Chapter 7
Willow
‘Lucas?’
Willow squinted in his direction, trying to fight back her confusion. She was pretty sure it was him, although he looked different from the skinny boy she had known at school. His dark hair was almost black, slightly wavier than she remembered, but still as thick, and she smiled as he pushed it away from his eyes. He was obviously still terrible at getting haircuts then. His dark eyes glinted in the sunlight. His jaw was clenched and covered in stubble. She remembered how his smile used to light up his whole face, but there was no hint of that smile now.
He looked good. Better than good. He looked freaking gorgeous.
She tried to ignore the tingle that worked through her body.
How could this be the same kid she used to play with? Had he had a body transplant or something?
‘Oh yeah,’ Jenn said, disengaging herself from Greg’s angry protests for a moment. ‘That was what I was trying to say before. Lucas is back now. He only left the town for a few months. He runs The Diner.’
Willow assessed the familiar apron whipped tightly around his body. ‘So I can see.’
She wasn’t sure how to feel about this, but her overriding feeling was awkwardness. She and Lucas hadn’t spoken for years. Things had changed when she had gotten together with Jake, although she never really understood why. It had upset her that their friendship had slipped away so easily.
Lucas was staring back at her now with a cold, unwelcoming gaze. His arms were folded across his body. It was pretty clear he was feeling just as awkward as she was. And maybe something else too? Was it a flash of longing in his stare or was she fooling herself?
Well, this was a great start. Why couldn’t he have stayed in New York?
Willow cleared her throat and walked casually over to him. She attempted a smile, but it felt stiff and unnatural. She quickly released it again.
‘Hey Lucas. Good to see you.’
It didn’t even sound like a convincing lie. Her words were hard, blunt and she was finding it tricky to make eye contact with him. He’d always had such intense brown eyes. It was like staring into a vat of the deepest, darkest chocolate – indulgent and slightly dangerous.
And Willow had sworn off the stuff anyway.
Lucas returned her smile. It was just as forced. His gaze remained cool and guarded.
‘Hi Willow. You were the last person I expected to see back here. I thought you had left for good?’
‘Yeah. I guess it is a little unexpected, but things change,’ she replied as casually as she could. ‘I see you’re working here now.’
She gestured at the building behind them. It felt soweird to be standing here again at a place that had been so important for them all. She half expected Jake to come tumbling out the door and then grab her arm and insist that they take one of the far-corner booths for some privacy. She blushed a little at the thought.
Lucas looked back at The Diner too, as if he was seeing it for the first time. His expression seemed to soften a little. ‘Yeah, well, the place means a lot to me.’
‘I was so sorry to hear about your mom,’ Willow said gently. ‘Mel was such a wonderful woman. I know she helped me so many times.’
Lucas nodded slowly. ‘It’s been hard, but you know …’
He shrugged, but his gaze was still fixed on the building. Willow could sense that he seemed to be carrying a heavy burden of sadness and decided it was best not to say anything more.
‘So, is Jake coming here?’ Lucas asked finally, his jaw held in a clench again.
‘No. He’s still in Seattle.’
Lucas nodded, not seeming to look as if he cared either way.
‘The anniversary for Mel is coming up next month,’ Greg said, approaching her. He pushed up his glasses and looked her up and down as if really assessing her. ‘It’s a tricky time for Lucas.’
‘You don’t have to speak for me, Greg,’ Lucas snapped. ‘Besides, don’t you have car issues to sort out?’
‘Calm down, man, I was just explaining your pretty dark mood.’ Greg dangled the car keys in front of him. ‘I have these babies back, and Jenn has assured me she will staywellaway from my car for the foreseeable future.’
