Page 51 of Lucky Strike

He released a small laugh, his face softening. “I’m not familiar enough with this secret code of door colors to know.”

“Let me pick one for you. I hope you get a blue door. It means peace and tranquility.”

He studied her for what felt like forever, his gaze taking a deep dive into her. Then a small grin cracked his expression. “Which color would mean, ‘I wish I had ordered a chocolate milkshake instead?’”

Luna smiled before sliding to his side of the booth. “You can share with me.”

“You’d share your milkshake with me?”

“Maybe I’m not the nicest person in the world but I’m not a monster. You are my rescuer after all.” She pushed the glass toward him. He did have a nice face, and—good God, those lashes! How’d she missed that before? It wasn’t fair he kept surprising her.

“You know what would convince me?” he asked.

“That I’m not a monster? There’s more that I have to do besides sharing a milkshake? Now it feels like work.” She sucked some wayward whipped cream from her thumb, stretching the moment when she noticed his eyes flicking to her mouth. She released a coy smile. Perhaps he’d been upset at her earlier, but he wasn’t immune to her. Teasing him was easy, and she liked it.

Sam blinked. His voice emerged low and rough. “You can let me eat your cherry.”

She was shocked at first, but soon threw back her head as laughter bubbled out. Luna slid the napkin with the discarded Maraschino cherry across the table. “My cherry is yours. Knock yourself out.”

His wry grin had a touch of danger, increasing his good looks. Her pulse beat harder as he kept those deep brown eyes locked on to her. Luna could develop a penchant for bad boys, even while knowing Sam was more of a reformed one. There might be a little trouble still running through those veins and that excited her as much as riding on the back of his motorcycle.

He took the cherry, popping the whole thing in his mouth, stem and all.

Her expression shifted to confusion. “What the…”

Sam’s jaw shifted as though chewing, although it appeared to take more effort. Moments later, he pushed the stem through his lips, before holding it like a trophy. The stem had been tied into a knot.

Luna’s jaw dropped. Forget the eyelashes. A whole new side of Sam appeared. “Did you just tie a knot with your tongue?” This certainly explained a few things about how he had kissed her. Luna’s body responded by flushing with heat. Perhaps teasing her in return was easy for him as well.

He shrugged, flicking the stem to the napkin. “You ready to get out of here?”

All she could manage was a nod in response.

They swung by the nearest station, purchasing a one-gallon plastic gas can before getting on Highway50 again. Luna was less nervous about the motorcycle ride this time, enjoying the crisp late summer wind pulling at her clothes. She reveled in how firm and strong Sam was, encircled tightly in her arms. For as horrible as the day had been, this had been the best part. Maybe the world was resetting itself. She’d make things up to Ross and try harder to be a better person.

After they put gas in her car, it started no problem and she drove home to Schnell Ridge with Sam’s motorcycle following behind in the same way a dolphin swam alongside a ship. If dolphins were around, a person knew they were safe.

Once they arrived, Sam followed her as far as the stairs, but she chose to stay at the bottom with him, enjoying the chirp of night crickets. Reaching out, Luna lightly stroked his arm. “Thank you for coming for me, Sam.”

She leaned to press a gentle kiss on his cheek. When she pulled away his eyes were closed before slowly opening.

“I remember someone telling me that kissing was never going to happen.”

She released a soft chuckle. “And I remember someone saying I should get used to being wrong. But if it makes you feel any better, I still don’t think you’re very nice.”

There was that dangerous grin again. “I don’t think you’re very nice either.”

“Great, then you won’t be surprised when I tell you that I’m going to hang on to your hoodie for a little bit longer. Goodnight.” She took the stairs two at a time, leaving him at the bottom, letting her laugh trail behind her.

Chapter Twenty-One

Some of Sam’sheaviness lifted after his and Luna’s conversation. Sure, he was waiting for the return of his hoodie, but he liked that they were somehow connected through his wardrobe now. Luna couldn’t hate him if she was borrowing his clothes, right? Why she wanted temporary hoodie ownership was a mystery though.

As promised, Nicholas bought a small grill and some of the residents got together for an impromptu potluck barbecue a few days later. Perhaps he could get his dad to spring for a bigger patio set. The only disappointment was Luna didn’t make an appearance. Zabe had excitedly run upstairs to knock on apartment seven’s door but there was no answer. He hoped she hadn’t become stranded again.

But later, while walking out of his apartment, Sam found Luna setting a tall pot overflowing with plants beside his doormat.

She jumped at his sudden appearance. “Oh, hi! I was trying to be sneaky, but you ruined it.”

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