Page 86 of Puck You Very Much

The silence between them in the small interior was pregnant with suppressed feelings.

Anger. Hurt. Restlessness. It didn’t matter that Dax wasn’t directing all these emotions at her, she felt them and they settled heavily around her heart.

Her mouth was dry and every word she wanted to say died on her tongue. So she just squeezed Dax’s hand whenever he had to change gears. Kissed him on the cheek when they stopped at a traffic light. Silently, she reassured him.

When they stopped in front of her apartment less than half an hour later, she knew he wasn’t coming upstairs before he opened his mouth.

“I think I want to be alone today if that’s okay,” he said softly, staring stubbornly out the windshield.

“Sure,” she replied hoarsely. “I understand.”

However, she couldn’t bring herself to get out, to leave him alone. Not now, not when he looked like the weight of the world was on his shoulders, threatening to crush him. She wanted him to feel better. No, sheneededto know he would feel better soon.

It was more important than her next breath. More important than her own heavy heart. More important than…anything.

She sat there, cleared her throat, and rummaged around in her purse with shaking hands before finding what she was searching for. A small package, the size of her hand.

“I know you hate presents, but…well, I couldn’t get you nothing.” Uncertain, she ran her hand through her loose hair and inhaled deeply. “It’s silly and you don’t have to accept it. I just thought…well, see for yourself.”

Genuine surprise crossed his face as he took it. “You bought me a present.”

Her cheeks caught fire. “Just a small one. Normal people like getting presents.” The right corner of his mouth twitched. It was barely noticeable. She saw it, anyway, and, for a moment, she felt so light that she was afraid her head was about to smack the roof.

He took the package, tore off the paper…and then stared at the object in his hand with his mouth slightly open.

It was a small glass ball with a four-leaf clover sealed inside. She had writtenhard workon it in tiny little letters with a fine-point Sharpie.

“Because you don’t believe in luck, but you do believe in hard work,” she whispered nervously. “I thought it was time to replace your lucky charm. The bad memories of your father and Jack…with the hard work you’ve done over the last few years.” For a few endless seconds, Dax didn’t react. He stared at the clover and didn’t move.

But then…then a smile spread across his face. A smile that she felt deep in her stomach and heart.

He raised his eyes and gazed at her face. “God, I love you, Lucy.”

She blinked and opened her mouth, not understanding.

“What?” She must have misheard.

“Shit, did I just say that out loud?” He seemed as shocked as she felt.

“Yes!” she snapped.

“Oh.”

“Oh?” Her eyes widened in disbelief, her heart pounding in her throat. “I don’t want anoh, I want you to take back what you said!”

He grimaced. “I can’t. It’s the truth.”

“What?” No. Just no! They were having a fling, they weren’t in love, they weren’t, they weren’t…

“Lucy,” Dax said gently, cupping her face in his hands, “we’re in a relationship.”

“What? No.”

“Yes.”

“Where did you get that crap from?”

“From Matt. From me.”

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