I handed the ball back to him just in time, because a second later a crack of thunder made me jump and possibly squawk.
Lukas placed the ball down, and I swore he smiled. “The storm has arrived…seems I won’t be taking you home until it passes.”
“What shall we do to kill time?”
He cocked his head. “I’m sure we’ll think of something.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Lukas
Rain pelted the windows,and waves crashed against the island in tandem with lightning. Not to be left out, thunder sounded furiously, shaking the bones of the house.
“Damn, that’s a wicked storm.” Sam was standing in front of the wall of windows in the grand room, hot cocoa in hand. When Winston had offered, Sam’s eyes had lit up as though he’d offered him a million dollars.
“You’re a fan of storms?” Slowly, I moved beside him.
“Yeah, even as a kid. I never got scared.”
“Never?”
He shook his head. “I’d lie in bed and watch them from my window. It always felt like it was nature’s way to vent. I understood that a lot. And I often envied her ability to be so dramatic about it, and whether you wanted to or not, you were gonna listen to her.” He chuckled.
I couldn’t fathom what child would think that about a storm. Sam was turning out to be more complex than I’d anticipated.
“That’s a very interesting way of thinking about it…if a little intense for a child.”
His gaze strayed from the window and met mine. “I wasn’t a typical kid.”
“Hm, yes, I believe that.”
“Pardon, sir.” Winston entered the room.
“Yes?”
“I was wondering about dinner?”
Sam spun and faced Winston. “Oh, no way. I’m sure the storm will clear up soon, and I’ll be out of your hair. No need to feed me.”
Winston regarded me, waiting for the final say.
“The news says a few hours. Either way, it’ll be past dinnertime, and I did invite you.” I nodded to Winston.
“Very good, sir.”
“That’s really nice of you, but it’s okay. I wasn’t supposed to still be here, and I’ve messed up your plans.”
“Not at all.”
I wondered how I’d explain that I wasn’t eating with him. Through the years, that never got easier. Humans were either idiots or far too cynical. I’d never met a cynical idiot. Sam wasn’t stupid, and he was beyond curious.
I was deep in my thoughts, working out how I’d get away without eating when Sam nudged me.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, why?”
“You’re staring at the carpet like you’re trying to turn it into ashes.”
