An Unlikely Deal(52)

"How can you eat like that and maintain your body?" I ask.

"Genetics?"

"Is that what you call it?"

"I exercise too."

I cup my chin. "Do you?"

"Uh-huh. Mostly weights. Don't run much anymore … obviously." He shoots me a rueful grin.

I place a hand on his left leg. "Don't be too hard on this guy. It's incredible that you survived the crash and the leg's still working."

His numerous scars tell me everything I need to know. I wonder briefly how things would've turned out if I hadn't left after Blake's vicious words. The bastard denied everything to Lucas, but I know what was said … and so does he.




 

 

"By the way, do you know when we're going to arrive in the States?" I ask.

"I had our pilot schedule a red-eye, and he's estimating that we'll land in Charlottesville around eight thirty p.m."

"Great." I pull out my phone and text Ray with the time.

"Who's that?"

"Ray-my foster dad. He wants to know."

"I'd like to meet him," Lucas says.

My mouth forms an O. "You would?"

"You like him, so he must be a great guy." Before I can ask him how he knew, he flicks the tip of my nose. "You were smiling fondly."

I didn't realize. "It's difficult not to. He is a great guy. And his wife is lovely. They live in the same neighborhood you do."

"Really? You never told me about them," Lucas says.

"We never talked about a lot of things."

We had sex, we had fun, but we didn't spend any nights together, and we didn't pry. I was afraid if I did, he'd disappear-he seemed so aloof and private. And I didn't want to talk about myself, worried that it might come across as a ham-fisted attempt to make him feel obligated to share in return. Plus, my past is mostly pathetic.

Lucas looks pensive. "I should've made an effort."

"We were both skittish."

"Yeah, but …  That's no excuse."

"So we can do better now." I wipe a bit of ketchup from the corner of his mouth with his napkin. "I have faith in us. Don't you?"

He takes my hand, kisses each fingertip tenderly and presses his lips against the center of my palm. "I do."





Chapter Twenty-Two



Ava

The place Bennie managed to snag is a popular expat bar. The owner is an Irish guy who married a Japanese woman five years ago. He and his wife manage the place.

Lucas and I walk inside, hands linked. The place is already half-full with familiar faces. I'm stunned as I look around. I didn't realize so many people would show, given the short notice and the fact that it's a Thursday evening.

"My god, Ava, I can't believe you're leaving! It's so sudden!" Barbara says, hugging me. She's a freckled redhead from Scotland with a Sean Connery accent. Fortunately, her voice is a good octave higher than his. Always down to earth, she's in a simple plaid dress and chunky boots, although she said the garment isn't at all authentic-she picked it up in Shibuya. She looks at Lucas curiously. "And who is this fine specimen?"

"Barbara, say hello to Lucas. He's my, um-" 

"Boyfriend," Lucas says.

Pleasure unfurls at the designation. We never called each other boyfriend and girlfriend before. We never really had the chance, since we were rarely out in public where we could run into people we knew.

"Hadn't the slightest you were dating." Barbara winks. "No wonder you didn't show him around. He's a catch, he is."

I sense him stiffen through our linked hands, but she seems oblivious.

"Good for you," she continues. "The two of you going back together, then?"

"Yes." I look up briefly at Lucas who smiles his distant smile. His aloof attitude bothers me, but maybe he just doesn't know how to behave around people who are really gregarious. "Have you seen Bennie? I want to say hi."

"Aye, sure. The laddie went back there"-she gestures toward the shaded area near the kitchen and storage-"with Drew."

Oh no. My spider sense tingles, and not in a good way. Bennie doesn't do well when he feels cornered, and Drew going with him may not be the best thing for either of them.

I turn to Lucas. "I'm going to go say hello. Can you get me a beer?"

Lucas's forehead creases, and I smooth it with my left forefinger. "Anything in particular you want?" he asks.

"I'm not picky." I grin. "Surprise me."

While Lucas moves through the crowd to get the bartender's attention, I head back to look for Bennie. If things are going well between him and Drew, I plan to retreat quietly. Otherwise I want to stop Bennie before he does anything he might regret.

I spot them easily in the back. Bennie is in his favorite black long-sleeved shirt paired with frayed black jeans. His hair is sticking up like he hasn't combed it in days. Meanwhile Drew is smartly dressed in a button-down gray shirt and navy blue jeans. The Converse sneakers on his feet are fire-engine red, lending a splash of color to the otherwise conservative ensemble.