Page 26 of This Time Around

“Anyway,” Luke continues, “We got to chatting and we decided to ‘buddy read’ a book,” he says with air quotes.

“What in the hell is a buddy read?” his dad questions.

“It’s when two people read the same book at the same time and meet up to talk about it,” April interjects with annoyance in her voice. “So, that means you’ve met up a few times, right?”

Her gaze shifts from annoyance to anger as she looks between us, but neither of us say anything.

“Well, I think it’s nice,” Maggie speaks up, giving April a pointed look.

“Yeah, I guess,” April responds, and then excuses herself and walks to the restroom.

Despite the uncomfortable tension between April and I, we all continue chatting for a while after she returns. After all, a few hours with the Jennings is the family time I have been needing.

The charge between Luke and I is another story. It’s been hard not to gawk, so I decide to call it an early night.

“Hey, I’m going to head home,” I tell April. “Can we get coffee this week and chat? I feel like we are fighting, and I hate it.”

“We are not fighting, B. I’m just upset you’ve been lying to me.”

“I’m not lying to you, I just haven’t had the chance to mention it.”

“Well, we’re going to lunch with Ana tomorrow, so I’ll see you then,” she exhales sharply and I can tell she’s also not being honest.

“Ok, but that’s with Ana. I guess I thought we could talk, just the two of us, but I guess not.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” she responds but fails to look in my direction.

“Can’t wait,” I respond sarcastically. “I should go.” I lean down and give her a hug, a little too frayed to engage right now.

Just as I walk into the kitchen to offer my goodbyes to Matt and Maggie, my phone dings with a text.

Luke: Meet me at the bar.

Me: It’s a 45 minute drive, and it’s late.

Luke: Please

Debating on what the right move is, I reluctantly agree. I know he needs someone to talk to.

Me: See you there.

The entire drive back to Cedar Creek is silent. I can’t bring myself to play music, or listen to a podcast, I just need the silence. To be utterly alone with my thoughts, undistracted, except they’re whirling so fast I can’t focus on them either.

Luke sent me a text about 15 minutes after I left, saying he was on his way. Knowing he won’t be here for a few minutes, I walk inside the bar, get a table all the way in the back of the rooftop seating area away from the crowd and noise, and nervously wait.

Luke

When I pulled up to my parents’ house and saw Blake in the driveway with April, I couldn’t help but stare. I love everything about Blake’s go-to look, the sexy clothes on the more revealing side, her bright red cherry lips, and dark brown eyes as they shine in the light. But fuck me. Seeing her in this understated, slouchy attire, void of makeup, with her glasses on, fuck! What I wouldn’t give to see what she looks like after a long night tangled in the sheets, with the sun peaking through the windows. I bet she is a vision in the morning glow.

I was so overtaken by her, I almost lost all control, words falling from my lips the second I got out of my car before I could stop them. The rest of the night, however, was full of tension after April learned we had been hanging out. Since my feelings for her almost slipped, and once I let her peek into my burning desire for her, I can’t seem to turn it off, no matter what setting we are in.

So now, I’m walking into the bar to meet her, not only because I owe her an explanation, but because all I want is more time with her.

Before approaching the back corner of the rooftop where she’d texted that she had got us a table, I stopped and ordered a round of drinks. Blake is sexy and sultry, and it seems to bleed into everything in her life, including her favorite drink, apple whisky, on the rocks with a splash of ginger ale. She made it one Christmas, and I drink it often while thinking of her, so I ordered two.

As the bartender makes the drinks, I stare across the bar at Blake, watching the people around her scurry about, with a sly smile on her face. People watching is her favorite. It’s one thing she loves most about her job. The incandescent string lights hung from the wood beams overhead cast a warm glow across her face, and she looks breathtaking. Each flicker cascading across her face lights up the chocolate color of her eyes, making them twinkle. The table is high, so she’s propped her feet up on the foot rest at the bottom of the table, the angle highlighting the curves of her thick thighs wrapped in her leggings. Just as my eyes trail up the length of her body, my eyes meet hers, a playful smile spreading across her lips.

Fuck.