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14
Natalie
As we settled down in “our” booth at The Basement, I actually began to question my own sanity. After doing my angry-black-woman routine in the car park, complete with arms folded across my bosom and much kissing of teeth, I’d basically let Luke railroad me into carrying on a conversation with him that shouldn’t even have been entertained, both because the whole situation was screwed up, and because of the way he’d acted in the parking lot.
As we’d driven our separate cars to the bar, so many times on the way there I’d considered home instead, leaving him hanging, yet there I was sitting exactly where I had been when we’d first met, trying not to think about how attracted I still was to him, as I watched him order our drinks. He might have been young. He might have been my student—so completely off limits—but that didn’t mean he wasn’t fine as fuck, because he was. Too fine.
When he returned to the table he took me by surprise, sliding into the seat next to me and angling his body my way, just as he had the night we met. Only this time he didn’t have the loud music as an excuse for wanting to be in my personal space. Oh shit. I struggled to remember why I’d even agreed to the drink in the first place, given that being so close to him was proving to be a bigger challenge than I’d anticipated. Being able to look at him properly for the first time that day shook my resolve more with every passing second.
Neither of us spoke for the longest time, instead devouring each other with our eyes. I noted the heat flaring in his emerald gaze and knew it reflected the desire blazing in my own. No matter how complicated the situation was and how inappropriate it would be to become any more involved with him than I already was, I couldn’t deny I was wildly attracted to him. Scarily so, in fact.
I took a sip of my Coke—I’d skipped the rum this time—I didn’t trust myself with both alcohol and Luke in close proximity. Not that I was thirsty, but the drink gave me a welcome distraction, and give me something to stare at, other than Luke’s mesmerizing eyes. Dwelling too long there sent me down a dangerous road, and I needed to put a stop to it while I still could.
“So tell me about Marnie
“What? Why are you asking about her, and why now?” Both his tone of voice and facial expression told me I’d hit a raw nerve.
“I’m asking because I get the sense there’s a story there. The way you looked at her and spoke about her that night, suggested the two of you were more than just friends, yet she’s actually dating your brother. It all seemed a little Pretty In Pink, with the whole unrequited love, slash falling for the wrong guy thing, so I’m curious. I’m asking now because there hasn’t been another opportunity.
“That wasn’t my choice. I wasn’t the one telling lies and sneaking out without leaving their number, was I?”
I’d walked right into that.
“No, you weren’t, but to be fair, I didn’t exactly lie. I just didn’t tell you the whole truth. Chantelle is my middle name, and, strictly speaking, I am a teacher. It’s just that people mostly think children when they think of teaching, and adults when they hear the word lecturer. Anyway, don’t think I didn’t notice the change of subject. This isn’t A Few Good Men, so you can save your interrogation.”
“Ha! Really? I could say the same thing to you.”
“You could, but I’ve actually explained myself and answered your questions, whereas all you’ve done is deflected mine.”
I did genuinely want to know what the deal was with him and his “friend,” as I definitely didn’t buy his casual response the first time around. However, that wasn’t my main motivation for asking. I figured that if anything could put the brakes on our desire, it was a conversation about another woman for whom Luke clearly had complex feelings.
He sighed big before responding. “It’s complicated.” No shit. That part I’d figured out myself.
“We’ve known each other since we were kids.”
I almost pointed about that they were basically still kids, but I kept my mouth in check. Just.
“There was chemistry there from the get-go, but neither of us acted on it. Now she’s with my brother, and that’s it, really.”
Umm…no.
“So she’s with your identical twin brother, and you’ve just brushed it off? Come on, who are you trying to kid?”
“I didn’t say I’ve brushed it off, but it was a long time ago, so I’ve had time to deal with it I guess is the best way to describe it.”
“So you have no lingering feelings for her?”
“No.”
I raised an eyebrow.
Luke sighed heavily. “Yes. Kind of. No. I care for her deeply, as a friend. She’s been through a lot. Like, more than anyone should ever have to, and I worry about her, that’s all.”
The look on his face told me it was far from all.
“I know my brother better than anyone does, and I wouldn’t recommend him to my worst enemy’s daughter, let alone to Marnie, you know? So it’s only natural that I worry.”
I remained unconvinced that was all there was to it. However, my biggest concern was that my attempt to steer the conversation in a direction that would distract us from our undeniable chemistry, totally backfired on me. The vulnerability in his voice and on his face as he spoke about his concern for his friend only served to add more feels, not detract from them.
I had been concentrating so much on watching and listening to him speak that I hadn’t noticed him tracing patterns on my bare arm with the backs of his fingers. His touch was light but somehow measured and deliberate. In fact, there was nothing casual about Luke. He was intentioned and intense in everything he did. I went from oblivious to his movements to hyperaware, my skin erupting into goose bumps all over. I wanted him to stop, but I needed him to carry on.
