The Friend Game (Games for Two #1)

Chapter 15

TRUE TO HIS word, Luke manages to secure both the wheel and the kiln for the school, and the following Thursday, a crew of men show up asking where to put them.

I stare at the items with mixed emotions. My hands twitch at my sides, dying to grab a ball of clay and toss it on that wheel, but I tell them to stand down. The wheel is for my kids, not me.

“There’s a side room this way,” I tell them, leading the way to the huge storage closet that I spent the week clearing out for this purpose. There’s no way we can fit a kiln and a pottery wheel in the classroom, but this storage room will work perfectly.

Plus the walls are painted dark cream and the lighting in here is kind of dim. Throw in the pottery wheel and the record player I brought over from my house and the room has a vibe very much like that scene from the movie Ghost .

You know the one.

I can just imagine Luke sneaking up behind me while I’m throwing a vase and wrapping those big arms of his around my waist so his chest presses against my back. Next our hands get all intertwined in the clay then suddenly we start kissing and—

“Ma’am, right here okay?” The bigger of the two delivery men pulls me out of my Ghost fantasy, and I force myself to focus on him. And also discreetly wipe the line of drool off my chin.

“Yes, that’s good.”

Obviously this fantasy will never happen since this pottery wheel is at a school. And for the students.

And besides, even if it could happen, it wouldn’t be until March when he’s free to date me.

Hmmm…maybe over spring break when all of the students are gone we can sneak back here—

“Alright we just need you to sign the delivery slip and we’ll be on our way.”

Right. Focus.

“Great, thanks.” I hastily scribble my signature across the yellow slip he passes my way. Then I’m alone with my new pottery wheel and kiln.

Excuse me while I let out a dreamy sigh because I have clearly died and gone to artist heaven. Look, there’s Michelangelo. Oh and what do you know! Patrick Swayze is here too .

Unable to resist any longer I touch the edge of the wheel, and my fingers tingle with anticipation and longing.

“Wow, look at this set-up,” a deep masculine voice—one I’ve spent the last week imitating during romantic conversations with myself in my bathroom mirror—fills the space, and I pivot to see Luke standing there. A smile pops onto my face, and my heart rate kicks up.

I know we can’t kiss or anything now, but maybe I could just tell him about my spring break plan. Give us both something to look forward to.

“Hey, Lu—”

“Why yes, this is very nice.” Oh, he’s not alone. I cut myself off as Belinda Lagman appears behind him, surveying the room with obvious approval. “I see why you wanted to show me this, Pastor. This would be an excellent setting for the opening of the romance I’ve decided to pen.”

Luke’s expression turns to one of slight alarm. “Belinda, that’s not why I wanted to show you the wheel. I told you I thought you might want to see what good use your late friend’s pottery wheel and kiln are being put to.”

“And I told you that I barely knew Missy Gerdman. Yes, I went to her funeral, but that’s because I heard there would be details given out about the estate sale her son was going to be having. Rumor had it that he’d be selling her extensive romance novel collection.” She smiles with self-satisfaction. “I’ll have you know that rumor turned out to be true, and now I’m the proud owner of quite a few classic romance novels. We’re talking Georgette Heyer, who writes the best ravishing duke characters, and Lori Wick, who could really stand to add a little bit of kissing to her books if you ask me, but whose books are nonetheless enjoyable.”

Luke is looking distinctly uncomfortable now, but Belinda isn’t finished yet.

“Anyway, all of that to say, I know the real reason you invited me here, Pastor Abbott.” She waves a finger between the two of us. “You wanted an excuse to come see Miss Garza here without looking like a man desperate to see a woman.”

I purse my lips against a laugh as Luke gapes at Belinda.

“Belinda, I—” he starts, but she interrupts.

“Oh no need to be embarrassed about it,” she poo-poos his protestations. “Miss Garza likes you too, so you both can stop tiptoeing around the attraction, skip the miscommunication portion of your relationship, take the girl out to dinner, and kiss her till she forgets every other man she’s ever dated.”

“Belinda,” Luke says carefully, somehow maintaining his composure even while my suppressed laughter has turned into pink-cheeked awkwardness, “you know very well that I can’t date until my 1-year contract expires in March.”

“Oh, yes.” Belinda huffs a breath that lifts her bangs clear off her forehead. “I do know that.” She shoots him a knowing look. “But I also know that a single pastor in possession of a congregation must be in want of a wife to help shepherd his flock.”

Wow. Belinda just had us go from having to wait four months to even date straight to marriage in one sentence. Maybe she should write a romance novel. She’s clearly got the plot lines down.

“Mixing Jane Austen with the Bible,” Luke replies wryly, “does Bethany House know about you?”

“Not yet they don’t.” Belinda smirks. “But it’s only a matter of time.”

“I’d say that’s probably accurate,” Luke agrees. “And since you’ve decided you want to use this room as inspiration for your first scene, why don’t you take a look around while I discuss something platonic with Miss Garza here.”

Belinda nods amenably, then crosses the space to reach the record player, exclaiming quietly to herself over my record collection.

Luke turns his full attention on me, and having him here after almost a week of only glimpses in the hallway, makes the moment feel almost forbidden. I’m not proud to admit that thought sends a thrill of excitement pulsing through me. If Belinda weren’t here I’d be tempted to see how far we could push the boundaries of friendship.

Actually, maybe that is why Belinda is here—a safeguard to keep us from flirting our way over the friendship line. I’m both flattered and depressed at the thought.

Flattered that Luke thinks he needs someone to supervise us lest we get carried away.

But depressed that this might mean Luke plans on making sure that until March arrives we’re never alone.

Which is fine.

Of course.

I get it.

I really do.

Really . I do.

But that doesn’t mean I like it.

“I also came to tell you that your request to form an after school art club got approved.” Luke passes me a slip of paper with George’s signature scrawled across the bottom.

“Oh.” I raise an eyebrow as I accept the paper. “I already knew that it did, actually. George sent me an email this morning.” I point a finger at him with a knowing smirk. “An email you were cc-ed on, as I recall.”

Luke grins. “Okay fine, you caught me.” He leans in and whispers so Belinda can’t hear, “Turns out I was just looking for any excuse to see you.” He jerks his head in Belinda’s direction. “She’s onto me.”

I bite back a smile as my stomach flips. He wanted to see me! My heart does a little happy dance in my chest.

“Well, Pastor Abbott, let me let you in on a little secret.” I tap a finger to my lips, before continuing. “I’ve been trying to come up with an excuse to see you all week too.” Luke’s answering smile makes me forget about Belinda for a second, and my mind wanders back to my earlier pottery fantasy as I get lost in the rivers of his eyes that flow into the seas of mine— just like in the song. Somewhere in the back of my mind I hear the Righteous Brothers singing that very line.

“You know if you two walk around the school gazing at each other like that no one will buy your just friends story,” Belinda’s teasing voice cuts through our moment and both of us hop to attention; Luke shoving his hands into his pockets and me running a hand through my hair.

Luke lets out a shaky laugh. “Not sure what you mean, Belinda.”

“Sure.” Belinda rolls her eyes, then turns back to the record player. I realize with a start that “Unchained Melody” wasn’t just playing in my head— Belinda turned on my Righteous Brothers record. I was actually hearing it. Which means Luke was also hearing it !

I can’t decide if this is embarrassing or not. I don’t have time to give it much thought since Luke is now backing out the door, a look of regret on his face. A spasm of guilt pulses through me. The last thing I want is to mess up Luke’s job. Belinda’s last comment clearly upset him, and I understand why. The last thing he needs are rumors about us floating around.

“I should go,” he says. Belinda checks her watch.

“Me too, I have a class in ten minutes.”

Luke gives me one last smile, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes.