Page 58 of Legends Luke

She was alone.

Throwing back the covers, she snatched her robe from the hook on her closet door. She wrapped it around her but didn’t bother tying the belt. She hurried into the living room to hear her annoying alarm screeching from her phone. Silencing the alarm, she noted the time and grimaced. She missed her wake-up time by half an hour. Not too bad, but she’d have to forego breakfast to make it to work on time.

That’s when she noticed the white paper sack on her kitchen counter with a to-go coffee cup beside it. As she approached, she noticed writing scrawled on the outside of the bag.

I didn’t know what you liked, so I hope this is OK. Luke

Peeking in the bag, she smiled at the freshly baked croissant resting at the bottom. She folded the bag closed and hurried to rush through a shower. Keeping the shower temperature warm – she always lingered too long if she took a hot shower – she smiled as she recalled her night with Luke. They’d only had sex one time, and the fact that he left her breakfast made her smile. She wished she could have talked to him before he left, but once she fell asleep, she slept like the dead. That’s why her alarm had to be so loud and obnoxious. Otherwise, she’d never wake up.

She wished she could have enjoyed waking up in his arms. As she toweled dry, she remembered all the ways he’d touched her, and her body flushed. She dried her hair, using a diffuser to tame the riotous curls, and found herself humming a random tune. She secured her hair back from her face with bobby pins, leaving the back falling loose about her shoulders. She was applying a light touch of makeup when her phone rang. Reaching over where it sat on the counter by the sink, she answered the call by placing it on speaker.

“Hey, Bird. Isn’t it a little early for you to be up?”

“I have good news!” Lyric’s excitement practically oozed from the phone.

Applying lip gloss, Melody smacked her lips together to even out the color. Then she picked up her phone to dash back to her bedroom. “Great! So do I.”

“Me first. I’m taking my last final this morning, so as of eleven o’clock,I’ll be on the road heading to Alabama for some much-needed sister time.”

Melody stumbled but quickly recovered. She wanted to see Lyric and had been looking forward to her visit once her exams were over, but Melody hadn’t expected the visit to come so soon. She had hoped Luke would come by again, so they could have a repeat of last night. But no way was she going to put any man ahead of her sister time.

“You’ll be here this afternoon? As in today? Wow. That’s great!”

“What was that?” Lyric demanded.

Melody stared at her business attire hanging in the roomy closet and finally settled on wide-legged black slacks and a muted blue top.

“What do you mean?” She carried the clothes back to the bedroom where she set the phone on the nightstand so she could dress.

“Don’t play dumb with me. I know you, and there’s something you’re not telling me. You had plans for tonight, didn’t you?”

Melody frowned at the phone as she slipped her blouse over her head. “No, I promise. I don’t have plans for tonight.”

“Hmmm, I don’t believe you. You’re going to see Luke, aren’t you?”

“I was going to ask him over, but I haven’t said anything to him yet. So, I’m free. I swear.”

“Are things getting serious for you two?” Lyric squealed, and Melody had to grin at her sister’s reaction.

“I don’t know about serious, but things are going well. I’ll tell you all about it when you get here.”

“If you’re sure — wait a minute. Oh, my God! You were hoping tonight wasthenight. That’s why you sound disappointed.”

“Bird, I’m trying to get to work on time. Can you please stop talking in riddles? What do you mean aboutthenight?”

“You know exactly what I mean. You wanted Luke to come over so you could jump his bones. I’m right, aren’t I?”

Melody stared incredulously at her phone. Damn, Lyric did know her well. She may not have guessed the truth, but she came pretty close. Her sister was not going to let it go now, but the last thing she wanted was to be late for work because she was telling sex stories to her baby sister.

“Oh, no. That’s not right. You said you’re running late. It’s because you and Luke bumped uglies last night, and you were hoping for a replay tonight. Say no more! I’ll push my road trip back to tomorrow morning.”

“Bird, no. I want you to come today as you planned. I want to see you. Yes, I was hoping to see Luke tonight. Yes, we’re having a good time together. But no guy is going to take precedence over sister time. Not now, not ever.”

Lyric clicked her tongue. “Nuh-uh. I appreciate the sisters-before-misters speech, but no way am I interfering with sexy time between you and your hot new boy toy. I’ll take the afternoon, treat myself to a mani/pedi, and pig out on Chinese food while I binge-watch some show. Then tomorrow, I’ll hit the road, take my time, and be there when you get off work. I expect all the details though.”

Melody laughed. “Okay, fine. But what if I ask Luke and he already has plans? Then all this would be for nothing.”

“Nope. Don’t talk negative. He’ll say yes, he’ll rock your world, and then you can tell me all about him tomorrow. I’ll let you go because you’re going to be late for work.”

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