51. Luke
Luke
“Morning,” she replies back as she stands from the bed and walks to the shower. She silently turns on the water, undresses, and throws her hair up in a clip.
I sit on the end of the bed and watch her intently as she shaves her legs, washes her body and face. As she glides the loofah across her skin, I can’t help but wish I was the fucking loofah. What I wouldn’t give to touch her right now.
When she steps out of the shower and starts to dry her skin, I stand and inch my way into the bathroom, tail between my legs.
“B, I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t have-”
“No, you shouldn’t have, Luke,” she interrupts. “You literally walked up and punched him in front of all the people I invited to celebrate my important night with me.”
“I was trying to defend you-protect you,” I explain.
“Luke, I don’t need you to protect me or defend my honor. I can defend myself,” she argues.
“What exactly do you need me for? Orgasms?”
She shakes her head, anger sliding across her face like water cascading back off the shore on the sand. “I don’t need you for orgasms either,” she snarls.
“I broke all your toys, B. So you kinda do.” As if my weak argument is worth anything.
“I have a fucking hand, Luke,” she fires back.
“Answer my question. What do you need me for?” I insist.
“Luke, I don’t need you for a goddamn thing. I wan-”
“Nothing right,” I interject before she can finish her sentence, “except a place to live for free so you can afford your bar.”
Fuck.
I don’t mean them, but I can’t stop the words from tumbling out of my mouth, and the look crossing her face guts me.
“Baby, no, no, no, you know I don’t mean- I’m sorry. Please forget what I said.”
“I told you before I moved in here, I can take care of myself,” she states unwaveringly as she moves to the bedroom.
“Baby, please,” I plead
She silently gets dressed, throws clothes on in a fury.
“Blake, let’s talk,” I beg.
She packs a bag, blindly throwing everything inside without the precision or care she usually possesses.
I try to pull the bag from her grip, begging her to look at me for just a second. If she would just look at me, she would see how much I truly love her. Instead, she opens the front door and storms out.
I fall apart on the floor. What did I just do?
After a few hours, I decided space is the only thing that is going to make this better. We both need time to digest this fight, and she needs time to cool off.
“Hey, mom,” I whisper when my mom calls me back. I called an hour ago, but she didn’t answer.
“Still rough over there? Last night was a doozy.” She’s trying to ease the tension.
“How can you be so nonchalant about this?” I ask.
“Luke, you and B love each other. You have for a while now. It’s been plain as day, staring everyone in the face. I told your dad just as much not long after you married that girl.”
“Noel?” I ask, rolling my eyes,
She bluntly ignores me. “I told him there was no way your marriage would last. You were in love with Blake.” She pauses before she continues, “Relationships hit bumps. This is your first big fight. It will pass.”
“Mom, I told her the only thing she needs from me is a free place to live.” I shake my head in disapproval.
“Okay, so this is your first fuck up,” she verifies. “Luke, honestly, that was the dumbest thing you could have said,” she scolds.
“I know, I don’t mean it,” I murmur in regret.
“I know.” She takes another long breath. “So does she.”
“I think we need a little space. Emotions are too high right now. Can I come stay there for a few days?” I ask.
“Yes, but not too long. You are not running from this. You need to fix it,” she encourages.
I head out to get Blake some coffee and a bagel. I know she doesn’t eat when she’s upset, and she is moody when she doesn’t eat. She and the girls have a lot to do in the next few days before L&L opens to the public.
When I walk into the bar, I hear them having a meeting in the back. I grab a napkin and a pen from behind the bar and leave a brief note next to the coffee and bagel.
I look one more time towards the back room, hoping to get a glimpse of my girl before I leave, but when I don’t, I turn towards the door and head to my parents’ house.