Eventually, he gives me two sentences that only confuse me even more. “I can’t do this. Not yet.”
And then he’s gone.
And I’m left staring at the spot where he stood a moment ago.
Where he stood kissing me as if I was also the sunshine to his rainy day.
3
Callie
Two days have passed since Luke kissed me.
Since we spoke.
I haven’t heard from him, and I’ve been too busy to visit the bar. Work has picked up and the long hours I’ve pulled over the last two days have almost kicked my ass. It’s only 9:00 p.m. and I’m ready for sleep.
My phone rings and I flick the television off and move from the couch to rummage in my bag for it.
“Why haven’t I seen you for two days?” Avery demands when I answer her call.
I sigh. “I’ve been busy at work, and I’m exhausted. Twelve hour days aren’t my calling in life.”
“You know what’s not my calling in life?”
“What?” I’m not too tired to pick up on the sarcasm dripping from her words.
“Dealing with a cranky, moody Luke Hardy, that’s what.”
Oh.
“What’s wrong with him?”
“Fucked if I know, babe. He came back to the bar after he took you home the other night and he was really quiet, and then the next day his moods began. My guess is something happened after he dropped you home, but I’m not game to ask him.”
My breathing slows as I process her words.
I can’t do this. Not yet.
What did he mean when he said that?
“He kissed me,” I admit quietly. If it had turned out differently between us, I would be shouting it from the rooftops.
“Holy shit! And what? That’s all?”
“Yes, that’s all. But it was the best kiss I’ve ever had.” I linger in my memories, not wanting to believe they’re all I’ll ever have from him.
“Wait, back this up because I don’t understand how this all went down. Tell me from the beginning and don’t leave anything out.” I can imagine her settling back on her couch for the full story.
“There’s not much to tell. He kissed me, it was amazing, and then he stopped kissing me and said something about not being able to do this yet. And before you ask, I have no clue what he meant because he left without giving me a chance to ask.”
“Holy shit!” she exclaims again. “I think it’s about time we did some digging into Luke Hardy. We’ve let him evade all our questions over the last year, but this calls for some investigating. We need to know everything there is to know about him.”
“God, no! Don’t you go there, Avery.” I know she won’t listen to me, though. When Avery decides to do something, nothing can stop her.
“You can’t throw me something like that and expect it to be enough.”
I slump back onto my couch. This is bad. “I don’t want any part of it.”