Chapter 8
Lucas
"Hand me that microphone, would you?" I call to Maya, who's currently wrestling with the tangle of cables behind our makeshift sound system.
"This one?" She holds up what looks like it could be a microphone, if microphones were designed by someone who'd only heard them described secondhand.
"Here." I move behind her, reaching around to sort out the cables. Now I'm too close. I can feel the warmth of her body when she leans back slightly.
"Oh." Her voice comes out breathless. "That makes more sense."
I step back before I do something stupid.
"Thanks," Maya says, turning to face me. "I may be able to debug your POS system, but apparently actual hardware is beyond my skill set."
"Different kind of troubleshooting." I smirk and busy myself with adjusting speaker placement. "Software problems have logical solutions. Hardware problems usually just involve hitting things until they work."
"That explains so much about your approach to life."
I glance at her, ready to be annoyed, but she's grinning.
"You volunteering to help tonight was probably overkill," I say, testing the microphone. "Trivia night runs itself."
"I needed the distraction." She starts arranging chairs with systematic efficiency showing she's still thinking about yesterday's bakery conversation.
"Still worried about Evan?"
"Always." She straightens a table that was already straight. "But we called the police yesterday after that review stunt and your encounter with that sketchy guy who matched Evan's description. Filed a report. Not that they can do much for now, but at least there's a paper trail."
"Good," I say. "Documentation matters."
The front door chimes, and the regulars start arriving.
"Evening, Lucas," Mrs. Henderson calls. "You ready to get your asses kicked again?"
"Language, Helen," her husband mutters, but he's smiling.
Maya watches this exchange with obvious amusement. "They're adorable."
"They're ruthless. Don't let the grandparent act fool you." I flip on the projection system. "Helen used to be a librarian. She knows everything, and she's not afraid to use that knowledge to destroy you at trivia."
Maya moves between tables like she's been doing this for years. She fits right in.
She continues to thaw my insides and break down my carefully built walls.
I'm adjusting the microphone stand when the door opens again, and the entire energy of the room shifts.
Jess Donahue stands in the doorway.
"Lucas." Her voice carries across the room, warm and familiar. "I hope you don't mind me crashing trivia night. I'm in town for a few days and thought I'd see how the old place is doing."
Behind me, I hear Maya's sharp intake of breath.
"Jess." I keep my voice neutral. "Didn't know you were back."
"Last-minute trip." She glides toward the bar. "Business in Seattle, thought I'd detour through my old stomping grounds."
Jess settles onto a barstool, crossing her legs. "The place looks good, Lucas. You've done well for yourself."
"Thanks." I pour her a glass of wine without asking. Pinot Grigio, extra dry, no ice. Some things don't change. "How's Portland treating you?"
"Can't complain. I just made senior partner." She takes a sip of wine, studying me over the rim. "What about you? Still Willowbridge's most eligible bachelor?"
The question is a challenge.
"Jess," I say carefully, "this is Maya Bennett. Maya, Jess Donahue."
"Maya Bennett." Jess's smile is perfectly polite and completely sharp. "I remember you from high school. Lucas's little study partner, right?"
The dismissive way she says "little" makes my jaw clench, but Maya steps forward with a smile just as sharp.
"That's right. Though I prefer 'former tech consultant, current pain in Lucas's ass.'" Maya extends her hand. "Sorry I can't say I remember you. Nice to see you."
Jess shakes Maya's hand briefly. "So you're back in town too? How... nostalgic."
Harper and June appear at Maya's elbow like reinforcements.
"Hello, Jess. Still breaking hearts and taking names?" Harper's voice is cool, polite, and absolutely lethal.
Jess's smile falters. "Harper. June. You both look... exactly the same."
"Small town living," June says cheerfully. "Keeps us young. Unlike city stress, which I hear ages you terribly."
Sweet June just delivered a precision strike.
"Time to get started," I say, grabbing the microphone. "Everyone find your teams."
Maya, Harper, and June claim a table near the back.
"First question," I announce. "What's the longest river in the world?"
"The Nile," Jess calls out before I even finish asking. "Really, Lucas? Starting with the easy ones?"
"It's a warm-up round," I reply.
"Correct," I confirm. "Next question: What year did the Berlin Wall fall?"
This time Maya beats Jess to the punch. "1989," she says clearly, not even looking in Jess's direction.
"Correct. Someone's been studying."
"Some of us retain information from high school history class," Maya says sweetly, and I see Jess's jaw tighten.
"What programming language was developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems?" I ask.
"Java," both women say simultaneously.
They lock eyes across the room.
"Tie goes to the team that wrote it down first," I say diplomatically. "Maya's team."
Jess's smile turns razor-sharp. "Of course. Local favoritism at its finest."
"Actually," Maya says, standing up, "it goes to the team that knows the follow-up. James Gosling originally called it Oak, but had to change the name due to trademark issues. Java was chosen because the development team drank a lot of coffee."
The room goes quiet.
"Impressive," Jess says, clapping slowly. "You've certainly... expanded your knowledge since high school."
"People change," Maya replies evenly. "Some of us grow."
Jess sets down her wine glass and stands up.
"Before we wrap up," she says, her voice carrying across the suddenly quiet bar, "I have to ask, Maya. This whole small-town homecoming thing, how long are you planning to stay? Just until you get bored again? Or until the next big city opportunity calls?"
Maya straightens, and I can see her weighing her response.
"I'm staying as long as I want to stay," she says evenly. "Which might be longer than some people are comfortable with."
"Interesting." Jess moves closer to Maya's table. "Because from what I’ve heard, your track record suggests you're not exactly the staying type. College, career, relationships. You seem to have a pattern of moving on when things get complicated."
"That's enough." The words are out of my mouth before I consciously decide to speak. "Jess."
"What? I'm just making conversation." Jess's smile is all innocence, but her eyes are pure calculation. " Surely Maya can speak for herself."
She can. And she does.
"You're absolutely right," Maya says, standing up to face Jess directly. "I do have a pattern. I used to run when things got difficult. Used to think that starting over somewhere else was easier than fighting for what I wanted." She glances at me. "But I'm done running. From anything. Or anyone."
"How... noble," Jess says. "I hope it works out for you. Small towns can be so limiting for people with bigger ambitions."
"Good thing I've learned the difference between ambition and desperation."
"All right," I say, moving to position myself between them. "I think we're done here."
"Are we?" Jess's eyes are fixed on Maya, but I can feel her attention shifting to me. "Because I was hoping we could talk, Lucas. Privately. About old times."
I look at Jess. Then I look at Maya.
"Some conversations aren't worth having," I say quietly. "Especially when they involve hurting people I care about."
Jess's smile turns brittle. "I see. I suppose there's nothing left to say."
She gathers her purse, leaves money on the bar, and heads for the door.
Maya sinks back into her chair, looking stunned.
"Well," Harper says cheerfully, "that was fun. Same time next week?"
The bar clears out quickly.
"We should go," June says. "Let you two... debrief."
"Are you sure?" Maya asks. "I can come with you guys—"
"Maya." Harper cuts her off gently. "Stay. Talk to him. I’ll see you at home later."
They leave with meaningful looks.
Maya starts collecting empty glasses with jerky movements. "I should help clean up—"
"Leave it." I catch her wrist, and she goes still. "Look at me."
She does, and the expression on her face nearly undoes me. Raw and vulnerable.
"What you said out there—"
"I meant it." Her voice is barely above a whisper. "All of it."
"Even the part about not running? Because Maya, I need you to be sure. I need you to know what you're signing up for if you stay."
Her chin comes up, and there's fire in her eyes now. "Are you trying to scare me off, Lucas Mason?"
"I'm trying to protect both of us from making a mistake we can't take back."
"What if I don't want protection?" She steps closer. "What if I want the mistake?"
"You stood up for me tonight. In front of everyone. You chose me over her." Her voice is stronger now. "So don't you dare try to back away now. Don't you dare try to convince me this spark between us isn't real."
"It's real." The words come out rough, honest. "It's been real for longer than you know."
She smiles. "Good. Because if you think I'm backing down, you don't know me at all."