Page 21 of Third Time Lucky

LUCY

‘That was an absolute blast,’ I exclaim, practically bouncing in my seat. I have definitely had too much sugar. Or maybe it’s him? My heart’s been racing all evening in the best, most unexpected way.

‘Yeah. I’ve never baked competition style, but it was fun,’ Asher says.

The adrenaline from winning still pulses through my veins. I’m about as non-competitive as people come. I don’t even watch a single sport. But tonight was a nice break from my usual, hanging out and binge-watching Netflix while scrolling my phone by myself. Plus, Audrina Leighton! I love her.

‘We should hang out more often.’

What am I doing?

You can’t be questioning why you’re attracted to this man and then suggest spending more time together.

‘Yeah?’ he asks, rubbing his chin – a bit uncertain, but his slight smile suggests he may be up for it.

As friends, Luce. Put that boundary out there. It’s safe. You need safe relationships right now.

‘The universe keeps pushing us together so, why not? It’s what friends do, right?

I’ve always considered you a friend. We’re bonded by trauma.

Plus, it’s sort of fun hanging out with someone from way back when, you know?

We know teen Lucy and Asher – could it be fun to get to know the adult versions of us, too? ’

‘That’s hard to argue, especially considering you’ve become one of the best parts of my day. I guess hanging out is what friends do.’

Oh. That felt dangerously flirty, and I didn’t hate it.

Dang it. Why am I looking for this?

Come on, Lucy. Snap out of it – you two have established you’re just friends. He is not flirting. It’s been seven months, and your vagina is just lonely, and Asher’s presence is somehow waking it up. Man ban. MAN BAN!

‘So, what do you think of Aaron dating Madi?’ I ask, once again flawlessly changing the subject before even attempting to leave his car after pulling into Mitzi’s driveway.

Freaking Aaron. The guy promised to keep my secret, but his words were loaded with innuendo. Asking about feelings and dishing out ‘future bedroom’ advice. Not cool, Aaron. I need to know if he said anything. So, talking about him and Madi may provide me with that information.

Ash nervously presses his lips together. ‘Honestly? Aaron’s sort of a chronic dater, to put it nicely. And, usually, he picks unforgettable ladies, if you catch my drift.’

‘Madi’s memorable. I mean, she’s never made the nightly news, but she brought a friend to their first night together. Most guys would never forget that.’

He laughs heartily. ‘I have heard the story – more than once, unfortunately.’

‘Yikes,’ I grimace.

‘Yeah,’ he concurs with a serious nod. ‘Let’s just hope Madi isn’t planning on forever.’

‘She’s not,’ I say hesitantly. ‘Off the record… she stopped husband-hunting a few years ago. She’s more about living life to the fullest and forgetting yesterday ever happened now. Rarely does she worry about tomorrow either.’

‘That’s pretty much Aaron’s mantra too. Uh-oh,’ he says, his eyes narrowing with concern. ‘I think we’ve got double red flags on the dating field.’

‘You think?’

I rarely worry about Madison. She’s a force of nature, perfectly capable of handling herself and anyone daring enough to cross her.

Sure, she might look like the ultimate girly girl with her sweet voice and stunning looks, but underestimate her at your peril – one of those stilettos she loves might just find its way into your skull if you wrong her.

‘I don’t need to hear more to see they’re basically clones. Who hurt her?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean, everyone who shuns love has been shattered by someone – could be family, could be romance. It happens to the best of us, but some people crack harder,’ he comments, his gaze meeting mine.

I wonder if he thinks I’m one of those ‘crack harder’ types? I wanna say no, but?—

‘Someone did hurt her,’ I say, hesitant to tell Madi’s secret.

He listens so intently when I talk. Brandon never did. He’d cut me off with some great idea or somehow respond in all the right places, then not remember a single thing I said. I like feeling heard.

‘She’s only had one long-term boyfriend, and by “long-term,” I mean six months.

When she uttered those three magic words, he arrogantly declared he couldn’t date a “little girl” who didn’t know the difference between love and lust. Then he dumped her, claiming his feelings for her were the latter.

In that moment, she doubted her own heart and vowed never to fall again. ’

He winces sharply. ‘Ouch.’

‘Yeah,’ I say, clutching my chest as if I could soothe the ache I still have for her.

‘I daydreamed out loud over wine about erasing him from existence. I tried to convince her—’ Asher laughs. ‘But Madi wouldn’t let me. She and Mitzi both know I’m all bark and no bite and in some corner of my mind, I’m relieved I’ll never stoop to kick a man in the teeth.’

‘I dunno,’ Ash says, his voice dripping with admiration. ‘I watched you once break a guy’s nose. That was seriously badass in my book. And in front of a crowd while wearing a ballgown too…’

I let out a laugh, memories of that day flooding back.

He raises his hand, eyes gleaming. ‘High five for nailing that jerk?’

I slap his hand decisively. We did this earlier but this time he squeezes my hand with a gentle grip before releasing.

‘Thank you. It was my first time. I heard it was actually broken too. Not just blood.’

‘Bravo,’ he says with genuine pride in his voice.

‘So, Madi’s got some baggage… who doesn’t?

Aaron’s carry-on probably has the plane tilting.

’ He rubs his neck, staring out the windshield of his SUV.

‘You know, they’re practically the same person once we drag ’em out of the bedroom. Maybe they’re meant to be?’

‘Maybe.’

‘You know,’ he says with this tone I’ve never heard from him. It’s soft and sweet and… suggestive? ‘I’ve got a wild idea just to keep everything on track, we could date with them. To – you know – ensure they don’t stumble and hurt one another? To give love a fighting chance…’

A surge of nerves dances in my stomach as he awkwardly suggests the idea of double dating with our friends.

‘They do seem incredibly into each other, and sometimes people catch feelings fast and live happily ever after.’

‘Who would we be to stand in the way of love?’ he asks.

‘Exactly.’

‘Double dating,’ he comments, as if recalling a distant memory. ‘We haven’t done that since high school.’

He’s right. We double-dated as teens – Ash with a girl named Isabella and me with Kris. We did all the typical teenage things. Bowling, movies, stalking the dying mall, ate greasy food, and even snuck out a few times for some underage clubbing.

It was so much fun – except for that time I fractured my ankle ice skating.

I was not a natural, and Kris could barely stand himself.

So, after one particularly hard landing when I thought turning around would be easy, Ash skated over like a pro (apparently, he’d learned to skate to play hockey as a kid) and carried me back to the side of the rink, getting me help in no time. He’s always been a total saint.

‘As friends on our side – just like before,’ I say, mostly to remind myself.

‘Yeah.’ He nods. ‘We may just be the perfect candidates for this kind of operation. And getting to spend more time with you doesn’t sound terrible either.’

A slight gasp leaves my lips as he throws that obvious flirt into the ring. Do I flirt back? No. Do I want to? Yes?

I catch his eye and hold his gaze, feeling the tension crackling between us like electricity.

A flicker of something more is in his eyes, something that mirrors the flutter of excitement in own chest. It’s dangerous territory, this dance we’re doing, flirting on the edge of friendship and something deeper.

But as I look at him in the dim glow of the city lights filtering through the car window, I can’t deny the pull I feel toward him.

‘Spending more time with you sounds pretty great to me, too,’ I admit softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

He smiles a slow grin that reaches his eyes, lighting up his face like the stars above us.

‘Let’s make it happen then,’ he suggests eagerly.

‘Let’s,’ I say with a grin.

Before I can exit his car, he beats me to it and walks around the front to my side, pulling open my door like a gentleman. Brandon never opened any doors for me. This is sweet.

The summer evening air wraps around us, tinged with the scent of the nearby blooming flowers planted around Mitzi’s front porch.

‘Thanks for bringing me tonight,’ I say softly, meeting his gaze.

He smiles back, his eyes sparkling under the moonlight. ‘No, thank you for coming with me,’ he replies sincerely. ‘I had a great time, and I can honestly say that it’s been a while since I’ve had that with a woman.’

My heart skips a beat at his words, but I try to play it cool.

‘Are you implying that you’re not the man-whore your friend is?’

Please, say no. Please, say no.

A laugh bursts out of him, shaking his head repeatedly. ‘Not even a little bit.’

‘Thank God,’ I say through a sigh of relief.

He raises a single eyebrow.

‘I mean, that’s refreshing to hear.’

Smooth, Luce. I’m sure that saved it.

He laughs, shaking his head, looking as stunned by what’s going on between us as I am.

‘Yeah, my last girlfriend was a couple of years ago, and since then, I think I could count my dates on one hand.’

‘Well, that’s not refreshing,’ I say, as we walk toward the porch together. ‘How come?’

‘Work is my girlfriend,’ he says with a shrug like he just can’t help it. ‘I’ve got a goal and can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel. Trying to stay focused.’

‘I get it,’ I say. ‘Work has become my boyfriend too. It’s safer than laying my heart out for someone who could crush it in an instant without warning.’

‘That it is,’ he says with understanding.

It’s strange how easily we fall into conversation after being practically strangers just days ago.

Now, we’re spilling secrets, eager to spend more time together, and date with our friends, while we linger unnecessarily on Mitzi’s front walk under the stars like teenagers dabbling with the rules on curfew.

‘Well, here’s to better times ahead, minus the drama and heartbreak of our past,’ I add, raising an imaginary glass between us.

Ash mirrors my gesture, clinking his invisible glass against mine. ‘To drama-free adventures with a new old friend.’

‘New old friend,’ I repeat as I walk the half-dozen steps up Mitzi’s porch toward the front door. ‘I like that.’

‘I’ll see you tomorrow?’

‘Absolutely,’ I reply. ‘Nothing can make me miss another dinner you create. And that’s a promise. I’m officially your biggest fan.’

He’s got his hands in his pants’ pockets, and he’s standing at the bottom of the stairs, smiling up at me like— well, like Ash.

I turn and slide my key into the front doorknob.

‘Lucy—’

I leave my key in the door and turn back. My heart races as his smoldering gaze bores into me. Every nerve in my body is on edge.

‘Yeah?’

‘Use my number any time,’ he says, his voice is low and tempting.

Jesus, I want to call him right now just to hear that voice again, and he’s standing right in front of me.

My mind is reeling, trying to process his words, tones and face.

I’ve never seen him look at me like this before.

I bite my lip, attempting to stop the rush of desire. But, I can’t resist playing along.

‘Right back at ya,’ I say, my tone laced with equal parts flirtation and challenge.

Ash nods, the smile on his face undeniable; he’s leaving here as happy as I am.

Once he’s safely in his car and pulling out of Mitzi’s driveway with a honk, I unlock the door and enter the house, leaning against the front door while my heart slows from nearing cardiac arrest.

Well, that felt like a date. Not at first. But, just now. And I didn’t hate it. This double dating thing might be something special going by what I feel right now.