“I see that. Thank you.” I took a step toward them. “Drake, this is Mason. Mace, this is—”
He reached out and offered his hand to Drake. “I know who he is, Lucy.” They shook hands, and Mason laughed. “It’s good to meet you, Senator Prescott.”
Drake smiled. “Please, it’s just Drake, and it’s nice to meet you too.” Mason stepped aside to let him come in, and Drake stopped in front of me. “Hi, Lucy.”
When he said my name, an odd feeling passed over me. Not attraction or excitement; instead I felt oddly protected and safe.
When the smell of delicious food emanating from the bag he held gained my attention, I tilted my head at him in question.
“I brought you some dinner. It’s from my brother’s house. But I don’t want to intrude.” Drake’s brows lowered a fraction as he looked from me to Mason. Worry lines formed on his forehead.
“You’re not intruding. I just didn’t expect you.” I took the bag from his hand and unrolled the top to inhale the delicious aroma. “This smells wonderful. Thank you.”
My doorbell rang, and an awkward silence fell over us until Mason piped up.
“That must be my dinner. Lucy, I’m going to take the food we ordered to my place since you’re all set.” He leaned over and gave me a chaste peck on the cheek before he turned to Drake, who observed him carefully. “Very pleased to meet you, Drake.”
And just like that, Drake and I were alone once again.
Chapter 4
Drake
Lucy had told me she didn’t have a boyfriend. Did she lie?
Mason took off, leaving us alone, and my chest tightened as I turned to her. “So, you had a good day?” My pulse quickened when her eyes widened.
“Yes, thank you. Did you?”
Dressed casually in sweatpants and a T-shirt, she walked into the kitchen and placed the bag on the table. Today her auburn hair was loose, rather than in the bun she was wearing yesterday, and I wanted to plunge my fingers into its silky softness, then pull her close and . . .
Realizing she’d just asked me a question, I refocused on her. “I did, but I always do when I’m with my family.”
That was the truth. My family loved being together, and our Sunday dinners were something we all looked forward to. None of us missed one if we could help it.
She smiled. “Would you like something to drink?”
“No, thank you.” I paced her living room and a muscle in my jaw ticked as Lucy strolled toward me. “So, he’s a friend?”
“Yes, he’s my best friend, my only friend. We met in college.” She sat on the couch, tucking her legs underneath her like a teenager. Her eyes closed briefly as she continued. “I was alone before I met Mason. Yes, I had a roommate, but we were more acquaintances than friends, which was fine with me.”
She opened her eyes and looked at me. “One day I was heading to the library, and a group of guys were playing soccer in the quad. All of a sudden, the ball whizzed toward me and hit me in the leg. It startled me, so I dropped my books on the sidewalk. One of the soccer players ran up and asked if I was okay before he bent down to help me pick up my books.”
A smile brightened her face when she added, “There was something kind in his eyes. He ended up tossing the ball to his friends and then walked me to the library. That guy was Mason, and the rest is history.”
Relief washed through me, mixed with a twinge of envy. If Lucy and Mason really were just friends, I probably didn’t have anything to worry about. But still, it bothered me that she’d chosen to spend today with him rather than with me.
“I’d like to be your friend. I thought I made that pretty clear yesterday.” I sank into the cushion next to her, wanting to make light of it, but couldn’t help but ask, “Why did you cancel on me today?”
She reached up to twist a strand of her hair as she took a deep breath. “I panicked.” She lowered her gaze, and as I reached out to take her hand in mine, she looked at me with sad eyes. “I’m sorry.”