Page 108 of Graves

Luke seems balanced and attentive. He looks better than ever. His wheat-blonde hair is styled modern—longer on top, shorter on the sides. The natural waves give it volume, and he resembles James Dean.

“So this is where you live?” he says with a kind smile, looking up at the floors above the restaurant.

Inside, I shake my head. How could I be stupid enough to lead him here?

It must be the same old spell he still casts.

Given that, it’s fine to let him believe I live here and not at the other end of the block.

“It’s a nice area,” he says, nodding. “Pricey, but good.”

I clear my throat and square my shoulders. “I… uh…” A quick glance at my phone shows it’s just after midnight. “It was good seeing you. I don’t want to keep you… You probably have work tomorrow.”

Luke holds my gaze and flashes that soft grin that shows his teeth. It’s disarming, and I’ve never been able to say no to it. He knows that.

“I don’t have to catch a train if that’s what you mean. My car’s parked a few blocks away. I didn’t just help carry stuff—I made two trips and filled my trunk with Kathy’s things.”

I still can’t believe his old school friend moved just a few blocks away.

What are the odds he stalked me and pulled strings to get Kathy an apartment in the West Village?

Ugh. Calm down.

The walk had been relaxed. Luke hadn’t pressured me once.

“But yeah,” he admits, a little shy. “I do have to be at the practice early tomorrow.”

Silence falls between us. I don’t dare look at him any longer.

The practice.

The one that used to be mine.

“It’s not the same without you,” Luke says, his voice sad.

I lower my gaze and watch Pixie sniffing the wall. I feel like a stranger to myself. Every word out of Luke’s mouth feels like comfort and a warning at the same time. His charm gets under my skin and wakes up a weak version of myself I used to be.

Stop it.

Go home.

“I should head in,” I mutter.

“Can I see you again?”

No matter what else we talked about, I’ll never forget those words.

“Uh…” “I don’t want to push, but… I miss you. And today… running into you… It has to be fate, right? I miss you, Blue.”

A shiver shoots through me like electricity. The hairs on my arms stand up.

Blue. The daydreamer. That’s what Luke used to call me lovingly in the beginning. The nickname stuck, along with so many beautiful memories.

“I can’t,” I force out.

It’s only been two hours since Aran pushed me away, but I’m not so weak and desperate that I’d run straight back into Luke’s arms.

I’ve built something. A life I can handle on my own. I’ve proven that for twelve months now. I’m not the weak man Luke turned me into anymore.