Chapter 5 ****when plans change

Saturday mornings always felt like a breath of fresh air. The city was quieter, slower-like it was taking a deep inhale before the chaos of the week began again. I laced up my sneakers and headed out for a jog, my usual route taking me through the nearby park.

The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of freshly cut grass. I let the rhythm of my steps and the steady beats of my playlist carry me, each stride pulling me further away from the worries of the past few weeks.

By the time I got home, my body hummed with exhaustion-the good kind. A quick shower later, I found myself in a rare mood: productive. I cleaned the apartment, organized the clutter on my desk, and even managed to prepare a healthy breakfast.

Glancing at the clock, I saw I still had some time before my meeting with Lucas. I debated between reviewing my notes for the presentation or just relaxing with a book.

That's when the knock came.

---

I opened the door to find Jake, my neighbor, standing there looking flustered. He was tall, with messy hair and a sheepish expression, holding a leash attached to a small terrier that seemed equally frazzled.

"Evelyn, right?" he asked, scratching the back of his neck. "I'm sorry to bother you, but Max here got stuck under the couch earlier, and I think he twisted his leg. He's limping, and I don't know what to do. I was hoping you might help?"

I hesitated for a moment. I had the meeting soon, but it didn't feel right to brush him off. "Of course. Let me grab my shoes."

Inside his apartment, the situation quickly became clear. Max was limping but still wagging his tail enthusiastically. "He's not in too much pain, but I think you should take him to the vet," I suggested after examining his paw.

Jake nodded, looking visibly relieved. "Thanks. I'll do that. I just... panicked for a moment there."

As I stood to leave, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over me. My vision blurred, and the next thing I knew, everything went dark.

---

An Unplanned Rescue

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I noticed was the faint hum of a ceiling fan. The second was the unfamiliar couch I was lying on.

"Evelyn, are you okay?"

My head turned toward the voice, and I blinked in surprise. "Lucas?"

He was sitting in an armchair across from me, his tie loosened and his expression a mixture of concern and frustration.

"What... happened?" I asked, my voice hoarse.

"You fainted," he replied, leaning forward. "Your neighbor called me after you passed out. He said he didn't know who else to call."

That part caught me off guard. "How did he know to call you?"

Lucas hesitated for a second, then said, "He found your phone and saw my name in a text. I was already waiting for you at the coffee shop and came right over."

The pieces slowly fell into place, but it still felt surreal. "I don't even know what to say. Thank you."

"Don't mention it," he said, his tone brisk. "But you should take better care of yourself. When's the last time you ate something?"

I flushed, realizing I'd skipped lunch in the chaos of the day. "I was going to eat after the meeting."

"Well, the meeting is postponed," he said firmly. "You're not going anywhere until you've had some food and rested."

---

Lucas disappeared into the kitchen, leaving me to take in my surroundings. His apartment was sleek and modern, with clean lines and a neutral color palette. It was almost too perfect-like a staged home rather than one someone actually lived in.

When he returned, he handed me a glass of water and a plate of toast. "It's not much, but it'll keep you from passing out again."

"Thanks," I said quietly, nibbling on the toast.

We sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the day hanging between us. Then, out of nowhere, he asked, "Why didn't you tell anyone you weren't feeling well?"

I glanced at him, startled by the question. "I didn't realize it was that bad. I thought I was fine."

Lucas's expression softened, just a little. "Next time, don't push yourself so hard."

---

As I finished the toast, Lucas stood and grabbed his jacket. "I'll have a car take you home. Make sure you rest."

I nodded, still trying to process how he'd ended up here, helping me like this.

"Lucas," I called out as he reached the door. "Thank you. Really."

He paused for a moment, his hand on the doorknob. "Just take care of yourself, Evelyn."

And with that, he was gone.

As I leaned back on the couch, exhaustion pulling at me again, I couldn't help but wonder what kind of person Lucas really was. For someone so guarded, he'd shown an unexpected side of himself today-a side I wasn't sure what to make of yet