KATE
“Thank you for coming to get me,” I say for the fourth time since Luke’s car pulled up alongside the curb and he nearly catapulted out of it and threw his heavy coat around my shoulders.
“It’s no problem, Kate, are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah, I just left my jacket somewhere and then I got lost.” I laugh a little hysterically, still shivering in spite of the heat pouring from the vents of Luke’s truck. I feel nauseous at the thought of telling him that Michael walked out on me, leaving me stranded. I am having a hard time accepting that fact myself.
“What were you doing downtown?” He asks suspiciously.
“I had a—a meeting,” I lie. Luke raises his eyebrows but doesn’t say anything, keeping his eyes on the road.
“Is your car here somewhere?” He asks, maneuvering the city streets.
“No,” I shake my head before realizing that that doesn’t exactly fit in with my lie. “I took a bus,” I supplement.
“A bus,” Luke repeats, his voice heavy with sarcasm. I just grit my teeth and nod, looking out the window. “Did you call Michael?” Luke asks evenly.
“Yes, he didn’t answer,” I say lightly. That part’s not a lie.
Luke sighs. “Okay, Kate.” I can tell that he sees right through me, but he doesn’t call me out on it and for that I am thankful. Before I realize where we’re going, Luke is pulling into the parking lot of his own apartment building. He puts the car in park and turns to me, reaching for my arm.
“I can take you home if you want, but I thought you might not want to be…around…there.” He looks up at me sheepishly and I sigh, leaning back in my seat and nodding my head. Luke squeezes my hand gently and cuts the engine. I haven’t fooled him even a single bit.
But he doesn’t press me as we take the elevator silently to his apartment. Maybe I should feel awkward or uncomfortable, but I don’t have the energy for it. I feel drained, exhausted, and my head is still pounding.
I walk behind Luke, dazed and a little out of focus, not noticing when he stops to open his door. I collide with his back and he turns around, reaching out to steady me. “Jesus, Kate,” he breathes, holding my arms tightly. Concern flashes in his eyes but I look away, not ready to face this yet.
Again, Luke lets it slide without question. I owe him big time. I feel like I always owe him big time.
Luke holds the door open, immediately grabbing a coat from his front closet and throwing it over my shoulders. I follow him into his living room, which is remarkably sophisticated for a twenty two year old. Still, it is a bachelor pad and that is obvious, there is no woman’s touch, not even a hint of femininity. For some reason that thought makes my tired mind smile.
“Sit down, Kate,” Luke indicates his large and extremely inviting couch. I nearly collapse on it, exhaustion seeming to radiate outwards from me. I don’t know if it was just a long day, or if Michael is literally draining the energy from me. I am so tired.
Luke regards me with concerned interest as I fight to keep my eyes open. He seems to deliberate before grabbing the blanket from the back of his couch and wrapping that around my shoulders, too.
“Just stay here for a minute, okay?” He murmurs. I nod my head, trying not look as weak and stupid as I feel. Luke walks to the kitchen and I hear him fumbling around, opening and closing cabinets. A few minutes later, the smell of coffee sifts through the chilly air, enveloping me in its warmth. Luke walks back into the room, then right through, over to another door. He leaves it slightly open behind him, and I think I hear him talking to himself. He returns momentarily with a stack of clothes in his hand. “You can wear these,” he says. “That dress looks really uncomfortable. I mean, it’s pretty, but it’s… I mean… yeah.” He blushes furiously and shoves the clothes at me and I take them gratefully, unfolding the shirt.
