Page 26 of Let the Light in

“Can I get a name?”

“Lucy.”

“That’ll be five seventy-five, Lucy.”

I pay and then walk to a small booth and sit down, pulling my book out of my bag.

“You literally get the same coffee order every time. I have it memorized,” Wyatt says.

“I am nothing if not consistent,” I say.

“I know, I appreciate it.”

“Well, it sounds like your sister has everything figured out. She seems to have her head on her shoulders, and she’s being very adult about the whole thing.” I change the subject back to Willa, because when he says things like that my heart doesn’t know what to do with itself, and my lungs forget how to work.

“Yeah, I know. It’s disturbing.”

“Because you’re her older brother and she’ll have an apartment and you’ll still be living at home?” I tease.

“Rude.”

“But true.”

“I could say the same about you, thank you very much.”

“Yes, but I am still grieving the loss of my dead dad.” I point out.

“Don’t be morbid, Luce, it doesn’t become you.”

“You love my twisted sense of humor.”

“Lucy!” The barista calls out and I go get my coffee.

“So, I do. Anyway, are you busy tonight?”

“I told you I wasn’t.”

I settle back into my booth and sip my coffee—delicious as always.

“My dad’s away this weekend for work, would you want to come over for a movie night? I will provide pizza and popcorn.”

I almost spit my drink out. He wants me to come over, alone, to his house. For a movie night.

“You remember my friend Alex you met at Carina’s a while ago?”

“The guy who took a punch for you? Yeah, I remember him.”

Wyatt laughs. “He and his wife are coming over, too.”

“So, it’ll be like a double date?” I tease.

Wyatt chuckles. “Oh, Lucy. This isn’t a date, it’s a hang out. When I ask you on a date, you’ll know.”

He said“when.”I know he also said other words, but my brain completely clocked out when it heard that simple word. He said, “WhenI ask you on a date.”

“Yeah, sure, I’ll come over. What time?”

“Six o’clock work for you?”

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