“Come on, that’s one of my best lines,” he joked and kissed my forehead. “Is it working, though?”
He didn’t need lines or romance. I wasn’t the most romantic person and honestly, would just prefer him to tell me I was getting lucky tonight but I loved that he wanted to be sweet and do nice things for me.
“It all works, Luke,” I said, standing on my toes to kiss him. We walked along the side of the park a little awkwardly as I held on around his waist. I felt, almost, like a different person but I didn’t want to get too happy about it because I wasn’t sure what I was doing to change. I wasn’t na?ve enough to believe that all was going to be great from here.
Lucas seemed to know exactly where he was going, he led us through a rosebush archway and I stood still. There was a gorgeous tall white horse with a grey stripe down its head. Behind it was a wooden carriage.
“Seriously?” I said. Okay, perhaps I liked a bit of romance.
“Do you want to go for a ride?”
“Of course I do! This is amazing!” He smiled wide, melting my heart. I think I fell in love with him a bit more.
We climbed in the carriage and Lucas put his arm around me. “How did you find out about this place?”
“We used to come here as kids, the horse and carriage visit some weekends. This is one of those weekends.”
“Thank you,” I whispered and attacked his lips. I didn’t care that there was a man sitting about a meter away or that there were probably children around. He didn’t seem to either. Luke nipped my bottom lip and I felt like I was going to combust. I wanted him.
He pulled back, having considerably more self-control than me. He took a deep breath and stroked my cheek. “I’m supposed to do all this shit. What’re you thanking me for?”
I wasn’t sure if he lost or gained points for calling romantic stuff ‘all this shit’.
“I mean for everything, Luke. If it wasn’t for you I would still be going out and getting drunk every night and arguing with Mum and Ava.” That was half true. I did still drink, a lot less, but I did get drunk and I still fought with Mum and Ava. Lucas couldn’t fix everything though, and I didn’t expect him to. I was trying to figure out how to do that for myself with his support.
“I’ll always be here for you,” he murmured against my lips, kissing me again. I didn’t believe that. At the end of the day everyone was alone, no one was going to be with you forever, you just had to enjoy the time while you had it.
“We need to get back soon, I have to leave at four,” Lucas said, after we’d eaten by the pond and had a long walk around the park.
“I hate the part where you leave.”
“Yeah, me, too. I’ll be back over on Friday, though.”
We got back to mine and Lucas had to pack his things to leave. I sat on the sofa bed, pouting. We were still sort of in that hands-all-over-each-other – when family wasn’t around – so saying goodbye, especially for a week, was hard.
He smirked. “I love that you don’t want me to go.”
“But you have to. I’m not going to go downstairs to say bye.”
Nodding, he zipped up his bag and scooped me into his arms. “I love you.”
I kissed him. “I love you, too.”
He shuffled and I let him go. “I’ll see you Friday.” Bending down, he kissed my forehead and I watched him leave.
I waited to hear them drive off before going downstairs. “Ava,” I said when I heard Mum’s en-suite shower. “Can you give me a lift to Kai’s?”
“Now?” she asked, frowning.
“Please?”
“Okay.”
I ignored her disapproving gaze and got in her car. “Is this a good idea?” she asked, pulling out of the drive.
Fucking hell. “Why wouldn’t it be?”
“Lucas just left.”
“Okay, what do you think I’m doing with Kai?”
She shrugged the arm that was holding the gear stick. “I have no idea. Do you?”
“Yeah, actually. What’s your problem with him?”
“I have no problem with him but I think you’re playing a dangerous game. Even worse, you don’t seem to be able to see it.”
“I’m aware of how it may look, but the people who know me know that I wouldn’t cheat and I don’t ditch friends for a boyfriend.”
She said nothing more but she didn’t need to. Her dark green eyes watched me, judging the entire time.
“Thanks, Aves,” I said as we pulled up outside his house.
“No problem,” she replied with a fake smile.
I got out as soon as I could and didn’t look back. I knocked on the door and waited. “Kai,” I shouted, knocking harder. If he was still asleep…
The door opened slowly. “Princess,” he mumbled, squinting his eyes. Wow, he looked rough. His black hair was beyond sexy bed hair and his eyes were glazed over and tired.
“Ooh, you don’t look good,” I said, laughing as I walked past him.
“Thanks,” he replied sarcastically. I watched with amusement as he flopped down on the sofa and closed his eyes.
“Have you eaten anything?”