Page 59 of In Plain Sight

Another silence fell over us, but like before, it was comfortable. Companionable, even.

Slam.

We both jumped as the door to the bar swung open and crashed into the wall a few feet from us. A group of women stumbled outside, laughing and holding on to each other so they didn’t fall.

With the silence disturbed, Luka and I looked at each other.

“Ready to head in?” I asked.

He nodded.

“Luka,” I said as he stepped away from the wall.

“Yeah?”

“Thanks for listening.”

He smiled, his cheeks flushing soft pink in the dim light. “Any time. I mean that.”

10

LUKA

I was bored.

It was Friday night, and I had no idea what to do with myself.

This was my weekend off from work, but I had no one to hang out with. Dean and a group of our friends were at Elle’s family’s cottage for the weekend. I hadn’t been invited because Beth was going, and Elle didn’t want any drama.

“Holy shit.”

I jumped a mile at my sister’s loud exclamation and accidentally kicked the underside of my coffee table hard enough to knock my drink over.

I grabbed the fallen bottle and righted it, but not before a puddle of beer spilled out of it. “What the fuck, Jade?”

“Sorry.” She ducked into my kitchen and came back with a dish towel. “But this is totally your fault for not locking your door.” She tossed the towel at me and dropped onto the couch with a dramatic flop. “It’s like you want to get murdered or something.”

“Did I know you were coming over?” I asked, mopping up the mess on the table.

“No.” She grabbed my beer and drained half of what was left in a series of gulps.

“What the hell is going on with you?” I grabbed my bottle back as soon as she lowered it.

My sister was one of the most extra and dramatic people I knew, but this was over the top, even for her.

“I think Mom and Eddie are engaged.” She snatched the bottle out of my hand and chugged the rest.

I froze as my brain sort of screeched to a stop, like the mental equivalent of a record scratch. “What?” I asked when I finally found my voice.

“Now you understand why I needed this.” She wiggled the bottle at me. “Do you have anything stronger?”

I shook my head. “What do you mean Mom might be engaged?”

She put the bottle back on the table with a loud sigh. “I saw a ring.”

“A ring?” I asked stupidly.

She nodded and leaned against the back of the couch. “She asked me to get her e-reader off her dresser earlier, but when I grabbed it, I saw a ring in that little dish you made her.”

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