Page 79 of Third Time Lucky

Would that have made the whole thing worse? Knowing he didn’t want to go, he had to and got one chance to say goodbye to the people he loved. Probably.

‘And to answer your earlier question,’ he continues. ‘No, I don’t think he’d be mad at whatever this is turning into. We were his best friends. He loved us; he’d want us to be happy. I think that’s why he’s always around. Maybe he’s to us what we’re hoping to be for Aaron and Madi? Just from beyond.’

Never have I hoped someone was right so hard. When we reachthat happy, will Kris finally move on? I guess there’s only one way to find out.

‘Another question… where do we go from here? Judging on the car ahead of us, we’re doing a terrible job directing those two toward love.’ The words tumble out in a rush, my heart pounding.

He takes a moment to answer, his expression unreadable. Then, with a gentle smile that reaches his eyes, he reaches up to tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear. ‘Luce, I’ve never been more interested in a woman than I am – you. I’m waking up early. And at this point, I’d probably show up at Mitzi’s place daily even if she fired me, just to see you.’

He would?! Hope blossoms in my chest like a fragile flower. ‘Truthfully, I’m falling in like with you, Lucy Gray. A little more every day. But I don’t want to do anything you’re not ready for.’

He’s falling inlikewith me? Sweet mother of Moses that is adorable.

His words hang in the air, swirling around us like fireflies on a summer night. The weight of our confessions settle between us.

‘I may be falling right along with you,’ I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. ‘And it’s scary – like a trust fall exercise. The last guy who said he’d catch me let me slip through his fingers, intentionally, so he could catch someone else.’

Ash’s eyes widen ever so slightly, and a soft smile tugs at the corners of his lips. He leans in closer, his breath warm against my cheek as he cups my face gently in his hands. ‘I promise, I’ve got you,’ he murmurs. ‘With me, there will never be someone else.’

And then, with a tenderness that takes my breath away, he closes the distance between us and kisses me.

It’s sweet and soft and unexpected. As his tongue mingles with mine, a rush of emotions swirls between us like a tempestuous sea. I place my hand on his – now on the side of my neck – his thumb grazing my jawline. When we break, he rests his forehead against mine, a sweet, disbelieving chuckle leaving his lips.

‘I hope that was OK. The moment felt right, and I just went with it.’

‘OK?’ I ask in disbelief. ‘It was totally wow. Wow-wow-wow-wow-WOW! There aren’t enough wows.’

He laughs, lifting my hand and kissing my knuckles.

‘Again, wow.’

The man knows how to kiss a girl and leave her longing for more. My lips are tingling. My knuckles are tingling. Hell, my toes are tingling. The air around us is buzzing as we settle back into our seats, our fingers laced together resting on his thigh. Has anyone else done this to me with a single kiss?

The movie continues to play on the screen in front of us, but I spend the rest of the evening with my head in the clouds, stealing glances at him. Each time finding his gaze already fixed on me with an affectionate intensity that sends my heart aflutter.

When the movie ends and the credits roll, signaling the conclusion of our night at the drive-in theater, we breathe.

‘So, was that what you expected for your first drive-in experience?’ I ask, my tone light.

‘Definitely not what I expected, but in all the best ways,’ he replies. ‘How about you?’

I smile wide. ‘Best movie I’ve ever seen, and I don’t even remember what it was about.’

He laughs out loud.

A sense of contentment settles over me like a warm blanket as we drive away, leaving behind Madi and Aaron who likely have to wait until their windows are unfogged enough to see the road. The radio plays a soothing melody, blending with the tires rolling over the pavement. Sultry summer night air swirls through the cracked windows, and the stars twinkle overhead like scattered diamonds against the velvet sky. The night seems perfect.

Starlight, Starbright, please don’t let the end of us be in sight.

Wishing on a star might be ridiculous and maybe a little bit childish, but it worked when I was seven and asked for a puppy, so why not try again?

23

ASHER

‘What in the hell are you doing here?’ I ask, opening the door more, letting him in because he’ll barge through otherwise.

‘A better question is, why is Lucy not half naked on that couch with you?’

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