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“Hey Emma.”
Her heart fluttered as she heard Luke’s deep, husky voice on the other end of the line. Lisa’s words echoed in her head, urging her to stop overthinking things. She had dismissed her lunch with Luke as just friends hanging out, but deep down, Emma knew there was something more to it. She couldn’t deny the chemistry between them, the way his presence made her feel alive. Despite her efforts to downplay her feelings, she found herself drawn to him in ways she couldn’t fully comprehend. The more she tried to rationalize her emotions, the more she realized that matters of the heart defied any attempts at explanation.
Chapter 20
Luke
When Emma finally answered Luke’s call on the fourth ring, he stood still, with shoulders relaxed and his breathing evening out. He had been pacing back and forth in the backyard, grateful for the chance to talk to her privately without Jeremiah overhearing. Although Luke hated keeping secrets from his son, he wasn’t ready to reveal his feelings for Emma yet. He couldn’t help but think about how everything was still new, and they hadn’t even shared their first kiss. The missed opportunity during their dance kept replaying in his mind.
However, he had to focus on Jeremiah for the time being. When Emma came to pick up her lost dog a couple weeks ago, Jeremiah freaked out. How would he react to Luke dating Emma? Luke knew he needed to handle this situation delicately, given his strained relationship with his son. After leaving the animal shelter, they had gone for pizza and Jeremiah had even eaten downstairs in the kitchen while carrying on a conversation. Luke saw this as significant progress, especially after their earlier argument.
Luke felt a profound conflict clawing at his chest; he cherished the bond he had with his son, yet desperately yearned to find love and happiness again. He felt torn, as if something inside of him was splitting at the seams. His mind raced and his heart ached with painful agony as he fought to reconcile the relationship with his son and a future with Emma in a world where having both seemed impossible.
In truth, Luke felt exhilarated about his impromptu dinner date with Emma. It had been a long time since he had felt such excitement and anticipation. He wasn’t willing to let that go just yet.
“Hey Luke. Um, did you forget something?”
“No. I said I’d call you. Remember?”
“Yeah, I just didn’t know you’d call so soon.” Emma’s tone was lighthearted, as if she were holding back laugher.
Luke could hear music playing in the background. “Are you still at the bistro?”
“Um, guilty. Lisa wanted to grab a drink, so I indulged her.”
“That was nice of you.”
“Yeah. But I think we’re heading home now. Or, back to my place.”
As Emma’s words hung in the air, Luke’s racing thoughts finally coalesced into a confession he couldn’t contain any longer. With a deep breath, he spoke with a vulnerability he hadn’t felt in years, his voice laced with emotion. “I’m not really sure how to say this, so I’ll just say it. I really like you, Emma. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this way about someone. After I lost Kate, I realized life is too short to waste time. That’s why I’m so gung-ho on repairing mine and Jeremiah’s relationship, and that’s why I want to explore what’s happening here too. I think you and I both realize that there’s something between us, and I’d like for us to give it a try.”
Luke held his breath, waiting for her response, hoping against hope that she would feel the same. The brief silence that followed made him anxious, causing him to wonder whether he had misread the signals. Perhaps the feelings he had for her weren’t mutual after all.
Finally, Emma spoke, her voice carrying a hint of hesitation. “Luke, I like you a lot too. It’s just—it feels scary, you know?”
“I understand, Emma,” Luke reassured her, his voice gentle and understanding. “I don’t want to push you into anything you’re not ready for. We can take things at your pace.”
Emma let out a soft sigh, and Luke could sense her relief through the phone. “Thank you, Luke. I’d like that.”
“Of course. I want us to be on the same page,” Luke said, then taking a deep breath before asking the question that had been on his mind. “So, would you like to get together again?” He shifted his weight from foot to foot, feeling a little unsteady as he waited for her response.
“Yes, I would,” Emma said matter-of-factly.
Luke couldn’t contain his excitement and did a little jump in the air. He was grateful that he was alone in the backyard, so no one could see his giddiness.
“But it’s going to have to be next week,” she continued. “I’ve got class and tutoring every day this week, along with baking at night for the dog treat orders coming in. Is that okay?”
“Yeah, of course that’s okay. I’m just glad you want to see me again.”
“I thought that was pretty obvious,” she giggled, making Luke’s heart skip a beat. “I can’t wait to hang out again.”
Luke paused, biting his bottom lip. He nervously looked down at his feet as he began pacing again. “I really want to share this with Jeremiah, but I’m not sure when or how to do that yet. So, is it alright if we just keep this between us for now? I’d hate for him to find out through the grapevine.”
Emma groaned. “Oh no. You’ve heard of the grapevine?”
Luke’s face lit up with a smile as he spoke. “The hottest, most eligible bachelor in Hadley Cove? Yes, I’ve heard of the grapevine.”
Emma chuckled. “Well, at least everything they’re saying about you is positive.”
