Page 97 of Third Time Lucky

She nods, and we start walking away from the river, hand in hand, the sound of water fading into the distance.

The coffee shop is warm and cozy and practically empty this late at night. We settle into a corner booth, our hands wrapped around steaming mugs of coffee.

I watch Lucy as she gazes out the window, deep in thought. She’s not the same girl I once knew. She’s grown, matured, weathered storms and emerged stronger than ever.

‘I need to say one more thing,’ she says nervously, picking at the label of her cup suddenly. ‘You’re the only person in my life besides my dad, Mitzi and Madi who’s only ever had my best interests at heart. I know it must’ve hurt for you to have to tell me the heartbreaking things you have, but I couldn’t be more thankful that it was you. I owe you so much.’

‘We’re completely even, Luce. No debts owed.’

She smiles shyly.

‘Wanna hear something weird?’ I ask.

She nods. ‘Of course.’

‘You’re literally right in front of me, and I can’t quit thinking about you.’

She sucks in a small breath. ‘Yeah?’

I nod. ‘You said you think about me all the time when we were at the drive-in. Is that still true?’

Her cheeks slightly pink at my words. ‘Could be more than that now,’ she says as if guilty.

I laugh but shake my head. ‘If we’re competing, I’ll easily win because I’ve been thinking about you since the funeral. Then, even more after Vegas. Now I’m daydreaming about you as I cook in your kitchen.’

She smiles, dropping her head in the most adorable way. ‘Watch your words, mister. You’ll get us both in over our heads here.’

‘What if I want to be in over my head with you?’

‘Wow,’ she says breathlessly. ‘Never in a million years did I think I’d find myself here with you,’ she says, her voice barely above a whisper. ‘But it feels right, I can’t lie about that. Obviously, we both feel it.’

‘I know I do.’

‘Maybe we were always meant to find our way back to each other – or is that weird, considering…’

‘Not weird.’ I sip my coffee.

A few times, I’ll admit, I wonder if the paranormal had a hand in this. It wouldn’t have been unlike him to meddle in my love life. Kris was usually the reason I had a girlfriend at all. He didn’t have a car for a while, and he needed a ride. My rule was gas money or a girlfriend. Classy, I was not. Thankfully, that’s changed.

I reach across the table to gently grasp her hand.

‘Full disclosure, I am absolutely falling for you,’ I say, the words hanging in the air between us. ‘I hope that doesn’t scare you.’

For a second, she stirs, almost uncomfortably, but settles quickly. An easy smile fills her gorgeous face.

‘It doesn’t. Not any more.’

‘Then how would you feel if I propose giving this a real shot?’ I ask, my voice unwavering. ‘No more running away or holding back. Just you and me, figuring it out together.’

A smile tugs at the corners of Lucy’s lips, and I can see the shadows of her past fading away, replaced by a new light that shines from within her. She squeezes my hand, a silent agreement passing between us.

‘I’m all in,’ she says softly, her eyes meeting mine with a newfound determination.

‘Me too.’ The words just fall out of my mouth easily without question. This girl is it.

We finish our coffee in comfortable silence, and both lost in our own thoughts yet connected by an unspoken understanding.

As we step out into the night air, a sense of anticipation lingers between us, crackling with electricity the second our fingertips find one another.

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