The room goes still.
The coffee turns to mud in my mouth.
Because yeah… I am definitely thinking about seeing her naked again.
“Actually,” I manage, voice low, “I was thinking of asking you to dinner at my mom’s on Sunday.”
And there’s a curveball I never thought I’d throw. Bennett is so gonna get it for planting that bad idea bomb in my head.
“I’d love that!” Lucy’s energy brightens in a way I didn’t think was possible from someone who already feels like sunlight. “I haven’t seen your mama in forever.”
Her gaze narrows, suspicion bleeding into her expression. “Wait. NowIsmell a trap. How is this not crossing all the lines you’re so desperate to draw?”
“I thought you just said we didn’t need lines.”
She waves away the statement like she can erase it from the record. “I told Gabby and Stella we might hang out Sunday.”
And suddenly, I see the cure to my curveball.
“Bring them.”
“Bring them?”
“Sure? Why not? I know Mom would love to see you again, and you guys all hung out back in the day, right? She’d probably like to see all of you. A reunion, if you will”
I shrug, hoping that sounds reasonable enough to make my invitation to Lucy seem less intense and more natural.
“Stella and Bennett at the same table?” Lucy scrunches her nose. “Disaster.”
“Bennett needs a little Stella in his life,” I say. “Keeps him humble.”
“Gabby, though?” I shake my head. “I know she lovedyour mom too, but showing up for family dinner after the way she and Grayson ended? That actuallyiscrossing a line.”
“I get that. Bennett needs humility. Gabby needs space.”
Lucy tilts her head, watching me. “And what about you?” Her voice has gone soft. Not teasing. Not flirty. Just… searching. “What doyouneed, Nash?”
You.
I need you.
Mornings like this and nights like the ones in my fantasies.
I stare into my coffee, the bitterness blooming again on my tongue.
“Probably not what I want.”
“That’s not an answer,” she says quietly.
“It’s the only one I’ve got.” I stand and slide my chair back in, heading down the hallway to dress for work.
“Wow,” Lucy says behind me. “That’s impressive even for you.”
I stop walking and turn back to her slowly, hand still on the doorframe. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You never say what you mean. You step right up to it, then walk away. Literally, this morning.”
“You want honesty?” I say, voice low. “Fine.” I pause. Swallow hard. “I didn’t realize how small my life had become until you showed up. Now I’m going to music festivals and talking about music and coming home to a house that isn’t dark and empty and lonely and suddenly I want things I haven’t let myself want in a long time.”My gaze meets hers and doesn’t waver. “You being one of them.”
