Brooke

Brooke woke to the smell of coffee brewing in the kitchen. She padded out of her bedroom barefoot and bleary-eyed. She’d gotten home late last night from her secret unicorn hunt and was hoping to sleep until at least noon.

“Why are you up so early?” Brooke asked when she saw Lucy hobbling around the kitchen.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you. Coffee?” Lucy asked.

Brooke nodded, suspiciously watching her roommate fix her a cup of coffee. Lucy was dressed in a cute yellow sundress, her hair was done and she was wearing lip gloss. Something was up.

Lucy wasn’t a morning person, and ever since the accident she’d been even slower to get moving thanks to the painkillers. But this morning, Lucy was flitting around the kitchen like a caffeinated chipmunk. She was hiding something.

“Why are you so dressed up?” Brooke asked, as she perched on a barstool at the breakfast bar.

“I’m not dressed up.”

Brooke cut her eyes at Lucy. “It’s nine in the morning on a Saturday and you’re wearing lip gloss.”

“So. I like lip gloss.”

Brooke’s face brightened as a thought dawned on her. “Is Jaxon coming over?”

“No. Not everything is about him.”

Brooke balked. “Is another boy coming over?”

“Brooke! Not everything has to be about a boy.”

She frowned. So this wasn’t about Jaxon or some other guy . . . but she was certain this was definitely about a boy. No high school senior got up early on a Saturday and dressed up just for themselves. Then an unsettling thought swept over Brooke as she studied Lucy’s outfit. She was wearing that gaudy heart locket Alex had gotten for her freshman year. It looked like it belonged in the Mr. T collection. She never wore that thing.

Brooke took a sip of coffee. When the caffeine kicked in, it clicked! “Oh. My. God. You’re going to his game, aren’t you?”

Lucy’s cheeks instantly turned pink.

“Not about a boy my ass!” Brooke said getting to her feet. “I thought you decided you weren’t going to San Diego.”

“I did but you didn’t hear him on the phone. He was so disappointed.”

“Good! It’s about time he knows what disappointment tastes likes. He dishes it out plenty.”

“Brooke, just because someone hurts me doesn’t mean I have to hurt them back. I don’t want to be that kind of person.”

“Skipping Alex’s game because you’re injured doesn’t make you a bad person, Lucy. If anything, going makes you the kind of person who hurts herself.”

“It’s not gonna hurt me to go to his game.”

“It’s not gonna help,” Brooke argued.

“It’ll help Alex.”

“Does Jaxon know?”

Lucy sighed. “Brooke, Jaxon’s not my boyfriend. I know you want him to be, but it’s just not realistic. This is my life. Alex is my boyfriend and I’m going to his game.”

“Fine!” Brooke had more than a few choice words for Lucy at that moment, but she bit her tongue, stood up and grabbed her coffee mug from the counter, stalking toward her bedroom.

“Where are you going?” Lucy called.

“Somewhere I don’t have to watch your life implode.”

Jaxon

Jaxon had just gotten back from a run and was about to make himself breakfast when his phone buzzed to life. He picked it up and read the text message. Apparently breakfast would have to wait.

He turned off the stove and took the stairs two at a time, heading for the shower.

Lucy

Lucy was exhausted by the time she made it out to the parking lot to wait for her cab. She was beginning to rethink her decision to go to the game on her own. Getting all dolled up and trekking across campus had worn her out. It didn’t help that Brooke was pissed either. Lucy hated tension. It only added to the weight she was carrying.

Lucy hobbled over to a bench to wait when she saw someone in the parking lot. Her eyes were drawn to him like he was magnetic and her heart was a compass. His long legs were crossed at the ankles and he was leaning against his truck, smirking at her. As she drank him in her pulse quickened.

“Jaxon? What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing, but I think I know the answer.”

Guilt stabbed Lucy in the gut for the second time today. Guilt and anger. There was no way Jaxon was standing in the parking lot by chance. Brooke must have tattled on her!

Jaxon uncrossed his long legs and crossed the lot toward Lucy. The morning sun made the blue of his eyes gleam, reminding her of the way the sun glittered off the ocean. Good Lord, he was beautiful—all graceful muscles and lean lines.

When Jaxon reached her, he gave her a dazzling smile. “I thought we had a deal, Smalls?”

“I know, but I just didn’t feel right disappointing him and—”

“I didn’t mean about going to the game. I meant about how you’re getting there.”

“Oh.”

“A little bird told me you called a cab?”

“Brooke really needs to learn boundaries.”

Jaxon laughed. “Don’t be too hard on her. I asked her to let me know if you changed your mind.”

“You did?”

“Yeah. I had a feeling you wouldn’t be able to resist.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re soft, Smalls. I could see the guilt written all over your face after you hung up the phone yesterday.”

Lucy cringed. Was she that transparent? “Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize.”

“So you’re not mad?”

“I’m a little mad you didn’t call me for a ride, but no, I’m not mad that you want to go be supportive.”

“Thank you.”

“Now let’s get this road trip started,” Jaxon said, grinning again.

Once Lucy canceled her cab and was buckled in to Jaxon’s truck she started to feel better. She’d been worried he would be as pissed as Brooke when he found out she’d changed her mind about Alex’s game. The thought had bothered her more than she cared to admit. She hated feeling like she couldn’t win. Whatever decision she made would disappoint someone. But Jaxon genuinely seemed like he wasn’t mad once she agreed to let him be her ride.

“Thank you again, Jaxon. I seriously appreciate you giving me a ride.”

“Hey that’s what friends are for, right?”

“Are we friends?” Lucy asked.

Jaxon glanced at her looking startled. “I thought so.”

“No, that didn’t come out right.” Lucy backpedaled. “We’re definitely friends. It’s just sometimes I feel like maybe I might rely on you more than I should.”

“You don’t.”

“But I do. You drive me around campus, and now to San Diego. You’ve been amazing. And I wouldn’t be alive without you, so . . .” Oh Lord, she didn’t know how to say this.

Lucy had been wrestling with herself over her feelings for Jaxon all week. She just needed to come out and say it. She took a deep breath and let the words tumble out. “Sometimes I think I’ve been attaching feelings to you that I shouldn’t. And I just wanted to say I’m sorry for that. I have a boyfriend and if I need someone to lean on it should be him.”

“I know you have a boyfriend, Lucy. That’s not why I’m here. I’m not trying to get between you and I certainly don’t expect anything from you.”

“I know. I didn’t mean it like that!”

Jaxon gave her a puzzled look. “Then what do you mean?”

“I don’t know. I just didn’t want you to get the wrong idea or think I was leading you on or anything.”

“Got it, message loud and clear.”

They continued to drive in awkward silence for the next few miles and Lucy felt increasingly foolish for even saying anything. Of course Jaxon wasn’t interested in her. Even if she’d been single she knew she didn’t have a shot with a guy like him.

Freaking Brooke! Why had Lucy let her roommate fill her head with hopes about Jaxon being her unicorn?

Lucy knew she was way off base thinking there could ever be anything more between her and Jaxon after his reaction, but still . . . she couldn’t shake the last question rattling around in her head. Why was Jaxon spending so much time with her?

She’d already made a complete fool of herself by saying she didn’t want to lead him on so she decided to just ask the question. It was better than the awful silence that was filling the car. “So, why are you here?”

Jaxon gave her a look like he thought she might be crazy. “I thought it was to drive you to San Diego.”

Lucy sighed. “It is. But I mean in general. Why are you so nice to me?”

He laughed. “Would you rather I was mean?”

“No, but I’m just not used to people being so nice without a motive.”

“Obviously.”

Lucy smirked, glad they were back to their casual banter. “I’m serious.”

“I don’t know, Smalls. You just seem like you need someone to take care of you. Plus, you do know the Dean’s giving me extra credit for volunteering to cart you all over campus, right?”

“Hey! I’m not a charity case.”

Jaxon shrugged like he disagreed and she swatted his shoulder. “I can take care of myself.”

“Oh really?”

“Yes. I was about to cab to San Diego by myself. No chaperone needed.”

“Yeah, and I would’ve had to follow you to make sure the guy didn’t mug you and leave you for dead somewhere off the freeway.”

“Harsh!”

“Life is harsh, babe.”

Lucy laughed. Didn’t she know it? “So we’re friends, then?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Because truthfully, I could use another friend. It’s pretty much just been me and Brooke for the last few years.”

“That seems strange to me. You’re pretty easy to like, Smalls.”

“Thanks. But Alex sorta has a tendency to drive anyone new away.”

Jaxon sighed. “He certainly doesn’t make liking him easy.”

“I know you don’t like him. But if we’re gonna be friends you sorta have to get used to him.”

“Look, I may think you deserve better, but ultimately, who you date is up to you, Lucy. And I don’t want to let that come between us.”

Lucy smiled. “Me either.”

“Good, because you’re the first person I’ve met at Saint Andrews that I actually enjoy talking to.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Lucy said, grinning.

“I have an idea,” Jaxon said. “How about we make a no talking about Alex rule. Deal?”

“Deal.” Maybe Lucy could get Brooke to agree to that deal too. “Okay, so what do you want to talk about?”

“How are you at road trip games?” Jaxon asked, a twinkle in his eye.

“Excellent.”

Jaxon

They played Would You Rather for most of the trip, which made the hours fly by. The game was telling. Jaxon learned that Lucy didn’t care about fame or money, preferred to be punctual, was extremely modest about nudity, liked books over movies, cared deeply about the opinions of others and there didn’t seem to be an animal or insect that she was afraid of. He also noticed how the brightness in her eyes dimmed every time a question regarding family came up. It made him want to know more about her situation, but he sensed he shouldn’t push his luck. So far, they were having a great time. And with their friendship newly minted, Jaxon was treading lightly.

The truth was, deep down a part of him did want more than friendship with Lucy. He knew from the beginning that she had a boyfriend, but even if she didn’t, Jaxon wasn’t good enough for her. But that didn’t stop his heart from wanting more, and he worried no rule they came up with would. So he shoved his feelings down, determined to ignore them and take whatever Lucy was willing to give.

Because Jaxon really needed a friend too. And he hadn’t been lying when he said Lucy was the first person at Saint Andrews he wanted to talk to. He’d just failed to mention she was the first person he’d really wanted to talk to since his mother died.

Jaxon figured that would put too much pressure on her and that was the last thing he wanted to do. He wanted to be the one to be there for her. It made him feel good to know he could actually help her. The day at the precinct when she’d come out of her flashback, clinging to him and sobbing his name had cracked something open inside him and he was desperate to hold on to that feeling—that feeling that only Lucy seemed to be able to give him. Worth. Purpose.