Luke grunted. “That’s dumb. You’re freaking awesome.”
I couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled out of me. “Thanks.”
He pulled on the thread on his jeans. “I’d get that way with Dad sometimes. Not because he said anything, but because he’s just so…perfect. The chief of police. Always does everything right. Everyone loves him. It’s hard to live up to.”
“I get that. But no one’s perfect. He has his struggles. And I’m sure there are plenty of things he wishes he had done differently.”
“I don’t know. He has it pretty together from where I’m sitting.”
I pulled into a parking spot near the deli and turned in my seat so I faced Luke. “You are your own unique brand of awesome. It might look different than your dad, but that doesn’t make it any less incredible.”
Luke looked doubtful.
“It’s true. Want to know one of the things I’ve admired about you from the moment we met?”
He didn’t answer right away but then curiosity won out. “What?”
“How deeply you feel.”
Luke’s cheeks flushed.
“I’m serious. You feel everything around you. You sense when others are in pain or struggling. You don’t just brush it off. You face it. That’s incredibly brave in my book.”
He stared down at his hands. “Sometimes, it feels like too much.”
“I bet. People who feel as deeply as you do have to take really good care of themselves. They need to take time to refill the well and unplug from the world.”
“I get that when I read,” Luke admitted. “Especially fantasy because it’s this whole other world.”
“I love that, too. We can go through all the emotions in a book, but it’s safe somehow.”
He nodded. “I was actually thinking…”
Luke’s words trailed off, but I waited.
“Maybe I might be okay at teaching English.”
Warmth lit in my chest. “I bet you would be amazing at it.”
Luke’s gaze lifted. “Really?”
“I can’t think of a teacher I would rather have.”
“My teacher this year sucks. It’s the same boring books. I’d want to make it so the kids could pick at least a few books theywantedto read.”
“I love that idea.” I paused for a moment. “You know, I think there’s an after-school program at the elementary school for kids who have fallen behind in their reading. You could see if they need volunteers. I bet kids would be more excited if they were working with a cool high school student.”
Luke laughed. “I don’t know aboutcool, but that might be a good way to try it out.”
“I’ll get some more information for you.”
He glanced in my direction, his eyes holding mine. “Thanks, Hallie. You’re the best.”
That warmth was back and spreading. “You make it easy.”
The corner of Luke’s mouth kicked up as he looked away. “Enough of the ooey-gooey. Let’s get some massive sandwiches.”
A laugh burst out of me. “Fair enough.”
