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Emma was torn, her heart longing to be alone with him again but her head telling her it would only make things harder. She sighed. “No, that’s okay. But can I use your phone? I was going to call for a tow, but I left mine at home.”
“Of course.” Luke fished in his pocket and pulled out his phone, punched in the unlock code, and handed it to her.
“Thanks.” Emma dialed Lisa’s number. “Hey, Lisa. It’s Emma.”
“What? Why are you calling from Luke’s phone?” Lisa asked. “Are y’all back together?”
Hoping Luke hadn’t heard, she replied, “No, my car’s dead. Can you come and pick me up? I’m at the supermarket.”
“Be there soon.”
“Thanks Lisa, you’re the best.”
After hanging up, Emma sighed and handed the phone back to Luke. “Thank you.”
Luke nodded. “Well, I should probably—”
“Yeah, you should probably do your shopping. I’m going to wait here until Lisa shows up.”
“You don’t need anything from inside?” Luke asked.
Emma chuckled. “I already did my shopping. Good to see you, Luke. Thanks for your help.”
“Anytime. It was the least I could do,” he said, giving her a knowing wink before walking away.
Emma retreated to her car, sinking into her seat with a deep breath. Her eyes traveled up to the rearview mirror, and she watched Luke walk across the parking lot and into the store. His shoulders were slumped, and his hands were stuffed into the pockets of his jeans.
She felt a tear and wiped it away. This was for the best, for everyone.
40
Luke
The scent of Emma’s hair—a delicate blend of vanilla and jasmine—took Luke back to their parting moment as he entered the supermarket. The warmth of her touch still radiated on his skin, a heat that seeped deep into his bones. Closing his eyes, he could feel her fingers tracing paths along his back, making him wish they were still together.
Moving with intention, he darted through the aisles, searching for the calculator.
When Luke reached the office supply aisle, he stood still for a moment, his mind drifting back to Emma. The weight of their encounter pressed on his mind, making the task more difficult than it should have been. He reached into his right pocket, searching for the slip of paper, but found only the cool emptiness. He tried the left pocket next, chastising himself for being so distracted. When his fingers finally grazed the crumpled paper, a small sigh of relief escaped his lips. He unfolded it, trying to focus on the written model number, but Emma’s face persistently appeared over the faint pen markings.
Shaking his head, he pushed away the thoughts and began scanning the calculators. After what felt like an eternity, his eyes landed on the calculator he needed. Holding it in his hand felt oddly grounding, bringing him back to the present.
Luke headed toward the front of the store. Standing in the checkout line, his eyes drifted toward the window. His heart sank as he watched Lisa’s car pull up, and Emma climbed in. Luke sighed, wishing it was him behind the wheel, taking her home.
The faint murmur of a question entered his ears. He frowned, then turned to see the cashier looking at him. “Pardon?”
“Cash or card?” she repeated, with a hint of annoyance.
“Card,” Luke replied quickly, hoping he hadn’t held up the line. He paid, grabbed the bag, and left.
The pale yellow light of the sun brushed Luke’s face as he turned out of the supermarket parking lot. Pulling up to the next stoplight, his grip tightened on the steering wheel.
Shoot, I forgot.
He was supposed to pick up subs for dinner.
Luke made a U-turn and drove a few blocks over to the deli across the street from the courthouse. When he walked inside, an older man, who seemed to be the only staff in the building, greeted him with a welcoming smile.
“Let me know when you’re ready,” the man said, washing his hands and then putting on a pair of gloves.
