“What are you doing here?” she asked, gaping at him. “Did you… Were you out in the storm?”
Luke nodded, taking a step backwards and away from her. His hair was plastered to his face. He looked like a drowned rat. His piercing blue eyes danced in the candlelight.
He looked at her, with his beautiful perfect face, and Emily felt a surge of anger pour through her. She strode towards him and jabbed him in the chest.
He did not move. Did not protest. He just looked at her.
“What do you think you were doing? You could have been killed! It is a miracle you were not.” Emily shouted at him. “It was the height of idiocy to be out in a storm like this.”
“Fitting, would you not say? As I am the very epitome of idiocy.” Luke said canting his head towards her.
“Do not think that just because you look like an utterly bedraggled and adorable lunatic, that I will be any less furious with you.” Emily glowered at him, her voice breaking. “You left, left without even having the deceny to say goodbye. You broke my heart Luke.”
“I was not joking when I said that I am the very epitome of idiocy. I have been a complete and utter fool, and it kills me that I hurt you in my foolishness.”
“Then why did you? You come here, not twelve hours after you break my heart, looking like a drowned rat, and you just sit beside me and play… Play that melody.” Emily gestured to the pianoforte, her voice breaking. “Do you think you can just slip back into my life as if nothing happened? That you would play a few notes and I would forget everything?”
“I do not think anything of the sort.” Luke took a step towards her. “In truth, I was not thinking of anything but you when I left this evening. I would have braved a hundred storms like that, I would brave a hundred more, if it meant that I could undo what I have done.”
“Well you cannot.”
“I know that.” “I have no control of the past nor the future. I only have the present.”
“And what is that supposed to mean?”
“You called me a coward, and you were right. I was a coward. I have let the words of a dead man shape my entire life. Taking them as gospel because I was too scared to see otherwise.” “You saw the truth of me, you believed that I could be so much more. And then, I failed you.”
“If you are here simply to relive the breaking of my heart, I would rather not.”
“This is coming out all wrong.” Luke let out a frustrated growl. “God, but why do you turn my head about so? Must it always be so difficult with you?”
“Well, allow me to make it easier for you. I am leaving.” She made to move past him, avoiding the puddle of water collecting around him.
He grabbed her hand. “Damn it, I love you Emily.”
“You what?” She turned to face him, her heart hammering in her chest.
Luke let her wrist go. “I love you.”
“You do not mean that.” She whispered.
“I do.” Luke took a step towards her.
“Why are you doing this?” Emily took a step away, shaking her head.What game is he playing?“How dare you tell me you love me? How dare you!”
“Do you love me?” Luke’s face was emotionless.
“You left, Luke. You told me you could not, no youwouldnot choose me.” Emily’s voice broke, and tears began to stream down her face.
“I am choosing you now.” Luke reached for her, but she jerked out of his grip.
“How do I know you will not suddenly have a change of heart?” Emily wiped her tears away with a sleeve of her dress, her voice cracking with emotion.
“I will not.” Luke took her hand in his, and with his other brushed her tears away with his thumb. “Just tell me you love me too.”
“Of course I love you, but I cannot keep doing this. I cannot have you tell me that you love me, that you want me, only to be told that you will not marry me. That you refuse to marry me. I will not put myself through that again.” Emily felt the warmth of his touch, the wetness of her tears mingling with his rain-soaked clothes and skin.
“I am not asking you to. Emily, I came here tonight because I love you. Even though you are the most infuriating, improper, irritating woman I have ever known.” He smiled at her.
