When the clock hitsix p.m., I was fidgeting behind Luke’s door. The bra straps dug into my skin under my shirt wherever they touched it, and my knickers kept slipping between my butt cheeks, making me squirm even more. This was a horrible idea.
I knocked. Then bunched the edge of my skirt up in my fist as if that would help with the nerves. The skirt was Glen’s idea. Easy access, she’d said. The breeze that touched my lower parts told me just how easy.
I released my fingers from my skirt and smoothed it out hurriedly when the door opened, and Luke stood on the other side. He was still wearing a button-up and slacks as if he hadn’t had time to change yet. With his five o’clock shadow and hair ruffled up like he’d dragged his hand through it numerous times today, he looked like a wet dream. I’d had one of those. Or two. Maybe five. But now that I stood in front of him with the intention of making them true, I lost any semblance of confidence I might’ve gotten from Glen’s peptalk.
“H-hi,” I said, raising the hand that had just smoothed my skirt in a very unnecessary wave.
“Red Cheeks.” Luke’s mouth tugged up in a grin.
“Blueish,” I sputtered, gesturing at the mark Glen didn’t convince me to hide.
“Aah, you might be right.” Luke opened the door wider and stepped aside. “Would you like to come in?”
I bit the inside of my cheek, nodding. His smile widened.
I shuffled closer, not sure what to do with my hands, or my eyes, or anything at all, really.Just raise your feet, I reminded myself as I stepped over the threshold.Also breathe.That was a pretty important one.
Do I kiss him now or later? I wasn’t certain, so I faltered at the entrance, preventing the door from closing.Do it,I decided, breaching the gap between us and inhaling sharply before I planted a kiss on his lips. Luke’s arm snaked around me instantaneously, pulling me closer as he took over and deepened the kiss. He manoeuvred us around enough to be able to close the door, then leaned his back against it, pulling me with him.
I could totally seduce him if that was how we said hello to each other. It would be a piece of cake just like Glen said. We’d need to talk at one point, but we could start with this.
I pressed closer to him, running my hands down his chest, to his sides, hoping to sneak my hands under his shirt. I didn’t quite get that far when he flinched and grunted. I broke the kiss, attempting to step away as my stomach already filled with hot coals of embarrassment. Luke’s hands still caged me in to his chest and held me firmly.
“What did I do?” I gasped. I needed to slow my breathing before I fainted.
“It wasn’t you,” Luke responded in a low rumble. “It’s a bruise of my own.”
I gaped at him. “What? Are you hurt? Why did you not tell me?”
“It’s nothing.”
“Clearly.” I untangled myself from his embrace and crossed my arms. “Where is it?”
He held my gaze while pulling the hem of his shirt out of his slack and tugged it upwards. I meant to do it myself and lose the shirt completely, but his hands stopped as soon as they revealed a bruise on his otherwise smooth skin.
I bit my lip, flicking my eyes from his face to the bruise and back.
He dropped the shirt and shrugged. “It’s nothing.”
“Okay.” I wasn’t here to argue.
The moment had passed, and I backed away towards the kitchen, wiping my hands in my skirt.
Luke pushed away from the front door and followed me. “Will you be staying for dinner?”
“If that’s all right. I wouldn’t want to intrude.”
“You are more than welcome, Haylee. I wasn’t sure if we were good after...everything. I’m glad you’re here.”
We reached the open living room, and I stood in the middle of it, wringing my hands in front of me.
“I wanted to ask for your phone number,” I mumbled. “Before we forgot and never heard from each other again.”
“I wouldn’t have left without a way to contact you,” Luke replied, pulling out his phone, unlocking it, and dropping it into my fidgety hands. “I still have your dad’s, though I doubt he’d be of any use after last time.”
I smiled, typing my number into his phone, then hitting the call button to have his. “I don’t know. You can be quite charming if you want to.”
“Is that so?” Luke leaned against the kitchen island, studying me.
