Page 45 of Study Buddies

“I wanted to apologize.”

“Apologize?”

“For the way I've been acting.”

That made me smile. “Are you referring to how you stopped me from sleeping in my car? Or for inviting me into your home? Or for giving up your room for me?”

Lucas smiled softly. His eyes were kind, like they had been when I first met him. “We're friends. I'm glad I could help.”

“So what are you apologizing for?”

“The way I've been with Kyle.” His smile faded. “You're an innocent bystander and I'm sorry you've seen me behave that way. I just—I’m trying, but it’s hard.”

His sincere tone made my heart ache with sympathy. “I understand. You two have a bad history, and some things aren’t easy to get past.”

“That’s an understatement. I hate that he brings out the worst in me, and that you have to see that.” He couldn’t quite meet my eyes as he spoke. “You and Jayden have been collateral damage, and for that I’m truly sorry.”

“Thank you for saying that.” I thought it over and realized there was something I had to tell him, too. “I’m sorry if me staying at your house has made it worse.”

He looked surprised. “Are you kidding? If anything, you’ve made it better. You're probably the only reason we haven't killed each other yet.”

I laughed at his joke, trying to make this easier on him.

But his expression had a sad note to it. “I don't like the fact that you have to tutor him, but I still respect it. I'm sorry if my behavior has made that harder for you.” He glanced out the window at the mountains in the distance, and then back to me. “I'd like to make it up to you. Can I take you to dinner tomorrow night?

“Dinner?” As far as I knew, Jayden had been planning to cook spaghetti. He'd done a grocery run Sunday morning and we'd all chipped in. We hadn't quite gotten a cooking schedule worked out, but so far, we’d managed. “I thought we were going to eat at home.

“Jayden and Kyle can eat at home. I'd like to take you out tomorrow.”

“That’s kind, but it’s not necessary. You haven't done anything wrong, and you don't owe me an apology. You?—"

He placed his hand lightly on top of mine, stopping my words. His touch was warm, grounding, and it felt right, somehow.

"Tori, I'm trying to ask you out on a date."

Oh.

For a second, my brain blanked. Lucas, asking me on a date? I hadn't expected that.

“A date?” I echoed stupidly.

His green eyes were steady on mine. “Only if you want to. If you don’t, that’s perfectly fine, except you’ll be subjected to Jayden's dubious culinary talents. Which are still better than mine.”

“That omelet you made this morning was really good.” That was stretching the truth a little, but I’d liked watching him in the kitchen. Whatever he did, whether it was studying, cooking, or sorting through things in the basement, he always focused so intently. Which made it easy to take peeks at him without getting caught.

“Thanks.” Lucas’s green eyes seemed to see right into my soul as he waited for my answer.

If he’d asked me out last year, I wouldn’t have hesitated. But things were different now. I was living with him—that could get messy. I’d been enjoying getting to know all of my roommates, and it was probably selfish, but I didn’t want to do something with one that might cut the other two out.

Even though that made no sense.

Lucas waited patiently, giving me space, which only made me appreciate him more. He was a good guy. Kind. Supportive. And smart, of course. Scarily smart.

And he was my friend.Thatwas the bottom line, I realized.

“Yes, I’d love to.”

A slow, genuine smile stretched across his face, and my stomach fluttered. It was as if the friction from the past weekmelted away. He looked so genuinely pleased at my answer. His shoulders were relaxed, and his smile was a little higher one side, which was a good look on him. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to go.

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