So he put his hands around her face and gently lifted her chin with his fingers so that she would look up at him. And then he leaned forward and kissed her.
Being kissed by her had always helped him when he was tired and life was too hard. And he didn’t know how else to show her he was sorry. No matter what, his words could never live up to a simple kiss. Because she was right, that it wasn’t fair. But short-term happiness wasn’t all bad. Short-term happiness could create memories for eternity. And happiness didn’t have to be long-term to mean something.
But he couldn’t say that. He didn’t want to deny her feelings by saying she wasn’t right about something.
He couldn’t change her past with words, couldn’t make it disappear with a touch. All he could do was make her feel thatwhile the world was unfair, it also had its good sides. And kissing was definitely one of them.
So he did it again. He took advantage of Anna’s lips parting slightly in surprise. He stroked her cheeks with his thumb, sank his hands into her hair, and kissed her until he felt her shoulders relax. Until he noticed her smiling against his lips. Until the guitar strings of his heart played a melody again. And Anna’s eyes didn’t seem quite so sad when he pulled away.
“What was that?” she whispered.
“A kiss.”
“Ah. Good thing you said so, I almost didn’t recognize it.”
He lifted one corner of his mouth as his hands fell from her face. “Then I must have done something wrong.”
“It didn’t feel wrong.”
No, it never did with her.
“But…I thought we were supposed to be friends, Lucas.”
“That was a friendly kiss.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes.” His gaze flickered down her chest. “You’re not naked, are you?”
She laughed even though her eyes still glowed with a serious heat. “Ah, so that’s what separates friendly kisses from normal kisses.”
He nodded seriously.
She smiled… And Lucas didn’t often feel like he’d done something right, but right now, this, this didn’t feel wrong.
Anna was still watching him when her phone vibrated. She pulled it out of her pocket, placed it on the table, and opened an email she’d apparently just received. Lucas wasn’t planning to read it, but Anna didn’t hide it either.
I’m sorry, Anna. My boss is making me work late, and I can’t lose this job.
That was it. The entire message.
Hot disappointment spread like wildfire across Anna’s face, burning and unmistakable, and anger was forming in Lucas’ stomach.
Her father noticednowthat he was late? Why didn’t he ask his daughter if she would still be in town tomorrow? If she could wait for him? It sounded like an excuse, as if he’d gotten cold feet. And judging by Anna’s expression, she knew it was, too.
“Come on, let’s go. He's not coming,” she said, her voice thick, and started to stand.
Lucas grabbed her hand and pulled her back into her seat. “No.”
She raised her eyebrows in surprise. “What?”
“We’re not going to let your father ruin the day. We drove all the way here, so we might as well have something to eat, or play pool or something.”
Perplexed, she opened her mouth. “But you just ate.”
“Yes, but you haven’t. Aren’t you hungry?”
“I could eat something, but…”
