“Oh, that’s right.” He let go and I walked back to my desk feeling a teeny bit better. If he had his sense of humor, that was something.
“So we’re doing dinner at Sloane’s with the rest of the girls?” Lucah said that night. I’d already told him about chatting with Dad earlier, and he agreed to keep going to dinner with me every week. He’d also agreed that Dad was being cagey, but it was best to leave it alone and wait and see.
“If you’re cool with that. Don’t you ever get sick of hanging out with us?”
“Not at all. I love seeing you together, and your friends are awesome. I’d like them even if they weren’t your friends.” I held onto his arm as we walked, and even though it was still summer, I could almost taste Fall in the air. Fall in Boston was one of my favorite times of the year.
“And speaking of spending time with people, Tate called and he said that the girls have been asking when you are going to come visit again.”
“That is so cute. I’d love to go see them again, but minus the candy this time.” I was never bringing candy again, unless April approved it, or asked us to bring it.
“Great. Saturday again?”
“Which means little to no drinking on Friday, but I’m okay with that. After that Thursday night wine binge a few weeks ago, I’m on an alcohol hiatus for a little while.” Lucah laughed.
“My little lightweight.” Drinking was probably the only category I could be considered a lightweight.
“Shut up.”
“This is a terrible game,” Lucah said as we played Cards Against Humanity that night after dinner. It was a traditional girls’ night activity, and once we’d explained it to him, he wanted to play. But then we actually started playing and he realized how awful of a game it really was.
“You were the one who said you wanted to play.”
“That was before I looked at any of the cards.”
I just laughed at him and pushed his hair back.
“Ugh, I have to go in early tomorrow. We had a bitch quit this week,” Chloe said. “So I’m out.” She got up and we all gave her hugs.
“I should probably go too. I think Fin is going to call me.” Marisol’s cheeks turned pink when she said his name. So adorable. Having an international love was not all it was cracked up to be. Especially with a huge time difference. We hugged and said good-bye and then it was me and Sloane and Lucah. The three Musketeers. Sort of.
“You haven’t heard from my brother at all, have you?” Lucah said, completely out of left field. We hadn’t talked much about Ryder lately, and I just assumed that either they hadn’t been talking, or things were going well.
“Uhhh, no.” She got up and didn’t make eye contact as she picked up the cards and put them back in the box.
“Very convincing, Sloane,” I said.
“Okay, he texted me. Once. Just asked if I wanted to meet him and gave me an address. I was in the midst of dealing with work chaos, and it was the middle of the day, so I said that I couldn’t and I haven’t heard from him since.” Wow. I was shocked. I thought she would have at least had more contact with him, or even that she’d hooked up with him, but she hadn’t. Progress?
“What was the address?” She got her phone and pulled up the message and showed it to Lucah, who typed it into his phone. “It looks like an apartment building. He’s been really vague about where he’s living. I’ve tried to get him a place, but he’d rather be a couch nomad.”
“Wow, sounds familiar,” I said, giving him a look. He sighed and got up from the floor where we’d been playing cards.
“Yeah, yeah.” He held his hands out to help me up and pulled me close for a quick kiss. Instead of glaring at us, or making a comment, Sloane wore a wistful look on her face. But as soon as I saw it, she hid it and went to put the cards away. I wondered if we were going to have another conversation where she cried about being a broken puzzle piece.
But she said goodnight and I gave her an extra-long hug and promised we’d do another spa day on Sunday.
“She’s so sad,” I said as Lucah locked the door of our place for the night. “I don’t know what to do to cheer her up. I feel like she’s been slowly getting sadder and sadder and I’m just now noticing it. I should have seen it sooner. I suck as a friend. I’m that girl who forgets about her best friend when she gets a boyfriend.” Lucah folded me into his arms and rocked me back and forth.
“You’re not a terrible friend. You’re one of the best friends I’ve ever seen. The best you can do is be there and listen, I guess. What would you do if it was me?”
“I’d give you coffee.”
“Okay, bad example.” And then he looked as if an idea had struck him. I could figure out exactly what that idea was.
“Perv.” I poked him in the ribs.
“No, wait, I think we need to discuss this further.” I pulled away from him and started walking to the bedroom.
“You can fantasize about me and Sloane, or you can come and have just me. Right now.” I pulled at the hem of my shirt, lifting it up over my head and tossing it on the floor.
“I’ll take the second option, please,” Lucah said, taking off his shirt as well. “I just want you, Sunshine.”
Sweeter words had rarely been spoken. So I let him take me to the bedroom and have me. Several ways.
I got to work a few minutes early the next day, partially because I was hoping to get a glimpse of Violet and maybe say hello before she got carted off for orientation. As luck would have it, Mrs. Andrews was chatting with her at the front desk when I got off the elevator.
“Rory, have you met Violet yet?” Violet’s hair was held back with a clip, but little tendrils escaped all over her face in a casual-yet-put-together way. Effortless, as was her pearl silk top and gray pencil skirt.
“No, not really. Welcome to Clarke Enterprises.” I got another great handshake.
“Thank you so much, I’m ecstatic to be here. Sorry, I’m a little nervous.” Bullshit. She didn’t look nervous in the least.
I was about to ask her something else when the elevator opened and Lucah stepped off. He went directly for me.
“Miss Clarke, you dropped your phone—” he abruptly cut off and stared at Violet. All of the color drained from his face, making his freckles stand out.
“Vi?” he said.
“Lucah?” she said with an equal mask of shock.