Page 65 of One Nightstand With My Ex's Uncle

EMILY’S POV.

He took my hand, and refused to leave it, staring at me like he was trying to read me.

“What’s so weird about agreeing to be friends?” I asked, looking away, with my face flushing.

“What made you change your mind?” He asked, still holding onto my hand, which was growing warmer by the moment.

“What made me change my mind? I just thought it was rude to…”

“No, you definitely didn’t. There must be a reason.” He said, and I pursed my lips, and looked straight into his mesmerizing green eyes.

“I thought you wanted to blackmail me about it. I thought you were like John. So I said no. But now I know you’re not that way, so I thought it wouldn’t hurt to have a friend.” I blurted out, snatching my hand out of his, and he laughed.

“You’re something else. Does everyone with Granger as their last name seem shady to you?” He asked, pushing his hands into his pockets.

“That was then. Maybe you’re the only one who’s not shady. You, the kids, well, except Sadie.” I replied, and he chuckled. “So, are we friends now?” I asked, and he nodded.

“I took your hand.”

“Oh great. So, you’re still fine with me calling you Lucas?”

“Do I look like I’d want to be called Alpha Lucas by a friend?” He asked, and I smiled, excited at the prospect of having a friend.

Because of John, I never had much time to hang out with friends, so it was weird having someone else I could call a friend, apart from Dahlia.

“I’m going to be less formal now.”

“As you please.” He said, with a smile, and I smiled in return, and spotted something on his hair.

“Friends do this.” I said, reaching up to brush it off his hair, only to discover it was a ray of sun. His hair was soft. Wow.

It was totally unlike John’s. It was soft, smooth, and I wanted to dig my hands in it.

“What’s on it?” He asked, dusting his hair, and I took my hand off.

“It flew off. Some kind of particle or stuff.” I lied, blushing.

“Why are your cheeks growing redder by the moment?” He asked, and I coughed, moving backwards.

“Red? I’m cold.” I said, touching my cheeks, with both hands. He just had something about him that made me act really stupid and awkward. What was his deal?

When talking, was it a must for him to stare so attentively at the person? Why wouldn’t my innocent cheeks turn red? He was staring fixedly at me.

“You were smiling.” He pointed out.

“Of course, you’re also smiling.” I said, lifting my head slightly in his direction.

“No, you were smiling to yourself.” He said, pointing to my cheek.

“I recalled something. Something really funny.” The lie came as soon as I needed it.

I didn’t know why I felt so jumpy around him. Maybe it was just something the Granger family had. I was always jumpy around John, until we got really close.

“So, do you want to exchange digits? I’m going to rant to you anytime your pigheaded cousin does something bad to me.” I said, and he burst into laughter, falling back a few steps.

“Pigheaded?” He asked, smiling, as he extended his phone to me.

I typed in my number, and handed both my phone, and his to him. He typed in his number, and I saved it as ‘Alpha Lucas’ should anyone unwanted see it.

“Bye.” I said, turning away, and trying to walk casually. Once I turned down the corridor, I ran to my room.

Sadie was there, spreading the bed sheet, and I took in deep breaths, as I closed the door. Why was I so excited? Maybe because Lucas had become a ray of light in the otherwise dark mansion.

“Why are you so excited?” Sadie asked, and I showed her my phone.

“I got his number.” I said, sitting on my bed.

“You did?” Sadie asked, snatching my phone. “Oh yeah! This is how I want you to behave. This is positive signs. So, is that all?” She asked, shifting closer to me, and I shifted away.

“You’re one nosy kid. I accepted to be friends, and that’s all.” I replied, and she winked at me, which made me cringe.

“Gosh! What an impressive family.” I said, getting off the bed, and making my way to the bathroom.

They were just too weird.

“Hurry up. Let’s go out for ice cream.” I heard her say from the room.

“You’re taking me out for ice cream because I got his number?” I asked, while washing my face.

“Just hurry up. Don’t waste my time.” She said, and I packed my hair into a ponytail.

“I have work to do.”

“John has two more secretaries at his disposal. He sure is having the time of his life.” I heard her say, followed by something smashing onto the ground.

“What’s that!?” I asked dashing to the door. I opened it, and saw she was no longer in the room, but there was my mug shattered on the floor near my desk. I slammed the bathroom door shut, and bit my lip hard.

“I’ll wait. The day will come when I wring your hair out of your scalp, Sadie.” I said, grinding my teeth.

~

Sadie took me out for ice cream later in the evening, and crazily enough, people thought I gave birth to her.

“Do I look that old?” I asked her, as we settled in chairs, with our ice cream.

“Yes.” She replied, curtly, and waved for the waitress, who came to us immediately.

“I guess their eyesight isn’t too good then. Don’t you think it’s weird that they think a pretty mother gave birth to an ugly duckling?” I asked casually, stabbing my ice cream with the fork, pretending I wasn’t saying it on purpose.

“What?” She asked, already looking red.

“What would you have ma’am?” The waitress asked.

“Two plates of dessert. The cheapest, and the most expensive one please.” She said, and I laughed.

“I’m relieved. This proves you’re a kid. A weird one maybe, but at least I don’t have to think an old spirit is living inside of you.” I said, taking a spoon from the ice cream and she looked like she wanted to punch me.

“You get the worst dessert for your stupid words.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I replied, absentmindedly.

“Maybe I’m getting too lenient on you. I should spice things up a bit.”

“How will you do that?” I asked, placing my elbows on the table.

“Telling you to choose between kissing Lucas in front of John, and telling everyone you’re in love with Lucas, and broke up with John because of that.” She said, and my expression changed to one of spite.

“Eat up, eat up, and stuff your face with ice cream. You’re one little devil. Isn’t collecting his number, and becoming friends enough for you to stop bugging me for a week?” I asked, and she laughed.

“Stop bugging you for a week? Kill me first.”

On our way back, we met Lucas sitting by the pool, and Sadie took my hand, leading me towards him.

“Hey Lucas. Enjoying the night air?” She asked, with a smile.

“Sure. Where are you coming from?”

“Emily took me out for ice cream.” She replied immediately.

“Isn’t it the other way round?” I asked, and she pinched me.

“You’re so nice.” She said, and walked away.

“She took me out for ice cream because I got your number.” I told Lucas, and he burst into laughter.

“I think she watches too many teen movies.”

“No, she stays in my room most of the time, and she’s always watching cartoons. I know a number of them, the character names, and what happens most of the time in them.” I said, making him chuckle.

“Do you want to go on a friendly date tomorrow?” He asked, and I stopped.

Friendly… date?