I STOOD AND looked around my dorm room before dragging in a long deep breath. Closing my eyes, I prayed I’d make it through the next few hours. I was driving back home with Luke for the Thanksgiving break.
Turning, I looked at myself in the mirror. My blonde hair was pulled up into a sloppy bun on top of my head and my makeup was minimal, like always. I had put on mascara, blush, and a very light shade of pink on my lips. I leaned in closer and sighed.
“It’s not like I’m trying to impress him,” I barely said as I pushed a strand of hair behind my ear. My phone buzzed and I reached for it.
Luke: Hey, I’m about a minute from there. Ready?
Me: Yep. Heading down now.
Quickly turning on my heels, I reached down and grabbed my duffle bag. I threw it over my shoulder and then grabbed a few of my books. I needed to study for a chemistry test I had once break was over.
I made my way out of my room and headed down to wait outside for Luke. As soon as I pushed the doors open, the warm breeze hit me in the face. There was a cold front moving through and I couldn’t wait for cooler weather. And home. I wanted to go home, sit, and talk to my parents.
I walked toward the area where Luke would be pulling up. My heart started beating harder in my chest as I remembered my conversation with Will yesterday.
“LIB, WHAT’S GOING on with you and Luke? I see the way the two of you look at each other, but neither one of y’all hardly say a word to each other. You used to be the best of friends.”
My eyes filled with tears as I looked away and shrugged. “I don’t know, Will. I guess Luke doesn’t want to be friends with me. I think he likes his fuck buddy better.”
Will sighed. “Lib, he hasn’t even mentioned Abigail in so long. I don’t think he’s seen her since that weekend they went to the coast.”
Dragging in a deep breath, I let it out. “Doesn’t matter, I’ve tried to figure it out and I’m done with it. I just have to get through the drive home and then I’ll have my own car and will see less and less of Luke.”
THE HONK OF Luke’s truck pulled me out of my memory. “You can do this, Libby,” I said under my breath as I walked toward his silver Ford F250. Luke jumped out and ran around the front of his truck. His smile about knocked me over. I shook my head and looked away. One minute he avoids me, and the next minute he looks at me like I’m his entire world.
He reached for my duffle bag and took it from my shoulder. “Hey, Lib. You excited about heading home?”
My stomach fluttered at the sound of his voice. I wish he knew the effect he had on me. I smiled as I nodded my head. “Yeah, I’m excited to see my parents. I just wish Will was coming home.”
Luke’s smile faded briefly. Opening the back door, Luke tossed in my bag. I went to get in and when he took my hand to help me up, I let out a small gasp. I was pretty sure he hadn’t heard it. Glancing back at him I smiled weakly as I whispered, “Thank you.”
Luke smiled, winked, and shut the door. He headed around the front of his truck but was stopped by a guy who had been running. The guy was dressed in a Texas A&M T-shirt and jogging pants. His blond hair was longer than Luke’s and his body not anywhere near as nice as Luke’s. My eyes moved to Luke as I watched him stand there and talk to the guy. Luke was dressed in jeans that fit his body better than they should have. His tight, light-blue T-shirt clung to his toned muscular body and made his green eyes seem almost gray blue.
I bit down on my lower lip when he ran his hand through his brown hair. Luke never was one to worry about his hair. He didn’t really wear it in any type of style. It always looked like he woke up and ran his hands through it and that was it. It worked for him, though.
Luke reached out and shook the other guy’s hand as they said their good-byes. Then he slapped the other guy on the back as he threw his head back and laughed. The runner was a bit taller than Luke, probably six feet tall. Luke stood at five-feet-eleven inches. He thought he was short, but I thought he was the perfect height. When we used to dance together, I fit perfectly up against him, and he would rest his chin on the top of my head. Smiling, I thought about all the times we danced together growing up.
Looking away quickly, I attempted to take charge of the emotions trying to build up. I missed him. I missed my best friend.
The door to the truck opened and Luke jumped in. “Sorry about that, Lib. That was a guy from one of my classes. He had a question about something.”
I continued to look out the passenger window as I said, “No worries.” I looked back at him and smiled. He gave me that damn sexy grin of his and then put the truck in drive and took off. He reached over and turned on his radio. Mantz Brothers’ “One Kiss At a Time” started playing. I closed my eyes and leaned my head back against the headrest.
This is going to be a long drive.
“ARE YOU HUNGRY, Lib?”
I looked up from my chemistry book and saw we were in Austin already. Glancing over to Luke, I couldn’t help but smile back at his stupid sexy grin. I shrugged my shoulders. “I’m kind of hungry. Are you?”
He smiled bigger. “I’m starved. Franklin’s?”
I laughed and shook my head. Luke and his barbeque. The bastard knew Franklin’s was my favorite, except if you didn’t get there first thing in the morning you were out of luck. They sold out every day by noon. “Luke, there is no way they are going to have food left.” I glanced at my watch. “It’s almost eleven thirty. The line is going to be around the block.”
Luke turned right and started heading toward Eleventh Street. “You still like brisket, right?”
I nodded my head even though he wasn’t looking at me and clearly ignoring what I had to say. “Yeah, I do.”
He chuckled and said, “There ya go. Let’s go get some of your favorite brisket.”
Shaking my head, I sighed. We were wasting our time.
Luke pulled into the parking lot and parked. The place was practically empty. I looked around and only saw a few cars.
“Where is everyone?” I asked as Luke turned off his truck and got out. He made his way around the front of the truck and opened my door. When he held his hand out for mine, I wanted to push him. Why is he being so sweet to me? I hate it when he does this. It confuses me.
We started walking toward the restaurant. There was a closed sign up. “They’re closed already, Luke,” I said as I reached for his arm. He shot me a sneaky grin and grabbed my hand, pulling me toward the door. The butterflies deep in my core caused me to place my hand on my stomach.