Page 57 of Loyally, Luke
But he was certainly glad to find the camera and place the bag safely back beneath the desk in Mrs.Kershaw’s office.
He alerted Gordon that he was taking his lunch outside and made the trek down the hill behind the hall, his grin growing with each step. If she’d sent for the camera, it meant she was happy with the surprise. And if she’d sent the girls for the camera, it meant she’d actually climbed the tree.
He wasn’t sure why the idea of her taking him up on his little surprise made his steps a bit lighter, but he liked the feeling that the image of her smiling face left behind. He’d pondered and prayed about their conversation, when he hadn’t been distracted by kissing thoughts, and had come to an unexpected conclusion.
Since he couldn’t predict the future and how plans shifted and changed, then he’d just embrace the now and deal with those consequences as they came. He’d never have predicted Izzy would meet her perfect match on an island across the sea, nor that she’d have the courage to pack up her life and move here. He was sure Matt hadn’texpected to find his match in the disgustingly optimistic personality of Luke’s sister Penelope and then pack up his whole life and move to America.
That was the thing.
In the beginning of the story, there are a whole lot of impossibilities, like a Death Star or three challenges or the defeat of a revenge-hungry sheriff. None of the characters could have guessed how things would turn out. He paused. In fact, that sounded like a Samwise quote fromThe Lord of the Rings. Another great example of impossibilities being overcome in unexpected ways.
Why not something as crazy as a woman from Skymar and a man from America?
Ellie had climbed up higher than he thought she’d try, which made him like her even more. Not only was she a little sassy, she was smart, brave, and a little funny. He had a feeling there was more humor beneath all that high-classiness and, of course, the type of person who wanted to do the right thing.
And she was beautiful, which was an added bonus he didn’t mind at all.
She had her hair in a long braid over one shoulder of her navy jacket, and her grin welcomed him forward. Once she’d decided to like him a little, he’d lost all sense, but at the moment, he didn’t mind.
If nonsensical led to kissing her senseless and having fun conversations, he’d adopt nonsensical as his new MO. And that was saying a lot. He’d steered clear of pursuing any romantic relationships for two years because his last girlfriend kept trying to change him to fit her ideals.
She’d been the high-class, big-money sort.
And there was nothing wrong with that, if they were more like Ellie. Genuine underneath all the high-class.
But Clara hadn’t been that way.
Which meant he never would have been good enough for her.
“Well, look who found her way up a tree.”
Her smile spread as she looked down at him, golden braid swinging like Rapunzel.
He would have frowned at his thought if her smile hadn’t been so pretty.
“I can’t believe you did this for me.”
He tucked his hands into his pockets, settling into the pleasant feeling of pleasing her. “It’s not too hard to find a tree around here.”
The way she looked at him had him standing a bit taller. “You know what I mean, Luke.”
He liked the sound of his name on her lips. Well, he liked those lips, too, and needed to explore them some more. “Smells like snow’s on the way too.” He shifted another step closer to get a better view of her through the limbs. “Which means there may be a few other things we can check off your list.”
A burst of air escaped from her and she shook her head. “You don’t have to help me with my list, you know.” Her words were weighted with emotion.
“Well, I’m not a fan of making them, but I’m pretty good at helping out friends with theirs.”
Her gaze held his, so filled with warmth and invitation, and he started to have the slightest inkling why someone would leave their entire world for love. He flinched. But this wasn’t love. Maybe it could turn into love, because his heart veered really close to falling, but right now it was like. A lot.
A kissing lot.
“We’re friends now, are we?” Her question came breathlessly, and the look in those eyes confirmed what was going on in his head. Friends... plus. “By the way, I spent the last few nights watching those Hallmark movies you talked about.”
“Whoa.” His palm came up as if to fend off the very idea. “Why would you go and ruin your brain like that?”
“You do remind me of one of the heroes, Luke.” Her lips seemed to wrestle with her grin.
“We can’t be friends anymore.”
