“We’re alone.”
“Yes, but…” Why was I so reluctant to tell Lucas?Hadn’t I decided I needed to talk with him?“Let’s just say growing up with an older sister who could do no wrong meant I got blamed for everything.It also made growing up in a home like that very unhappy for me.”
“That’s not right.”He shifted his chair closer to mine.
“No, it’s not, but that’s how my life was as a kid.When I turned eighteen, I couldn’t get away fast enough.Luckily, I applied for several scholarships and received them.”My parents had told me in high school that they wouldn’t pay for college, and if I wanted to go, I had to do it on my own, so I did.
“You did a fantastic job to be hired right out of college.”Lucas paused.“I remember you watching every penny you spent when you first came to work at the accounting firm.”
“I still do.”There were some semesters where I lived off ramen and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.It had been hard, but I’d been determined to get my degree.
“Why?You have a good paying job.I’m not saying you shouldn’t be financially responsible, but quality of life is important too.”
“You always did have a different view of life than I did.”In a way, I envied Lucas’ view on life.
“I had more responsibility than you.I needed balance so I wasn’t a wreck.”
“You took care of your sister.How is she doing?”I turned the conversation away from me.
“Great.She’s in her last semester of medical school.”
The pride in his voice made me smile.I was glad Mindy had such support, and I was a bit jealous too.“That’s wonderful.”
“Back to next weekend.Why don’t the two of us go to your family thing?”
I should have known he wouldn’t let me get away with deflecting the conversation.“What did you say?”He couldn’t be serious.
“The two of us go to your family thing.This way you have some support.”
For a full minute, I forgot to breathe.“You want to meet my family?”I shook my head.“That’s a bad idea.”It was a disaster in the making.Lucas had no idea how my family could be.
“Why?I could understand before when we were working and you were reluctant to take time off, but now I want to meet them and support you at the same time.”
I struggled to tell Lucas why it wasn’t a good idea.Maybe because I worried he might see my family differently than I did.Or even worse, he’d see me as my family does, and that would be the end of us.My gut clenched.“Let me think about it.”
“Good.”He glanced at his watch.“Another hour then we can go to Whistle Stop.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”Last Friday night was fun, and I’d enjoyed having lunch with Cassie and Emma this week.Plus, I wanted to unwind and not worry about my family or anything else.
* * *
Walking to the Whistle Stop helped me relax.Maybe because I could breathe a little easier outside where Lucas’ scent was muted, and I could push the family drama out of my head for a bit.We made our way to the table.Everyone was there but Cassie and Marcus.I looked at Emma.
“Cassie got stuck in the office, so Marcus is with her.They should be here soon.”
“Does Cassie get stuck often?”I noticed all the men stood, waited until Lucas held my chair out and sat down once I was seated.It was right then I realized my father had never done that for my mother.Neither had any of the men I dated outside of Lucas.
“Not often,” Emma commented, reminding me I’d asked about Cassie working late.
“Valerie.”Josh caught my attention.“We might have a set of contracts to you on Monday afternoon.”
“Oh?”Surprise went through me.In the meeting, Dean figured it would take longer.
“Yes, thanks to Emma’s brilliance.”Dean grinned.“She built us a quick database that’s going to allow us to filter the contracts easier.”
“That’s my Emma,” Asher said, putting an arm around Emma’s shoulders.
A pang of envy went through me, and I shook it away.Emma and Asher were perfect together, but there was nothing for me to be jealous of.
