Page 139 of With a Little Luck

“I went because I was looking for you,” I say, reaching the end of the aisle. “At the dance.”

“Oh.” Ari straightens. “I wasn’t … I didn’t go.”

“Yeah. I got that.”

She looks down, mindlessly pulling on a strand of hair. “EZ really caught me off guard at karaoke night. I said yes at first, because there were so many people watching, and I didn’t want him to feel bad. But after I had some time to think about it …” She makes a guilty face. “I like EZ. But just as a friend.” She tilts her head and meets my eye again. “You could have just texted me, you know.”

I cross my arms nervously over my chest. “I wanted to see you. In person.”

“Okay,” she says. “Here I am. Is something wrong?” She starts to look suspicious. “And why did you want to look ‘heroic’ tonight?”

I already feel awkward with my arms crossed, so I uncross them, but that feels weird, too. I settle one hand on the nearest bin, wishing my heart would stop flipping over in my chest. I glance down, trying to remember all those smart, romantic things I said at the dance, when I thought Ari was there.

My gaze lands on the album next to my hand, and all language evaporates from my brain.

An Elvis album. The title?I Got Lucky.

I swallow and look across the aisle to the other side. Another album catches my eye, right in the front of the bin.

Bruce Springsteen’sLucky Town.

And on the counter behind Ari—Ronnie Wood,Mr. Luck.

Heart pounding, my gaze darts up to some of the album art displayed on the wall. Dawes’sGood Luck with Whatever. And on the other side of the store … Britta Phillips,Luck or Magic.

I slam my eyes shut, rubbing the bridge of my nose.No.No more345luck, good or bad. No more magic. I don’t need it, and I don’t want it. I am worthy without it.

“Jude?” asks Ari. “Are you feeling okay?”

I look up. She’s taken a step toward me.

“Here’s the thing,” I say tightly. “Life is an adventure, right?”

She hesitates. “I … guess?”

“Yours will be, at least. You’re going to make amazing music. You’re going to have people falling over themselves to work with you and record your songs. This is just the beginning.”

She looks startled, even as a hint of a pleased smile turns up her lips. “Thank you?”

“And I’m going to apply to art school. I don’t know if I’ll get in, but I’m going to try. And maybe someday I’ll make comics or illustrate album covers or … I don’t know. Make concert posters or design fantasy novels or something. And that will all be pretty cool, too.”

She nods slowly. “Okay …”

“And lately, I’ve realized that I … that I …” I squeeze the edge of the bin tighter, but I can’t move past that statement. No matter how I try, no words seem right.

I think about a million moments over the years. A million smiles. A million little touches. I think about slow dancing to the Beatles, and Ari calling me her good luck charm, and I think about how I’mcaught up in the downpour of me loving you.

And I might be a fool, but I hope.

I hope.

I breathe Ari’s name. A whisper and a laugh and a magical incantation.

Then I take a deep breath and close the distance between us. I take her in my arms and I bend down and I kiss her.

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Chapter Forty-Four

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