Page 159 of Say You'll Stay

One day, he came over and sat next to me at lunch. His mom was sick in the hospital and he didn’t want to be around his little gang. Even so young, I think he just needed a moment of peace and quiet. He saw my tortillas with beans and rice and helped himself to my food while holding his lunchbox open to me, offering whatever I wanted. I took his pudding, and he took my fruit cup.

We’ve been close ever since.

He’s been there for me through a lot of shit in my life and I could never ask for a better friend than Lucas Kennedy. When he sets his mind on something, he goes for it. Our friendship was one of those things he set his mind to, and I’m glad he did.

Everyone always thinks he’s lucky. It’s not luck. He’s just positive everything will work out no matter what, and even when there’s an obstacle in the way of whatever he wants, Lucas finds his way through it or around it.

It truly is a small world where he met Allie and things turned out this way. Small, because of the connection. Still, I don’t know about luck. Might be fate or just coincidence. He was hung up on her for weeks, trying to figure out who she was. What a dumbass. He never got her name. We spent a week parked outside her high school looking for her and never saw her. Guaranteed if he asked and found out who her dad was, Lucas would have found himself at Tom’s doorstep asking to take his daughter out a lot sooner. He’d be the first and only one with the balls to stand up to Tom.

If I remember correctly, it was Kat that convinced him to get over her. Graduation hit, that summer went by, and Lucas went off to do his own thing. He was different after that. He didn’t care that much about anything, and just blended into the crowds as best he could. Kept that smile on his face. I always thought that was his way of taking his life seriously.

He doesn’t realize how much Allie has kept a hold on him the way he has her. Lucas never cared about Kat or anyone really after he met Allie. Allie was always the one, even if she was only in the back of his mind.

I’ll just keep that little observation to myself since things worked out for them.

It’s a happy day for him and this asshole didn’t sleep last night until Tom slipped him something and knocked him out so the rest of us could sleep. He was nervous and excited and if Lucas Kennedy could better handle his liquor, he’d be more relaxed about the whole thing. Lucas has been desperate to see her all day, looking for an excuse to go to her room just to see her.

He was the first one up, made breakfast for everyone, and that was at five this morning. We had to go for a run just to get some energy out. It’s no big deal, since we’re going to work on his shoulder together in the mornings now.

“She’s going to be late, isn’t she?” he says. We’re standing at the front near Charity’s father, Clyde, while greeting people that are here for the wedding.

“They’re always late. She’s got some big ass dress dragging her down and I’m sure Charity isn’t making things any easier on her.”

Charity. Now there’s a story no one needs to know. It’s one of those ancient history things and she pretends like I’m the evil son of a bitch when, in reality, it’s my fault for being…

Never mind, it’s just stupid and there’s no point there. All I can do is ruffle her feathers a little and then she goes and dyes her hair a new color. It’s better than nothing.

“Are you ever going to tell me what all happened between you two?”

I will take it to my grave, because I don’t even understand why she went nuclear.

“It’s nothing, Lucas. Where’s your boy?”

He’s so damn proud of Jadon, and Lucas loves him more than anything.

“He’s with Allie.”

Tom opens the door at the end of the aisle and holds up his hand, letting me know she’ll be down in five. She’s only two minutes late, which is better than I expected. Everyone is seated and ready, and Lucas may be just as nervous as I’m sure Allie is.

Not for each other, no. They could have done this in the courthouse with a judge and a witness and still be just as crazy about one another. It’s an excited but nervous feeling for them. They’re simple and apart from the accidental pregnancy and years apart, they come together easily. He pushes, she giggles, and sometimes Allie snaps back at him.

“So, where are you taking her tonight?” He’s been tight-lipped about his plans for their honeymoon, but I figured it was because he didn’t come up with something until the last minute.

Lucas smirks and chuckles to himself while he fucks with his jacket. “Santa Marta. I got some vacation rental for the week on the beach. It looks cozy.”

What the hell? “Why there?” Santa Marta is a college town on the coast. It’s about a four-hour drive from here and other than the beach parties in the summer, it has some shopping and some sites, but for their honeymoon? There’s nothing too exciting there this time of the year.

Lucas lowers his voice to an almost whisper and murmurs, “Allie gets her view from the house and I’ll take her to the beach if she wants, but we’re not leaving that property unless she really needs to eat. If I’m taking her to some destination spot wherever, we’re taking our kids.” Lucas straightens out his shoulders and dusts off his sleeves. “I’m not wasting money on a vacation when all I plan to do is stay indoors and naked with my wife.”

I notice he saidkids. Plural. “Is she pregnant?”

Lucas scoffs. “No. I’ll be damned if I’m not going to try to convince her for another soon, though.”

Well, he’s just full steam ahead already. “Enjoy marriage and the one kid for a little while, at least, Lucas. She just started her new business and everything. Give the girl time to breathe.”

He won’t listen, I already know.

Tom opens the door again and waves me down. She’s ready.

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