One You Can’t Forget

#

She couldn’t believe she was doing this. She pulled in to the parking lot across from Central Valley Bike Repair and gaped at it. The building was a large cinderblock rectangle, three large garage doors cut into the left three quarters of the building, and a small red door at the shop’s business entrance. The three garage bay doors were wide open, and she saw three men walking around. One was a Hispanic man, the other a guy that looked like he played for ZZ Top and a skinnier dark-haired, and strangely, clean-shaven man. But no Luke.

She was about to start her car to go home when the roar of a motorbike claimed the road. With eyes wide she saw the guy from the highway, the one who rode the 2009 XL Sportster, pull in and park at the side of the building as if he owned it.

Emily gasped. Looking at him, watching him walk and especially after he took off his sunglasses, she knew it was Luke Wade.

Oh, he was bigger, not the skinny kid she remembered. No, his chest was broader and his arms more muscled. He was fucking gorgeous.

Emily swallowed hard and her breath caught in her throat.

Luke. What was she going to do now?

She was going to go home, that was it. So he sent her a postcard. Big deal. If he knew where she was why didn’t he contact her sooner?

Emily started her car, fully intending to turn right to take her back to the highway. Right, towards home, towards safety. Towards loneliness.

At the last second she steered hard to the left, and then into the parking lot of Central Valley Bike Repair.

#

“Excuse me.” A woman’s voice cut through the shop. “Did someone here mail me a postcard?”

Luke looked up from his computer, and his mouth fell open.

Emily.

She stood in the doorway of his shop looking like an angel. He looked her over from head to toe, her blonde hair, bright blue eyes, her button nose, and those curves of hers. She was wearing a dress, a white and blue floral number that highlighted her eyes, her pale skin, and her luscious legs.

Here was an Emily ten years older, more polished, gorgeous, sexier.

Luke pulled himself together and closed his mouth. He was acting like a high school kid. Smooth. He needed to be smooth. He smiled widely. “Glad you got it.”

She nodded her head.

“Well, um, thanks. I’ve got to go.”

Go? She just stepped in. Luke stood quickly. “Wait! I mean, you just got here. I’d love to catch up with you.”

She seemed nervous. Well, not half as nervous as he was. His heart sped up looking at her. “I really—”

“There’s a little coffee shop next door. I’m buying. Come on, one cup of coffee wouldn’t hurt, would it?” He flashed her his best grin.

“No, I guess not.” She smiled at him and his heart nearly stopped.

“Guys,” he called out. “I’m taking a break.” He didn’t hear them reply and he didn’t care. Emily walked ahead of him a couple paces out of the shop but then stopped, looking at him for direction. He pointed to the right, and she followed across the parking lot. At the cement divide between his lot and the next, she stumbled and he took her arm and steadied her as she tottered on her high heels. He almost didn’t let go of her arm, but she pulled away from him.

“It’s really good to see you.” He couldn’t stop himself from staring at her.

“Same,” she replied.

Hell, she wasn’t giving anything away. He wanted to know all about her, what happened after the accident. Why she didn’t try to see him.

They arrived at the coffee shop, and Luke navigated them to the counter. “What do you want?” He wished he could say so much more. Like, ‘You're beautiful, you’re sexy, where the hell have you been for the past ten years?’

“Just a cup of black,” she spoke, barely above a whisper. “Small.”

“Okay. Wanda, a small black and my usual.”

“Sure thing, Luke.”

Wanda handed them the coffees, Emily’s small black and Luke’s extra large with sugar and cream.

“How about here?” Luke pointed as he led her to a small table by the window.

“Sure.”

They sat and Luke looked at her. “You look great,” he said finally.

“Thanks, so do you.”

“So, what’ve you been up to?” He played with the lid of his cup.

“You mean the past ten years?” She shrugged. “Going to college, getting a job, getting arrested.”

“I read about that.” He chuckled at how matter-of-fact she said it. She in no way seemed matter-of-fact. “It’s how I knew your address.”

She gave him a questioning expression.

“The Police Blotter. In the newspaper.”

“Oh.” She took a sip of her coffee, hiding behind the cup.

“What happened?”

Emily sighed. “My own stupidity. I allowed my boyfriend to help me purchase a car. Don’t get me wrong, I paid every cent of it. When I kicked him to the curb, he got nasty and called it in as a stolen car.”

Luke shook his head as he put his cup down. “What a douche.”

“Yeah.” She looked down at her coffee, then back at him. “What about you?”

“Well, after the accident, it took a few months to get back on my feet, and then a few months more to be able to walk normally. By the time I could visit you, you’d already left for college.”