CHAPTER SEVENTEEN #3
“You have to try this.” She speared another piece on her fork, held it out to Luke, and promptly wished she’d done anything else when his mouth wrapped around the utensil and slid the pasta free in one smooth motion.
She wasn’t entirely sure why it was so hot, but it was, and, from her wide eyes, Luke probably knew exactly what she was thinking right then.
His knee brushed hers under the table and she didn’t pull away, relishing the contact.
They finished their food quickly. April couldn’t tell if it was because they were both famished or if they were just eager to fulfill the promise lurking in each other’s eyes.
Her phone vibrated in her back pocket and she pulled it out, eyes still trained on Luke as she answered. “Hello?”
“April.”
She faltered, the smile dying on her face. How the hell had he managed to call her? Had he borrowed someone’s phone just to harass her?
“Tyler,” she said flatly.
“It’s been over a month. Don’t you think this has gone on long enough?”
“Isn’t that long enough for you to get the message, Tyler? Read the room. I’m not coming back.”
“Don’t fucking talk to me like that, April.
” Tyler’s raised voice at the other end of the line made April flinch slightly.
“This is ridiculous. If you don’t get your shit together and come home, I’m going to come down there to get you myself.
” His voice changed suddenly, shifting from furious to sickly sweet.
“I swear, baby, things will be different this time. I’ll be better.
I never want to lose you; this time apart has made me realize that I can’t live without you. Please, baby?”
April felt slightly nauseous as she listened. How had she ever fallen for this crap? She felt a wave of sadness wash over her as she thought of her younger self, swept up by Tyler’s bullshit and falling for his lies for years. Thank God she’d finally seen him for who he was.
“April? Don’t fucking ignore me. C’mon baby, I need you, and I know you need me too.” Tyler’s voice was growing louder again, and April found herself strangely paralyzed, unable to respond.
Luke was watching her face with a worried expression. “Is everything OK?”
“Who the fuck was that?” Tyler’s tone was harsh, bitter, and April felt her hand shake slightly. She hesitated, unsure who to respond to first, but Luke solved the problem by taking the phone from her grip and raising it to his own ear.
“I’m Luke,” he said, matter-of-fact, but there was a tightness to his voice that belied his anger.
“And I’d really appreciate it if you stopped talking to her like she’s yours to boss around.
” April’s eyes were wide in shock as she saw Luke take a breath, clearly willing himself to stay calm.
“She hasn’t been yours for weeks now, and you constantly harassing her has gone on long enough.
Fuck off and leave her alone.” Luke hung up before Tyler could do more than start to yell, and April covered her mouth.
He looked over to her, concern etched into his face as he took her in. “Do you want to get some air?” His words were soft, gentle, and April couldn’t do more than nod. “I’ll drop Pen a text to say we’ll pay her later. She’ll understand.”
They left the restaurant quickly, and Luke wrapped a reassuring arm around her shoulders as they headed for where he’d parked his car. After a minute of walking in silence, April drew to a stop, right by the wishing fountain.
“Thank you,” she breathed. “I don’t know what happened—I’ve never frozen up like that before.”
“It’s OK, April.” Luke’s eyes were still full of concern, but there was a reassuring warmth to his presence that she savored as they stood there, the gentle trickle of water from the fountain soothing her.
“I know you don’t need me to fight your battles or anything, but I couldn’t just let that douchebag talk to you that way.
He’s a nasty piece of work—Noah always said so, and I saw that first-hand tonight.
You deserve to be with someone who loves you for who you are, rather than someone who just wants to control you.
I’m just sorry you had to put up with him for so long. ”
April stayed silent for a moment, slowly processing Luke’s words. Her upset at Tyler’s call seemed to have melted away as Luke spoke, and while there was undeniably a lot of truth in what he’d said, her brain was mostly caught up on one little word. Love. Did Luke love her? Did she love him?
Yes.
The answer came to her so easily she nearly choked.
Luke misread her shock for anger. “I’m sorry if I overstepped; I just hated hearing him talk to you like that.
” He muttered something under his breath that sounded like “little worm” and April couldn’t help herself—she burst out laughing.
“You’re not mad?” he said hesitantly, and in answer she stood on her tiptoes, pressing a kiss to his lips, her hands winding their way around his neck.
“Pointer,” she said smugly, a sly grin spreading across her face, “do you love me?”
He blinked rapidly, clearly surprised at the change in conversation. “Well, I-I mean, I guess I did say that, yes, but it doesn’t mean you have to—”
She kissed him again. “I love you, too.”
“Oh,” he said, and then he grinned. “Your mom is going to be thrilled. She’s been dying to have me as a son-in-law.”
April rolled her eyes. “Let’s not get carried away.”
“Come back to mine?”
She bit her lip on the smile that wanted to escape. “Yes, please.”