Page 32 of You Met Me There

Levi is yelling, “Someone’s at the door!”

I look around the table to see that Mom and Dad look as confused as Jules.

From the kitchen, Cam announces, “I’ll get it.”

Mom murmurs, “It’s pretty late for a solicitor, isn’t it?”

Dad shakes his head, sipping a beer. “People don’t care about personal time or family engagement anymore. Psh. Interrupting quality family time.” He huffs, his silver-streaked hair swaying as he shakes his head and removes his glasses to rub his eyes.

Men’s voices carry through the house, dampened by the distance between us and the front door. To me, it sounds like Cam has let the man in, whoever it is.

I look at Juliet. “Do you have friends who just drop by?”

She shakes her head, standing to investigate. “No,” she draws out. “Not really.”

Behind me, Cam’s voice grows louder. The sound of footsteps on the kitchen tile reaches my ears. “Yeah, man, it’s really no problem. Everyone’s outside. Come on out,” Cam says.

The screen door at my back grates as it slides open. Juliet watches Cam over my shoulder, and I sip from my water glass as my parents each watch what’s going on behind me. I feel like I’m interrupting something by being here. I should go—let them enjoy their new guest for the evening.

Cam’s deep voice is close behind my chair, making me jump. “There’s someone here for Natalie.”

My eyes widen, brows lifting in confusion, and I turn in my seat to see who he could be talking about.

I lock eyes with my unexpected visitor. Ice-blue eyes stare back at mine, the very ones that have always seen the deepest parts of me. His smile makes my heart soar, and I’m vaguely aware of my parents and Juliet staring at the newly arrived guest on their back porch.

“Hi, everyone,” he says, casting his gorgeous smile over my family like he’s the sun peeking out from the clouds. “I’m Luke. Sorry I’m late.”

Chapter 18

Natalie

“Luke,” I splutter, frozen in shock.

I didn’t tell anyone he was coming. He didn’t tell me he was coming. And now here he is, and—thanks to what he just said—everyone thinks he’s simply late.

My eyes blink rapidly. I didn’t even tell any of them I was married. And I left my ring at the bed-and-breakfast, stashed at the bottom of my makeup bag.

“Is this the Luke?” asks Mom in surprise.

Luke waves at the group sitting around the table. He’s never seen a single one of these people before, except through photos.

“Yes ma’am,” he says smoothly. “I’m the Luke. Natalie’s husband.”

Mom’s mouth drops open. “I’m sorry, what? Natalie, you’re married?” Her head whips to me, as does everyone else’s when they hear the news.

“I … um—” I stutter, slowly rising from my chair. “Yes, I’m married.”

Juliet looks hurt, her eyes bouncing between me and Luke. “Of all the things you said about Florida, you didn’t mention getting married.”

I turn to Luke, who’s looking slightly uncomfortable now as the center of attention. His golden hair lays in long wavy folds over his ears, and his five-o’clock shadow is a glorious thing to look at, even in the low glow of the porch lights. He wears beige slacks that are wrinkled from travel, and the sleeves of his light blue dress shirt are rolled up to his forearms. The top two buttons are undone, like the journey to get here left him itching for comfort. Tan skin peeks out, and I have to avert my eyes from his chest. He always dresses well, which I’ve always appreciated in a way that makes my blood sing.

But here, on a trip to the backwoods of Pennsylvania where everyone simply wears T-shirts and jeans, Luke’s tailored outfit looks out of place.

“Natalie?” Mom’s voice cuts into my assessment of him.

“Yes,” I repeat, still stunned by seeing Luke here. I can’t take my eyes off him, even when I finally tell my parents, “We got married when we were twenty.”

Mom gasps, and I finally pull my gaze away from Luke in favor of meeting the eyes of both my parents.