“We met that day,” he said. “You were standing and waiting. My sister rushed past you, and I told you she was your biggest fan.”
So much of that day was a blur—a lot of it I refused to acknowledge. The pain and hurt that day dredged up…I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I could feel my hands starting to tremble, the emotions bubbling up as the memories I tried to keep locked away resurfaced. The burn of tears hit the back of my throat.
“Aimee?”
I opened my eyes and met Eloise’s concerned gaze. The look on my face must’ve been alarming because Lukas jerked forward a step and I felt myself flinch back—my foot losing traction. My mind blinked out, flashing back to that moment. I waited for the impact. The cold seeping through clothes…the warmth.
Instead, I felt hands. Vice grips on my arms, jerking my fall to a hard, sudden stop. Lukas had me. His eyes were wide, a bit panicked, his chest heaving. He held me in that suspended fall for a moment longer, before swallowing and pulling me to my feet.
Eloise pushed him aside, pulling me into a tight hug. I felt my arms wrap around her, but my eyes never left Lukas’.
He ran a hand over his face, and then made a little look of disgust when he remembered the hot chocolate.
“Come on, let’s go inside,” Eloise said.
I nodded, and let her pool me away. I tore my gaze from Lukas’ to meet Zara’s. She looked like she was on the verge of tears. I gave her a small wave, which probably did little to assure her.
“Are you okay?” Eloise asked, her grip firm on my arm.
My knee twinged a little bit, and my head was a riotous mess of past guilt, memories and wicked things that I shouldn’t be feeling.
“I’m fine.”
All I really wanted to do was to take a hot shower and crawl into bed and sleep.
“Why are the hot ones always so fucking weird?” She complained.
A laugh burst out of me, startling me and I opened my eyes.
Eloise wasn’t done. “I mean, he could have been crafted by a Greek master, yet everything that spewed from his perfect fucking mouth—I mean, did you see that mouth. Jesus Fucking Christ. I’d love to be kissed by that mouth—but I digress. He practically stalked you. Posters and all.”
I couldn’t help but laugh again. It sounded hollower than the first one, and I wasn’t sure if Eloise caught it.
“I think Camille would be jealous hearing you talk about wanting to feel Lukas’s lips on yours.”
“Hey, Ineversaid I wanted to feel his lips onmine.”
I choked on the laugh that bubbled out. The elation quickly died.
“Remind me to take away your Kindle. Your mind is in the gutter.”
“Aimes, don’t knock it until you try it. Trust me, it’ll change your world,” Eloise said in all seriousness.
Heat bloomed on my cheeks and I wiped at the remaining tears. We were almost back at The Lodge and I was ready to beg Eloise and my parents to just let me go to sleep.
“He’s not a stalker. You should know. You stood over there talking with him long enough.”
She scoffed. “He hid it well. And while I was talking about him, he was watching you with his sister. He barely looked at her, and he couldn’t take his eyes off of you.”
I didn’t look at her because I didn’t want to see whatever cheeky grin she had on her face. I knew her mind was currently where mine had been for only a moment.
“I can’t believe you dumpedhot,hot chocolate on him,” I said, changing the subject.
“Do you think I burned him?”
“I don’t know if I should be concerned that you don’t sound the least bit concerned that you might’ve burned him,” I said.
“I mean…” She shrugged.
