Page 63 of Third Time Lucky

‘You two looked cozy,’ Madi says as we reach the bar. ‘How’s it going?’

‘We were having a very vague conversation, beating around the bush about how we were feeling?’

‘Oh? What’d ya land on?’

‘Don’t make a wrong step while on a minefield?’

She scrunches her face.

‘I’m pretty sure we were wondering “what if” without actually saying it?’

She smiles sweetly as if I deserve every second of this.

‘Luce, here’s what I know. People come into your life for one of a few reasons. To teach you something. To offer you something. Or to take something.’

‘And what do you think Asher’s here for?’ I ask, my gaze drifting back to him. Mitzi’s talking animatedly with him and Aaron. Ash’s eyes light up with every word she says. She looks so happy. I’m so glad she came.

‘I think he’s here to teach you,’ Madi replies.

‘What, though?’

‘Maybe about trusting your instincts? Or maybe he’s here to push you to follow your heart even when your head says “no.” I think he could be good for you.’

I nod slowly, absorbing her words as I watch him, laughing at something Aaron has said. He glances my way, his eyes crinkling at the corners when he smiles at me.

‘Look at the way he looks at you,’ Madi says, gazing his way. ‘It’s what every girl dreams of.’

‘Yeah,’ I say. ‘I definitely don’t hate it.’ I love the way his smile makes my heart skip a beat.

‘By the way, youneverlooked at Brandon like this.’

‘I didn’t?’

Hmmm, I had no idea.

‘Nope. Plus, he invited your grandmother. That’s possibly the sweetest thing I’ve ever witnessed.’

Maybe she’s right. Asher may be here to teach me something important about myself. I’d be an idiot not to accept the lesson. But what if he’s just being polite, and I’m mistaking kindness for something more? He never really said how he felt about me when I told him I knew. What if I want to be loved correctly so badly that I’m turning this into something it’s not? Seeds of anxiety sprout in my mind, and the last thing I need is more of those taking root.

17

ASHER

Mitzi looks absolutely lovely this evening. But Lucy is breathtaking – literally. From her short V-neck lace spaghetti-strap dress that ties in the back to the white Converse shoes on her feet, ready for dancing, her makeup is soft, and her hair is down, wavy and tucked behind one ear; she is gorgeous. Truthfully, it’s making me a little nervous, considering she’s undoubtedly the prettiest woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.

But I’m choosing to focus on the intoxicating feeling that consumes me when she’s close – like a raging wildfire, burning through my chest and leaving me gasping for air. I can’t get enough. I don’t want to resist her alluring pull, even with the uncertainty it brings.

She’s at the bar with Madi but turns to glance my way. Once our eyes meet, a small, knowing smile plays on her lips as if she can sense the internal turmoil I’m grappling with.

‘I’m going to go check on the girls,’ Mitzi says, excusing herself from Aaron and my presence.

Aaron’s voice breaks through my thoughts, jolting me out of my trance. ‘You gonna bring grandma on all your dates with her?’

‘Probably not.’

He laughs, raising an eyebrow.

‘Seriously, Aaron,’ I urge him, grabbing his arm to ensure he’s listening. ‘In the last hour, something has clicked for me.’

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