Chapter 8 - Hazel #2
Had I blacked out? Was I low on sugar? Had I eaten anything besides the liquid coffee breakfast? Someone was touching me, barely. But it had been so long since anyone had held me like that. And it felt... comforting. Like safety I didn’t know I needed.
I shook myself out of it and looked up, locking eyes with the man who’d somehow caused this quiet longing. Dark brown eyes, with a hint of amber around the pupil, were so warm and inviting that I got lost for a moment.
“You look like fall,” I blurted before realizing how foolish it sounded.
I let my gaze sweep over him, surprised these eyes belonged to Luke.
Without thinking, I flashed him a big smile.
He kept studying me with that same intense curiosity, like he was trying to solve a puzzle I didn’t have the pieces for.
But there wasn’t much to solve, really. I was an open book to most.
“You look like the sea,” he said, his hand still on me, growing warmer by the second, matching the slow burn in my chest and cheeks.
“Well, I love the sea,” I replied, trying to play it off. I really did. A walk in the woods and a swim in the sea were where I felt most at peace. Like the world paused just long enough for me to breathe.
“Then you should come,” he said instantly. I blinked, needing a second to catch up before stepping back toward the books I’d been sorting.
“Oh, c’mon, not this again.” The truth was, I did want to go, but it felt wrong. I was nobody to him. Certainly not someone worth offering something this big.
“It’s not just about that, Hazel. I need your help. I know it was my mistake to bring you into this, but it just happened, and the vacation is just a side benefit you won’t admit you need. But you do. Please.”
“Why me?” I asked, turning to meet his eyes.
He paused. A rare, uncharacteristic stillness.
“Because... you’re good company.”
I hadn’t expected that.
“Luke, I thought that for the short time we’ve known each other, you’d know me a little better. I’m not that kind of girl. I’m not going to sleep with you just because we’re on a trip. I’m not that kind of company.”
“No, Hazel, I didn’t mean it like that. You’re actually a nice person. People like being around you. It’s not that you’re beautiful,” he smiled, realizing his slip. “I mean, you are, but it’s more than that. You’re interesting. You have real opinions. You’re a friend. You’re... good company.”
Damn, that was unexpectedly sweet. It caught me off guard. I felt the heat rise to my cheeks and had no idea what to say. But he kept going.
“I might come off as a cocky jerk sometimes, but my friends? They’re everything to me.
My chosen family.” My heart skipped a beat.
Chosen family. Like Mady was to me. “They’re good people.
We go on these trips every year—mostly guys—but they’re the best. And I really think being around them, being in that kind of space, could be good for you, too.
You know? To be in good company, in a sunny place.
” He seemed a bit uncomfortable with his sincerity.
“In flip-flops,” he added, making me smile.
The silence afterward felt heavy. I searched for a reason—any reason—to say no. For his sake. For mine. But I couldn’t find one.
I crossed my arms, trying to keep my face unreadable as I looked at him. “You really think I’d be a good guide?” I asked, mostly to fill the silence while my brain spun in circles.
“I think you’d be the best part of the trip,” he said, too quickly, like it slipped out before he could reel it back. For a second, I couldn’t tell if he was flirting, being sweet, or joking. Either way, it messed with my head.
“What are you doing here? Do you work here too?” He shifted the subject, giving me room to think. His eyes settled on the books around me.
“Not really. Ernesto’s helping me with boxes since I’m moving. I offered to help in the store.” I lowered my voice slightly and leaned in. “But if I’m honest, it’s more for me. I get to see all the new books first.”
Luke’s expression shifted from confusion to a wide grin. “Fool.”
Was he talking about me or Ernesto? Either way, he wouldn’t stop staring straight into my eyes. Stop it!
“You really love reading,” he continued.
“I do.” I sighed. “You know that moment when you’re reading a book, and suddenly a sentence reaches out and grabs something deep inside you.
Some feeling you never knew how to explain, some truth about your life you thought only you carried?
And there it is, spelled out perfectly in someone else’s words.
It’s as if the writer saw straight through you.
And for a second, your heart feels understood. .. and full. I love that moment.”
“It sounds awesome.” Luke smiled warmly. Damn, why was he so cute? Those dimples were just like the Devil had painted this one himself. Just to torture me. Suddenly, I wanted to feel that hand on me again.
“Yeah, it’s like a high. Once you get it, you crave it, always searching for that moment again.”
“So you’re a junkie.”
“Something like that.”
“Do you smell them too? The pages?”
I didn’t reply, but couldn’t hide my smile. “That’s what I thought.” He laughed at me. The fellow reader. The audacity!
At some point, he began passing me books, and without even noticing, I’d started sliding them onto the shelves. We worked quietly for a while—he flipped some pages, I kept arranging.
“My two best customers,” Ernesto suddenly appeared. “Are you stealing books? Cause I will find out.”
Two best customers? Why have I never seen him before?
Luke threw on an exaggerated look of shock. “Ernesto, we would never do that.” Then he leaned toward me and whispered, “At least not with you noticing.” I caught his gaze, and we both broke into a grin.
I was torn. I knew he was the sort who disappeared before the morning light, who promised nothing and delivered exactly that.
I’d seen it in the way he talked about women, about love, like it was something that only ever burned fast and brief.
And I wasn’t built for brief. But when he smiled like that, when the edge in his voice softened just for me, something in me leaned in instead of away.
Not because I bought into the version of himself he sold so easily to the world, but because I was starting to believe there was more to him than what he showed.
“Mhm,” Ernesto hummed, seeing right through us. Amused yet skeptical, he disappeared into the storage room. Soft music played, and I hummed along, feeling the golden eyes watching me.
“Look, Hazel,” Luke lowered his voice, “if you decide to go, I swear I’ll be on my best behavior.
You can ask me any questions about myself or my life beforehand, if that makes you feel more comfortable.
Report me to the authorities if you’re worried about going missing.
” His lips curled into a slight smile. Mine followed.
He paused for a moment. “I’ve heard it’s beautiful there. Always wanted to go.”
“Yeah, it is,” I said, lost in memories—my first surfing attempt, baking Pastel de Natas with roommates, hiking.
“I’ll think about it,” I let the words slip from my mouth, and Luke grinned widely, showing his big, gorgeous teeth.
“Excellent!” He turned to leave, but I remembered the thought that’s been bothering me for a couple of days now.
“Thank you for the note,” I blurted out. He stopped and turned back. “I really appreciate it.” I tried to avoid his eyes, but his serious expression and pained frown held me. It was like he had something to say but couldn’t find the words right away.
“Of course, Hazel. The offer still stands, just let me know.” I looked at my shoes, which seemed to hold the answer to an unspoken question, and forced a weak smile.
Luke flashed a smile before striding back to the counter to talk to Ernesto.
I couldn’t help watching him go—the broad set of his shoulders under that black leather jacket, the dark jeans, the fitted shirt stretched over the chest I’d slammed into.
The memory hit me hard, the solid feel of him, the way, for one breathless second, I’d felt completely safe in his arms.
Then it hit me—how many women had probably felt the same on that chest? An ick crawled up my spine. I didn’t want to be just another girl in his parade. But then, I reached into my pocket for the crumpled note and looked at the written words and his number.
If you need help. Or if you’re scared.
Let me know. I’ll come.
I glanced back at him just as he was leaving the store. Before the door closed, he looked at me and gave a wink. I quickly turned away, hoping he wouldn’t catch my expression.
Hazel, don’t be a fool!