Page 25 of Breaking Rules

As a teacher, she softened her humor and her passion, tempered it to fit the education of third graders. With me, I saw a sexual side that still seemed to surprise her, a woman realizing the power she held. Now, I saw a more relaxed side of her, the comfort that came with knowing the other person had seen you at your best and worst. Mai was Lumen’s family, and Lumen became herself in the same way I did when I was with my family.

Perhaps even more, I admitted. At some point in my past, I might have been free of pretense around my family, but recently, that had not been the case. My need for them to see me as strong, in control, and independent, wasn’t an easy façade to maintain.

In a cruel twist of irony, just as I was thinking about façades, we pulled up to a restaurant I’d never been to before. I should have been paying more attention to the name Mai had given the driver, but I’d been too preoccupied with how much I’d missed the feel of Lumen’s body next to mine.

She appeared to be just as aware of me as I was of her, and I felt more than saw her concern when I tensed. Instead of addressing it, however, I exited the car without waiting for the driver to open the door for me. He went to the other side for Mai, and I held out a hand to Lumen.

“Have you been here before?” I asked as we walked around to where Mai was waiting.

Lumen shook her head. “Hob recommended it. Did you have somewhere else in mind?”

“Just curious.” It was a half-truth at best, but it would have to do as I wasn’t inclined to share the rest of what was behind my question.

Mai’s boyfriend was waiting for us inside. My initial impression of him when I’d first seen him had beenhipster,and even in clothes similar to mine, that label still seemed applicable. Lumen had mentioned that he was a resident with goals of becoming a first-rate pediatrician, which meant we most likely shared a strong work ethic, but most likely little else.

“Armani Hobson,” he said, holding out a hand. “But everyone calls me Hob.”

“Alec McCrae.”

He had a firm handshake but wasn’t trying to squeeze my hand in some macho show of force. His eyes were cat-green and shrewd, as if he was studying me prior to deciding what he thought of me. The protective way he greeted Lumen told me what I needed to know. He wasn’t trying to show me up, but rather to watch out for Lumen in the same way my brothers and I watched out for our sisters.

As we were led to our seats, I kept my hand on the small of Lumen’s back, the touch centering me, grounding me. I’d never been the sort of person who needed much physical contact, but with her, it was different. If she was near me, I wanted to touch her.

“Do you drink wine, Alec?” Hob asked as he pulled out Mai’s chair for her.

I did the same for Lumen as I answered, “I do.”

“Would you like to see the wine selection?” the hostess asked with a polite smile.

I shook my head and hoped the expression on my face didn’t look as wooden as it felt. “Whatever you’d like. I’ll buy the first one.”

Hob didn’t even glance at the menu as he ordered a Santa Julia Malbec. A red wine, then. I filed away the name. As the others picked up their menus, I did the same. Small talk buzzed around me as the others shared about their days. My throat was dry, and I gulped down half of my water, hoping the waiter would be back quickly to take our orders.

As if my thoughts had conjured him, the waiter appeared. “Is everyone ready, or do you need more time?”

Hob nodded. “I’m good.”

“Me too,” Mai said.

Lumen lifted an eyebrow at me. “Alec?”

“Yes, I’m ready.” When the waiter looked at me, I cut my gaze across the table to Hob, expecting him to take the lead.

He did without question. “I’ll take the flatbread of the week and the French onion mac and cheese.”

The waiter turned to Mai next. “I’ll take the venison meatloaf.”

Neither of those things appealed to me.

“I’ll have the fried Cornish game hen,” Lumen said.

After taking down her sides, the waiter looked at me. “I’ll have the same as her.”

“Excellent choices,” the waiter said.

I held out my menu along with the others and tried not to be annoyed at the fact that I wasn’t really in the mood for game hen tonight. I would’ve preferred a steak or maybe pasta. If we did this again, I’d offer to choose the restaurant, and we’d go to one of my favorite places. I’d even offer to cover the bill.

But that was another time and place. This was here and now, which meant I couldn’t spend time brooding over the food. I cared about Lumen, and these two were her family. If I wanted her in my life, I needed to get to know them.