I expected Luke to raise an eyebrow at my outward confidence, since that was Charlie’s style, not mine. But instead, he cocked his head and said, “I’m guessing you had some rage to release?”
“You guess right.”
He stretched his hand across the table, and I took it, squeezing as hard as I could. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I would’ve told you earlier, but we haven’t been alone.” He paused. “I take it I’m the only one who knows?”
“Yeah.” I nodded. “I mean, Charlie knows, but…” I shook my head, as if to shake my fight with him away.He’d fall fast and hard, and shatter the second you decided things had run their course…He hadn’t apologized, and I honestly didn’t think he would. Maybe he’d forgotten it altogether, or he didn’t regret a single word. Not that I could completely blame him. I’d said, straight up, that I wasn’t looking for a real relationship until I was older.
But that was before Nick happened, before I fell in love with Nick. It was so ironic—Charlie thought I’d shatter his twin’s heart, but Nick had shatteredmine.
The barista called our names a second later. Our drinks were ready.
I volunteered to grab them, but when I got back to the table, Luke wasn’t alone. Tristan Andrews and his sky-high hair—styled to look like a shark fin, I thought—stood there talking to him. “I’m so happy I ran into you,” he was saying. “Did you have a good Thanksgiving?”
“Yes, it was great,” Luke responded. “How about you?”
“Oh, me too. Really good to be home.” He laughed. “But good to be back too.”
Luke nodded and retrieved the pencil that he’d tucked behind his ear, a polite dismissal.Time to resume my reading.
Although I knew their conversation wasn’t over yet. “I’m happy I ran into you,” Tristan repeated. “Because, I’ve been wondering…” He reached to fix his hair. “If you wanted to go out sometime?”
“Oh.” Luke put down his pencil and stared at it for a second, as if to collect his words. “That’s really nice, Tristan, but…” He blushed. “I kind of have someone…”
“Youkind of have someone?” I asked once Tristan awkwardly shuffled off (especially after discovering I’d overheard the whole thing). “Luke!”
“What?” He sipped his coffee. “Idohave someone.” His lips quirked up in a smile. “And he’s not half-bad looking.”
I laughed. “I know, but…” I tried not to wince, worried the next part wouldn’t come out right. “Are you, um, allowed to say stuff like that?”
Luke’s eyebrows knitted together. “Allowed?”
My stomach stirred. Yes, I’d said the wrong thing.
“Sorry, no,” I fumbled. “I meant that I thought you guys were a secret. That’s what Charlie told me. I guess…” I hesitated. “I’m just wondering.”
“Well, yes,” Luke said. “We agreed to keep things quiet—he wants to, and I understand. But it’s only for right now, until he’s ready.” He shrugged. “But I’mme, and everyone knows it, so if people ask, I’m not going to lie about having a boyfriend.” His voice dropped. “Because as we both know, keeping secrets doesn’t lead to anything good.”
My heart lurched.
“I’m sorry, Sage,” he said. “As your friend, I want to keep things real with you.” He looked at me dead-on. “Charlie claims you’re powered by sunshine, but ever since Nick ended things, it’s looked like you’ve lost your light…”
My voice cracked. “Don’t, Luke. Please.”
“Was it really worth it?” he asked. “Pretending it wasn’t real? Just because your parents got divorced doesn’t mean it’ll happen to you. Mine met when they were eighteen—”
“Luke, stop,” I said. “Please stop.”
Luke’s face reddened. “Okay, sorry,” he murmured. “Too far, I’m sorry.”
I nodded, my cheeks heated too.
We returned to our homework.
I looked up from my English reading an hour later, and immediately regretted it. Emma and Nick were at the counter, both bundled up in their hockey team jackets. “Jesus Christ,” I muttered. “Are they fucking following me?”
A ridiculous question, since Emma was even more of a Pandora’sregular than I was. She woke up super early and came here to study every morning. Charlie and I usually saw her when we ran. “Hey, Emma!” a barista shouted now.
“Let’s leave,” Luke suggested as she ordered hot chocolates for both of them, with plenty of whipped cream.
