Page 109 of Playing for Keeps

Chapter27

Ethan

Iwas getting ready for Char’s gallery opening when my phone chimed with an incoming FaceTime call.

Luke.

I answered, knowing my broad grin was probably on the goofy end of the spectrum, but not finding the energy to care.

“Look at you, all dressed up,” Luke said.

“If you think I look good, you should see Theo.” I panned to show him Theo next to me, dressed in the suit I’d purchased yesterday, his hair neatly slicked back with hair gel.

The only thing that ruined the look was Theo’s scowl. He wasn’t that impressed at playing dress up.

“Looking good, Little Man,” Luke said.

I turned the camera back to me. “How are you feeling?”

“Nervous,” he admitted.

“You wouldn’t be human if you weren’t nervous,” I said as I attempted to adjust Theo’s bow tie with one hand. Theo wiggled away from me.

“Not sure if I want to be human then,” Luke said. “What are my other options?”

“You’d make a good robot,” I said. “You’re practically C-3PO’s twin.”

“If I’m going to be a robot, can’t I at least be something cool, like the Terminator?”

“Nope, definitely C-3PO. I may extend to WALL-E if you’re lucky.”

Luke chuckled then ran a hand through his hair. “I better get going.”

“Score a try for me,” I said.

“No pressure then.”

“Nah, no pressure, I’ll still love you regardless.” My tone was jokey but Luke’s face did a weird spasm at my words.

He didn’t answer for a second, just stared through the screen at me.

“Good to know,” he said finally.

Fuuccckkk.

The other night, Luke had whispered something about having always loved me. I’d been half asleep at the time and too tired to analyze it, but the words had been going through the analyzing mill in my brain ever since.

Did he really mean it?

He wouldn’t have said it if he didn’t, right?

As I’d thought about it more, it had become impossible to describe my own feelings for Luke without the word love being front and center.

So apparently love was the fuel stoking the hottest sex of my life.

It probably didn’t say great things about my intellect that I hadn’t figured it out sooner. Because the more that I thought about it, the more that my being in love with Luke felt inevitable. Like it was always going to be the place we ended up.

“You ready for your good luck fist bump?” I held my fist out to the screen.