“So, I’m intrigued now, Lu. What other embarrassing things have happened around me?” he inquired, wanting to keep the mood light. He needed light.
“Right, Lex. Like you don’t know.”
“I don’t,” he answered in his most innocent voice. “Tell me one, just one.”
She giggled. God, she thought, I’m like putty. How does that happen to me? “No. I’m not going to relive my embarrassing moments just so you can have another laugh at my expense.”
“Do you think that maybe it was the fart?”
Mortified, she struggled to get off of him. But his arms tightened like steel bands. She could feel his laughter rumbling in his chest.
“We are not having this conversation, Lex.”
“Come on. I just lost my father. You are supposed to want to cheer me up.”
“Really? Really? You are pulling the dead-dad card. You are horrible.” Again she struggled to get away, but the struggling started to do things to her body that were completely inappropriate. Ugh, I can’t do this, she thought.
“Yes, I’m shamelessly using the fact that my father died. What could have been worse than the farting incident?”
“You are such a bastard,” she said but even she couldn’t help smiling.
“Oh, I just remembered.”
“Lex Pellitteri, I swear if you even say it, I promise you I will hurt you.”
“That day, I remember thinking that it must really suck to be a girl,” he teased. He loved being here with her. She was still so easy to goad.
“I swear, please, Lex. I am not sure I ever got over that.”
“Big deal. What’s a little blood—”
“I hate you,” she said, cutting him off. “This is the problem with growing up next to boys. Please don’t say another word.”
“Are you blushing, Lu?” he continued. “Lemme see,” he said as he grabbed her upper arms and lifted her up so he could see her face. Sure enough, the blush had crept up her neck and was staining her cheeks. He miscalculated, though. Seeing her like that, so beautiful and fresh, actually blushing from embarrassment about an incident that happened thirteen or fourteen years ago, bowled him over. And suddenly the mood wasn’t light anymore. I want her, he marveled. Before he could think any more about it, he pulled her up so that his lips could meet hers.
It was merely a quick meeting of their lips. Not really even a kiss. But Lu pulled away from Lex so quickly that he had to wonder if she had a boyfriend, a significant other person in her life.
“Don’t, Lex,” she pleaded as she tried to disentangle herself. “Please let me up.”
Reluctantly, Lex let go of her, allowing her to crawl off of him. He closed his eyes, lying prone on the porch, trying to figure out how he had misplayed that. He rolled over quickly and stood up. He walked over to grab another rocking chair from the front of the porch, angling it so that they could both sit and talk. Feeling the past thirty-six hours zing through his body, he sat wearily and patted the arm of the chair next to him.
“Take a seat. Willa will be here in a bit. She’s helping clean up.”
They both smiled, knowing Willa was hating that.
“Great. She’ll be in a pleasant mood on the ride home,” Lu observed as she sat, albeit unwillingly.
“You never answered my question.”
Puzzled, Lu drew her brow together. “What question?”
Smirking, he said, “Are you avoiding me? Why were you hiding out over here?”
“Two.”
“Huh?”
“That was two questions.”
“Lu, I’ve been up for almost two straight days and my dad died yesterday. At least I think it was yesterday. I’m not in the mood to play word games.”
Acknowledging his comment with a nod, she leaned back in her chair. “I’m not avoiding you.” Shrugging, she continued. “Willa and I were trying to get out of here so we could get some sleep. It’s been a long couple of days for everyone. And the next two are probably going to be even more trying.”
Although skeptical, he accepted her logic. Before he’d seen her talking to Pete, he hadn’t been itching to spend any time with her either. He hated to admit he was sorry that she didn’t seem to feel the same compulsion he did. She hadn’t been rocked by the sight of him. He silently acknowledged that he’d been spending too much time with groupies. She wasn’t nearly as impressed with him.
“I know this will sound trite, but how are you?” he ventured, curious about her.
She smiled. “I’m good. Things are good.”
“What are you doing with your life?” he asked, then laughed. “Shit, that doesn’t quite sound like what I want to know.”