Total pages in book: 180
Estimated words: 176012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 880(@200wpm)___ 704(@250wpm)___ 587(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 176012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 880(@200wpm)___ 704(@250wpm)___ 587(@300wpm)
Lucas’s face falls, and Madoc hooks an arm around my neck, planting a kiss on the side of my head. I can’t seem to remember my own language, all of a sudden. I thought maybe he recognized me earlier when he stared, but judging from the look on his face, he’s surprised.
“Hey, guys,” Madoc calls to Jared and Jax, leaving to go talk to them.
I stand there, managing to hide how hard my heart is beating.
Lucas blinks, and here—now—I know that nothing was better in my memory. I loved his longer hair as a young guy, and his lazy clothes when he loved rock climbing and being a lake bum, but I can see his blue eyes better now, striking with his hard jaw and sun-kissed skin. I drop my gaze to the crisp white shirt and tie wrapped tightly around his neck.
“I can’t believe I didn’t recognize you,” he says.
I swallow. “It’s been a…a long time.”
He doesn’t have social media. The only pictures of him I’ve seen are from events posted to their company’s socials or news sources.
He breaks into a grin, shaking his head as he comes in. “My big brother’s little sister.” He hugs me. “How are you doing?”
I rise to my tiptoes as my eyes fall closed. He smells like one of the stores my mom takes me to that has a dress code. It’s been so long since I’ve felt his arms, and tears spring to my eyes, I missed him so much.
His hands rest lightly—appropriately—one on the back of my shoulder, the other wrapped around my waist. But his neck presses into my cheek, and my lips part on their own, wanting to feel the smooth, warm skin too. I almost tighten my arms around him.
But I quickly pull away. “I’m...sweaty. Sorry.”
I lick my lips, hearing my brothers chat, and I know he can see how nervous I am. All the times I envisioned his return home, I can’t believe the moment is now.
I clear my throat. “So, how long are you around?”
I know the answer. I heard him tell Madoc and someone on the phone.
But his smile drops, and he thins his eyes a little, gazing at me. “I don’t know...”
The vein in his neck throbs steadily, and I take it back. I don’t really like his suit. I liked him with messy hair and no shirt, like that day at the summer camp.
“Uh, how old are you now?” he asks. “Twenty-ish?”
“Twenty-one.”
“In college then?” he presses.
I open my mouth, but then Madoc is there, with his arm around me.
“Our little Quinn finished at Notre Dame in three years,” he says proudly. “Runs Frosted over on High Street now.”
Lucas looks from my brother to me. “The bakery.”
“Yeah,” I reply.
He smiles again. “I remember your cooking. Missed your pizza.”
My whole body warms. It warms too much, and I’m boiling.
“You okay?” Madoc asks me.
“Yes,” I say, but it comes out as more of a pant. “I need a ride home. Since I’m not allowed to ride my bike or run in the dark.”
Madoc laughs and Jared and Jax walk up.
“We got you,” Jax says.
Yeah, I know. In the far recesses of my brain, maybe it would’ve been incredible for Lucas to give me a ride, but I know that wouldn’t have happened.
They start to walk out, and Lucas takes his drink but drops his straw. I bend down, but so does he, accidentally hitting the cap off my head. The long pieces of hair not secured in my braid fall out, and we squat there, only inches between us. That afternoon at the lake comes back as clear as day when we were under the dock. I look at him through the locks hanging in my face.
He’s not smiling anymore. And I can’t breathe again.
I pick up the cap. “Here. You said to hold onto it until you got back.”
I hand it to him.
But he shakes his head, gently pushing it back to me. “Hang on to it for a little while longer. I’ll get it before I leave.”
So, I’m going to see him once more before he goes?
I rise and so does he. “Goodnight,” I say.
He doesn’t reply, just looks at me like he’s lost. His gaze lingers on me before his brow deepens and he swallows.
“Quinn?” Jax calls.
But my shoes sprout roots, keeping me locked in front of Lucas for another moment. Then two. You could give me a ride like you used to, I want to say to him. He could tell my brothers we need to catch up. Tell them he wants to see the bakery.
I don’t wait for him to say it, though. I turn and leave, resisting the urge to look back, because my brothers are watching, and I already know what they’ll think.
Lucas Morrow and I are too old to play together now.