Chapter 22 #2
My gaze wanders to Luke again, and as I watch, the brunette leans in so her breasts brush his arm. I wonder where Sloane is tonight, and what she’d think if she saw him with this girl draped across his biceps.
But to be fair, Luke doesn’t seem to be encouraging the female attention. In fact, his eyes are still on Austin and me.
“Melissa?” Austin asks. I realize he’s asked me a question, but I have no idea what it is.
“I’m sorry.” I feel a blush climbing my cheeks. “It’s just—I think I see Luke Carlton at the bar.”
Austin looks over his shoulder, spots Luke, and gives him a wave. “He mentioned he wanted to check this place out. We can go say hi later.”
“Sure.” Because that wouldn’t be awkward at all.
“You said you knew him in high school, right?”
“Yeah. And, um, he operated on my daughter a couple weeks ago. She had appendicitis.”
Austin’s eyes widen and he glances from me to Luke. “She do okay?”
“Yeah, she’s fine. He seems like a really good surgeon.”
“He is. He’s a good guy, too.”
As Austin and I watch, an older woman approaches the bar and manages to insert herself next to Luke, forcing the blonde to take a step back. The newcomer puts a familiar hand on Luke’s arm and engages him in conversation.
And I stare in horror, because I recognize the newcomer. She’s dolled herself up since I dropped off my kids a few hours ago, but I’d know her anywhere.
The woman at the bar with her hand on Luke’s arm is my mother.
I can hardly believe it. Mom must have waited until the kids were in bed, then left them with Dad so she could snoop on my date. My mother’s always been nosy, but this is beyond anything.
“I don’t think she’s competition, Melissa,” Austin says quietly.
In my state of shock, it takes me a minute to realize what Austin means, and another minute before I can answer.
“I hope not,” I finally reply. “Because she’s my mother.”
Austin’s eyes widen. To his credit, he doesn’t laugh, although he does press his lips together for a moment. “Right.”
“She knows Luke because I was friends with him in high school,” I explain weakly. “She’s not trying to pick him up or anything.” Although she is dressed for a night out, in skinny jeans, high-heeled boots, and a full face of makeup.
Austin presses his lips together again. “Right.”
“But I’m pretty sure she came to spy on us,” I say miserably. “She asked me where we were going, but I never thought—”
“Of course you didn’t,” Austin says with a grin. “Relax, Melissa, it’s kind of funny.”
“I guess.” I’m glad one of us thinks so.
“How long were you and Luke together?” Austin says it so casually that it takes me a minute to realize what he’s asking.
“What?”
“You were together, right? You and Luke?”
“Yeah. Six years.” Austin’s not stupid, so there’s no point denying it. “How did you know?”
“A couple weeks ago, he told me he was attracted to a patient’s mother,” Austin explains. “And when you told me he’d operated on your daughter, everything made sense. It explains why he asked me where I was taking you tonight, and why he’s glaring at me like—”
“Oh, Luke’s not here for me.”
Austin chuckles. “You sure about that?”
“He has a girlfriend,” I say quickly. “Sloane. I met her at your hockey game.”
Austin frowns. “Nah, he broke up with Sloane a couple months ago. She probably came to hockey to try to win him back, but since he chased you here tonight, you can bet it didn’t work. Luke’s not the type to chase more than one girl at a time.”
“Huh.” Luke broke up with Sloane a couple months ago. I still wonder who knocked on his door when we were on the phone the other night, but maybe there’s an innocent explanation for that.
Austin stretches his hand across the table, palm up. “You wanna hold my hand and see how he reacts?”
I take Austin’s hand and force myself to wait a minute before sneaking a look at Luke. He’s still talking to my mother, but the set of his jaw tells me he’s noticed.
“I’m sorry.” I extricate my fingers from Austin’s. “I didn’t know Luke would show up, or that my mother would. It was really kind of you to ask me out, and—”
“There’s no need to apologize, Melissa. These things happen.”
I look at him skeptically. “Do they, though?”
His smile broadens. “Not often, I guess. You’re an original, Melissa Lawrence. Luke’s a lucky man.”
“I’m not with Luke,” I protest, but it sounds weak, even to my ears.
“Okay,” Austin says with a nod. “You want to invite your mom and Luke to join us? Or ignore them and order dessert?” His eyes gleam wickedly. “If you really want him to suffer, you could kiss me.”
“I think I need to talk to Luke.” We’ve been dancing around something ever since I saw him in the Emergency Room, and it’s time to have it out. “But not in front of my mother.”
Austin nods. “You want me to take you to his place?”
“Yes,” I agree, before I can talk myself out of it. “Should I text him?” I’m not keen to ask Luke to meet me at his condo while my mother’s standing next to him. With my luck, she’ll want to come along.
“I think if we go, he’ll follow us,” Austin says with a grin.
“If I were you, I wouldn’t text ’til we’re in the car.
Make him suffer a little longer.” He signals the waitress for the check, and flat-out refuses to let me pay half.
I’ve been a horrible date, so it seems like the least I can do, but he’s not having any of it.
And just as Austin predicted, as soon as we stand to leave, Luke gestures to the bartender and pulls out his credit card to settle his tab. I take Austin’s hand again as we walk out, passing within a few feet of Luke and my mother.