where you were, and I got it out of him…the kid’s not hard to break."

Lucky drove his fingers through the front of his hair and leaned forward. Not really caring where she’d gotten the information from anyway. He only wanted to yap about the best thing that ever happened to him in his life.

"Her name is Elizabeth."

"Nice," Janice smiled knowingly. The kid was stone cold in love…she could tell already. "And you met her in Vegas."

Lucky smiled awkwardly. This would be the first person he told about exactly HOW he’d met Elizabeth. But something inside of him wasn’t exactly nervous. Janice was usually really cool about things. Especially when she knew they meant a lot to him.

Sometimes Lucky felt like Janice was his mom away from mom.

He gave fleeting thought to the fact that he hadn’t TOLD his mom yet or his dad about his new living arrangements…He’d deal with that phone call later. Obviously Wallace hadn’t opened his big mouth and called them yet. Or his mother would have called with concern in her voice and his father would have called to congratulate.

"Yeah," he began. "I met her in Vegas at a…a strip club."

Janice’s finely plucked eyebrow fidgeted. "Oh really?"

The slight tug at the corners of her mouth had Lucky smiling too. "Yeah…she’s a – well she WAS a stripper…although I really didn’t um – I didn’t SEE her strip. I just kinda… Well it’s a long story but her boss was giving her a hard time that night wanting her to – well, anyway we sorta wound up spending the night together but nothing happened see? It was like…I don’t know…this was over a month ago when we met, but Janice…I mean you saw how distracted I was around here. How I never got anything done…it’s because she was on my mind 24/7, Janice. I couldn’t stop thinking about her…so I went back and…

"And the rest is history," Janice smiled lovingly.

Although distraction was STILL the word of the day. Even if he had found her, the girl seemed to still be on his mind ‘24/7’ as he’d called it.

Lucky inhaled deeply. "So what do you think? You think I’m crazy right?…Wallace thinks I’m out of my mind."

Folding her arms over her chest, Janice leaned forward. "For the record – Wallace is probably just jealous."

"Jan –

She held up a hand. "No, no…I’m not putting him down – I’m just calling it like I see it. The man is jealous because he wants what you have. He wants to love someone as unabashedly as you seem to love this girl…EVERYONE wants that Lucky."

"Well, not everyone," Lucky said softly. Thinking of how Elizabeth herself didn’t seem to want to be in love. Even if she WAS in love with him, she definitely didn’t want to be. It most assuredly wasn’t by choice.

"What does that mean?"

"Nuthin," Lucky sighed. "I just…Elizabeth is very – she’s very gun shy…I’m not sure why exactly. I know that she’s been hurt. That much is obvious…but I still don’t know much about her history. She’s really guarded - really afraid of letting me in too far, you know?…She wants to be – um…platonic."

"Platonic?" Janice asked. Hearing him perfectly well, but needing to clarify.

"Platonic," Lucky repeated. "It was sorta my idea, but I honestly didn’t think she’d take me up on it at the time...I was wrong."

"Oy vey."

"Yeah," Lucky sighed. "No kidding."

Janice smiled sympathetically. "Well kiddo it sounds like you’ve got your work cut out for you with this one…but from the look on your face and the spring in your step this morning, I’d say when all is said and done it’ll be worth it…Just hang in."

"I plan on it," he said rising. "I guess I should go to my own office now," he said after a moment. "Actually try and get some work done today."

"That would be nice…since they do pay you and all." Janice smiled. "Listen Sweetheart…she ain’t gonna be able to resist you for long. Not with that face, and not with you talking about her like you met her at a convent instead of a strip club…you’re one of the good ones honey and she’s gonna know that soon."

Lucky only smiled as he pushed open his office door. "Thank you."

Janice nodded in response and went back to her work. Damn, if she were only 20 years younger…

~~~~~~~

Elizabeth climbed the steps from the subway stop and sighed. ‘Another 10 blocks, and another 10 turndowns coming right up Webber.’

It had been a long, trying day. Especially long in a pair of pumps that she’d spent the last few hours ‘breaking in’ and a pink business suit that wasn’t her.

She wasn’t cut out for business clothes. It seemed she wasn’t cut out for anything.

Without a college education, and no real references to speak of, was it any wonder? Who the Hell was she trying to kid anyway? The only thing she’d ever really been good at was taking her clothes off anyway.

"Yeah right…a job…" she whispered sarcastically to herself as she walked down the street in a haze. Where the Hell was she going? What was she doing here in New York City? Had she been crazy? Temporarily insane to take Lucky up on this offer? She had to have been!

She didn’t belong here. She belonged in a strip club in Las Vegas where guys with fat fingers stuck 5’s in her g-string. Where at least she knew what she was doing!

This was such a fucking joke. ‘No, YOU’RE the joke Webber,’ she corrected herself silently. ‘Thinking you could ever be more than what you are…Thinking you could be more than what your stepfather always said you were…a little tramp - only good for one thing.’

She sighed and sat down on a bench. Rubbing her temples. She had to get his voice out of her head. It’d been there all day. Yapping and yapping until she thought her head would explode.

Elizabeth forced herself to open her eyes. Looking straight through the glass window of what looked to be a dance class, when she turned around.

"How fitting," she mumbled. Wondering how many of those girls she saw moving across the floor in time to the music were professional dancers. Had been dancing their whole lives and had actually danced on Broadway or were working their way up to that point.

A fluorescent pink flyer on the corner of the building caught her eye, and she shifted to read the price listings next to each type of dance instruction that they offered.

Her stomach churned at the placement of a zero behind every two digits.

She suddenly felt 10 years old again. Realizing the value of money for the first time when she and her mother had passed by a dance center much like this one. Spotting the price listings on the door.

Of course her mother had told Elizabeth that they couldn’t afford it, years before. But at 10, she could finally understand what it all meant. How numbers worked, and what kind of numbers her family didn’t have the funds to pay for.

Especially after her father died.

Her head was starting to hurt even more now, right along with her stomach. Elizabeth pushed herself from the wooden bench and stared across the street at another sign.

An ironic sign from God perhaps. A sign that pointed out her destiny just as clearly as the pink flyer had denounced it. It read in big, bold, black letters: EXOTIC DANCERS WANTED…inquire within.

Elizabeth would have laughed. She definitely would have…if she hadn’t started crying instead.

~~~~~~~

Lucky looked up from his folder of notes on the new game and sighed. There wasn’t anything wrong with the design. That much he knew. He and Wallace had checked and rechecked during those long nights before he’d submitted the final draft to the committee and there wasn’t anything that could have possibly gone wrong.

‘Then don’t worry about it anymore,’ his brain allowed silently. ‘It’s just a rumor – so shut it down and move on…’

"Exactly," Lucky whispered out loud. He had better things to think about anyway. Like tonight’s Games Tournament and how Elizabeth would get along with everybody. God, he really wanted it to be perfect.

As if knowing Lucky were thinking about the evening ahead, Wallace walked through the door without knocking – per usual.

"You know," Lucky began. "I’m gonna have to talk to Janice about using that intercom."

"Whatever," Wallace sighed. "You love me."

The two men greeted each other with the special kind of handshake that only best friends had. "What’s up man…glad you’re back."

Lucky nodded and stood. "Look man, I think all this crap about their being a glitch in the game is just that - crap…I’ve been over the notes and the plans – there couldn’t be anything wrong with it."

"Yeah," Wallace nodded, shoving his hands into his pockets. "I think you’re right…the office seems to have quieted down about it today anyway…Unless," he said grinning. "Everyone’s just worried about talking about in front of you…you know now that you’re not on your little ‘vacation,’ anymore," he added in quotes with his fingers.

Lucky smiled like a used car salesman. "You’re funny Wallace."

"I know I am………So, you ready to get your ass beat tonight, or what?"

A guffaw exited from Lucky’s stomach. "Um…that would be a ‘or what.’

"You gotta be kidding me right? Have you EVER beat me at anything?" He continued.

"Yep!" Wallace sighed, taking the seat in front of Lucky’s desk. "January 1^st, 2000 – 6 a.m. to be exact."

"You’re kidding me right?" Lucky said. Sitting down as well. "I was TRYING to sleep off a massive hangover when you shoved the controller in my hand…that doesn’t count as beating me."

"Waaaaah-waaaaah…tell it to your mom."

"My mom would kick your ass too."

Wallace scrunched his eyes and looked towards the ceiling for a moment before nodding. "Yeah…yeah…I think you’re right. I’m actually pretty scared of your mom."

Lucky laughed and placed some of the notes he’d laid out on his desk back inside the manila folder. "I know."

"But now that you mention it," Wallace began with a grin on his face as he leaned forward. "Have you told the beautiful Mrs. Spencer about Miss Webber?"

Lucky reached behind him and stretched.

"That would be a ‘no,’" Wallace grinned. "Tsk, tsk, tsk…livin with a stripper and Mama Spencer doesn’t know…I’m tellin."

"No, you will not," Lucky said leaning forward. "You’ve already opened your big mouth all over the office…I’m perfectly capable of telling my own mother thank you very much."

"Well at least you know your dad will be stoked," Wallace said. The first part of Lucky’s accusation dawning on him a moment later. "Hey! What do you mean I opened my big mouth all around the office?!"

"Means…Janice for one," Lucky began gesturing towards outside. "Knew I met Elizabeth in Las Vegas and that I was living with her long before I got back this morning…a little conversation with Janice ring any bells Wally?"

Wallace HATED being called ‘Wally.’ DESPISED being called ‘Wally.’

"Dude, your assistant is a pit bull. She got it out of me extreme forms of torture…I felt like a P.O.W. or somethin. You really oughtta tell her to be nicer to me."

"Yeah – I’ll get right on that," Lucky deadpanned. "Look dude, just do me a favor and try not to tell everybody and their mother yet, ok?"

"Why? You embarrassed?"

"No, I’m not EMBARRASSED," Lucky snapped. "I just don’t feel like my personal life is everybody’s business."

Realization dawned on Wallace. "Uh-oh…did Stephanie find out?"

Lucky sighed, remembering their run in the other day. "Ugh…as far as I know she doesn’t know anything…and I want to keep it that way for now…

"Elizabeth and I were having lunch at Atomic Burger yesterday and she just showed up –

"She hates that place," Wallace interjected.

"Precisely."

Wallace linked his hands together on his lap nervously. "Well you know I told her you were out of town when she kept calling me…but that’s all I told her Lucky...I swear."

"I know, I know," Lucky nodded. "I don’t think she put two and two together though. She was asking how Elizabeth and I met, etc. etc…I’m just a little leery because everybody here knows her you know….

"And you’re afraid she’s got some friends here…some old loyalties…gottcha."

"Thanks man…she’s just – she can be nasty when she wants to be, and I don’t her givin’ Elizabeth a hard time…I’m just gonna have to sit down with her first and tell her that we are UNEQUIVOCALLY over…no more second chances…no more nothing."

Wallace saluted as he stood. "Say no more. I read you loud and clear."

"You read what loud and clear?" Jack asked, sauntering into Lucky’s office.

‘Now this one,’ Lucky thought. He really WAS going to have to talk to Janice about. She was gonna have to start using that intercom. He couldn’t have Jack walking in here whenever he damn well pleased.

"What’s up Jack?" Lucky greeted, as he entered. Subtly placing his folder inside the desk. Wallace gave Jack a quick head nod in salutation.

"We still on for tonight gents?" Jack asked. Leaning casually against the file cabinet by the door.

"You know it," Lucky smiled sitting back down. "You bringing Lucinda?"

Wallace grinned knowingly as Jack rolled his eyes.

Lucky caught the drift quickly. "Oh no…not again…Dude are you EVER gonna stop being such an ass?"

Jack’s jaw dropped open. "Who said it was my fault?"

Wallace and Lucky exchanged glances and said at once, "It’s ALWAYS your fault."

"Shit," Lucky said a moment later. "Did she at least leave you this time?"

A huge part of him really, really, really hoped that she did. The woman had been engaged to the man for the better part of 2 years. And for the past 2 years he’d cheated on her with every actress, model, or dancer he came into contact with. It was a general rule that Jack had to screw everything female that every walked across a stage or down a runway.

Half of the women, Lucinda even knew since she was a model herself. She was a smart, beautiful girl who had everything in the world going for her. Yet every time Jack fucked up…she stayed.

Wallace shook his head, thinking the exact same thoughts Lucky had been. The guy had some kind of friggin GIFT for getting women to hang on. "If she did leave you, could you be a pal and give her my number please. It’s 960 –

"Shut up," Jack countered, sinking into the chair Wallace had just abandoned. The guy was always making idiot comments like that about Lucinda. Sure, he tried to play them off as jokes, but Jack was no fool. He knew Wallace had always had the hots for her.

But Jack wasn’t about to give her up. Especially not to a clown like Wally. He had a reputation to uphold, after all.

"No," he said finally. "We didn’t break up – she didn’t leave. We just had a fight…you know – the usual…but she’ll be there tonight."

Lucky nodded and glanced at Wallace who suddenly seemed annoyed. "Cool…I think she and Elizabeth will get along good."

Jack grinned.

"What Jack?" Lucky began, shaking his head already. "If you’ve got some crack to make, just spit it out…believe me you can’t make any jokes that Wallace hasn’t covered already."

Wallace looked up from his place against the bookshelf with a smile. "Yeah – I am pretty efficient, aren’t I?"

"No – no…I’m not gonna make any jokes," Jack said shrugging. "I’m just gonna say – man to man - be careful…Lucky, women can SMELL money. They sniff it out like blood hounds."

Lucky rolled his eyes and leaned back in his chair. "Is that your secret?"

Trying to reign in his temper as he pressed his hands together and continued. "Look, she doesn’t care about my money."

Jack shrugged again, as if he’d only been trying to do his civic duty as a friend. "Alright…I suppose you know her better than I do," he said with a grin. "A LOT better…

"Damn, what the hell happened the night after we left you two guys, huh?" Jack continued. Remembering the night they’d forced Lucky into a strip club he hadn’t even wanted to go to. Who would have thought it would have turned into this. "What’d you do? Tell her you missed her first act so she’d do a little private dancin’ for ya in that suite that you got?"

Lucky stayed glued to his chair as Jack rose from his seat. "Nope Jack…Actually all we did was talk…I know that’s a novel concept for ya."

Jack shook his head as he opened the door to leave. Grinning from ear to ear. "My friend, it’s a WAISTED concept…I hope you plan on doing a lot more than talking, since she’s livin’ with ya now," he laughed. "See you guys later."

Wallace glanced at Lucky from across the room as Jack exited. "Why is it that you never yell at that guy?…If I woulda made the crack that he just made you woulda reamed me a new asshole…but that guy…he gets ‘Calm Lucky.’…’Subdued Lucky’…what gives? I’m feeling really abused."

Lucky cracked the fist real smile he had in the past five minutes. "I only yell at you because I love you Sweetheart."

Wallace smiled. "Oh thanks Honey."

~~~~~~~

~~ Hours Later ~~

"BAM!" Lucky shouted throwing in the ‘essence’ that Emeril was proud of as he mixed up the sauce for the Buffalo Wings. By the look of the clock on the wall he had about an hour and a half before all his friends arrived at the apartment. Just enough time for the chicken to get spicy.

Lucky licked his fingers and his eyes rolled back in his head. Just right, indeed…He was the master.

Glancing back down at the clock, he realized that something else wasn’t right though.

Where the Hell was Elizabeth?

It was nearly 6pm and she wasn’t home yet. She’d left a message on the answering machine about being a bit late, but he hadn’t thought it would be THIS late. Surely she couldn’t still be out looking for a job. There was only so much ‘pounding of the pavement’ that a rational person could do in one day.

When panic prickled over his skin, Lucky tried to tell himself that it was unfounded. That there was no reason for him to get all upset. She’d probably be home any minute.

There was no way Elizabeth would put up with him keeping tabs on her.

Besides she’d left the house this morning bright and early, completely determined to get a job. So completely focused on that being her goal for the day. God, he hoped she’d found something.

Not for him. Not for the rent. He couldn’t care any less about the friggin rent. But he knew that she cared. She cared a lot.

"Just relax," he mumbled to himself, switching the television off. "She knows what time everyone is getting here…she’ll be here."

Lucky turned towards the oven, and gave the handle a good tug. The sent of brownies wafting out immediately. He hoped they turned out ok. They sort of smelled like Jillian’s now, but who knew?

He’d given her a call that afternoon to get the recipe. Wanting to make one of the Guest of honors’ favorites. He hoped they tasted good. Hoped she’d like them.

Usually, Lucky just made finger foods for these little shindigs but tonight was special. Tonight was more about Elizabeth settling in than anything else. He could see his friends any night he wanted, but tonight was all about introducing her to his family away from family.

Everything would be great. They’d love her. How could they not LOVE her?

When the intercom sounded, Lucky walked over to the door and pressed the "talk" button.

"Hi…it’s me."

Lucky grinned at the sound of her voice and quickly punched the security code to let her up. A second later he was untying his Kiss the Cook apron and washing his hands of all remnants of spicy sauce. He gave his hair the once over in the mirror by the front door.

"Cool…cool…" he whispered to himself.

When she knocked on the door, he sighed as he opened it. A smile the size of an entire continent smoothing it’s way across his lips.

"Sweetie, you know you can use the security code I gave you right? You don’t have to wait for me to buzz you in."

"Oh…right," Elizabeth mumbled moving through the doorway and removing the lightweight coat that she wore. ‘The coat that you bought with his money today? That one?’ Her conscience asked as she hung it on the wrack behind the door. "Sorry."

Lucky watched her as she moved slowly into the living room and pulled off her pumps. Sighing loudly as she did so. She was upset.

"No need to be sorry…I just want you to feel at home."

She looked up at him then and just sort of grinned, before nodding.

Her eyes were puffy. It was the only thing he had time to notice before she walked away from him and started down the hall to her room.

Elizabeth sat down on the edge of the bed as Foster immediately came up to lick her fingers. She patted his head softly and pulled her weary legs up on the bed. Folding them beneath her.

She glanced up at the soft sound of Lucky’s, "hey," from the doorway.

Crossing over the threshold, he came to sit down next to her. Foster immediately, retreating out of the room with a huff. His rival for her affections, having rudely interrupted his hand licking session. If the guy didn’t feed him, he may have bitten him.

"Things didn’t go so great today, huh?" Lucky asked. Watching as she stood to remove the suit jacket that she wore. Trying not to become distracted by the sight of her in a camisole and skirt.

"You could say that," she muttered. As she turned her back to him and looked into the mirror. Scooping her hair up into a ponytail. And pulling a small elastic band around it. "Or you could say I struck out big time…which really shouldn’t be a shock to anyone."

Lucky bit his lip and came to stand behind her. Moving his fingertips into her tense shoulders as he started to press down on the knots. She dropped her head forward and his sturdy fingertips penetrated her tight muscles. Kneading lightly into her flesh.

If she let herself, the entire day could have faded away.

"You’re gonna find something Elizabeth…maybe you didn’t today – maybe you won’t tomorrow…but something will come up for you soon."

"Yeah," she mumbled looking down at the carpet and his huge bare feet that stood behind her. Veins criss-crossed over them in the same manner that they did in his arms. "The lady at Dunkin’ Donuts seemed VERY eager to hire me. With my extensive fast food history and all…it seems, that kind of quick drive-through experience is highly admired in the donut industry."

"Hey," he whispered, turning her around to look at him. "Stop that ok?…I don’t wanna hear you talk like that. You’re extremely intelligent and you catch on to things very quickly…you just haven’t found the RIGHT place yet – but you will."

"Lucky!" Elizabeth nearly shouted, moving away from his grasp to stalk across the room in search of a pair of jeans. "People want EXPERIENCE. People want someone with a college degree. Not some girl that barely made it out of her hick town high school, pulled a brief stint at Mickey Dees and then stripped for a few years…that’s not the kind of resume people are looking for and you KNOW it."

"Elizabeth," Lucky sighed, sinking down to the bed as he watched her snatch a pair of jeans from her drawer. "Why do you do that? Why are you constantly selling yourself short?"

"I’m not Lucky," Elizabeth mumbled pulling the jeans up beneath her skirt and then unzipping the skirt to yank it off in one quick move. At least stripping taught you how to get dressed and undressed pretty quickly. "I just know my limitations. I know what I can and can’t do."

Lucky liked his lips. "And in your mind, what is that? What is it you’re qualified to do?"

He wanted her to say ‘everything and anything I set my mind to, Lucky,’ but he knew that wouldn’t happen.

"Hmm," Elizabeth hummed, placing her hands on her hips as if really thinking about it. "Basically?…Well, I’m pretty good at sleeping…oh yeah – and taking my clothes off for money…and who the Hell knows, I could have been good at doing a lot more with my body and getting paid for it, but thanks to you I’ll never know."

The straw that broke the camel’s back had him up from the bed, and grabbing her by the arms in a split-second. "Stop that!" He said. His voice quiet but, firm. "Listen," he implored. Taking his hands away from her upper arms and brushing his knuckles gently against her cheeks.

When she tried to glance away, he held her head there. Forcing her eyes to meet his. "YOU…you can do anything that you want to do. Do you understand me?…You obviously ran into a lot of blind assholes today that didn’t know a good thing when they saw it…but I’m not blind Elizabeth. I know what I see when I look at you and it’s NOT a quitter and it’s certainly not a woman who’s good at simply taking her clothes off to please other people."

Again she tried to pull away, but he wouldn’t allow it. "The woman I’M looking at?…She’s so extremely talented and special…but she doesn’t know it. She THINKS she’s just this ordinary, ‘fade into the woodwork’ type of girl but she’s not…because she shines so brightly that she couldn’t fade into anything even if she tried. She’s somebody that left home in search of a dream and has done everything she had to, to survive. Somebody that keeps her head above water when other people would just give in and drown…

"Elizabeth YOU are going to find something. You will…and it will be so friggin fantastic that I’ll have to scrape you off the ceiling when you get it…Because believe me – I’m not gonna be the only one who sees this side of you Elizabeth. Sooner or later someone else is going to see it, and everything you’ve ever wanted is going to come true…Everything you’ve ever dreamed of – because you’re a fighter and you’re gonna make it happen."

When she knew without a doubt that she would cry, she looked down at his feet again. They were beautiful feet.

Lucky brushed her hair out of her face took his hands away a moment later. The smell of something burning catching his attention.

Elizabeth smelled it too and Lucky grinned. Reaching up to wipe the beginnings of a tear away from the corner of her eye. "I’m trying to make you brownies…I called Jillian."

Her heart tightened and she nodded. "Thank you."

Although she wasn’t really referring to the dessert, Lucky nodded as well. "You may not be thanking me when you taste them."

And with that he started to back away from her. "You still up for a party? Because if you’re not I could just -"

Elizabeth gave him a trembling smile. "I’m more ready for a party than I have been in a long time...bring it on."

~~~~~~~

~~ Two Hours Later ~~

Elizabeth giggled and sipped at her margarita. As it turned out, Lucky made and excellent drink as well as really good egg rolls, Buffalo Wings, and brownies…dear God the brownies tasted almost as good as Jillian’s.

Slightly burnt on the edges…but that was her fault. Her eyes rolled back in her head as she began chewing on another chocolate morsel.

"You’ve outdone yourself Lucky," Lucinda smiled, sitting down next to Liz on the couch as the boys fought over who would play Lucky next. They always got into these arguments.

Lucinda was gorgeous. Long brown hair and legs up to her neck. Elizabeth thought back to the other day at Atomic Burger and the image of Stephanie passed through her mind. It seemed every woman Lucky knew was unfairly beautiful. Why the Hell did he bother with HER again?

The really sick thing was…Lucinda was actually nice.

So, Elizabeth picked up her frosty glass of margarita again and gulped at it.

"How do you like it so far?" Lucinda asked. Wanting to make conversation with the new girl. Finally someone of her own gender in this little clique to talk to. Of course there’d been Stephanie…but she – well – she was Stephanie. "New York, I mean."

Elizabeth thought about her day and how bitter she’d been when she got home, but that wasn’t New York’s fault. It was hers. The first day she’d spent in it with Lucky had been…radiant.

"I love it. It’s so…everything just moves so fast you know? It’s just how I imagined it to be…but better."

Lucinda smiled. "Wow…well your obviously adjusting to it a lot better than I did when I

first moved here…God, I was so homesick."

Elizabeth brought her legs under her on the couch and faced her. "Where are you from originally?"

"Kansas."

"Oh wow."

"Yeah," Lucinda laughed, with wide eyes. "Wow is right…Lucinda definitely ain’t in Kansas anymore…but I wouldn’t have it any other way," she continued. "I love it here…my friends are here now," she added pointedly glancing at the boys. "My own little support group."

Lucky played Bruce now.

"Oh poor guy," Lucinda said. Beginning to speak again as she glanced at Liz. "Bruce sucks even more than Wallace does."

"Hey! I resemble that remark!" Wallace said, sitting down beside Lucinda. "So what are you two hens cluckin’ about?"

"Girl stuff Wallace," Lucinda informed.

"Oh, so you must be talking about my fine physique then…carry on," Wallace added. Folding his arms and leaning back on the couch.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. Wallace was a hoot. She’d secretly been getting a kick out of him all night long. Although, she’d already surmised that it would be deadly to actually TELL him that.

"Actually," Lucinda began. "We were talking about me being from Kansas."

"Oh yes, a sad – sad story," Wallace said, sighing. "Me on the other hand, Elizabeth…born and bred in Jersey."

"And obviously so proud," Elizabeth pointed out with a smile.

Lucinda giggled. "Oh she’s got your number already Wallace."

Wallace tilted his head to the side in a bit of admiration. "So where are you from little red riding hood?…You from the backwoods too?"

"Oh that’s right," Elizabeth said. Putting on her best country hick accent. "Colarada simply ain’t as urban as you folks out heres is…and Nevada…well you know we ‘ont do nutin but sin in that there province…this here big apple’s much more su-fista…sufiticated."

Chuckling, Lucky called over his shoulder as Bruce struck out at ‘Bases Are Loaded’. "Stop harassing Elizabeth, and get your ass over here Wallace."

"Excuse me ladies…I have some Spencer ass to beat."

"Don’t let us keep you," Elizabeth giggled.

Bruce hitched up his pants as he got up from the floor with a defeated look on his face. He reminded Elizabeth of somebody’s uncle. The kind of guy that insisted he’d beat you at something, but lost every single time. A ‘pull my finger,’ type of guy.

He popped an egg roll in his mouth and then picked up a buffalo wing to chase it.

Lucinda looked up at him. "Hey, Bruce where did Jack go?"

"He went to –

"Keeping tabs on me again Babe?" Jack said. Smiling as he walked in through the front door and set the bag of drinks on the countertop in the kitchen. "I just went out to get some more beer Honey…relax."

Elizabeth watched the exchange between the couple. Noticing how Lucinda immediately turned away and tensed. Training her eyes on the television as Lucky and Wallace played. Though anyone could tell she wasn’t really watching. She actually seemed to have no interest in the game at all.

Jack popped open a Michelob and came over to kiss the top of her head before making his way down to the floor with the other guys.

Sensing someone in need of chocolate, Elizabeth picked up a brownie and offered it to Lucinda. "You look like you could use one."

Lucinda smiled weakly and shook her head. "Ah, thank you Liz, but I’ve got a shoot tomorrow…sometimes it makes me break out – ya know?"

Elizabeth nodded slowly. Funny, she could have sworn Lucinda had eaten like 4 of them a little while ago.

She watched as the girl got up to pour herself another drink, and Jack took the controller from Wallace.

"Struck out again huh Wallace?" Elizabeth cracked as he came to sit down next to her again.

His jaw dropping, Wallace stopped and turned to wear Lucky lay on the floor. "Lucky! I don’t like her!"

Lucky laughed out loud again as his batter swung. "Neutral corners you two."

Elizabeth giggled and bit into a brownie. Wallace was fun. "Did you think maybe he’d send me to my room without desert?"

Wallace shook his head and pushed out his bottom lip. "Nope. I thought he’d send you to

HIS room actually...and then make sure he came back there to give you desert later."

A suggestive raise of his eyebrow caused her to laugh in spite of herself. "There will be no…desert…of that kind," she mumbled.

Wallace folded his arms. "You know…my mama didn’t raise no fool. I can see the way you two look at each other. It’s pretty obvious."

Brushing the comment aside, Elizabeth turned her glance towards Lucky and then down to her hands. "We’re platonic…just friends."

Nodding silently, Wallace gestured towards the bedroom. "Well let’s go make out then."

Elizabeth guffawed. "No thanks…maybe next time."

"Oh, all right" Wallace sighed. Smiling as he rose. Going to check on what Lucinda was up to in the kitchen.

Elizabeth looked up when Lucky called her name. Saying she was up. The entire room settled down on the couches behind them to see the new girl go up against the champion extraordinaire.

Having, just lost. Jack hoisted up his Michelob and shook his head as Elizabeth lay down against the pillows on the floor and took a control in her hands. "Be gentle with her Luckster. She’s a virgin after all…to the Games Tournament anyhow."

Though Elizabeth stiffened, she forced herself to let the comment roll off her back. Lucky, however couldn’t do the same. "Jack, set the fuck down and shut up."

Elizabeth played too well for the tension in the room to last very long. For a ‘virgin,’ she lasted longer than any of the experienced players in the room against the master. Her batting average already about what and what with Lucky’s as the second round went by.

Wallace chuckled and placed and empty glass on the table. Removing a 20 from his pocket. "My monies’ on the woman…what about you Bruce?"

Bruce plunked down a 20 dollar bill as well. "Yep…on Liz."

"Traitors!" Lucky called out over his shoulder as he struck out.

Elizabeth bit her lip and concentrated as Lucky mumbled quietly so only she could hear him. "You tryin’ to make me look bad in front of my friends?"

"I wouldn’t dream of it…besides – it’s impossible to make you look bad," she retorted quietly. The volume on the television was up too loud for anyone to hear them now.

"Flattery won’t get you anywhere Webber."

"Hmm…not even if I told you that I’ve been watching you lay here on the floor all night, thinking about how good your ass looks in those pants?

"SCORE!" Elizabeth shouted as her batter hit the ball out of the park on Lucky’s way soft pitch.

"What the…." Lucky’s jaw dropped open in shock. He’d been conned.

Elizabeth jumped to her feet and hopped up and down. Wallace and Lucinda both rising to toast her victory. Lucinda gave her a high five. "You go girl!"

"No way," Lucky sighed. Shaking his head. "I demand a recount."

Bruce shook his head and held up Lucky’s arms. "Former winner…and former middle-weight games champion of the world…"

Everyone laughed as Lucky pulled his arms away and smiled.

Lucinda smiled with glee as she took one of Elizabeth’s arms in hers, and Wallace took the other. "The new…featherweight champion of games……Eeeeeeeeeeeeliiiiiiiiiiizabeeeth Webber!!!"

Bruce covered his mouth with his hands, making the sound of a crowd going wild in some arena.

Elizabeth laughed hard and Lucky folded his arms. Staring at her from across the room. They’re eyes met for a long moment and Lucky grinned softly. He’d been duped…and it turned him on.

Jack sighed as everyone stopped to stare at the happy ‘not-so-couple.’

"Not that I’m not having a blast guys, but some of us don’t have the luxury of making our own business hours…so I gotta get home and go to sleep…you coming Cinda?"

Lucinda nodded quietly and let go of Elizabeth’s hands. "Nice to meet you Liz…we’re gonna have to hang out sometime, outside of boyland."

Elizabeth nodded slowly. "Yeah…that’d be nice."

Wallace bent and picked up Lucinda’s jacket, handing it to her before she took Jack’s hand and they made their way for the door. "Bye guys," he said. A sarcastic tone lacing his words.

"Bye!" Everyone called as they walked out.

Bruce said his own goodbye a few moments later. Wallace sticking around for a bit to help clean up afterwards. His version of cleaning up, being to bring the dishes to the sink and then split.

Lucky smiled as Elizabeth popped another brownie in her mouth and walked over to help him with the dishes.

"You don’t have to help, you know…you’re the guest of honor."

She smiled and took a slippery dish from his hands. "I like to help."

Drying it with a dishtowel, Elizabeth could feel his gaze upon her and turned to look at him. "Thank you for tonight…I had a lot of fun…Your friends are fun."

Lucky sighed. Not able to shrug off the comment Jack had made a little while back. "Ugh…I’m really sorry about Jack though. Sometimes that guy’s mouth gets the better of him. I wanted to sock the living shit out of him when he –

"Hey," Elizabeth interrupted. Placing a wet and bubbly finger against Lucky’s lips. "You don’t have anything to be sorry for. I had a GREAT time…and believe me I’ve dealt with far worse than a loud mouth like Bruce."

Lucky blew the bubbles away from his mouth and smiled. Wrapping his hands around her wrist to steady her finger as he kissed it. "That’s what I like about you…you’re so smart. You’ve already got him sized up."

"It’s not tough…the only thing I can’t quite figure out is why somebody like Lucinda is with him."

"Oy…that’s the million dollar question. We’ve all been asking each other that since she agreed to marry the slime ball."

"They’re getting married?!" Elizabeth asked. Her eyes wide as her hands held a dish in mid air.

Lucky nodded and then shook his head. "They’ve been engaged for like 2 years."

"Damn…You know, he didn’t even introduce her as his fiancée? He just called her his girlfriend."

Clicking his tongue, Lucky reached in the warm water for another dish. "Sounds like Jack alright.

"But," he commented, looking up. "It looks like you two got along good…you and Lucinda, I mean."

Elizabeth smiled brightly. "Yeah…it did, didn’t it…who knew?"

"What do you mean ‘who knew?’" Lucky asked, scrunching his eyebrows together. "I told you I thought you two would hit it off."

"I know, I know…but – I just have never really had like a…a girlfriend, you know?"

Lucky eyed her and nodded. A girlfriend was something Elizabeth probably needed a long time ago. Instead her life had been filled with guys that took advantage.

"You should give her a call," Lucky smiled. "You two could hang out and maybe you could talk some sense into her about Asshole."

Elizabeth laughed.

"As long as you don’t go getting any ideas about replacing me as your best friend."

They’d never discussed what they’d call each other before, but this seemed right. He was her best friend. Even though they’d known each other no longer than about two weeks, if you totaled up the days…he was already the best friend she’d ever had.

And she hoped she could be his.

"Don’t worry…I could never replace you."

"That’s good," Lucky sighed, lifting the hose from the sink. "Then you’ll forgive me when I do this."

Before she could ask what he was talking about, the jet stream from the hose spayed against her face and neck. Elizabeth squealed and tried to get away but he grabbed her and sprayed again.

Her hands dove into the water and she heaved some of the warm liquid against him. His shirt drenched when he took off after her.

Elizabeth ran around the bar. Shrieking as he followed, and Foster came running out of the bedroom to bark at the racket they were making.

"Get her Foster!" Lucky yelled, following her around the couch. "Cut her off!" He instructed as Foster went the other way. His tail wagging a mile a minute.

"Stop it!" Elizabeth giggled when Lucky grasped her around the waist and tickled her. She started to fall to the floor beneath them and he caught her. Causing both of them to slide on the now slippery surface.

There were huge pillows still strewn against the hard wood floor that they’d played video games on, and Elizabeth wiggled against the pillows as he kept tickling. His hands merciless against her sides.

She screamed and screamed again as Foster came over to lick her forehead.

"Get your own!" Lucky said, shooing Foster away as Elizabeth began to tickle back. Turning them over so that she pinned him to the floor.

Lucky wrapped his hands around her denim-covered thighs and flipped her again. Gaining the upper hand. "You beat me at Bases Are Loaded…but you ain’t beatin’ me at Tickle Torture."

"Oooh," she giggled. Teasing him. "Is big bad Lucky upset because he got beat by a girl?…Huh? Huh?"

Tears filled her eyes as he tickled and she knew she’d have the hiccups in a few seconds. He moved between her legs and pressed his hands to her sides again. Her shirt, lifting a bit as he did so. "You wanna see how big and bad I am?" He taunted. A grin spreading over his lips.

He panted against her, and she could suddenly feel all of his weight. Every inch of him pressed against her. Noticing how close he was for the first time. How wet his shirt was…how it clung to his flesh.

Every detailed outline causing the image of the bare chest she’d seen the night before to come racing through her mind at warp speed. She felt herself become moist in more areas than just her shirt, and it felt foreign to her.

Never had her heart beat this fast in response to a man. Never had her breathing been this wild and out of control…and she knew it wasn’t simply because they’d been running around the apartment and tickling.

Lucky eased closer to her. Feeling his chest graze against her drenched breasts.

He hadn’t meant to aim there…but apparently that’s where most of the water had ended up.

Because he simply had to touch her, and he was forcing himself to be a gentleman, he reached out to push the wet strands of hair from her forehead. God, she was soft beneath him…

Why did they always end up like this? Wet…and close?

His mind reeled back to their time in the lake at Mount Charleston. How he longed to kiss those damp lips again. To smother her with his own insane desire.

Lucky’s fingers trailed lightly down her arms and she shivered. "Looks like Wonder Woman’s strengths don’t lie in the area of tickling."

"You’re bigger than me," she sighed. And due to his position against her, she could tell exactly how big certain parts of him were.

Licking his incredibly dry lips, Lucky pulled away suddenly. Realizing that within seconds she’d find out just how much ‘bigger’ he could get.

"I’m sorry," he said breathlessly. "I must be crushing you."

"That’s ok," Elizabeth laughed nervously as Lucky stood and held out his hand for her to get up. "I’m up for a little roughhousing from time to time…just remember I’m a girl."

Like he could forget. Like just now, lying beneath him she’d felt anything other than pure female.

"Ok…" he sighed, moving back into the kitchen. "I’m gonna…I’m just gonna finish cleaning up in here –

"Oh, I’ll help."

"No!…no," Lucky said lowering his voice, upon realizing he’d yelled. "I just mean…I’ll – I can do it…you should go relax and finish off the brownies."

He couldn’t have her in the same room with him right now…Not right now.

"Ok," Elizabeth nodded. "Well, hurry and finish up…you can polish the rest of them off with me."

Lucky nodded soberly as he walked slowly to stand behind the sink. "Ok…just give me a minute."

Elizabeth nodded and lifted the pan from the coffee table in the living room. It wasn’t exactly wise to be in the same room with him right then, was it?

"Ok," she sighed. "See you in a bit."

"See you."

When she made her way down the hall and he heard the door close, Lucky leaned back against the counter and ran his hands through his hair. What the Hell had he done to deserve this?

Who had he royally screwed in another life? Was this karma coming back to haunt him?

How the Hell was he supposed to keep his hands off her when she was so exquisitely sexy…

"Oh! Lucky, hurry! They’re doing the highlights of the Knicks game on ESPN!"

And she wanted to watch sports in bed…

He looked towards the sky and clasped his hands together. "Lord…grant me the strength that I need not to…

That particular prayer or ‘not toos’ went on for awhile. As Lucky thought of all the things he wanted to do with her…to her.

By the time he was done washing dishes and done praying, he felt better. A few minutes away from her usually worked.

Lucky smiled. He’d be fine as long as when he went in the bedroom she wasn’t wearing one of his shirts….

He stopped cold in the doorway and Elizabeth had to call his name to wake him from his silent reverie. "Lucky…you ok?"

Swallowing hard, Lucky sat down on the bed next to her and started to pray again. "Uh uh…fine."