They had given up. Lucas had told Austin as much. But what fight were they giving up, exactly?
She wasn’t sure what would happen when they arrived back in L.A. Maybe they’d just be friends again. Unless Lucas…wanted to continue whatever they were doing.
That was another thing she didn’t want to think too much about! Short-term, medium-term…long-term.
There is no right or wrong life. There is only life.
Yes, he was right. And right now, she was just living it, without thinking too much about the consequences that would follow. Sure, there consequences would have to follow, but shewas tired of them dictating her actions. And just maybe, maybe she’d make the rules for a change…
“Give me your suitcase, Jack, you shouldn’t be lifting anything heavy.”
“It's fine.”
“You bruised your ribs yesterday and have a hematoma the size of Dax’s mouth. It must hurt carrying it up those stairs.”
Jack grimaced when Fox stopped abruptly on the stairs to the plane right in front of him, forcing him to stop short. “It's fine,” he repeated anyway.
“You’re so stubborn!”
“Stubbornness comes from the Temple side of the family.”
Anna snorted in amusement. “That’s a big lie, Saint. Be careful you aren’t struck by lightning.”
“I’m good at dodging.”
“Not in your condition, you're not,” she said sternly, turning to her other brother. “Dax, could you talk some sense into him?”
“Can’t. Don’t want to risk being a big mouth,” he replied dryly.
“Yeah, but, now's your one chance for the rest of your life," she informed him before reaching forward and wrestling the suitcase from Jack. Normally, she wouldn’t stand a chance against his muscles, but since jerky movements were currently causing him a lot of pain, she had a huge advantage.
“Ouch!” he exclaimed as her elbow grazed his injured side.
“Oops,” she said cheerfully. “Did that hurt? I thought your bruised ribs were 'fine'?”
Behind them, Dax laughed and Jack sighed as they made their way up the stairs. “You’ve been in a good mood these last two days. That Phoenix city tour must have been amazing.”
She grinned broadly, her gaze grazing Lucas, who was sitting in one of the front rows, watching her. He was almost certainly following every word. “Oh, yeah. I saw and did a lot I’d like to repeat,” she said cheerfully, walking past Lucas…and his fingers brushed hers. Only fleetingly. It was really barely noticeable. Nevertheless, her whole body immediately tingled.
“You could have asked if we wanted to tag along,” Dax said.
“But I didn’t want you to,” she said innocently. “And Coach gave you a curfew.”
“We would have come with you.”
“You wouldn’t have,” Lucy said, who was sitting in the aisle next to Leon Alvarez. “Coach forbade it! Nobody left the hotel the day before yesterday.”
Anna lowered her gaze to hide her smile. Lucas was right. Being the winner of the Innocent Cup had its advantages. Nobody paid attention to him.
Which would only change if it came out that they were sleeping together. Then, he and Melody would…
The back of her neck prickled uncomfortably, and she quickly pushed the thought away. No one would find out!
“Dax, can you sit next to me for a minute?” Lucy asked matter-of-factly.
Dax waggled his eyebrows. “Always.”
“It concerns PR.”
