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“I have a right to know, Luke!”
Ashanti stirred. Luke answered before Michelle made more of a ruckus. “We’ve been friends since childhood. It’s nothing more or less than that.”
“Are you sure?”
He nodded.
Michelle calmed down. “Take this right.”
He followed her directions and slowed in front of an apartment complex.
Michelle turned to him. Her face was shrouded in shadows, but he could feel her gaze penetrating his skin. Her thick, black eyelashes swept up and down. Her lips parted and she let out a shuddering breath.
“I asked Ashanti what was going on with you, but she didn’t want to say. She insisted I talk to you myself. So I took a chance. I was ready to start a serious relationship, but now I can see that you’re not ready.”
Luke licked his lips. “Michelle…”
She shook her head. “I’ve been through this before. I’ve been hurt and it all started out with me putting way more effort into a relationship than I was getting back. Maybe I was wrong to chase you. Maybe it made me into a fool, but I had to try. Just this once. Because I thought you were different.”
“I am different.”
Michelle leaned back, her eyes shining brighter than the stars. She studied him intently, her voice falling in disappointment. “No, you’re not.”
“Wait… Michelle. Let’s talk about this.”
“I’m sorry for bothering you, Luke.” She raised her chin and opened the door. “Goodnight.”
He watched her walk away, sensing that if he let her leave without chasing her they’d really be through. His hand curved around the latch and then he glanced over his shoulder and saw Ashanti.
Her eyes were squeezed tightly shut and she snored lightly. He couldn’t abandon her in the car while he groveled for Michelle. It just… didn’t feel right.
Luke dropped his hands and turned the key in the ignition, wishing he hadn’t screwed up so royally. It was all his fault. He should have been more obvious, more intentional with his interest from the start.
Tonight, he’d failed spectacularly. He’d even been slightly annoyed by Michelle’s presence. Not because he didn’t like her, but because Ashanti had sprung her on him without warning.
Perhaps he should have been grateful for the opportunity rather than resent the intrusion.
“We’re almost home, Ash,” he mumbled to the silent car.
As expected, she didn’t respond.
Luke drove to Ashanti’s house and hopped out of the front seat to try and wake her. He stooped on the tarmac and tugged her arm until she sat up.
“Ash,” he whispered, “we’re home.”
“Luke?”
“Yeah. Come on. Get your keys out and I’ll walk you to the porch.”
Ashanti obeyed him, moving with slow, languorous movements. He supported her until they reached the porch lit by a golden light and then took her keys from her and opened the door.
“Thanks for coming,” he said. “Do you need me to help you inside?”
“No.” Ashanti swayed lightly and slapped her hand on his shoulder. “Come here.”
“Me?”
She nodded.
