Page 45 of The Odds of Happily Ever After
For real?? Road trip!!!
If anyone toldme a year ago that I’d become friends with Tala’s sister, I would have called them delusional. Yet here I was, picking Luna up before dawn on a Saturday so we would arrive in Atlanta in time for lunch with her siblings before Jason’s game. I didn’t even have to be roped into chauffeuring for her. I’d offered myself up for the task—and I looked forward to it.
I hadn’t spent time with Luna in the months since I got sick, but we texted on occasion. I sent her a pizza from D’Angelico’s on her birthday because she mentioned craving it, and she randomly dropped off food at my place when she cooked too much for herself. By unspoken agreement, we didn’t talk to each other on campus. She’d smile at me when our eyes met, and I would nod at her before looking away because that was what I did with any other student.
Never mind that she wasn’t just another student.
The door inched open, revealing a sliver of Luna’s face. “Okay, don’t be mad, but I’m running a bit late. I’ll be quick, I promise.”
I fought back a smile. “Can I come in, or should I wait out here?”
“I still have to get dressed, okay?” She disappeared. There was some rustling, and then the door swung open to a bleary-eyed, tousle-haired Luna wearing a jacket over what looked like a thin nightdress.
My eyes accidentally landed on the V exposed by her neckline before I snapped them up to her face. I opened my mouth to apologize but she spoke up first.
“Sorry, it took me longer than I expected to finish my paper.” She moved to let me in and locked the door behind me. “ThenI slept through my first alarm and had to make the sandwiches. Just give me ten, fifteen minutes to prep.”
“Take your time,” I told her as she hurried to her bedroom. Spotting a shoe rack past the doorway, I took off my shoes and put them on an empty slot. A pair of large blue slippers that looked like they belonged to a man stood out beside her strappy sandals and sneakers.
Did Luna have a boyfriend? She was sometimes with different guys on campus, but she didn’t appear to be involved with any of them. She never talked about her dating life, and I never asked because it was none of my business.
To be safe, I left the slippers untouched, padding barefoot to the kitchen. Wrapped sandwiches were stacked on a platter with a used knife and an open jar of cheese spread on the counter beside it. An empty takeaway cup sat in front of her coffee maker.
Of course she’d prepared food for our trip.
I took over where she’d left off, putting the sandwiches in the plastic bag tucked under the platter. Then I put the spread in the fridge, washed the plate and knife, and wiped down the countertop.
Walking to her bedroom door, I knocked twice.
“Almost done!” she said, sounding out of breath.
“No rush. Just wanted to ask if you want milk and sugar in your coffee.”
“That’s for you. I can’t have coffee this early.”
Her words gave me pause. She’d prepared coffee for me. It was so unexpected that I hesitated, staring at the door.
After my failed attempt with Inez in high school, I’d never had a relationship again. I didn’t want to risk getting attached only to be left in the lurch. My friendship with Tala was the closest I’d come to one, and it worked out because we were both used to being self-sufficient.
This—another person doing something for me—thiswas new. It awakened a warmth in my chest that put me on edge.
“Ready!” The door opened and Luna took a step back, clutching her chest. “Gabe! What are you doing hovering there?”
Never had I been more grateful that I’d perfected my poker face. “Checking to see if you’re ready.” My gaze fell to her shirt—the one I’d gifted her last Christmas.
“Hey, that was fifteen minutes max. I skipped my makeup so I wouldn’t take too long.”
She’d paired the top with a pink skirt and socks that went midway up her calves. I frowned. “Your socks are showing.”
Raising one leg, she wiggled her foot. “They’re supposed to. It’s the style now, haven’t you noticed it on campus?”
“I don’t exactly go around looking at students’ legs.” Though that might not appear the case with how I couldn’t stop staring at hers.
Shit. Don’t be a creep, Gabe. This is Tala’s sister you’re gawking at.
I forced my gaze up.
Luna smiled, appearing amused. “So I’m the only one, huh?”
