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Luke leads the way, and even through the thickness of my winter coat, I can feel the warmth of his hand pressing gently against my lower back.
But I try not to think too much about it. Or how acutely aware I am of it.
Uh-huh. Keep telling yourself that.
“Ava! Luke!” Em is the first one to see us. A lazy smile spreads across her face, and she awkwardly wraps us both into a hug, one arm on my shoulder and one arm pulling Luke into the mix.
“Yay! You guys finally made it!” Kate is next, joining in on the group hug, the force of her giddy presence pushing my face to smash into Luke’s.
I burst into laughter, and he just grins at me out of the corner of his eye, his cheek literally smushed against mine.
“I think we’re behind in the drink department, Ace,” he whispers toward me once we’re released from the jaws-of-life hug
“You guys definitely are,” Zach comments and reaches out to shake Luke’s hand and offer me a friendly hug.
“Hey, guys.” Landon does the same.
“So, how was shopping?” Em asks, taking a sip from her red wine with already red-stained lips. My guess is that my sis is on glass number three for the night.
“Horrible,” Luke teases, and I nudge him in the stomach with my elbow.
“It was not that bad.”
“Nah, it wasn’t that bad.” He smirks. “We just hit every store in the mall. Twice.”
“You’re such a drama queen.” I snort. “You had fun.”
“You’re right. I did.” He wraps his arm around my shoulder and presses a kiss to my forehead. I falter a little when his lips touch my skin but remind myself this is part of the game. This is why he’s here. To make everyone believe he’s my boyfriend.
It’s actually a good thing that he’s able to do boyfriend-y things like that with a naturalness that keeps surprising even me. It’s good that, to an outsider, it seems like we’ve been in a relationship for years. Like we’re always this way. Touchy-feely, affectionate, in love.
Too bad, deep down, you’re starting to wish it wasn’t just an act…
Internally, I shake off my insane thoughts, shrug off my winter coat and hang it on the back of a chair, and proceed to tell Kate and Em a little more about my shopping trip, while Luke heads to the bar and grabs us a drink.
All in all, it was a successful trip. I was able to get our mom and two aunts Coach totes. Ones that should be perfect for their Bruce dog-park days. You know, the ones where they spend most of their time taking unsolicited pictures of strangers.
I got Guy Lucie—the man, the myth, the holiday legend—a few new Christmas decorations to add to his collection. Ones I’m certain he doesn’t have yet.
I found the perfect white silk robe that I had embroidered with Bride on the back for Kate to wear while she’s getting ready on her wedding day. And I got Em a gift card to finally get her eyelashes done. It’s something she’s been talking about for the last year and still hasn’t done it. Now, she won’t have an excuse.
Of course, those last two gifts aren’t mentioned.
“What did you end up getting Luke?” Kate asks.
I shrug, and a giggle pops from my lips. “Something I hope he’ll like. I’ll be honest, men are not easy to buy for.”
Em laughs. “I can vouch for that, sis. Every year it’s a struggle to find Landon something.”
Frankly, Luke was my biggest challenge while shopping. I had no idea what to get him, and I’m still wondering if it’s too simple, but when I came up with the idea, it just felt…right.
Now, I guess I have to wait until Christmas for him to open it…
“What are you ladies giggling about?” Luke asks, a handsome smile kissing his lips.
“Something that is none of your business,” I retort and take one of the glasses of Coca-Cola from his hands.
That’s right. We’re at a bar, and we’re both drinking Coke.
Talk about lame, right?
“Could this be about you buying my Christmas present?” he asks, and his smile turns mischievous. “When you all but shoved me away and told me you needed alone time but wouldn’t tell me why?”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Like I said, it’s none of your business.”
He just chuckles and takes a drink of his Coke.
For the first time since we’ve been here, the music switches over to something that isn’t Christmas music. The opening, pounding beats are so very familiar, and it’s a song I would never expect to hear in this bar. Instantly, I search Luke’s eyes.
“Is this your doing?”
“Maybe.” He shrugs off his leather jacket, sets his Coke down on the table, and holds out his hand. “Follow me, Ace?”
I giggle and set down my drink beside his. “Deep sea, baby.”
