Chapter 11
Elsie
Iwaited a week, knowing that it was for the best. I kept my distance from the trial…
but also from Lukas. My father had explicitly told me not to get involved with him, and after our amazing date together and the night in the professors’ library, I was afraid I’d become a bit too attached to him. Involved.
I wasn’t typically a rule follower, but I felt as though I needed to obey.
Though perhaps there was another reason I was hesitant to be more involved with Lukas. Or anyone, really.
This trial was another thing Father commanded me to stay away from; however, I just couldn’t.
And I knew him well enough to know there wasn’t a high chance he would notice me, especially if I sat all the way in the back and stayed hidden from his line of sight.
He wasn’t one to look around or observe those who were observing him.
The flats I wore pattered against the stone steps leading up to the courthouse as I ran. Yes, I ran because in my attempt not to be early, I was nearly late. And they wouldn’t let me in if I arrived late.
Today, they were calling the first witness to the stand. I knew that much from my father’s mumblings and complaints. That was as much as he’d let on, so I knew I needed to be here today.
As I pushed through the front doors, a large mass of people began exiting the courtroom doors. Some faces showed confusion, some anger, and some apathy. But it hadn’t even started. Why was it already ending?
I spun on my heel and walked with the crowd that was exiting all the way to the back parking lot, where I saw a familiar black sports car.
Without registering what I was doing, I headed for it and waited.
My eyes kept scanning the area for anyone who walked this way, knowing I had to stay out of my father’s sight.
After ten minutes of waiting, I sat on the asphalt. There was no sign of Lukas or my father, but I knew who was more likely to explain why everything ended before it began today.
And maybe I needed another excuse to see Lukas.
I wasn’t sure how long I sat there, but eventually I rested my head against the car and closed my eyes, just enjoying the warm breeze.
Before the love potion attacks, I had big plans for the summer, as any student did. I had a penciled-in itinerary of all the cities and countries I intended to visit in my free time, wanting to visit shops and libraries in all of them.
Now, I had no plans other than to learn what I could and to watch, hopefully, as Professor Aster was locked away forever. The idea of traveling alone now seemed an insurmountable fright.
“Hiding again, I see.” His voice had me jolting upright, eyes going wide. I didn’t think I dozed off, but I was definitely relaxed enough that I didn’t even hear his footsteps approach.
Slowly, my eyes dragged down his body and back up. His suit was dark, midnight navy that had me questioning my whole life. I thought black looked good on him, but this color…damn. It made his eyes shine even brighter, and the tone complemented his skin so perfectly.
I opened my mouth to say something in response, but no words came out. I just continued staring at him like the idiot that I was. Why was I waiting for him at his car? And how long had I been waiting?
“It looked like a perfect place to nap. Very shaded area,” I said, motioning to the mostly unshaded area where I was sitting, wishing I could vanish entirely. It would have been better if I’d kept my mouth gaping like a fish instead of talking.
He offered me a hand, and I took it, letting him help me get to my feet.
Always such a gentleman. “No hoodie?” Those blue eyes glinted with mischief as he looked at my head, which was indeed free of a hood.
My stomach fluttered under his gaze, but I shoved my feelings about that to the back of my mind.
There were barely a few centimeters between our chests, yet I did nothing to separate from him; I only craned my neck to look at him.
“Didn’t think that would be appropriate to wear into court.” My cheeks were definitely getting hotter the longer he looked at me. And he wasn’t looking away.
“You look stunning.” His voice was huskier as he tucked a tendril of my hair away from my face. Go ahead, Lukas, make my cheeks scald with heat. That voice, his eyes focused entirely on me, those words, his touch. Not helpful for putting distance between us. Metaphorically or physically.
But I was the one who sat at his car for who knows how long. So from his perspective, or anyone’s really, I didn’t exactly portray disinterest in him.
“Thank you,” I said, breaking eye contact to look down at my professional black dress. It was one of many black dresses I owned, specifically for court. Typically, I would attend events or even court dates to be present for my father, or simply to observe.
“I’m glad you—” Before he could finish his statement, I cut Lukas off.
“Why did the trial end before it even began?” I blurted out, looking around to see that my father’s car was gone. I hadn’t noticed him leave. I panicked, thinking he could have seen me standing here with Lukas.
Lukas didn’t show any surprise at my question, nor frustration at my cutting him off. “The witness lined up for today got extremely sick this morning and couldn’t attend. That witness’s questioning was all that was planned for today, so they dismissed.”
“Sick?” I asked, rolling my eyes. If they had only one witness lined up for today, then it must have been a major one. “Will they reschedule?”
“Of course, whenever the witness is well again. But it will have to be fit into the rest of the schedule, which I’m sure will be a hassle.” Lukas took a deep breath with closed eyes, rubbing the back of his neck as he contemplated the reschedule. “It’ll be fine, I’m sure.”
I gave him a small, supportive smile, taking a step away from him and his car. I needed to go before I convinced myself to stay and talk to him about anything other than the case.
Lukas wasn’t going to let me go that easily, of course.
His hand grabbed mine, halting my steps. “Since we’re both free now, do you want to go get tea? There’s this shop on the—”
Apparently, I had a penchant for rudeness today, because I cut him off for a second time.
“No, I really must go home. Thank you, though,” I muttered quickly, giving him another smile that definitely felt fake.
I couldn’t let myself feel anything for him, and my stupid heart was already squeezing just at the thought of him.
We were standing entirely too close together for me to think clearly, his eyes boring into mine with apparent interest. Carefully, I pulled my hand away from his and started walking toward the street.
Breath filled my lungs now that I was more than a half step away from him.
“Can I at least give you a ride home?” I halted my steps, now at the back of his car. Keeping my eyes on the ground—because looking at his face would absolutely crumble the resolve I felt—I shook my head.
“No, I’d like to walk today. But thank you.” As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I sped-walked out of the parking lot and onto the street before he could offer to walk me home.