Chapter 17
Luke
I didn't regret it, and I would do it again. I wanted to do it again. I wanted my lips on hers. I watched her walk into the woods and thought about following her but thought better of it. I spent the rest of the day piddling around the shop, not really wanting to work on my project because I was so distracted. I gave up and drove into town to see if Ryan needed any help at the office since he was there on a Sunday.
“Hey, what are you doing here?”
“That seems to be a common question lately.” I laughed and walked over to the desk. “You need some help?”
“Sure, yeah.” He handed me a list of stuff that his father had left for him.
I walked around and spent the next several hours doing inventory.
“Let’s grab some food.” Ryan walked up next to me.
“Okay.”
“Should I call Emmy and see if she wants to join?” he asked.
I wanted to say yes, but I knew we both needed a little space, especially after today.
“She was in the woods when I left. I would assume she’s still there.”
“She better head back soon if she wants to stay dry.”
The rain started to fall just as we sat down in the diner downtown.
“What can I get for you boys?” Ethel asked.
“Hey Ethel, how’s today been?” I asked as she sat down in the seat beside me.
“Well, since you two young men walked in, it got a little brighter,” she smiled at me then over at Ryan.
“You want the usual, Ranie-boy?”
“Absolutely. You know me so well,” Ryan chimed.
“You have ordered the same sandwich for fifteen years. Don't give me that much credit.”
“And you, Lukie-poo?”
“BLT and fries?” I said.
“Is that a question or an order?”
“Order.” I laughed and leaned over and kissed her cheek.
“You always know how to make an old lady feel special.”
“Who’s old?” Ryan asked.
“You are just as sweet as pie. It's good to see you boys in here. You started competing?”
“Last weekend,” I told her.
“Well, good luck. Maybe this will be the year,” she smiled.
“Let's hope so. I don't know how many more I have in me.” I winked at her, and she turned, taking the ticket to the kitchen. The diner wasn't packed, which was weird for the time of day. Must have been the threat of rain. The town was getting older, and so were we, and most of the people in town stayed home when it rained like it was supposed to today.
Ethel walked back over and sat down our drinks before disappearing to another table. She was kind to everyone, but we were the only ones in town that had special nicknames. She had called me Lukie-poo since I was ten years old, and while I didn't appreciate it then, I did now.
Ryan and I chatted over our meal about the next several trips, and every time he tried to steer the conversation toward Emerson, I diverted.
“What the hell is going on?” he stopped me when I was talking about the Portland trip.
“What do you mean?”
“You refuse to talk about Emmy?”
“Why would we be talking about Emmy—Emerson.” I corrected not so smoothly.
“You had your tongue down her throat last night, and now you won't talk about her? I remember when you dated Leslie a hundred years ago. You talked about her nonstop for months.”
“I just don't want to talk about her, okay?”
“What happened? Something had to have happened.” He glared at me.
“We just decided that maybe it was best if we slowed things down.”
“Why? That's stupid.”
“I didn't say I liked it, but I agreed with her.”
“So you didn't want to slow things down?” he asked.
“No, not really.”
“So?”
“I'm not going to push her, Ryan. She has a lot on her plate, and I shouldn't have kissed her.”
“Wait. That was the first time you've kissed her?”
“Yeah.” I nodded
“Holy shit!” he said loudly.
“Ryan.”
“I mean holy shit,” he whispered.
“It just happened.”
“You had her pinned up on the counter half naked after one kiss! Dude, I need some secrets.”
I shook my head not really knowing if I should even be talking about this with him. “No secrets, it just kind of happened.”
“I hate I even came over, you guys would be married by now if I hadn't interrupted. I need to go talk to her.”
“You need to NOT go do that.”
“Why? She was my friend before she was your girlfriend.”
“She isn't my girlfriend.”
“Sure, she’s not.”
“She isn't,” I stated.
“So, you make out with her, second base, might I add. And then she gets all cold. What the hell did you do to cause that?”
“I pushed her, and I shouldn't have.”
“You regret it?”
“Nope, not even a little.” I couldn't help but smile at the thought of her in my arms.
“Well, once I talk to her, I'll give you the wedding date.”
“Oh my god, would you just leave it alone for now? She is going to come to the competition in Portland end of the month. Can we just be friendly until then?”
“Sure, if that's what you want. I just don't see the harm in chatting with her, maybe picking her brain.”
“You can talk to her all you want, but I would prefer that you didn't talk about me,” I explained.
He threw his hands up in unenthusiastic defeat, and I steered the conversation away from Emerson and back to the competition coming up.
I hopped in my truck and drove back out to the house. Emerson was on the porch when I pulled in, so I waved, smiled, and then walked into the house. I wanted to talk to her and I had mail in the truck, but I didn't want to talk to her at that moment. I just wanted to get in the house and try and get some sleep.