Strangers To Lovers

Chapter Ten.

I groaned, pressing my temples to alleviate the pounding headache. The events of last night blurred in my mind, and I barely had the energy to face another day at work. I had stumbled home at two in the morning, inebriated and emotionally drained, only to be up at eight for my nine-to-five shift. Today, the exhaustion weighed me down like a heavy blanket, refusing to lift.

Sitting behind the counter at Coffee House, I stared out at the rain-soaked street, trying to shake off the fog in my head. Donna was wiping tables, moving methodically as if the dreary day didn't affect her. Her routine seemed oddly comforting, but it didn't help the knot of regret tightening in my chest.

I checked my phone, half-expecting to see a message from Luke, but nothing. Not a single text. Could I have scared him off last night? I mean, I gave him an earful, but he deserved it-right? Still, doubt lingered. Maybe I was too harsh. Maybe that was the end of whatever this was.

But I shook the thought off. Luke was a big boy, and if a few sharp words sent him running, then maybe it was for the best.

Still, the silence was unnerving.

I busied myself with cleaning the counter, my mind racing with unanswered questions. Had I gone too far? Or maybe I hadn't gone far enough? I laughed quietly to myself. As if this situation could get any more confusing.

My phone buzzed, interrupting my thoughts. I grabbed it, my heart skipping a beat when I saw Luke's name flash across the screen.

Luke: Morning. You good?

Relief flooded through me. He hadn't bolted after all. I quickly typed back.

Me: Yeah, just at work. Last night was a lot.

I bit my lip, unsure of what else to say. There was still a knot of unease sitting in my stomach, like I had left things unresolved. Luke had been apologetic, almost out of character, and now I was second-guessing every word I'd said.

I glanced up, catching Donna's eye. She raised an eyebrow, clearly reading the anxiety on my face.

"You okay?" she asked, wiping her hands on her apron.

I nodded, though it felt like a lie. "Yeah, just tired."

She gave me a sympathetic look. "Luke again?"

I nodded, not really wanting to delve into the details. Donna didn't push, though. She was good at reading the room.

My phone buzzed again. Another message from Luke.

Luke: You seemed pretty out of it last night. Hangover much?

I winced. He wasn't wrong. Last night had hit harder than I expected, both the alcohol and the emotions swirling around in my head. The memories from the evening came in bits and pieces-the sharp words, the tension, Luke acting... strangely.

Me: Yeah, I guess I was. Did I say anything weird?

The seconds stretched as I waited for his response. What if I had said something I couldn't take back? What if I had crossed some invisible line?

Luke: Nah, nothing bad. You just seemed pretty upset. But we're cool.

I exhaled, tension easing slightly. So, I hadn't ruined everything. Luke was still here, still texting, still... well, being Luke. Maybe I hadn't completely blown it after all.

Donna wandered back over, leaning against the counter. "So, what's the plan? You two still playing this whole 'pretend couple' thing?"

I shrugged, unsure. "I don't know, Donna. I mean, it's weird, right? I don't even know what this is."

She smirked. "Weird? Nah. Just complicated. You like him?"

Her question caught me off guard, and I found myself hesitating. Did I? There was something about Luke, sure. But was it enough?

"Maybe," I muttered. "It's hard to tell. He's different, you know?"

Donna chuckled, giving me a knowing look. "Different usually means trouble."

Before I could respond, my phone buzzed again.

Luke: I noticed your lock was broken last night when I left your place. Want me to fix it?

I blinked at the message, feeling a weird mixture of gratitude and unease. How had I not noticed the lock breaking? My memory from the end of the night was fuzzy at best.

Me: Wait, you came back?

Luke: No, when I was leaving. The lock snapped when I closed the door.

The pounding in my head intensified. Had I really been so out of it that I hadn't noticed?

Me: I'll talk to my landlord. Thanks, though.

It was a simple offer, but something about it left me unsettled. Luke noticing the lock, offering to fix it-it felt like too much, too soon. I wasn't ready for him to step into that part of my life, the messy part I usually kept hidden.

Donna eyed me curiously. "What's up?"

"Nothing," I replied, trying to play it off. "Just Luke being... I don't know, considerate?"

Donna's eyebrow shot up. "Considerate? Now that's new."

"Yeah, tell me about it."

She shrugged, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Maybe he's growing on you."

"Or maybe I'm just losing my mind," I muttered, shaking my head.

The rest of the day dragged on, the rain continuing to pour outside as the hours ticked by. I kept replaying the events of the previous night in my mind, trying to piece together what had happened between the drinks, the conversations, and Luke's sudden shift in demeanor.

By the time my shift ended, I was more than ready to go home and collapse into bed. I said my goodbyes to Donna and stepped out into the damp evening, my mind still buzzing with unanswered questions.

As I climbed the steps to my apartment, I checked my phone one last time. Another message from Luke.

Luke: About last night... let's not make things weird. We good?

I stared at the message, my finger hovering over the keyboard. I didn't want to make things weird either, but was that even possible? This whole situation was anything but simple.

Me: Yeah, we're good.

I hit send, hoping that would be enough to keep things from spiraling.

When I unlocked my door, the familiar, slightly musty scent of my apartment greeted me. I dropped my bag by the door and kicked off my shoes, already feeling the weight of the day start to slip away.

But as I moved through my apartment, I couldn't shake the lingering feeling that something was off. Luke's sudden thoughtfulness, his offer to fix the lock-it was like he was trying to step into a role I wasn't sure I wanted him in yet.

The quiet of my apartment seemed louder than usual, every creak and groan of the old building amplified in the silence. I wandered into my bedroom, glancing at the messy pile of clothes on the floor. I hadn't had time to clean up after the chaos of last night, and now the disarray felt overwhelming.

As I changed into more comfortable clothes, I couldn't help but think about Luke's question from earlier. Were we good? Or was this just the beginning of more complications?

With a sigh, I grabbed my phone from the nightstand, scrolling absentmindedly through the messages. My finger hovered over Luke's contact, wondering if I should reach out again, but I didn't. Not tonight.

I needed time to think. To figure out where things were headed. Because if I knew one thing for sure, it was that Luke wasn't just another guy passing through my life. He was something else-something I couldn't quite define yet.