Page 40 of Searching for Sadie (Mystic Falls #5)

LUCAS

"I’m coming," she called from inside as he heard her suitcase thunking down the stairs.

"Hi," she said, blowing the stray strand of hair out of her face as she righted her suitcase.

"I could have gotten that for you."

"I got it. What do you have?" she asked.

"Oh, two coffees and breakfast sandwiches for the road."

"You're the best," she said, reaching up on her toes to kiss him.

He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. "What can I say, you inspire greatness," he said before kissing her again.

"You're awfully cheesy for seven in the morning," she said as she turned to grab her purse from the table.

"Is this it?" he asked, pointing to the suitcase.

"Yep, just that and my backpack."

He picked up the suitcase and hefted it into the back of his truck before helping her up. After he climbed up beside her and turned it on the truck rumbled to life. With two coffees in the cup holder and a bag of breakfast sandwiches between them, he set off down the road.

"Do you mind?" she asked, holding up her phone.

"Please," he said, handing her the aux cord.

"I have a road trip playlist." Soon the sounds of 90's country filled the cab of his truck as they made their way to Glendale.

"I haven't heard some of these in years," he said as his head nodded along to the music.

"I grew up listening to this music. We traveled a lot for my sister and sometimes I think the travel was my favorite part. She would sleep in the back, and my mom and I would sit up front and sing. I think that is a big part of my love for music and songwriting."

Lucas smiled at her and rested his hand on her thigh. He couldn't help but feel like he was sending his little songbird into a lion's den with no protection, but he couldn't go against her wishes.

The airport came into view all too soon. He followed the signs for parking.

"You can just drop me off. You don't have to come in with me."

"I know I don't have to, but I want to spend every minute with you I can before you leave."

Her plump bottom lip was trapped between her teeth as she stared at her hands.

"What is it?" he asked as he slipped his hand into hers.

"I think I'm just nervous."

He squeezed her hand before letting go so he could park the truck. He hated feeling helpless like this. He wanted to take all the worry that covered her face and make it all go away.

Once they were parked, she got her backpack, and Lucas got her suitcase out of the back and they made their way into the airport. He rolled the suitcase behind them as he walked her to the TSA checkpoint. She stopped and looked up at him, and the look on her face gutted him. He hated this.

He cupped her face and kissed her forehead. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"I mean, no, I absolutely don't want to do this, but I don't really have a choice."

"What happens if you don't go?"

"Then I'm in breach of contract. But even as much as I don't want to go, I need to. I need to put all this behind me."

"Okay" he said as he slipped his arms around her and held her tight and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

"You got everything you need?"

"Yep," she said, tapping her bag. "I got it all in here."

He watched with a heavy heart as she walked up to the gate. Once she was through, she turned and waved. He waved back and watched until he couldn't see her anymore. Only then did he turn and make his way back to his truck.

Once he hit the main entry he saw a familiar red head of hair.

"Conner?" he asked.

The man turned around, and there was Conner McPhee, the famous NHL player from Mystic Falls. He and Lucas had played together growing up and he was Kate's twin brother.

"Hey Lucas," Conner said as he dapped him up and pulled him in for a hug. "How you been?"

"Good, just working. I just dropped my girlfriend off."

Conner nodded. "Yeah, I just dropped my wife off as well. She's flying home for her sister's baby shower. I told her I'd go, but I have training camp starting Monday."

Lucas just nodded as he watched a plane take off. He knew it wasn’t Sadie’s plane, but it didn't seem to help.

"Are you good, man?" Conner asked.

"I just kind of feel like I'm sending my girl into a mess. I wish I could be there for her."

"How so?"

Conner had been the captain of their team in high school. He was pretty sure Conner had been the captain of every team he'd ever played on. Something about him just oozed confidence and support, so he shouldn’t have been surprised when he started pouring out the whole story to him.

"So let me get this straight," Conner said, stopping him. "You're dating Sadie from Before First Sight?"

Lucas nodded.

"Damn. Sasha and I have been watching that show. The guy she was supposed to marry is a real dickhead."

"Yeah, he really messed with her head. Now she's going to deal with the reunion show plus a bunch of family shit."

"And she doesn't want you to go?"

Lucas shrugged. "I mean, I offered to go, and she told me not to. But I'm not going to lie, there's a big part of me that wants to hop on the next plane to Nashville just to be there if she needs me."

"Do it."

"Really? You don't think I'll be crossing a boundary or anything?"

"She doesn't even have to know you're there. But if she changes her mind and wants you there, you're at least in the same city."

Lucas cocked his head as he pondered that.

"I mean, where's the harm in that?" Conner asked.

"Ya know... I think I just might do that."

Next thing he knew he was sitting in the gate waiting for the next plane to Indianapolis where he would catch a connecting flight to Nashville.

This may be the most impulsive thing he'd ever done.

He only had the change of clothes he kept in his truck, but he could figure all that out once he got to Nashville.

At least that way he would be close by if Sadie changed her mind.