Chapter 17 #2
But he just turns and strolls toward the door. “You coming?” he calls over his shoulder.
And once again, I find myself chasing after him, mentally scolding myself the whole way. Stop being such a pushover.
When I finally catch up to him, he gives me that easy, infuriating smile and holds the door open like nothing’s happened.
“How chivalrous of you,” I say under my breath.
But the cocky twitch of his lips tells me he heard me.
“Chivalry’s just a form of foreplay, princess,” he says with a wink. “I know that’s a new concept for you.”
My body pitches forward, and I nearly trip over my own two feet, but Luka’s hand clamps around my elbow, steadying me like he was expecting it. My eyes go wide as I look up to find him wearing that same infuriatingly amused expression.
“Welcome in,” Hank calls without looking up from the register as he audibly counts the stack of bills in his hand.
There isn’t anything flashy about the warehouse-style building with its concrete flooring and high ceilings. Industrial metal shelves line the aisles, stacked full of an assortment of materials for any DIY project.
The smell of cut wood and sawdust hits me, and I immediately feel myself perk up. It smells like new beginnings and hope for something that doesn’t yet exist.
It may not be an art supply store, but in a small town, you have to make do with what you have.
Hank always made sure to keep a stock of my favorite paints and canvases.
I didn’t realize it at the time, but he really went out of his way to do that.
It’s just another reason why this small town is unlike anywhere else.
It’s the people who look out for each other, even if it means selling products it doesn’t make sense for them to carry just so a lonely teenager doesn’t feel so alone.
“Well, would you look who it is,” Hank says when he finally looks up and sees me.
“If it ain’t the newlyweds themselves.” He strides over and wraps me in a bear hug that knocks the air right out of my lungs.
“It’s about time you stopped by to see me,” he says with a mock scolding tone.
“Now, I’ll admit, I was a little hurt not to get a wedding invite…
” He nods toward Luka, his eyes twinkling.
“But then I overheard Miss Scarlett telling your mama the news, and I figured you two had your reasons for keeping it small…” His words trail off, and I know he’s referring to the incident between Luka and my parents at the town meeting the other night.
“Thanks, Hank. It’s… a… good to be back.” I glance around the store, a soft smile tugging at my lips. “This place hasn’t changed a bit.”
“Yeah, well, you know what they say, if ain’t broke don’t fix it.” He chuckles to himself and rocks on his heels as he looks from me to Luka. “So, what brings you two in today?”
“We’re going to be placing an order for some painting supplies,” Luka says, slinging an arm around my shoulder. My whole body goes stiff. “I’m sure you’ve heard by now that Scout’s going to be painting a mural downtown.”
“Oh, yeah, I caught wind of that. Wasn’t sure whether to believe it or not.
” Hank grins. “It’s good to see you two finally figure yourselves out.
I always knew you’d find your way back to each other.
Puppy love and all that…” He winks, and I feel my cheeks heat as Luka’s hand tightens around my arm, like he’s holding me in place.
“Well, I’ll leave you to it then. I’ll be around if you need anything—just holler.”
“Thanks, Hank. I’ll drop off the list on the way out.” Luka’s large palm moves to the back of my neck, and he gently ushers me forward. The tension slips from my body as he takes the lead, my brain already surrendering the wheel.
It feels nice, but despite my brain’s eagerness to go offline, at least my gut sends out a warning flare, reminding me that this is exactly the kind of mixed signals I’ve been trying to avoid.
My steps falter to a halt, and I shrug Luka’s possessive hand off my neck. His face flashes a look of confusion, and if I didn’t know better, I might even think it was genuine.
I don’t know what kind of game he’s playing, but I can’t let myself fall for it anymore. I’m done following him around like a sad puppy, begging for whatever attention he’ll give me.
My brain’s clearly fried from all the detective work I’ve been doing, trying to decode Luka’s motives, because in the span of a few seconds, I’ve gone from go-with-the-flow and swan-dived straight into the overthinking territory.
Trying to look unbothered, I pick up a can and pretend to read the label.
“I’m no mural expert, but why do you need wood stain for the side of a brick building?”
It takes a couple of seconds for me to process Luka’s question before I realize he’s right.
I carefully set the paint stain down and try to play it off casually.
“You’re right, you’re not a paint expert,” I say in agreement, then move to the next aisle.
I don’t have to look back at Luka to know exactly what face he’s making.
God, I feel like such an idiot. I just need to get through this shopping trip, then I’ll hole up in my room and avoid him for the rest of the summer. At least I’ve got the mural to keep me busy, and it’s not like he hasn’t been avoiding me anyway.
“Did you want me to add that to the list?” Luka gestures to the multipack of paintbrushes in my hand, and I give him a noncommittal shrug.
“Is that a yes or a no?” He presses, stepping in front of me to block my path before I can walk away.
I wave him off and roll my eyes. “Sure. I’ve never painted brick with a paintbrush so I don’t know what brush style I’ll need.”
Mural, supplies, paint… that’s the reason he brought me here. I need to focus.
“Okay…” he drags the word out under his breath as he follows me to the back, where a variety of different style ladders are lined up on the wall.
“How about something like this?” He nods toward an electric ladder on wheels.
I shake my head dismissively. “That’s too much…
I don’t need a fancy machine. I’m perfectly capable of climbing a ladder.
” I point to a basic, aluminum twelve-foot ladder.
I don’t know why this is the battle I choose, but suddenly I feel the need to fight back, to show him that he can’t always get his way.
He narrows his eyes, looking at the ladder and back to me. “That’s too dangerous. I don’t like the idea of you climbing up and down that thing, carrying buckets of paint. What if you spill some paint on one of the steps and lose your balance?”
“Really, Mr. Motorcycle?” I challenge back, crossing my arms as I stare back at him.
His brows lift, clearly thrown by the shift in my mood, but then a ghost of a smirk tugs at the corner of his lips. “Nope, not even remotely the same thing,” he says, shaking his head.
“How is it different? If anything, you’re putting yourself in more danger just by being on the road with other drivers, not to mention on a moving vehicle?—”
He takes a step, closing the distance between us, using his height to his advantage as he towers over me. “I understand the risks, Girl Scout. But we’re comparing apples to oranges right now. Besides, the key difference in the two scenarios is that I won’t be there to make sure you don’t fall.”
I roll my eyes and scoff. “Of course, I don’t know how I’ve managed to live all this time without you holding my hand and making sure I don’t accidentally walk out in the middle of traffic.” But I can’t help the little flutter in my belly knowing he’s genuinely worried about my safety.
He hasn’t even touched me, and already my brain and my vagina are doing synchronized gymnastics, trying to read between the lines.
I really hope the damage isn’t permanent…
The slight tic in Luka’s jaw is the only indication of his annoyance. “You’re five two, right?”
“Yeah, why?”
“You’d have to be at least five seven to reach the top of the wall with the A-frame, and that’s assuming you were standing on the top step, which is completely out of the question.
Sorry, Girl Scout, but it looks like I win this one,” he says with a non-apologetic shrug.
“We can get both if it’ll make you feel better.
But just so you know, you’re not climbing higher than six feet on that A-frame. ”
I try to ignore the stupid tingles that have come back in full force, violently fluttering around in my belly like a giggly schoolgirl. Am I really so desperate that all it takes is for someone to consider my safety now?
“You’ve got some nerve if you really think I’m going to keep letting you tell me what I can and cannot do,” I fire back with all the confidence I can muster.
I know I’m in trouble when I see his lips twitch in amusement. He quirks an eyebrow and lowers his voice to an almost whisper. “Are you sure about?—”
I don’t wait for him to finish, spinning on my heel before stomping in the other direction. But my escape is cut short when I feel my shirt tighten around me as Luka tugs me back. “Whoa, not so fast. Tell me what this is really about. What’s got your panties all tied in a knot?”
“Nothing,” I lie, crossing my arms over my chest.
Luka narrows his eyes at me and grins. “No, it’s definitely not nothing.” He ruffles my hair playfully, dodging my attempts to swat his hand away.
“Will you stop? You’re messing up my hair. I’m not playing around, Luka!”
“Oh no, she’s getting angry,” he taunts as I try to catch his teasing hand before he can touch me again.
“I thought we’ve already established that you’re a terrible liar. So why don’t you spare me the tantrum and just spit it out already.”
I cross my arms over my chest and force myself to meet his eyes.
“I can’t keep doing this with you. You say things like you know some secret about me that I don’t and…
” I swallow, feeling my throat tighten with emotion.
“And it’s confusing. I don’t know how to act around you anymore because I never know if you’re going to be the sweet, thoughtful guy who surprises me in bed with my favorite drink or if you’re going to disappear and completely ignore me.
” My words break off at the sight of Luka’s smile, which he’s doing a terrible job of trying to hide behind his hand. “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing. Sorry.” He folds his lips in a flat line and gestures for me to continue.
“You know what, never mind. Forget it. Let’s just finish up so we can leave.”
“Hang on. I want to hear what you were going to say.”
“This is hardly the place to have this conversation. Can you just drop it? I’m just tired. I was up all night finishing that mural design, and I can’t even remember if I ate breakfast.”
“You didn’t…” His voice softens, more serious now. I don’t want to know how he knows I forgot to eat breakfast, but something tells me it wasn’t just a lucky guess. “And I have no doubt you’re exhausted, but I want to hear what you were going to say. I need to hear you say it.”
He keeps his gaze trained on me, but this time he’s not looking at me condescendingly; if anything, he almost looks nervous.
I might as well fess up, because I know as well as anyone that Luka’s not going to drop it.
My shoulders sag in defeat, and I blow out a sigh.
“I think I’ve been reading your signals wrong.
I was starting to think that maybe there was something developing between us.
” His eye contact is too intense, and I have to look away.
“I promise not to make it weird, so if we could just pretend I never mentioned it, that’d be great. ”
“What if I don’t want to?”
My eyes snap back to his. “What do you mean?”
Luka’s eyes darken as he takes a step, closing the distance between us. “Nothing.”
He grabs my arm and tugs me to follow him. “Wait, don’t we still need to order supplies? Where are we going now?”
“We’ve got one more stop to make.”