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I hated his hold over me, and I was trying so hard not to let it affect me. It was stupid and immature, but it was my truth. The feelings I had for Chris ran deep. So much deeper than the last couple of weeks. They spanned back throughout most of my life. All the moments he showed interest in me played like a movie in my head and gutted me all over again.
I blinked away the forming tears, straightened my shoulders, and looked him dead in the eyes. “If we any hope of saving our friendship, I need you to not be so . . . sopresent.”
He looked taken aback. “What does that mean?”
Damn, did I even really know what I meant? I didn’t know how to explain it, so I asked questions instead. “Why did you chase me out here? Why were you staring at me all night?”
He opened his mouth and then closed it. He tilted his head in confusion, and a battle broke out behind those eyes.
I thought things were fine when we arrived and we were smiling at one another, but maybe I was wrong.
“Goodnight, Chris,” I said, shoving past him and heading down the sidewalk. It wasn’t my job to soothe him, and I didn’t want to share how uncomfortable the entire night had made me. I needed to get home and crawl into bed with a good book.
“Savannah!” someone else called, halting my steps again. I was thoroughly annoyed, spinning around to find Lucas jogging over to us. He smiled pleasantly at Chris before walking past him. “We didn’t exchange numbers,” he explained, pulling his phone out of his pocket.
“Oh, right,” I said. We had agreed to stay in touch.
Chris glared at Lucas, stepping closer to make it clear he wasn’t going to leave us alone. Lucas ignored him. “You rushed out of there before you could give it to me,” he said. “I went to get some water, and you were suddenly gone.”
I winced. “Sorry about that. I have an early morning.”
Lucas nodded. “Understandable. Although, I do wish we could have talked more tonight. It’s nice to meet another dedicated bibliophile. I’d love to stop by the bookstore while I’m in town and see it. Maybe we could even get lunch, and I can get your perspective on the latest Kristen Stein novel.”
Chris fisted his hands, but I kept my focus on Lucas. My heart warmed at the fact that he wanted to see Sparks. He’d loved all the details I’d shared about it, including the new renovations and ideas I’d discussed with Chris.
“That sounds fun.” I gave him my number, despite Chris’s looming glare now pointed in my direction. Lucas typed the number into his phone. He sent a text and asked me to confirm I got it. I glanced down at my phone already in my hands. “Yep, it’s right here.”
He sighed with relief. “Okay, awesome. Thanks again for making Nicole feel welcome around here. She was scared to move so far for a relationship, but they seem to be working out.”
I hardly talked to Nicole, but I appreciated her saying kind things about me behind my back. “Yeah, she’s good to Sean.”
“Chris!” Sean called from the front of the house. I felt terrible for the neighbors with all the shouting going on out here on their lawn. “I forgot to ask you about a leak in the bathroom. Will you take a look before you leave?”
Chris’s eyes darted between my brother and me.
Our conversation wasn’t over, but he relented and walked back to the house. He glanced at us over his shoulder once more before disappearing inside. Sean waved from the doorway and shut it behind them.
“Is that dude your keeper or something?” Lucas asked, hooking a thumb over his shoulder toward where Chris had been standing.
I shook my head. “No. He might think that, but nobody’s my keeper.”
“Does he have a crush on you or something?”
The suggestion made me laugh. I couldn’t deny the heat between us and how he’d almost kissed me, but Chris didn’t have crushes. He had one-night stands. “No, he’s been friends with Sean for a long time, so I think there’s a bit of overprotectiveness there. Proxy big brother stuff. He’s not usually like that, though.”
Lucas quirked an eyebrow as if he didn’t believe me. But he let it go. “All right. Well, I’ll text you tomorrow. Drive safe.”
“Thanks.” I opened my arms for a hug, feeling socially brave for once.
He grinned and stepped in, pulling me close into a mildly inappropriate hug for two people who barely met each other, but it felt nice. He seemed like a good person, and the attention he paid me felt right. We pulled away and smiled at one another. “See you later, Savannah.”
“You can call me Sav.”
“Will do.” He winked, and my cheeks heated up.
He waited for me to get into my car and watched me drive away. As I drove to my little garage apartment next to my Grampa’s house. I turned on the radio, blasting the music to push the night’s negativity out of my mind.
The town was quiet at night because most businesses closed at six. Grampa had always said they rolled up the sidewalks at dusk. I pulled into the second driveway on our property, the one that led to my place. When I turned the car off and grabbed my phone, I noticed an unread notification.
