Total pages in book: 180
Estimated words: 176012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 880(@200wpm)___ 704(@250wpm)___ 587(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 176012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 880(@200wpm)___ 704(@250wpm)___ 587(@300wpm)
“I won’t be away long,” he tells whoever he’s talking to. “Retrofitted? No. That boat’s fifty years old. He’s not paying for that.”
I watch him, his squared shoulders outlining the wall of his chest that’s bigger and broader than the last time I saw him. It would feel like I was in a cocoon if he wrapped his arms around me. I lick my lips, my blood warming at the thought.
He just told whoever he’s talking to that he won’t be away long. Would he just leave, without me ever knowing he was in town?
“He can have his dock outside his office building as long as the city sanctions it,” Lucas says. “Blame the timeline on them.”
His voice is deeper, and I try to see his eyes in the mirror, but they’re cast down. He hasn’t noticed me at all since he’s been on the treadmill.
He nods. “Bye.”
And he ends the call.
He jogs, taking a drink from his water bottle. His brow is pinched, and I don’t like that he still has that look on his face. One he didn’t have when he was in college but certainly developed before he left.
“You should stay longer,” his friend says.
“Come to Dubai more.”
“They look at me funny when they search my luggage.”
His friend grins over at him in the mirror, Lucas looks up, and I dart my eyes down.
“Stop traveling with handcuffs,” Lucas says in a low voice.
My mouth falls open a little.
But then his friend asks, “And use rope instead?”
My mouth is dry again. What the hell?
His pal smiles at Lucas in the mirror. “I guess it won’t set off the metal detectors.”
I slow my pace, the room tilting a little. I blink a few times to refocus. I remember the first time I learned that Lucas had a whole life outside of whatever he let me see.
His jaw flexes, and then as if he knows I’ve been here the whole time, he lifts his chin, meeting my gaze in the mirror.
I can’t catch my breath as my heart knocks against my chest.
“Lucas!” a familiar voice yells behind us.
I startle, seeing Madoc behind me through the mirror, opening the door to a court with two rackets and a ball in his hand.
“Racquetball,” he calls out.
He doesn’t seem to notice me yet.
And now I know. He knew Lucas was here. Maybe that means he just arrived today then.
Lucas hops off the treadmill, grabs his stuff, and whips his towel at his friend. “See you tomorrow.”
The guy nods once. “Tomorrow.”
Lucas and Madoc disappear into a court, and I don’t even notice that the guy next to me is gone until my ride ends. I didn’t pay attention to my speed or resistance at all. I was lost in thought the whole time.
He said on his call that he wouldn’t be away long. Which means he’s not staying.
I should’ve talked to him.
Maybe I’d look into his eyes and see him smile at me, and all of a sudden, realize that my stupid childhood crush was better in my memory. Maybe then I’d be free from this fantasy I always had of him.
I spend another half hour weight training before I drift to the snack bar for a smoothie. I can still see Jared and Jax out of the corner of my eye, waiting, and I hold up my finger, telling them I’ll only be a minute. I tie my jacket around my waist, pulling down my cap, but then I hear Madoc’s voice. “Fallon is excited to see you.”
I glance up and then back down, Madoc and Lucas, showered and back in their suits as they stand in line in front of me.
Madoc swipes his card and hands Lucas a straw.
“Ran into her today at the office, actually,” Lucas tells him. “She didn’t tell you?”
“She told me to convince you to stay with us.”
My heart starts pounding again. This would be the perfect time to speak up.
“That’s nice.” Lucas’s voice doesn’t sound right. “I’ll think about it.”
“You like your alone time now, huh?”
Lucas shrugs a little. “I’m used to it.”
I could ask for my compass back. That was the deal we made. He had to come back; if nothing else, to return my compass and get his father’s baseball cap back.
“Stay the summer,” Madoc suggests. “Almost anyone can work remotely now, and she could use you here.”
I see Lucas turn and glance over his shoulder at me. “Uh…” He shifts back to Madoc. “I have to get back as soon as possible, actually.”
No.
He turns a little again, and I know he’s staring at me. I raise my eyes, locking with his.
“Sorry.” He laughs at himself a little as he stares down at me. “It’s just… I used to have a hat like that.”
I can’t talk. I can’t blink. I just peer up at him.
Madoc takes his drink. “You had that hat. That’s Quinn, dude.”