Things with Luke had been something of a whirlwind, but it wasn’t like we had just met at Thanksgiving. We had known each other for years, and Luke had admitted he also had a bit of a crush on me in high school.Eat your heart out, Dixie.
Also, I couldn’t help but think relationships moved fast when two people were meant to be together. When two pieces fit perfectly, they slid right into each other. And Luke and I fit perfectly.
My mom hugged me again. When she pulled away, her eyes shimmered with tears. “You call me the moment you land, okay?”
“I promise,” I said. “But please don’t cry. I’ll be back for my stuff before you know it. Right now, I’m just going to see about that job offer. If that works out, I’ll be able to make some more concrete plans on what my life will look like. As soon as I know, I’ll tell you.”
“Okay, good.” Mom nodded and turned to look at Luke affectionately. “And you, promise me you’ll watch out for her.”
“I will,” he said.
I groaned. “Mom, I don’t need protection.”
“She really doesn’t,” Luke said. “But I’ll watch out for her anyway.”
Mom hugged him while my dad wrapped his arms around me. He was as big and gruff as Nic, but he was a big old teddy bear, at least when it came to me. I loved my father dearly.
“If you ever need anything,” he said to me. “I’m just a phone call away.”
“I know, Dad,” I said into his chest. “Thank you. It’s always nice to know I can still depend on you if I need to. That being said, I’m glad I don’t have to move into the basement.”
He laughed, his whole chest rumbling with it. “I was looking forward to it, but that was just me being selfish. I know you need to go off and do big things like you always wanted. And when you get hired on that play, your mother and I will be there on opening night. You can count on that.”
It was my turn to get misty-eyed. “Thanks, Dad. That means a lot to me.”
He let go of me reluctantly and extended his hand to Luke. He shook it with a firm grip, and they locked eyes, seeming to have a whole secretmanconversation with just a look and a solemn nod.
Dad nodded and stepped back. “Good man.”
Luke nodded back and put his arm around my shoulders. “You ready to go?”
I nodded. “Ready.”
He put my suitcase in the back of the SUV next to his. We got in, and he rolled down the window so we could say bye as we backed out of the driveway. In the rearview, I saw my parents waving at us until we turned down another street.
“I’m going to miss them,” I said.
“Say the word, and I’ll fly them up,” Luke said with a shrug. “I’ve been trying to get my own parents to visit me in the city but it never happens.”
“Why not?” I asked.
Luke smiled fondly. “My mother claims she’s allergic to flying.”
“What?” I chuckled in confusion. “Is that a thing?”
He shook his head. “I think she’s just afraid to get on a plane. She only flew once, on my parents’ honeymoon. Dad flew her out to Niagara Falls, and she said never again. They had to drive back to Texas.”
“That’s kind of sad,” I said, shaking my head.
“Well, I always got the impression that my father really enjoyed the road trip back.” Luke grinned at me. “I think that’s when they made Troy.”
I laughed. “Well, I guess that’s a silver lining.”
“Yeah, and they’ve been all over the country. They just drive. I’ve been thinking of getting her to take a train to New York. I know she’d have fun once she’s there.” Luke shrugged. “I’ll have to work on that. For now, the only lady I’m worried about getting to the city is you.”
CHAPTER 39
LUKE
