Sweet Nothing(47)
“Hey. Hi.” I whip a towel from the hook on the back of my bathroom door and pull it tight around me.
“Hi. Did I catch you at a bad time?”
“Nope. Just got back from a run. You still at school?”
“Yeah.”
I can hear him breathing on the other end of the line. The hesitation is thick.
“Hey, Luke?”
“Hey, Elle?”
“Did you have something you wanted to ask me?”
He coughs. “I just wanted to see if maybe you wanted to have dinner over here at my place. I don’t know where you are with things, or—”
I’m uncertain of my answer until I hear it. “Okay.”
“Really? Okay?” I can tell from his voice that he’s smiling. Relieved.
“Well, my alternative is vegetarian tacos, so…”
“So really, my dinner invitation is rescuing you from an evening of questionable meat substitute.” His laugh is stilted, but it’s a laugh nonetheless.
“That’s one powerful dinner invitation.”
“Pick you up at six?”
“Ummm…” I haven’t had the chance to explain to the girls that Luke isn’t the cheating bastard they think he is. “Maybe I should come to you.”
“I’d better stay away from enemy territory, huh?”
“It’s for your own safety.”
“See you at six.”
After a quick shower, I tear through my closet, wondering if I own an outfit that says Sorry I jumped to conclusions, but you should have told me about your kid. And yes, thank you, I do look hot. I settle on a cobalt blue bandage skirt and a blousy black silk tee with barely-there sandals and a chunky gold bracelet.
It’s the right choice, judging from the look on Luke’s face when he opens the door.
“Woah. Wow.” He looks incredible himself, in his usual jeans and a crisp light blue shirt that makes his eyes glow. His hair looks soft and wet. I want to run my hands through it.
“Hey. Thanks. You, too.” I extend a chilled bottle of white. “Peace offering?”
His face darkens. “Oh, I…” He must see the panic on my face, because he takes the bottle and pulls me inside. “I mean, thank you. That’s really sweet.”
“But…”
“But I don’t drink.”
“Oh. I didn’t know. Sorry.” I can’t tell if my body is hot from the run or the embarrassment. “I can take it back, or—”
“Don’t be silly. I’ll pour you a glass. Come on in.” Haltingly, he leans toward me. His lips land somewhere between my jaw and my mouth.
I burst out laughing and lean into his chest. He smells amazing. Like grass after the rain.
“What?” he murmurs, kissing the top of my head.
“This is so awkward!” I groan into his shirt. I can’t help but run my hands over his strong, defined back. “Why are we so…awkward?”
“We’re fine,” he insists. He sets the bottle on the entrance table and wraps his arms around me. Squeezes me so tight, my ribs hurt. “We’re starting over, in a way. But we’re going to be fine. Trust me.”
“Okay.” I relax into him a little.
“Here. Let me get you some wine.” Luke nudges the door closed behind me. Inside, tribal music sounds over the speakers. It’s still light outside, so the chapel is awash in color from the stained glass windows. A few pillar candles flicker on the dining room table.
“It smells unbelievable in here.” I drop my bag and cell by the door and follow Luke to the kitchen. “What is that?”
“Salmon risotto.” Luke bends over a pot on the stove and stirs it with a wooden spoon. “I’ll let you sneak a taste when it’s ready.” He uncorks the wine and fumbles around the cabinet over the stove, finally producing a wine glass. “Here we go.”
“Are you sure this isn’t weird?” I settle onto a carved wooden bar stool on the other side of the island. “I don’t have to drink if it bothers you.”
“Not at all.” He pours the wine and slides the glass across the island, then grabs a sparkling water from the fridge and twists off the top. “I don’t mind if you drink. A few years ago, I just decided not to.”
“How come?” I tense. Should I not have asked? Am I getting too close, too fast?
But Luke doesn’t hesitate. “I never told you much about the accident that killed my folks, did I?”
I shake my head.
“We were hit by a drunk driver.”
“Oh, God, Luke…” I reach across the island and squeeze his hand.
He squeezes back. “Once I got into college, I found myself drinking more than I should have. Probably not a ton more than the average college kid, but still. I made some stupid decisions when I was drunk.”