What I Needed (It Will Always Be You) 🩵💜
Chapter 1: Best Friend Magic
After Vegas, Ashley gives Tim a ultimatum. Angela steps up to the plate and gives Tim the tough love he needs to come to a long awaited realization.
“I don’t want you seeing her anymore” screamed Ashley. Ashley Mcgrady, a tall, thin blonde that had been Tim’s girlfriend for a while now . “WHAT!?! - Ashley what the hell are you talking about?” answering Tim. Tim had never been so confused in this very moment. They had a nice dinner. Having their first date night since he returned from the UC op in Vegas. Sure, he had gotten an innocent text from Lucy. She was just replying to him after he had checked in with Lucy. Tim knew all too well what the aftermath of an op can entail. It hadn’t been a long, deep undercover mission. It had been a lot of planning, portraying their doppelgängers Dim and Juicy. He knew Lucy was probably fine. But he had gone through this many times with his ex wife Isabel. Tim knew Lucy was not Isabel. He still felt he needed to check in with her just to make sure she was ok. Lucy had broken up with Chris before they left for Vegas. She hadn’t seen a future after she returned from UC school and they were in a standstill after Rosalyn had Chris attacked. They couldn’t bounce back from what happened. Lucy, if she was being truthful didn’t want to. Chris wasn’t the man she wanted. Lucy had Tamara. Her roommate was extremely busy with school and working and was rarely home. So, Tim just wanted to check in with his aide. His friend. His former boot. Lucy had replied she was good and she would see him at work. Very innocent. Ashley’s reaction to her text, shook Tim. “No matter what we are doing. Lucy texts and you drop everything to answer her” muttered Ashley. “Ash, you are being ridiculous. Lucy is my aide and my friend. We went through an intense op. I’m just making sure she’s good” exclaimed Tim. “That’s crap Tim and you know it. I see the way you look at her when you think no one is looking. I see the way you literally drop everything if she texts or calls. I can only imagine what happened in Vegas. I realize you had to pretend being a couple. I’m sure you loved every minute of it” shouting the blonde lifeguard. “Yes, that is true. We had to be a couple in a very dangerous situation and bring down some very bad men. It meant nothing. It’s over now. I’m here with you now. So just drop it” answering Tim and his girlfriends possessive remarks. “No, Tim that’s not good enough. I want to be with you and only you. As long as Lucy’s in your life. She is going to be this wall in between us. If you care about us, you will not continue a personal relationship with her. I understand you have to have a professional relationship but when your off the clock, there is no need to speak with her. She has many people she can go to. It doesn’t need to be you” as Ashley gasped, not prepared for what came next.
“Ashley, WE ARE DONE”
“WHAT?!”
“You heard me. I said we are done. I will not be given an ultimatum. EVER. Lucy is not just my aide, my former rookie. She is one of my best friends. She has been through hell in past few years. I will not walk away from her. I will never choose between her and anyone”
“That’s what I thought. It’ always been Lucy hasn’t it?”
“I’m leaving, Ash. I’m not continuing with this. It’s become crystal clear to me that we aren’t right for each other. Goodbye”
Tim angrily stomping out the door. Jumping into the driver side of his truck. He knew he had completely deflected that last question from his now ex girlfriend. ‘It’s always been Lucy hasn’t it?’ Truth is she wasn’t wrong. He knew deep down he was in love with Lucy. No one would ever give him an ultimatum, especially cutting the most important person out of his life. Even if she was only his friend for the rest of his life, Lucy Chen would always be a part of his life, one of the biggest part. As he drove home, he didn’t know what to do. Hopefully a good night sleep would give him some clarity.
Tim had tossed and turned all night. He needed some advice from his other best friend. Bringing out his text thread to Angela Lopez. He could always count on Angela to give it to him straight.
From: Bradford
To: Ang
“I need to talk to you”
From: Ang
To: Bradford
“Uh oh. Where’s the body? Let’s get our stories straight”
From: Bradford
To: Ang
“Very funny. I’m serious. I really need some tough love from my best friend”
From: Ang
To: Bradford
“OK. Meet you at the station?”
From: Bradford
To: Ang
“No. Not at the station. Food truck?”
From: Ang
To: Bradford
“See you in 20”
Angela walked up to her anxious best friend. “Alright Bradford. What did you do? Just talk to Lucy and work it out” sputtered the detective. “WHAT!?? How do you even know this is about Lucy? stuttering Tim. “Oh please, Tim. It’s always about Lucy. She’s the only one that gets you this nervous. I am a detective. This isn’t rocket science” smugly answering his best friend.
“I broke up with Ashley”
“Thank god for that” snipping Angela
“Seriously. Lopez. Your not helping”
“Oh I think I am definitely helping. How long did you really think you could go on dating her? I won’t go into the long list of reasons but how about I mention the reason that matters”
“And what’s that, Ang?”
“Your such an idiot Bradford!”
“So touching of you, Lopez”
“TIM. For the love of god. Ok, I’m gonna spell it out for you. YOUR IN LOVE WITH LUCY. You have been for years”
“I-IM NOT. I can’t be”
“Keep telling yourself that. Who are you trying to convince. You seem to be the only one to believe that. Well maybe Lucy too. Because she is in as much denial as you. But the rest of us see right through this charade. However, I will play. Why did you break up with Malibu Barbie?”
“Ang. Stop. Sh-She gave me an ultimatum. She demanded I not have a personal relationship with Chen anymore. Apparently everything revolves around Lucy. All I did was look at a text. She was just replying back after I checked in to make sure she was ok after we got back from Vegas.
“Uh huh”
“Ang. Come on”
“Ok. Ok. So how did it end? I’m sure you told her there was no way you would cut Lucy out of your life”
“As I was leaving she said and I quote ‘It’s always been Lucy, hasn’t it?’
“Wow. For the first time. She is onto something”
“Really Ang?”
“Yes really. Come on Tim. Be brutally honest with yourself. Can you please just dig deep and confront your feelings. When you see yourself in a year, five years, ten years. What do you see? Or better yet who do you see?”
“LUCY”
“By George I think he’s got it”
“What the fuck do I do now?
“Oh my gosh. I swear Jack could figure this out. Go and talk to her? Why do you think Lucy abruptly ended things with Chris? You honestly think it has nothing to do with you? Because IT DOES”
Tim drove to Wilshire. Knowing he needed to talk to Lucy. He could no longer avoid what was right in front of him. It was a risk. So many complications but he wanted a chance to have a life with Lucy Chen. He was in love with her. There was no doubt about it. Could he finally have his happy ending?
Up next: Tim talks to Lucy
