‘And I feel lucky I get to be in yours,’ I said, squeezing him in tighter.
I loved his words, I don’t think he knew how much they meant to me, his simple sentences felt like pure poetry. I snuggled up into his bed, I was a little spoon and he was cuddled into me tight. His head rested on my cheek. I fell asleep to the rhythm of his breathing as it slowed.
Chapter 8 — Her
‘Emma! I feel like it’s impossible to catch you these days! What have you been doing?’ Jack screamed through the speakers in my car. I answered his phone call as I was driving towards Lucas’s house. It was seven p.m. on Monday, I was daydreaming about what we might order for dinner when Jack called. ‘I feel like something is going on that you’re not telling me about,’ he said.
I laughed, but he was right. There was a reason why I was completely avoiding his phone calls. I couldn’t lie to Jack, he knew me too well.
‘So, spill the beans,’ he said.
‘Hello to you too, Jack. It’s wonderful to hear from you,’ I said sarcastically.
Jack’s laugh echoed through the speakers., ‘I’m purposefully being direct. I don’t know when you’re going to answer your phone again, these conversations are very few and far between. I don’t have time for small talk,’ he said. I smiled at his comment, but stayed silent, taking another right turn towards Lucas’s place. ‘So, who’s the guy? I’m not dumb, Em, I know that’s why you’re avoiding me.’ I felt a lump appear in my throat as Jack spoke. ‘I know you too well, you know.’ He was right, it was the reason I was avoiding him. It was rare for me to let any guy into my life, let alone tell anyone about them. I always kept people a secret. I didn’t want anyone in my life to get more invested than me. What if it didn’t work out? People are unpredictable. People leave. Counting on someone to stay around was something I knew too well I couldn’t do.
‘I’m driving to his house now,’ I blurted out so quickly, ‘I don’t know where it’s going, but I love being around him.’ The nerves in my voice speaking about Lucas sounded more intense than someone about to jump out of a plane.
Jack paused, what was wrong with me, why did talking about Lucas aloud make me so nervous I couldn’t even speak about him to my best friend?
‘Just look after yourself, okay, Em?’ said Jack.
‘Always,’ I said.
‘I’ll let you get to your man’s house. Call me tomorrow and let me know how your night went. Don’t be a stranger any more,’ he said, ending the call short, not prying more about my nervous voice.
‘I won’t, I promise.’
‘Okay, chat tomorrow. Have a good one.’
‘You too.’ I pressed the hang-up button on my handsfree and pulled up just outside Lucas’s house.
I looked down at the clock on my dashboard which read 7.15 p.m. I turned off the car and jumped out quickly. Pressing the lock button and walking towards the front door, Lucas was already standing in his doorway.
‘I ordered dinner; I was so hungry I couldn’t wait. It came just before you,’ he said, kissing me gently before gesturing for me to come in.
‘What did you get us?’ I asked.
‘We’re having a mixed bag of all types of Asian tapas,’ he said excitedly.
‘That sounds amazing!’ I said, walking through Lucas’s front door. He followed me in and shut the door behind me, leading me out onto the balcony taking a seat at his large outdoor table. Lucas had already laid out plates of sushi and sashimi, bao and spring rolls, it was a full spread. Lucas looked at me smiling as I eyed off the table.
‘I hope you’re hungry,’ he said as he pulled out a chair behind the table for me to take a seat.
‘I’m starved. Thank you,’ I said. Lucas sat down next to me. I grabbed a piece of sushi, looking out at the view over the balcony. It was so lush and green. Lucas’s house felt like a holiday, a holiday that I never wanted to end. I always felt so relaxed here, I sank deeper into the chair, grabbing another piece of sushi, looking over at Lucas diving his mouth into a bao bun. ‘Thank you for this, this is really beautiful,’ I said.
‘You’re welcome. I’m glad you like it,’ he said. I smiled back at him, enjoying the food and taking in the ambiance. We sat, chatting about his upcoming gigs, the painting I was working on that he so desperately wanted to see pictures of, but I refused to show him.
‘C’mon at least tell me what it’s about, what it represents for you?’ he asked, leaning in closer.
‘Okay, well, let’s just say it’s about freedom, self-discovery. Maybe the best way to explain it,’ I said.
‘What no way, I wrote lyrics that represent the same thing this week. I thought I met my maker, but she was really just a taker. So here I go on my own, shedding everything I’ve ever known,’ he said.
I dropped my chopsticks down on the table. My jaw dropped open. ‘you’re joking,’ I said.
‘No, I’m really not, I recorded it today. I can show you,’ he said.
I laughed, shaking my head. ‘Who are you?’ I said, staring back at him, trying to read further through the lines of his blue eyes that haunted yet intrigued me so much. There were so many parts of our minds that were eerily similar.
