Page 167 of Falling Backwards
Luke’s answering step forwards is confident.He curls me behind himself enough that he can move between us.
Kyle’s accusatory eyes leave me as Luke says, “The validity of our relationship isn’t for you to question any more than Maggie’s boundaries are.She wants you to leave her alone and that’s what matters, and actually, it has nothing to do with whether or not she’s single.What she’s said to you should be respected regardless.”
I can’t see Luke’s face from this angle, but I can feel the tension in his body and I know his expression has to be made of steel.The stare Kyle is holding with him feels weak in comparison.
“So for the last time, Kyle Danfords, back off.”I hear Luke’s voice softening with threat, not with kindness.“I’m not gonna say it to you again after this, because if you ignore me and keep trailing after her, there won’t be any talking, just me snatching you up and handing your ass to you.”
I can’t fend off a shiver—and I can see Kyle’s demeanor wavering something fierce.
Luke adds, “And that’s not counting that we’ve already spoken to the police about you making Maggie uncomfortable.They’re aware of it.And we’ve kept a record of everything, including you approaching her in a dark parking lot and later trying to find out her address.Do you really wanna dig yourself in deeper just because you didn’t win the interest of one girl out of all the girls in the world?”
Kyle is finally shrinking.He takes a step back, then another, his look of anger and resolve giving way to what almost looks like…God, do I dare think it?
“The police?”he asks, and yep, he sounds nervous.His eyes shift between me and Luke.“I-I didn’t intend—I mean, I wasn’t trying to—tobotherMaggie.I just thought we could—and I hoped…but I don’t want any trouble with…anyone.Not with you or anyone else.”
Full nervousness blares across his face as his widening eyes catch on Luke and his next slow step forwards.Kyle takes two more backwards.
Indeed, I’m not sure what he’s more afraid of: the idea of law involvement or the very real anger coming from the guy in front of him.
My heart jumps into my throat with almost painful hope.
Is it possible?Is all of this ending?Is Luke putting an end to it?
In that dangerously soft tone, Luke asks him, “We’re clear, then?”
Kyle nods, his face flushing.“I’m s….”He looks at me again and swallows hard, then straightens up out of his cowering.“You’re right.Both of you.Sorry.It—it won’t happen again.”
And he turns around and hurries away.
I yank in a startled breath before a huff of relief blows out of me.
Luke still isn’t quite in front of me, but he doesn’t move back to stand at my side again either.We stay like we are and wordlessly watch Kyle go back the way we all came.
At least, we don’t speak until he’s reached a small white sedan in the parking lot.Then Luke asks me, “You all right?”
For as shaken up as I feel, my, “Yeah,” sure does come out faint.
New wind blows through, seeming a little chillier now than before since we aren’t touching the way we were minutes ago.
My whorl of emotions shifts and makes room for the sudden, spiking acknowledgement that I want it all back.I want to reclaim what we had before Luke noticed Kyle lurking nearby, when I got brave enough to tell him I miss him—not just younger Luke, but present-day Luke—and it felt like he was on the edge of opening up more to me too.I want us to keep going beyond that.Especially since it feels like we justwonthis thing with Kyle.
And I want…so badly, I want….
Part of my brain is still on the brief chaos of Kyle, who is driving out of the parking lot.The rest is on the memory of how easily, willingly, intently Luke kissed me out here.He didn’t get scared.He didn’t hesitate.He didn’t try to come up with some other way to hopefully get rid of Kyle.
My heart rate picks up again.
I’m so aware of the little places we were touching during those kisses that a tremor is dancing over every inch of my skin beneath my clothes.
I catch him saying absently, “We should finish our walk.”
I feel weirdly stuck.Despite how desperately I want to get back to the gentleness we were in earlier, I can’t come up with a path to it.
Can’t think of anything to say other than, “Yeah.”
Can’t look at him as we turn to face the direction we were going in pre-Kyle.
The loss of his touch is even more stark as the wind keeps moving through the many inches of space between us.
