Chapter 16
Chapter sixteen
Wait, they do know each other. Have they been on a date?
She slides in close, fingers finding the inside of his elbow like its familiar territory. Her nails trail down his sleeve, before she gives his arm a little squeeze.
He turns slightly so her hand slips off. ‘Hey.’ His voice is polite, nothing more. ‘I’ve been busy.’ He turns his head towards me, gentle but enough for her to notice.
She frowns, before laughing softly and tapping his chest like it’s a private joke I’ve just interrupted. ‘Busy, right. Maybe too busy.’ Another quick touch at his forearm. ‘We should catch up.’
Heat pricks at my neck. I focus on my glass and the wet ring it leaves on the table; the room tilts a fraction when she giggles again.
If they’d been on a date, wouldn’t there be warmth? He’s giving her nothing. He didn’t like her hand on him.
‘Ah—’ he exhales. ‘I am only in town a short while, so maybe another time.’
‘Oh, okay.’ Her smile flickers. ‘Well, maybe I’ll see you around soon.’ She sways a step back, fingers brushing his sleeve one last time like she’s collecting a souvenir.
He doesn’t answer. He just looks at me and smiles, and something in my chest loosens. I want to ask how he knows her, why she thinks there’s a later waiting for them, why the room suddenly feels two degrees warmer.
Before I can open my mouth, Oscar hops back onto the tiny pub stage, grinning at the crowd. The mic squeals as conversation dips. ‘Alright, final scores!’ he booms, and the moment scatters like coins on the floor. ‘And our winner tonight by two points is The Book is Better!’
A table nearby explodes into cheers and whooping.
Lucas mock-bows towards them, clapping. ‘Second place,’ he tells our group. ‘Not too bad. This round’s on me.’ He stands up.
‘I’ll come with you and help carry.’
The crowd hums with post-trivia chatter as we make our way to the bar. The air smells like lime and hops, and our shoulders bump once, twice.
He glances over as the bartender approaches. ‘What are we thinking? Two beers for Jasper and me, and what about you?’
‘Lets’ just go with two Fern & Fables, one negroni and an Espresso Martini.’
He arches an eyebrow. ‘You sound suspiciously confident about everyone’s drink preferences.’
‘I’m a professional observer,’ I tease. ‘Plus, I’ve seen Marley’s face light up at the sight of the Fern & Fables.’
He grins. ‘And let me guess, the Martini belongs to Rey?’
I laugh, nudging his arm with my shoulder. ‘You’re making assumptions, bookstore boy.’
‘Educated guesses,’ he winks, leaning just close enough that I catch the scent of cedar on his shirt.
The bartender lines up the drinks. Two cold beers beading with condensation, the cocktails gleaming like stained glass under the bar light. He slides the tray towards us. Lucas reaches for it, his fingers brushing mine.
‘Careful,’ he murmurs, eyes on mine. ‘Wouldn’t want to drop the evidence of your excellent ordering skills.’
‘Or your impressive balance,’ I shoot back.
He laughs softly, shifting the tray to one hand. ‘I’ll take the beers. You lead the way.’
As we weave through the crowd, his arm gently hovers around my shoulder, guiding without touching until the music swells and someone bumps me. His hand lands on my lower back, anchoring me just enough.
‘Still with me?’ he asks, low enough that I feel it more than hear it.
‘Barely,’ I say, grinning. ‘Try to keep up.’
‘Aye’ aye’ captain,’ he says, and follows me back towards the table.
The night has cooled, everything slowing down in the way I have come to expect from this small Sunshine Coast town. Jasper and Rey linger off to the side, mid-debate over a fantasy novel and a morally grey warlock.
‘You’re a decent teammate.’ I bump my shoulder against Lucas’s. ‘But next time, try not to flirt with the other team.’
His brow arched. ‘Were you jealous?’
‘Me? No, just observant,’ I shoot back, but my cheeks had flushed, definitely giving me away.
He grins slowly. ‘Guess I’ll have to win you over in the tie-breaker round.’ He nudges me gently. ‘Hey, before you vanish into the night.’ He hands me his phone. ‘Exchange numbers?’
My chest does this tiny, traitorous flutter. ‘Um yeah,’ I say, trying not to sound too eager.
Our fingers brush as we swap phones, it’s an electric touch that leaves a trail. I type too fast and mess it up, so I have to delete it and try again. He pretends not to notice, which somehow makes it worse.
‘Until next time,’ he says.
‘Until next time.’ I mimic with a smile.
He steps back, half-turned towards the street, keys already in his hand.
It’s subtle, the way he stands like he’s halfway to somewhere else.
The way he glances at his phone as if it might decide his route.
He carries himself like a man travelling light: wallet thin and plans phrased as “while I’m here.
” A stopover, not a map pin. The thought nicks me, small and sharp.
He heads towards Jasper and Rey, their faces lit by the streetlamp as they keep teasing each other. They look like the comic-relief duo in a book—the ones everyone begs for a spin-off.
Marley slides in at my side, eyes following him with a sly smile. ‘That man looks at you like you’re the answer to all his questions.’
Tess nods her head in agreement, adding. ‘Don’t screw this up by overthinking it.’
I let out a breathy laugh, tucking my phone into my coat pocket. ‘No promises.’
But I am smiling genuinely this time. A little unsure, but undeniably open. My gaze drifts back to him while he waits for Jasper. Him and Rey, still bantering, faces lit up under the streetlight.
Marley nudges me. ‘You know you manifested this, right?’
‘Did I?’ I laugh, heart lighter than it has been in weeks.
‘Absolutely,’ she exclaims. ‘Try not to talk yourself out of a good thing.’
I press my thumb to the edge of my phone where his name sits newly saved and let myself believe, that next time, is already on its way.
The glow from the hallway fades, as I shut the door behind me and toe off my boots. Rey’s watercolour print catches the moonlight, its colours dusky and soft, like the quiet hum in my chest. I pour a glass of water, leaning against the counter when I feel the soft buzz of my phone in my pocket.
LUCAS: Tonight was fun. Hope I passed the trivia guide screening.
I stare at the words for a moment, a smile tugging at my lips.
LILAH: I think you might have.
Journal Entry - Thursday, 21st of August
I think I’m living in one of my own chapters. The kind where the FMC doesn’t realise she’s falling until it’s too late to pretend she hasn’t.
Tonight was supposed to be just trivia. Cocktails and banter, but then there was Lucas—again. The way he looked at me when he walked in, like I was the only one in the room.
Could this be the start of something new and exciting? Maybe this is the part where I stop writing about new beginnings and start living one.
xx