Page 46 of Under His Guard

“Eh.” I sip my beer. “It’s always been an easy escape for my sister and me. When life was too tough to deal with, we’d find a way to switch on a movie. Either in our room or before our aunt and uncle got home. We could pretend there.”

There’s a thoughtful hmm that slips free from Luke, and I see his eyes focus on the floor.

I know that look. I do it all the time. He’s remembering something he’d rather not.

“You okay?”

He turns back to me, a grin quickly taking over his face as he pushes the other stuff down.

“Fine. I just understand the rough childhood thing.” He leans back on the couch, crossing one leg over the other at the knee. “So, who do you think is going to come out on top at the end?”

I see the redirection for what it is, but I don’t want to push him, so I just lean back into the couch.

“Well, obviously, the main characters. But what I’m wondering is if they’re going to use the played out trope of guy gets girl. I think I’d prefer for them to just stay enemies at the end.”

Luke scoffs with a snort. “Not a fan of romantic clichés?”

“I mean, is anybody?” The corners of my mouth turn down as I consider it. “Okay, I’m sure there are people who are, but I am not one of them. Give me action and adventure, please. I don’t like that sugarcoated nonsense. Life’s not like that, and it’s going to take more than a movie for me to forget.”

Silence hangs for a moment, and I realize how cynical I sound. But it’s just how I feel.

“So, you know, yeah. I like the gritty stuff. It’s more realistic.”

“I get that.” Luke nods, his eyes flicking to the film. “It’s also nice to watch something that can make me laugh, though.”

Suddenly, I feel like I’ve been far too blunt, and guilt creeps through me. There’s such a sense of deep sorrow to Luke in quiet moments like this, and I want to ask him about it.

But I don’t.

We watch the rest of the movie, chatting and laughing, and it’s when the credits roll that I realize I’m seated right next to Luke.

He looks down at me with those brown-green eyes of his, and tension presses down on me like a boulder.

“Um, so that was fun.”

Luke nods. “Yeah. You’re good company.”

My cheeks warm, and I can only imagine the pink coloring them.

“Oh, well, thank you. You too.”

I break eye contact, reaching for the beer on the coffee table. But Luke’s hand is there too, going for his, and our knuckles brush.

Swallowing hard, I pull my hand back. Christ, it’s like you’re in fucking high school or something.

Luke chuckles as he turns to face me again, and I can’t look at him.

It’s no use, though. His fingers go to the hair by my face, tucking it behind my ear.

I enjoy it too much. I enjoyed this whole evening too much.

Without thinking, I look up at him, and my eyes land right on Luke’s lips. God, they look kissable.

No! You can’t, Clara. Come on.

I abruptly stand from the couch, walking away and straight for my room.

“Well, I have to get up early. I’ll see you in the morning.”

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