AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My mouth is dry again. What the hell?
His pal smiles at Lucas in the mirror. “I guess people don’t get suspicious when they find it in your apartment.”
I slow my pace, unsure whether he just means in general, or if he should use rope…like Lucas does. Rope for what? It’s the knowing look he gives Lucas that makes it feel like the room is tilting a little.
Lucas’s jaw flexes, and then he shifts his gaze, meeting mine in the mirror.
I lower them again.
“Lucas!” a familiar voice yells behind us. “Racquetball.”
I glance up, seeing Madoc opening the door to a court, two rackets and a ball in his hand.
He doesn’t seem to notice me yet.
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 would 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 idyllic fantasy I always had of him that was nothing more than idolatry.
I spend another half hour weight training before I drift to the snack bar for a smoothie. I can still see Jared and Jaxout 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, seeing 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, right? He had to come back, if nothing else to return my compass that I gave him before he left.
“Stay the summer,” Madoc suggests. “She could use you here.”
I see Lucas turn and glance over his shoulder at me. “Uh…” He turns back to Madoc. “Uh, 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, meeting his.
“Sorry.” He laughs at himself a little. “It’s just… I used to have a cap like that.”
I can’t talk. I can’t blink. I just peer up at him under the hat.
