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His words got lost to the cool breeze as she pedaled faster. Better or not, it still felt like the world was playing a cruel joke on her.
She passed the first strip of buildings, and as she was about to pass over the cobblestone street she heard her name. She hit the brakes and turned her head only to see Lucas jogging after her. He moved with effortless grace as if a fast-paced jog was nothing more than a leisurely walk.
“I told you to leave me alone,” she said as he came to a stop in front of her bike, the words burning her throat as they came out.
“No, you told me to go back to my side of the boardwalk, which I did, but now there’s no boardwalk, so you can’t draw any lines on me.”
“I don’t know what you want from me.”
“I want you to forget about our last names for a second.”
“It’s not that easy.” If it was, she wouldn’t have dismissed him the way she did. She would have tossed her arms around him and laughed about how small the world really was.
“Yes, it is,” he said.
“No, it’s not. You’ve been here for what? A day? You have no idea what it’s like between our grandfathers. They despise the ground the other walks on. It’s not just some silly feud that started yesterday. This rivalry, the hatred, started decades ago and it’s only grown since.”
“We’re both adults here,” Lucas said, obviously trying to level with her.
“I know that but—”
“Hey.” He rested his hand on hers, and warmth shot through her arm, a trail of goosebumps following and happily popping up along the way. She met his gaze—bright gorgeous blue that she knew if she’d let herself, she could get lost in. “Just one date. No one needs to know about it. But just like yesterday, when I got off that bus and I asked you out for coffee before you turned me down—”
“I had to get home.”
“I know. But I knew then if I didn’t ask you out I would regret it, and I know right now if we don’t at least give this a shot I won’t just regret it; I’ll forever wonder what could’ve been.”
“If my grandfather finds out… Even my brothers…”
“No one has to know. Not yet. It’s just me and you. Let’s find out if this thing between us could be something, then we’ll worry. Until then, I’m just asking for a cup of coffee.”
It seemed innocent enough. And she couldn’t help but agree with him. If she didn’t give this a chance, she’d always wonder. The spark that she felt, the unexplainable excitement that ripped through her stomach every time his name flashed on her phone, it wasn’t something she could let go. Like he said, not yet at least.
“Fine,” she said. “We can have coffee together.”
His eyes lit up, a cute smile pulling wide across his handsome face. “Really?”
“But we can’t be seen. I can’t risk my family finding out. Or your grandfather for that matter.”
“So what do you suggest?”
“Meet me at the beach by the lighthouse at six o’clock.”
“The lighthouse?” he asked.
“I’m sure you can find it. Big building at the end of the cove. Has a light on it.”
He laughed. “Smartass. I’ll be there.”
“Good, it’s a ten-minute walk from here.”
His eyes twinkled with amusement. “I think I can handle that. You sure it’s safe.”
“Yeah,” she said. “Not many locals hang out that close to the lighthouse.”
“Okay, I’ll see you then.”
“And by the way,” she said, “I take my coffee with a splash of half and half and a sprinkle of cinnamon.”
