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The latest rumour going around was that he didn’t like girls at all, which made me choke back laughter. My mum was flustered by the idea and refused to believe it. She remained confident his standards were just too high and no one was good enough for him. This made me smile, because without even knowing, my mum had given me a compliment.
I was clearing up after lunch, when I heard a vehicle travelling down the gravel road towards our property. My heart skipped when I recognised the sound of Luke’s truck slowing down outside. I bounded to the front door and Mum went to put the kettle on.
I raced out onto the front porch, eager to get to Luke before my mother did. I watched him roll to a stop and smiled as he stepped out of his truck. But Luke didn’t smile back, in fact, he looked pissed off.
The passenger door opened and closed, but I was so fixated on Luke’s pained expression, I didn’t notice another person coming up behind him.
“So, this guy just came into my bar searching for his girlfriend,” he said, deadpan, motioning to the person standing a few steps behind him. “You seem to match his description.”
My eyebrows drew together and I glanced over his shoulder. My smile faded instantly. “What are you doing here?”
Stefan’s jaw flinched. “I could ask you the same question. We had to track your phone, just to make sure you hadn’t been kidnapped. You could’ve at least returned my messages.”
“What messages?” I took my phone out of my back pocket and found it still searching for a signal. I frowned. “It’s hard to get reception out here.”
Stefan sighed. “Yeah, I’ve noticed.”
“Look, I just needed some time to figure things out. You didn’t need to fly out here.”
“You flew ten thousand miles just to think?”
I lowered my gaze, focusing on the gravel under my feet.
Stefan’s face softened and he took a few steps closer to where I stood. “Look, Natalie, I know we’ve had some troubles, but we can work this out. Something has come up and we really need to get you home.”
“She is home,” Luke muttered and my eyes drifted to his. His jaw was set, arms crossed, and his hard eyes penetrated mine.
Stefan didn’t seem to notice, or perhaps he didn’t care.
Mum appeared in the front doorway, delighted to see a new face. “Now, who is this handsome young man?” she asked, curiously.
Luke broke my gaze and turned to Mum, expressionless. “This is Natalie’s boyfriend from Nashville…Steven.”
My heart sank.
“Stefan,” Stefan corrected, gently taking my mum’s hand and kissing it, much to her delight.
“He’s with my label, Mum, he’s not my boyfriend,” I said, but she didn’t seem to hear me. Mum pulled Stefan inside, looking positively thrilled.
I turned back to Luke, as he retreated to his truck, and ran to catch up to him.
“Luke,” I called, but he didn’t stop. “Luke!” I reached out for his arm, but he shrugged me off. “He’s not my boyfriend!”
He paused mid step, and his shoulders moved up and down with each breath. My heart hurt when he refused to look at me.
“He used to be…but he isn’t anymore.”
Luke spun around, eyes ablaze. “Does he know that? Because it definitely doesn’t sound like it.”
I exhaled. “Yes…but it’s…it’s complicated.”
Luke shook his head and chuckled. “Do you ever break up with someone before leaving town?” He looked instantly regretful, but his words stung. “Just sort it out, Blue, I’ll see you later.”
* * *
I marched back into the house and found Mum and Stefan laughing and chatting away over a cup of tea. Stefan always had a way with the ladies, and my mum was no exception.
“Stefan, can we talk in private please?” I asked, sternly. Mum must have thought it was about our relationship, and hurried off to the laundry in a flutter.
