Page 65 of I Can't Help It

I roll my eyes at him, and I start to form a retort, when another voice fills the atmosphere.

“Are y’all finding everything okay?”

The question is asked by a tall, burly guy who looks like he’s only a few years older than us, but he’s dressed like my Grandpa Joe. His knitted sweater has a dark blue, green, maroon, AND tan color scheme going on. Plus, the geometric pattern is honestly making my eyes hurt. It looks like abstract art that should be hanging in a museum, rather than hanging on a body.

“We were actually wondering if you had any clown—”

“We’re good!” I interrupt Luke, while also using my free hand to cover his mouth. “Just browsing!”

The grandpa-guy rubs a hand over his short, dark beard. “Uh, okay. Well, my name is Eli. So, just holler if you need anything.”

“Thank you, Eli!” I exclaim as he walks off to a different section of the store. Luke proceeds to kiss my hand, and I give him a weak glare before uncovering his mouth. “No more talking about clown dolls.”

His caramel eyes twinkle at me. “Yes, ma’am.”

My stomach dips at his hushed voice, and I try to convince myself that it’s not okay for us to finish what we started earlier in the hallway. I don’t think Eli would appreciate customers making themselves that welcome. Even IF there’s a spacious, velvet, clawfoot sofa looking very lonely and unused…

Luke’s attention drifts to the sofa as well, and then he raises an eyebrow at me.

I pretend not to notice.

Which is easier said than done.

“Ooh, a lamp post!” I point ahead of us, needing a distraction from the sofa of temptation. “It reminds me of the one from Narnia.”

Thankfully, Luke plays along. “I bet there’s a wardrobe somewhere around here too.”

I give his hand a little tug. “Well, let’s go find out.”

* * *

Guess who’s wide awake right now?

Me. I’m wide awake.

It shouldn’t be this hard to fall asleep. I mean, how could one night in the same bed with Luke mess me up so badly? How can I miss him THIS MUCH when we’ve hardly spent any time apart since we started this trip?

I blindly reach for my phone and hold it close to my face because I left my glasses in the bathroom earlier and I’m not about to go hunting for them. Besides, I have the “night light” option set on my phone, so I’m not even really straining my eyes…

Do I squint as I open my text conversation with Luke?

Yes. But it’s a mild squint.

Mild squints don’t count as straining my eyes.

Anyway, the only messages we’ve exchanged were about the directions to my house, and that just won’t do. I decide to take a little risk.

Me: Are you still awake?

The answer will be pretty obvious if he doesn’t offer a response. But it’s 11:11, so I make a wish and hope he hasn’t fallen asleep yet. Does that make me a bad person?

Possibly.

And for an agonizing minute or two, my risky text is a taunting blur.

Okay, isn’t 11:11 when wishes are supposed to come true? I didn’t get the times mixed up, right?

But then I see those three beautiful dots starting to move.

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