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Avery: Did you see Luke? Ethan said you were going to.
Me: Yes. I’m with him now.
Avery: OMG. How is he?
Me: Not good TBH. I’m going to stay a while longer.
Avery: Glad he has someone with him. Hope you’re being nice.
Me: Always. Better go, speak tomorrow x
Avery: Take care x
A loud buzzing noise sounded and I jumped in fright. Luke’s eyes flew open.
“Door,” he croaked.
“I’ve got it.” It was the pizza delivery man, so I buzzed him up and waited by the door until he staggered into view, out of breath from the four-floor climb.
“Cheers.” I took the pizzas from him, and he gave me a breathless thumbs-up and headed back down. I re-entered the flat and set the pizzas on the coffee table.
“Um, I ordered pizza. I hope that’s okay?” I bit my lip hesitantly, glancing at Luke.
The ghost of a smile touched the corners of his mouth, and butterflies took flight inside me.
“Bit late if it wasn’t okay,” he said in a scratchy voice.
I stuck my tongue out at him, and he smirked at me.
That smirk.
Lowering my gaze, I looked away. I busied myself with the pizza boxes to give myself something to do while I regained my composure. I handed him a slice of pepperoni-laden pizza and grabbed a veggie piece for myself.
“Thanks.” His voice was soft. “Wanna watch TV while we eat?”
“Sure.”
And that was how I came to be sitting on Luke’s sofa an hour later, pizza demolished and my belly groaning in protest.
“I’m stuffed,” I announced. “What time is it, anyway? I should get going.”
“Stay a bit longer.”
I turned to look at Luke. His imploring expression twisted my insides. Need, longing, sadness—it was all there. I nodded and sat back. “Alright. I’ll stay for a bit.”
Relief flickered across his face, and I internally smacked myself in the head. He didn’t want to be alone. He needed someone to be there for him. Hadn’t I been telling Ethan this exact thing earlier?
“I’m just going to clear up these pizza boxes.” I jumped up. He stayed where he was, his hooded gaze tracking my movements. I put the remaining few slices of pizza in the fridge and disposed of the boxes.
When I returned to the sofa, Luke grabbed my hand and tugged me down next to him, sliding his arm around me. I hugged his warm body, hearing his steady heartbeat under my ear and feeling the rise and fall of his chest. Somehow, it felt natural—he needed comfort, and I was more than happy to provide it. The TV droned softly in the background, and my eyelids grew heavy. The last thing I remembered before I slipped into sleep was a soft kiss on my forehead and a voice whispering, “Thank you.”
13
Luke
I woke with a crick in my neck and a dry mouth. As my mind regained consciousness, I became aware of a warm body tangled with mine. Payne. She’d stayed. We were lying on the sofa, our legs tangled together and my arms around her. Tilting my head down, I watched her sleeping, her eyelashes fanned across her cheeks. I brushed a strand of silky caramel hair away from her face, and her blue eyes flew open, widening in horror as she realised where she was.
She scrambled away as if she were on fire.
