AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The man turned enough that she could see him now. Fully. The black hair, the sturdy build, the beard. An icy panic slid through her veins, making her shudder. She was suddenly freezing.
He was talking to another man, and then Minniehustled to greet them and led them to an open table by the windows.
Lyric turned her head and ducked toward the wall, her lungs shriveling. She couldn’t breathe. God, how was she going to get out of here without him seeing her?
“You want some more iced tea?” Minnie approached her from behind, but Lyric didn’t turn around. She couldn’t. Luke might see her. And then what? What would he do to her?
“Um. No.” Her throat ached like there was an ice cube lodged there. “Thanks, though.”
“Are you okay, darlin’?” The woman leaned in, studying her face.
“I’m fine,” she squeaked. Her stomach roiled. “Just really… focused.”
“All right. Well, I have some more orders to get into the kitchen, but then I’ll be back to help you with that schedule.”
Lyric cranked her head into a nod, the writing on the notepad blurring. While one minute ago she’d been frozen in her chair, now the fire of adrenaline burned her up. She had to get out of here.
Without fully turning her head, she glanced sideways. Luke still sat in the booth by the window, his seat facing her direction. In full view of the exit. As long as he sat there, she’d be trapped.
Trapped like she’d been when she’d married him.
Lyric’s breaths started to echo in her ears. They were too shallow and too fast. She had to get control.
“Hey, Lyric!” Doris called from a few seats down. “I didn’t even see you sitting there.”
“Hey.” She kept her head ducked and cocked to the left slightly.
“How’re you doing?” The woman slid off her stool and approached her, blocking her view of Luke.
“I’m good.” Nausea churned her stomach, making her dizzy.
“Are you sure?” Doris adjusted her glasses and leaned closer to her face. “You look like you might be a little under the weather today.” In a motherly gesture, she pressed the back of her hand to Lyric’s forehead. “Oh, my. You’re very warm. I think you might have a fever.” Before Lyric could stop her, the woman flagged down Minnie. “We should get this poor girl home. She’s not feeling well.”
“You’re not?” Minnie inspected her face again. “I knew something was wrong. Ten minutes ago, you looked fine, but you’re awfully pale now.”
Lyric slid a look in Luke’s direction. He was engaged in a conversation with the man sitting across from him. “You know, I’m actually feeling pretty awful.” She could throw up any minute. “But I don’t want to make a scene. Can you two just help me go out the back?”
“I’ll call Thatch.” Minnie pulled her phone out of her apron pocket. “He can come and pick you up—”
“No!” She didn’t need Thatch here. That would only make this situation worse. She needed to get away. “I’ll be fine. Really. If you could each stay on one side of me?”
Keeping her back toward Luke, she eased out of the chair and along the bar with Minnie and Doris fussing over her until she could skirt the opening. They cleared the counter and then rushed her through the kitchen.
“I really think we should call Thatch,” Minnie insisted. “Or Kyra or Tess. You shouldn’t drive when you’re sick.”
“It’s not safe,” Doris agreed.
“I’m feeling better now.” Lyric stumbled out the back door and into the alley. “Yes. That’s much better. I think I only needed some fresh air. I ate some eggs this morning, and they must not be agreeing with me.” She hurried away from the two ladies before they could try calling anyone. “We’ll work on the schedule for Elina another time,” she called over her shoulder.
Staying out of view of the windows, Lyric ran to her car and got in, heaving like she’d just crossed the finish line of a marathon. Her hands shook all the way to her house.
No matter how many times she told herself to breathe deeply, dread crammed her lungs, leaving no room for air. After clawing her way in through her front door, she staggered down the hall and found her suitcase. Amos whined, trotting along right on her heels.
“It’s okay,” she whispered over and over. “We’re going to get away for a while, boy.” She blindly snatched articles of clothing out of her drawers and shoved them into the bag. “We can’t stay here this weekend.” God, how long would Luke be in town? She’d known she could run into him anytime, but she hadn’t been prepared for the emotional assault seeing him had brought. One look and she’d become that terrified woman she’d tried to leave behind. “We’ll just stay away.” She’d leave for a week and not look back. That was her only option. She couldn’t face him. She couldn’t even look at that man without her blood running cold and her skin burning hot.
Amos whined again, and Lyric turned and knelt, hugging her arms around his soft fur. “Oh, puppy. How can it still be so hard? How can it still hurt so much?” She was supposed to be over this, stronger now. “I just wantto go.” She didn’t want to think. “Come on.” She latched up her suitcase and rolled it down the hallway. Outside on the stoop, she locked her door and then rushed her dog to her car.
While they pulled away from the curb, Amos howled for joy at the prospect of a car ride while the molten tears in her eyes spilled over. Damn Luke for coming to Star Valley right now.
