“I want to concentrate on finding out what the hell this drug contains, so please get out and let me work in peace.”
When I’m about to get out the door, I’m stopped by Bianca’s voice.
“Anmara?”
“Yes?” I say in a hoarse voice.
“Don’t take it personally, but think about how you want your ex-love story to end,” she says with her eyes still glued to Marshall’s notes.
I nod. When I see that she doesn’t say anything else, I get out and deeply inhale the air full of emissions from the car that just left the parking lot. It seems that once you exit Tamwine, the air isn’t so fresh and clean anymore.
Lucas closes the door behind us and positions himself in front of me. I raise my eyes to his. He sees how affected I am by Bianca’s words and strongly hugs me. I hug him back, wishing to immerse myself in the warmth of his chest and not feel how pathetic and idiotic I have been in the last five years anymore.
?
The road to the closest restaurant in Contard was short, but calmer than the one to this small town. Our hands were clasped together in the middle of the car, right above the console. It sent me a sense of security that I never felt when I was with Marshall.
What makes Lucas different from the others?
Lucas stops the car when we reach the small restaurant. He looks at our intertwined hands, then gets out of the car. That makes me feel for a second how the warmth he’s emanating disappears, only to see him open the car door and holding out his hand for me. I grab it without thinking, desperately needing this little connection to not lose myself in my own thoughts.
On one side, I want to get back in the car and drive as far away as I can from all this craziness. On the other hand, I know that, since Cathal could easily locate Lucas, he could find me anywhere as well. That and the man beside me are the only things stopping me from disappearing into the world.
I try to erase the beautiful image of us together. It is calm and relaxing, but I still don’t trust enough the fact that I won’t be hurt again. That when I’ll dedicate my whole heart to another person, it won’t be broken into a million pieces again. I trust Lucas, but I don’t trust the people surrounding us. The ones that could seal our future better than we could.
You think too fucking much, Anmara. Shut up your mind! It’s exhausting as hell.
We enter the restaurant, and I play my best smile that could exist in such a moment as we sit down and get the menus.
“What do you want to eat? And don’t tell me that you wanna eat me, because you need to get some food in that stomach of yours,” Lucas smiles, trying to break the emotional tension that is still present, making me genuinely laugh.
“From what I remember, I didn’t express that wish,” I say while looking at the menu and eyeing something that makes my mouth water. “This actually looks more appetising than you,” I wink at him.
“So you admit you want me,” he winks at me in turn, making me roll my eyes, while finally having an authentic smile on my face.
“Did you decide what you want to order?” says a waitress with a notepad in her hand.
“We would like two burgers with extra cheddar and a side of fries with garlic and parmesan. Also, some maple syrup pancakes,” Lucas surprises me by remembering my favourite dessert.
“Very good choice,” she smiles, and I make a bet with my consciousness that it is her line for whatever we would’ve ordered. “Would you also like something to drink?”
“Yes. An ice-cream frappé,” I say, and then move my gaze to Lucas to surprise him. “And a chocolate milkshake.”
I get the most beautiful, sweet smile from Lucas as confirmation that I was right.
“Of course. I will come back in a couple of minutes with your order,” Susan says, as I read on her tag, and goes to the kitchen.
Lucas puts my menu down and gets my hand, while looking at me with the same intensity.
“I told you we are soulmates, but you didn’t believe me," he says, making me roll my eyes.
“We were nine years old, and even though I adored you, I had to be realistic,” I say, maintaining his gaze.
“I was always irresistible.”
His other hand touches my nose, making me softly laugh like an adolescent in love.
Maybe I am. Just in love, as I’m no longer an adolescent. At least my mind seems way older than my body, considering how much I had to endure.
