Thorn in My Side (Bunch-A-Blooms 2)

“Wait. I don’t want you to jump to conclusions. This is not some secret we’ve been harboring. There’s nothing more to the story. Last night was a first.”

“And isn’t the start of the story the most important part?” Rachel asks.

“Rach. I don’t want you to get your hopes up. We’re very different people, and we haven't talked since it happened.”

“You mean since you snuck out behind his back?” she asks.

The words make me cringe. “I know it was cowardly.”

“Yes.” She nods and narrows her eyes.

“You’re mad,” I say softly.

“I don’t like seeing my brother upset. He deserves to find his own happiness. I think you’re the key to that. If you don’t want to pursue this, let him know now and walk away, but don’t. Don’t string him along.”

“I’m not.” I place a hand over my neck and shake my head.

“You don’t know Luk. Not like we do. But if you did. You’d understand he has so much more inside of him than what you’ve seen. I guess what I’m here doing is asking you to give him a chance.”

My eyes widen. Truly, she’s as devoted to him as he is to her. This insane power trip is his way of trying desperately to give her everything she wants and needs. There’s no mother-of-the-bride, just an older sibling trying to do the best he can. God, I wonder what he thought when I ran off.

“I can see I had Luka figured all wrong. Thank you for giving me the other side of the story.”

She grins. “Luka?”

“Well, he said to…” I trail off and shake my head. My decision has been made whether I wanted to admit it or not.

“Please don’t tell him I came by to see you.”

“I won’t,” I promise.

She grabs my hand and squeezes. “I like you, Olive. I think you’d be great for him, and vice versa. If I didn’t believe that with all my heart, I would’ve kept my mouth shut. This time, though, I’m going to be there for my brother and try to make his dreams come true.”

I walk her to the door, still digesting the new information.

“We still good for coffee next week?”

“Of course.”

“Good.” She walks out of the apartment.

I find myself wondering what young Luka Davenport was like. I close and lock the door behind her and move to the couch. I grab the phone and look up old pictures and articles. The cocky dimpled smile and joy filled blue eyes are always present. It’s like I’m looking at a twin of the almost somber man I know now. When’s the last time he looked like this? I saw hints of this man yesterday. I’m intrigued. What happens when we met again?

I wave to Petunia from the blue vinyl couch against the wall as she walks into Sidewinder. The coffee shop is one of our favorite places to catch up and get caffeinated. She heads toward me with a grin. I slide the caramel latte toward her.

“I got your favorite.”

“Thanks, O. Are you okay? It’s not like you to call an emergency get together over nothing.”

“Remember how I was invited to Rachel’s birthday party?”

“Yeah?”

“Well, it turns out she shares the same birthday as Luka.”

“Oh, Lord. Did you two get into it?”

“Arguing was the last thing on our mind,” I mumble.