How Could I be So Naive?

*Thanks for the lovely birthday messagages! :D Also 24 followers!!!!!! YAY

Work was interesting today, after taking Friday off I had lots to catch up on, so I got to work very, very early.

“Good morning Paris, you here very early.” Minnie said as she walked in to her office and dumped the hundreds of pieces of paper she had, and walked back out to chat to me.

“I thought I should be after taking Friday off.” I smiled.

“Oh yes, and how is your gorgeous new nephew?” She asked.

“His beautiful, seriously I’m in love with him.” I said.

“I would love to see some pictures soon.” She winked as she walked into her office. I had heaps of photos of him, but Grace and Simon had yet to choose a name, she was leaving the hospital today so they had to come with something, I think they might name him Harrison, which I love! Oh well guess we’ll soon find out.

The rest of the morning I was very productive, Brett and I made awkward small talk while he was waiting for a meeting with Minnie. We hadn’t really spoken since the night he stayed late and I think he knew that Nathan wasn’t exactly comfortable with us being friends, I know that I told Nathan I would still be friends with Brett but it didn’t really feel right, not after our fight which we still haven’t really talked about. Zoe came in about an hour late looking terrible, she had a hangover and looked like she was about to vomit.

“Zoe what’s going on?” I asked her when we were out to lunch.

“What do you mean?” She asked.

“Well you have a hangover and it’s a Monday, how are you dealing with your breakup?” I asked.

Zoe sighed before speaking, “I saw him yesterday...hence the massive Monday morning hangover.”

“I knew it, Zoe. Where did you see him?” I asked.

“At my apartment...” She sighed.

“Did you have break up sex?” I asked my tone light but I knew the answer I would get.

“Yes, not just once either...” She whined. “I don’t know what I’m doing Paris, I break up him and he calls me and then we have sex, seriously it’s like where in the exact same position we were before we broke up its just there is no commitment.”

“Zoe you have to work out what you want from him.” I said.

“I know, I know it’s not a smart idea to keep going the way we are.” She said miserably.

Suddenly we became aware of a dark shadow standing at the end of the table, it was Brett.

“Hey Brett.” I said attempting to be friendly.

“Hey Paris, Zoe.” He smiled.

“Sorry to interrupt your lunch but can I have a chat to you Paris?” He asked carefully.

I hesitated but Zoe interrupted, “I have to go back to work anyway, I’ll see you both there.”

Brett sat down filling Zoe’s place.

“So what have you been up to?” I asked.

“Paris, why have you been avoiding me?” He asked directly.

“...I haven’t. Ok that’s a lie, I have. I am going to be completely honest with you, Nathan wasn’t exactly impressed with our behaviour at the dinner party, so I thought best to give us some space.”

“I knew he wouldn’t like me after that night...” Brett said a little mysteriously.

“Why?” I asked.

“Well we were flirting like mad, look Paris anyone can see there is something between us.” He said looking at me directly in the eyes.

“Brett, no. Let me make this perfectly clear, I love Nathan, he is the only person I want to be with, I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong idea it wasn’t my intention at all.

“I think you need to open your eyes Paris, I can’t see you and Nathan lasting much longer, don’t you realise what a fantasy this is? Dating a famous football player, who you have described sweet and funny and gets along with your friends, his playing you Paris and you’re just too infatuated to see it. Soon you’ll see, and hopefully you haven’t left it to long for us to be something.” He said with confidence that made me want to slap his across the head and throw my drink on him.

“You don’t know the first thing about Nathan, and honestly even if we need break up, there is no chance of you and I being anything more than colleagues, I would appreciate if we didn’t speak unless work related.” I said as I snatched my hand bag from the chair next to me and walked out without a second glance at Brett.

I knew Brett’s type, hell I’d written articles about Brett’s type. He was the kind of guy that thought of every girl as a challenge, and if he hadn’t hooked up with her he’d lost the game. He was the guy that went after girls with boyfriends to make his life a little more interesting, I just wish I had figured it out sooner...

Ugliness

When I got to Nate’s apartment after hanging out with Georgie it was clear he was NOT happy with me. He opened the door, his usually cuddly nature nonexistent, Uh-Oh.

“Hey.” I said, giving him a kiss, which he pulled away from VERY quickly.

“Hi.”

A Painfully awkward silence occurred. He hadn’t invited me in so I was just standing in his doorway.

“...so, can I come in or?” I asked carefully.

He moved slightly and I walked in, ok so he was mad at me. I might be a little late to the game, but I can catch on to the rules pretty quickly.
Again I stood awkwardly, looking at his lounge room. I turned around to see Nate watching me.

“Ok, so you’re obviously mad at me.” I said I tried to keep my voice light, I really wasn’t good at arguments and one was definitely brewing.

“Yep.” He said walking right passed me and plonking himself on the couch.

“Hmm ok. Why?” I asked following him.

“Really Paris, you have no clue?” he asked.

“Well... I saw you last night, and we were all having fun.” I answered honestly.

“Yeah, you were having a great time. So was Brett.” He replied angrily.

I couldn’t help it; I rolled my eyes and scoffed. “We were all having fun Nate.”

“Oh yeah we all had a great time, I’m sure if you laughed any louder at Brett’s jokes you would have cracked a rib.”He said standing up and getting some water.

“Nathan, Brett and I are just friends! I would never, ever jeopardise what we have.”I sighed.

He seemed to calm down a little. “I feel like an ass Paris, but the way he looks at you...”He said.

“Don’t feel like an ass Nate, Brett is just a friend. I don’t think of him like that and he doesn’t think of me like that, if you spent more time with him you’d realise that.” I said.

“So your gonna keep hanging out with him then?” He asked his tone harsh once again.

“Uh...yeah. He is my friend Nate.” I said slightly aggravated.

Then it got worse, we both got overly heated, about a completely silly subject. I ended up leaving, the issues remain unresolved...I know that Brett and I had a weird moment, but I just wished Nathan trusted ME enough to realise that I would NEVER do anything to screw up this relationship.

He obviously doesn’t realise how much I care about him.

Dinner Party

So I managed to get everyone to come, even though it was late notice. I decided to make this yummy Greek salad for starter, spaghetti with some crusty garlic bread for main and mud cake served with ice cream for dessert. YUM.... Nathan agreed to come over early and help me cook.

“So babe, who’s coming tonight?” Nate asked when I came out from the bathroom fixing my makeup.

“Uh ok, you, me, Audrey, Zoe and Mark her boyfriend, Brett, Georgie...That’s it.” I said excitedly.

“Oh ok cool...I have training tomorrow so I might need to duck out a little early.” He said.

“Training on a Saturday? Well that sucks, you could just stay with me tonight if you want?” I said kissing him slowly; while he was running his hands over my back.

“Hmmm maybe I will, if you promise to kiss me like that again.”He said, I pulled him closer to me in response.

“Well we better stop kissing like that, or I won’t be a very good host, now will I.” I said attempting to pull away.

“You’ll be a good host to me.” He said smiling.
_____________________________________________

We were all sitting around the dining room table; everybody was getting along really well. Even Mark and Zoe were getting along great, which was a surprise after our little chat the other day. Although I realised about half way through the dinner Georgie and Brett would be better off just as friends, I also noticed that Nathan and Brett were pretty similar, so she probably saw him as more of a brother figure.

About 10.30 Nathan whispered in my ear, “Babe, I’m going to bed. Sorry to be lame, I have to get up early tomorrow.”

“No worries, wake me up before you go tomorrow?” I asked.

“Of course I will.” He gave me a quick kiss.

“Sorry to be a party pooper guys, but I’m going to head off to bed. I have practice early in the morning...”He said to a bunch of groans.

“I think we better go too.” Zoe said Mark nodded in agreement.

“Hmm me too...I’m so tired.” Georgie yawned.

They all offered to help clean up, but I was happy to do it. The mess is a sign of a successful dinner party. Audrey went to bed after everybody left so it was just Brett and I.

Brett insisted on helping me clean up, it didn’t take long so we decided to go sit in the lounge room and have another drink.

“So you had a good night?” I asked.

“I did, your right everybody is really cool. Seriously thanks Paris for introducing me too people and showing me around and everything. I really appreciate it.” Brett said genuinely.

“No problem Brett. I think you’re a cool guy, and plus if I didn’t you would have been stuck with Hally.” I said laughing.

“Did I tell you she asked me out for drinks...”He said. Brett also realised what a toxic person Hally was, he had seen her around the office and how she treated everyone.

“Really? Hmm I’m not surprised.” I laughed.

We chatted easily and before I knew it the clock read 1am, I had to be up earlier than normal for a Saturday because Georgie and I had decided to go to Bondi for lunch and a bit of shopping.

“Ha it’s already 1.” I said yawning hoping Brett would get the hint that it was time to go.

“It is too, I better go. You need your beauty rest.” He smiled.

We got up and I gave him a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek, he stared at me for a second to long before I shut the door. I’m really hoping I didn’t give him the wrong idea about tonight.

Instead of over thinking things I just snuggled in bed with Nate, I woke up to him giving me a kiss as he was rushing out for training, I instantly got a stabbing feeling of guilty and I couldn’t understand why.

So Much Testosterone

Work has been super duper busy the last couple of days, we got an updated list of Katie’s demands, like special brands of water that she can drink and a certain fruit, from a particular fruit shop she can eat. So it’s needless to say I have been crazy busy, poor Nate told me he had been feeling a little rejected, so I suggested he pick my after work.

Anyway Brett was fitting in perfectly, he picked up his job easily and was getting along with everyone, Zoe, Brent and I went to lunch almost every day of the week together.

Nate called me about 6.15pm to let me know he was downstairs; Brent was leaving at the same time so we walked out together.

“So what are you doing tonight?” I asked while we were waiting for the elevator.

“Not much, going home...” He said.

I felt bad for him, but I promised Nathan that we would have a night together just us, otherwise I would have asked him to come to dinner.

“Oh no that sucks, I’m sorry. Did you want to come over for dinner on Saturday; we can invite Zoe and her boyfriend and Nate and my roommate...” I asked.

“Uhh, your roommate doesn’t have a boyfriend does she? I can’t handle all couples.” he laughed.

“Nope! And I’ll invite Nate’s sister...you’ll like her heaps.” I said excitedly, I hadn’t had a dinner party in ages, it was a good excuse to get everyone together, and also to see if Brett and Georgie would hit it off, they’d be cute together I reckon.

The doors open and Nate was waiting for me, looking all handsome and clean shaven.
“Hey babe, this is Brett, the new accountant I was telling you about.”I said giving him a quick kiss.

“Hey mate.”Nate said.

“Hey man, heard lots about you.”Brett said.

There was so much testosterone in the room, it got kind of awkward.

“Uh ok, so I’ll see you tomorrow.” I said giving Brett a quick hug
____________________

“Ok, so where are you taking me?” I asked Nathan, when we were alone.

“I thought we could just walk around and choose somewhere, sound ok?” He asked.

“Awesome, how was practise today?” I asked wrapping my arm around his waist as we walked.

“Ok, getting easier. So what’s the deal with Brett?” He asked making a face.

“What’s that face for? His really cool Nate.” I said laughing.

“I’m sure he is, you guys have become fast friends.” He said.

I stopped him on the street before speaking, “Don’t be jealous babe. Brett’s just a friend, and you’re definitely more than a friend, I promise.”

He smiled a stupidly big grin and kissed the top of my nose, “I’m not jealous...Ok a little jealous.”

Suddenly I hear a high pitched scream, and two young teenage girls about 16 run over to us.

“OMIGOD! YOU’RE NATHAN LUKEN!” Screamed the first girl.

“O-M-G I TOTALLY LOVE YOU!” Screamed the second girl.

I gave Nathan a look, as if to say ‘now I’m a little jealous,’ he laughed and stuck his tongue out at me, before taking photos with the two giggling girls.
Nathan and I went home that night and showed each other how not jealous we both were...over and over again. ;)

Accountant

Minnie called me into her office today, I thought it might have been about the interview with Katie, everything was organised for it, we had some sample clothes and the accessories. I did love organising the interview even if it was for my boyfriends ex.

“Good morning Paris. How’d everything go organising the interview?” Minnie asked.

“Everything is organised. We booked the location and the clothes and everything.” I answered, handing over the relevant paper work.

“Good work, it looks like you have everything handled; I have to ask one more favour though.”

“No worries, what do you need?” I asked.

“We have a new accountant coming on staff, because the big boss thinks we aren’t being careful enough with our budget. Blah, blah. Anyway this guy is new from Melbourne, so would you mind showing him around the office, and show him the area around the office today?” She asked.

“Yeah no worries, I would love to. Did you say he?” I asked wondering how a guy was going to fit into such a female dominated work place.

“I did, big boss also thought we needed to incorporate a male opinion into the magazine. Obviously that doesn’t make sense, seeing as we are a woman’s magazine.”

She sounded exasperated, like she had said the same thing multiple times.

I smiled, “well don’t worry about it; I’ll take care of him!”

Then I heard a knock on her office, I spun around and saw him. He was a plate of mouth watering, deliciousness, he looked exactly like Brad Pitt (Not Brad Pitt now, but back when he was in Troy), he had longish sandy blonde hair and was oh so beautiful. I’m probably not describing him to well...but goodness me.

“Hello Brett, come in.” Minnie said, she gave me a quick I know his hot but please keep it together look. “This is Paris; she will be your tour guide today.” He smiled at me and extended his hand; I took it and smiled my biggest smile.

“Hey Brett I’ll show you around the office, let you meet everyone.” I said.

“Thanks heaps.” He smiled, and my knees went weak.

I showed him around, and introduced him to all the girls in the office, they all went stupid, laughing loudly and going bright red. It was great, but I’m pretty sure I had the same reaction when he even looked in my direction. We decided to go out for lunch, I invited Zoe, she said she’d try to get there but she wasn’t sure.

“This place is really yummy; any of the stir fry’s are good!” I said to Brett, we were sitting at me and Zoe’s favourite Chinese place.

“Thanks heaps for today Paris, seriously I know you probably had better things to do but I really appreciate it.” He said.

“No worries, seriously I had fun anyway. I think you’ll fit in here, surprisingly.” I said smiling.

“Why is it surprising?” He asked curiously.

“I mean we don’t have any guys working at the magazine. We are all girls, and get along pretty well, so it’ll be good to have a change.” I said grinning stupidly big.

“You have a beautiful smile.” He said, “Is there any way you would go out with me, you know after work hours.”

“Uh, I don’t think my boyfriend would like that too much.” I said trying to make light of the potential awkwardness.

“Ah, I’m sure he wouldn’t.” He said laughing.

“I’m sorry...but we could be friends.” I said.

“Friends it is.” He said amused.

We had a nice lunch talking about the office and the gossip and who to avoid (Hally). Despite the awkward moment, I really think that I have a new friend.