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True, I knew a little about this Lucas, but I could tell a handful of things just by looking at him. His suit was perfectly tailored, and his haircut was definitely not from a chain mom and pop shop. He had money. And by the gold Rolex on his wrist, I could tell he had a lot of it. It didn't entirely surprise me. Lucas's parents had always pressured him into pursuing a high paying career.
His grin was effortless. "Wow...and I mean wow. You look incredible."
"You're not half bad yourself." For added effort, I gave him a wink. "Love your hair." I didn't attempt to hide the slight hint of sarcasm in my tone.
"Oh, I knew you were going to say that." His laughter shook his shoulders. "Guess I proved you wrong, huh? Didn't lose it after all."
I stood on my tip toes and ruffled the top of his hair the same way I did when we were kids. It was thick and soft, exactly how I remembered it.
"Making sure they're not hair plugs, aren't you?"
My laugh was genuine. He was really always funny, I'd give him that. "I guess you did prove me wrong, Mr. Wilson."
He grabbed his phone and pretended to record me. "Hold on, can I get that on video?"
I rolled my eyes and chuckled. "Oh, shut up. You're right, I'm wrong." Throwing up my arms, I met his gaze. "There, you happy?"
"I'd say so."
His smile was soft, content. I recognized that look. It was the exact same expression he gave me that day nearly ten years ago after Astronomy class. We'd been friends for a few months before then, and even though I was a freshman in college and he was a senior, I loved his company.
I had asked him if all aliens were called martians or only those from Mars. And he had laughed and given me a strange look, like he found my comment amusing, adorable even. He later told me that it was the moment he realized he liked me as more than a friend.
Of course, he wasn't looking at me the same right now—it was just a shadow, my imagination filling in holes from the past. Discomfort stirred in my chest, and just as I was about to break his gaze, he reached out, his fingers grazing my arm. "Hey, what are you doing right now?"
Trying to get you to ask me to the mayor's ball this weekend, and you? I shrugged. "I'm actually off today. I didn't really have any plans."
"Oh, what do you do?"
Try not to get fired from my pathetic service industry job. When I hesitated, he must have noticed my discomfort.
"I'm sorry. Here I am, just bombarding you with questions when what I'm trying to say is...do you want to get a drink."
At 11:30 am? Is this what men with Rolex's struggled with? When to start drinking? I throw up my hands. "Fuck it. Why not?"
His eyes widen with his smile. "Great! I know an awesome little bistro that serves—"
My laughter silenced him in an instant. "What?"
"Lucas, I don't know what you've been doing for the last ten years, but I don't drink at bistros."
His cheeks flushed red, and then he smirked. "You got a better idea?"
Do I ever?
I'm not sure why I picked the most eccentric dive bar in town, but when we descended the stairs five blocks later, I couldn't hide the smile on my face. And I realized exactly why I picked it. I wanted Lucas to feel out of place.
The door was nondescript and would have looked like a cheap basement apartment if it wasn't for the music that pounded from inside, vibrating the walls. Red light from the overhead bulb lit up the confusion on his face.
"This is where you want to go?"
I paused. "You have a better idea?"
He shrugged. "All right, kid. Let's do it."
Opening the door for me, he tugged at the collar of his suit to loosen it and followed me inside. I'm not sure what he was expecting, but I could immediately tell by the look on his face that it wasn't this.
A live band was in the middle of a set on the corner stage, and the dance floor was packed, couples swing dancing, others jumping up and down, singing to the eclectic music. It was one of the few bars in town that never closed, a speak easy that had no windows and blocked out all sunlight.
