Without You

He pushed his hand through his hair, and I couldn’t help but be turned-on. I loved when he did that. Hell, anything he did turned me on.



“Maybe we should just tell Luke that Lib is going to be there with a date.”



I shook my head. “You know Luke. That will just make him want to come even more. Has he said anything to you about Libby?”



He nodded his head. “Yeah, today. He admitted to having feelings for her, but he’s afraid of hurting her. Thinks he is not good enough for her. Honestly, I think he’s just scared of how strong his feelings are for her. He saw her kissing this guy, and he took off for Abigail. He thinks Abigail helps him forget about Libby.”



I rolled my eyes. “Yuck. That turns my stomach, Will.”



He nodded his head. “How do you think I feel? It’s my sister.”



Thirty minutes later, Grace, Will, and I were sitting down at a table at Saltgrass. Libby had sent a text saying that Zack had to run back to his dorm and change, so they would be a few minutes late.



I looked up to see Luke walking in.



Grace jumped up and stopped him. “Hey, do you want to go see a movie?”



Luke looked at her funny. “After dinner?”



“No, now. Let’s you and me grab something fast and go catch a movie.” Grace tried to take Luke’s arm and pull him back toward the door.



Luke laughed. “Damn, girl. I don’t want to see a movie. I want to visit with you and Alex. What’s wrong with you?”



Grace’s mouth dropped open. “Brother, sister”—she pointed between herself and Luke—“togetherness. Don’t you miss me?”



Luke leaned down and kissed Grace on the cheek. “I miss you more than you’ll ever know, sweet pea.”



He stepped around her and made his way to the table. I looked at Grace, and she shrugged. I smiled and stood up when Luke walked up to me.



He kissed me on the cheek and hugged me. “I’ve sure missed you, Alex.”



Luke truly was a sweetheart. He was going to make someone very happy one day—if he could just learn to open his heart and not be so afraid. He’d never really had a serious girlfriend. Every time he’d tried to date, the girl would get jealous of his friendship with Libby. When the girl forced him to pick, he would always choose Libby.



If Libby were in the same situation with a guy she was dating, she would do the same and choose Luke.



We chatted for a few minutes when Grace kicked me under the table. I looked up, and Libby and Zack were walking up. Libby’s smile dropped the moment she saw Luke.



She quickly looked at me.



I mouthed, Sorry.



Will stood up, which caused Luke to look.



His smile instantly vanished, and he muttered, “Son of a bitch.”



Libby and Luke both stared at each other.



Libby forced a smile. “Hey, y’all. Um…Zack, this is my brother, Will.”



Zack stuck his hand out for Will to shake. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Will.”



Will smiled and nodded.



“This is Alex,” Libby said.



Zack reached over and shook my hand. I smiled as I looked into his light blue eyes. He was about five feet ten with dark blond hair, and he had a smile that would melt a girl’s heart.



“Alex, it’s a pleasure. I’ve heard a lot about you.”



I smiled. “Nice to meet you, Zack.”



Libby turned to Grace. “This is Grace.”



Zack smiled. “Grace, pleasure to finally meet you. Lib’s been talking about you and Alex a lot.”



Oh God, he called her Lib.



Luke was the one who had started calling her Lib.



Libby swallowed hard and turned to face Luke, who looked like it was taking everything for him to stay calm.



“Um…Zack, this is, um…this is Luke. Luke and Grace are brother and sister.”



Poor Zack. I felt so sorry for him.



Luke reached out his hand and shook Zack’s. He didn’t give Zack a chance to talk first. “Hey there, Zack. So, how long have y’all been dating?”



Libby’s mouth dropped open as she glared at Luke.



Zack looked back at Libby, and she quickly smiled.



“What? About two weeks now?”



“Yes, almost three,” Libby said.



Zack pulled out her chair. Libby sat down, and Luke, Will, and Zack followed.



“What year are you, Zack?” Luke asked.



Will gave Luke a look. Luke peeked at Will and smirked. The boys were always overprotective, but I could hear it in Luke’s voice. He was beyond jealous.



“I’m in my sophomore year,” Zack said.