Page 20 of Luke: The Bears

“Wow, that was an intense day,” he said.

“Yeah, but so fun. Thank you for letting me boss you around today.”

“You can do that anytime.”

Her phone rang as they walked to the truck. She paused and stared at the screen, then answered, “Hi, Margie.”

Everything in him went quiet.

“Uh, tomorrow? Yeah. I can drive up. Is ten okay? Sure thing. See you tomorrow.”

She ended the call and stared at the phone. “Margie needs me to help her get some things in the store set up so I have to drive up there tomorrow.”

Just a little while ago, they’d been in the kitchen and he’d seen her thrive, seen the joy on her face as she worked. And it had been so good that he’d almost forgotten about Friday.

Now he’d just had cold water poured over him.

“Yeah, sure,” he said.

“I have to go.”

“I’ll be here when you get back,” he said.

She smiled, but it was half-hearted. She walked to the truck and got in the passenger seat. He got behind the wheel and said, “Did you want to stay here tonight again? I have to leave early tomorrow to get to the gazebo, but I could take you home before that.”

She cleared her throat. “I… need to get back home. But I’ll call you when I get back tomorrow, although it might be late.”

“I promise I’ll answer, no matter the time.”

“And then we can talk,” she said. “About the future.”

“You’re my future, Valley.”

She leaned against his arm and sighed softly. “You’re a really wonderful guy, Luke. I’m so glad I met you.”

He kissed the top of her head and pulled out of the parking lot. “I’m glad I met you too.”

Valley couldn’t fall asleep Tuesday night, no matter what she tried.

She showered after Luke took her home, put on her favorite pjs, and climbed into bed like the sort of responsible adult who had a long day of driving ahead of her.

But despite telling her brain she needed to rest so she wasn’t a zombie tomorrow, all that was happening was her staring at the ceiling and replaying everything that had happened with Luke since they met.

Four days.

How had he come to mean so much to her after only four days?

And how did four days feel like a lifetime already?

She picked up her phone from where it was tucked under her pillow and groaned when she saw the time. Two a.m.

She opened her texts and re-read the last one Luke had sent when he’d gotten home after dropping her off.

Sleep well, sweetheart. Text me when you get up. I’ll be thinking of you.

She read it a few more times, although she had it memorized at this point.

Frustrated, she put the phone upside down on the mattress next to her and folded her hands across her chest.