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“Why would that make me feel better?”
He shrugged. “It’s a my-misfortune-is-worse-than-yours kind of thing.”
“I really wanted you to open your gym.”
“I wanted your proposal to do well.” He sighed heavily as she plucked another blade of grass and tossed it onto the path. Now they were both sitting here, miserable. That wouldn’t do. They were supposed to be training. And training was supposed to be fun and invigorating and inspiring. He climbed to his feet, reaching for her hand. “Come on.”
She threw her head back. “I don’t want to run.”
“We’re not running.”
“We’re not?” she said, immediately sounding suspicious.
“No. I’m gonna make brunch and we’re going to eat our feelings.” After that they could worry about being inspiring and getting the miles down.
That earned him a genuine smile, and Luke’s heart flip-flopped in his chest. Had she felt the sudden heat? The sparks as their hands connected? He was trying to be a good friend, dammit. He didn’t need these pesky feelings getting in the way. He would just bury them under eggs and bacon and stacks of pancakes until there was no room left for disappointment or these confusing tugs at his heartstrings.
By the time they got back to his apartment, Lydia was deep into her explanation of the inner workings of Poletti Architectural Studios.
“I never knew architects had this much drama going on.”
“That’s the problem!” Lydia said as she leaned against the kitchen counter. “Neither did I. And now I sort of feel like an idiot for spending so much time on this project. Plus, you took time out to show me around the youth center and introduce me to the kids!”
“I liked showing you around,” he said, taking eggs and bacon out of the fridge. “How do you feel about mushrooms?”
“Mushrooms are good. I just feel like the leadership team should have tempered our expectations. That’s all. And Jack...” She trailed off.
Lydia took a deep breath, like she was preparing to unleash fire.
“Okay, I get it.” Luke recognized that look. “Jack is the villain in this story.”
“He’s not the villain,” Lydia said, though she sounded like she was trying to convince herself of that. “I just don’t know how I feel about him right now. I thought we were becoming friends.” She scoffed, her cheeks pinking a bit. “I actually thought he liked my work.”
Oh.The pieces suddenly fell together for Luke. Jack wasn’t the villain. He was her crush. This was the man who had started everything. Who had been the reason Lydia walked into his gym, looking for a trainer. Luke didn’t know what to think. He didn’t even know what to say to that. A strange coiling tension gripped his heart. Was this jealousy? Was he jealous of this faceless man who’d disappointed Lydia? That was ridiculous.
She waved her hands. “Whatever. We don’t have to talk about Jack.”
Good, Luke’s thoughts roared. “At least you have somewhere to direct your rage. I have no one to blame but my own foolishness.”
“Chasing your dream isn’t foolish,” she said.
“Tell that to my bank.” He dug through his frying pans for one that had a lid.
“I’ll march down there and demand they give you heaps of money.”
“Heaps?” He laughed as he stood up, setting a pan on the counter. “Heapsis good.Heapsshould have been in my business plan from the beginning.”
Lydia swatted his arm playfully. “At least you can take another shot at the business plan.”
“I don’t know if I’m cut out to own a business.”
“Don’t say that,” Lydia said. “Youhaveto try again. One of us needs to succeed, and I’ve lost out on my chance.”
Luke snorted. “So all our hopes and dreams rest on me?”
“Exactly. Figure out a better business model and give it another shot. What’s that they say? Aim for the moon and land among the stars.”
“Maybe,” Luke said, wondering if he truly had it in him to try again. How could he not, when she was looking at him like that, her green eyes all wide and sincere? But... “Today I sort of just want to be grumpy.”
