I waited for a response. Nothing. I let out a sigh and looked out over the field. “What’s wrong, Lib?” Luke asked.
I shrugged. “Lauren. This whole Bruce thing isn’t sitting right with me.”
Luke frowned. “Yeah. Colt didn’t take the news of the two of them dating very well. Will said Colt got trashed and the coach had to have a talk with him.”
I shook my head. I hated to see the same thing happen to Colt and Lauren as what Luke and I did. This stupid cat-and-mouse game was crazy insane. Alex and I had tried to talk to Lauren about it. Her response was she wanted to have fun. She didn’t need a man to help her. I was pretty sure it had something to do with her dad. Lauren seemed to think he didn’t have faith in her to run the business. Him bringing Colt on as a partner when he graduated was throwing Lauren off big time.
I shook my head to clear my thoughts. I turned to Alex and asked, “Are we all driving home together for Thanksgiving?”
Alex looked over my shoulder, then looked at me. “Um, sure.”
“Okay, cause I think it would be easier if you, me, Luke, and Will all just drove in one vehicle. Unless y’all had plans?”
Alex wasn’t paying attention to me. I snapped my fingers in front of her. “Hello? Earth to Alex? Turning back to me she smiled and then asked, “Who’s Luke talking to?”
Turning, I saw Karen. She was standing on one of the seats on the bleacher below us. Luke was leaned over talking to her. Her hand was on his arm as she said something into his ear. That same zip of jealousy rushed through my veins as when I saw the two of them dancing that night at the Italian restaurant, then again at Whippets when they were hugging. I looked back at Alex. “That’s Karen. Luke’s ex-girlfriend.”
“Huh. Wonder what she wants?” Alex asked as she kept her eyes on Karen.
I looked back and Karen saw me looking. She smiled and dropped her hand from Luke’s arm. “Hey, Libby! How are you?” Peeking at Luke, I noticed he was already back into watching the football game.
“I’m doing well. How about you?”
“Couldn’t be better. I was just telling Luke that I wanted to invite y’all to the wedding. I’d love to have you both there.”
Uh-huh. Sure you would.
Smiling politely, I nodded. “Of course. We’d love to be there.”
She smiled sweetly and her fiancée walked up and wrapped his arm around her. She looked into his eyes and I couldn’t help but smile. Guilt raced through my body as I watched them exchange a kiss.
Looking back at Luke, Karen reached up and tapped his arm. “We’ll see y’all at the wedding then?”
Luke nodded quickly and then went back to watching the game. I chuckled at how stupid I had acted a few seconds ago.
Karen waved good-bye as I lifted my hand and returned the gesture.
Karen jumped off the seat and made her way back through the crowd. I looked up at Luke. “I have no idea why she came up and invited us like that, Lib. I swear I haven’t talked to her since that day at Whippets.”
I placed my hand on the side of Luke’s face. “Stop. Luke, I trust you and I know you’d never do anything to hurt me.”
He leaned down and brushed his lips across mine. Everyone started screaming as Luke and I looked down at the field. Colt was also a punt returner and he was taking off toward the goal line—again. Seconds later, I was kissing Luke again to celebrate the touchdown.
MY PHONE BEEPED as I reached into my riding boot and took it out. Grace, Alex, Meg, and I were all out riding. It was Christmas break and I was so glad we all got to hang out together.
I rolled my eyes when I saw Karen’s name. Ugh. I was quickly beginning to hate her.
“If looks could kill, whoever sent that text should be dead right about now,” Maegan said with a laugh.
I let out a grunt. “It’s Luke’s ex, Karen. She all of sudden wants to be my best friend. I can’t stand to even look at her at this point. All she does is remind me of the fact that she had Luke before me.”
Grace groaned. “Tell her to back off, Libby. I mean, she’s getting married, so I don’t think she is a threat.”
“I know she’s not a threat and I know she really wants to be friends. I’m going to have to explain to her why it’s hard for me to be friends with her,” I said as I shoved my phone back into my boot.
We continued on the path toward the river. Maegan let out a sigh and said, “I just love it here.”
We all came to an abrupt stop. We watched as Maegan’s horse kept walking on. She finally stopped and turned around. “What’s wrong?” she asked.