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And smart.
And uncomplicated.
Basically, she’s the polar opposite of Lake.
Lake with his unreadable expression and biting sarcasm.
Lake with his cynical blue eyes and distrust of the whole world that he wields like a sword.
Lake who attacks first and thinks later.
Lake who’ll never in a million years be described as uncomplicated.
We stand there, the three of us, in this strange limbo of silence. Until…
“I should get going,” Emily says.
It shouldn’t be a relief, but it is.
“I’ll walk you to your car,” I offer. It would be nice if I was doing it because I have manners, but in the interest of honesty, I just want to get Lake alone. And isn’t that just a confusing mess?
Emily looks down at her feet, then up at me with a smile. “It’s right there.” She points to a red Toyota parked a few feet away. “But sure. I’d love that.”
So we walk the five steps, and I send a warning look to Lake, who’s trying to inch away while I’m not looking. He rolls his eyes, crosses his arms over his chest, and by some fucking miracle, complies and stays put.
“Thank you for making sure I got to my car safely,” Emily says. “You’re such a gentleman.”
She opens her bag and digs out her keys, but doesn’t get inside the car. Instead, she takes a step closer to me.
“Tonight was fun,” she says, lowering her voice. “I wouldn’t mind doing this again. Only maybe with fewer dinner companions. I know we’re both pretty busy, but I’m free tomorrow?”
“Well, that’s sweet,” Lake says dryly—loudly—before I can even open my mouth. And then he’s right next to me. “Too bad you can’t go, dude.” He throws Emily a dismissive look. “He’s got plans. He volunteered to help me with something. Sorry.”
Emily’s eyes snap to Lake for a moment, and her brows draw into a frown before she looks back toward me. “Oh. Well, that sucks.”
The way my heart picks up speed has nothing to do with Emily. It would be so much easier if I were disappointed by this turn of events. If I were pissed at Lake for interrupting me and claiming my Sunday.
I’m not.
“Yeah,” I say to Emily. “I did promise.” I do my best not to sound as confused as I feel. I do my best to sound regretful. I don’t think I’m succeeding.
“Some other time, then,” Emily says. “You have my number, so maybe use it?”
I nod. She squeezes my forearm, steps even closer, and presses a short, soft kiss to my cheek.
She smells like flowers.
Not like Lake and his ever-present scent of sandalwood that’s so very familiar. It’s the cologne I bought him for his birthday when he turned sixteen and John ignored the day.
He’s been smelling the same since the day I handed him the box.
I watch Emily get into her car. In another minute, the Toyota disappears into traffic. When I turn to look at Lake, his gaze remains somewhere on the corner of the street for a long moment before he graces me with a look.
“You’re a shitty date,” he says, shaking his head.
His expression is still passive, but his tone is acerbic.
The way he looks at me makes me feel naked. Not in a literal sense. More as in it feels like he can read my thoughts. Like all my most closely guarded secrets are laid out at his feet, and he can pick up any of them and inspect them however closely he wants.
