Lost Without You/A Jordan Knight FanFic✔️

20

Now

I haven't run into Alex on my jogs since the day it rained. I've felt certain it's because of the s'more incident, and she's probably chosen a different route and time just to avoid me. But this morning proves me wrong.

When I reach my open field, she's there, hands on her hips, breathing heavily, head tipped to the sky. What is she doing at my field? Does she know it's where I came when I had nowhere else to go to grieve Austin?

"This is my field."

She jumps, turning toward me. I'm instantly rewarded with a tiny smile.

"Why? Did you rob it of all its trees?"

I chuckle. "No. Well, Will might have done it before I started working for the company. It's been vacant for years. I heard they're finally going to develop the land next spring."

"I see."

Does she? Does she see through my idle chitchat to my nerves? She hasn't made me this nervous since our first date.

"Did Lucy tell you she walked across the therapy room yesterday with a walker?"

I grin. "You mean did she freak out and insist I order pizza and pick up ice cream? Yes."

"Did she tell you Luke is taking her to a Royals game this weekend? He has a friend who knows the owner and they're going to watch from a dugout suite."

Fucking Josh ...

"They? You're not going?"

"Two of my students made it to the finals in a local competition, so I'll be there with them. It's in the morning, and I'll be done before it starts, but just barely. I didn't want to hold them up. Half the fun is getting there early to watch the players warm up. Besides .... I have a dirty house that I desperately need to clean."

"I can go. I mean ... do we really trust Lucy with Luke?"

Alice rolls her eyes.

"You know ..." I rub my lips together for a few seconds, contemplating the best way to ask my question. "You haven't said anything about your engagement. Can I ask what happened with that?"

She kicks at a few rocks while staring at her feet.

"I said I couldn't make any life-changing decisions until I see Lucy making progress that might lead me to think she'll be walking by her senior year."

"She's already walking. Maybe with a walker, but she'll be on her own in no time."

Alice nods slowly. "Yeah, I know. I'm just ..."

"Hey." I hold up my hands. "I'm not pushing you into anything. Just a question between friends."

She glances up.

I lift a single shoulder. "I mean ... we're friends, right?"

"Friends ..." she repeats like she's trying it on for size.

"I'm going to head home before Lucy wakes up." I jab a thumb over my shoulder.

"Okay. Make sure Lucy's ready Sunday by eleven."

"Will do."

I jog back home, feeling a little high from our chance encounter and the indecision she feels for Dr. Luke. I wish I could take credit for it, but I know it's just her. She's not spontaneous by nature; it's how I've conditioned her to be over the years. But now I'm not part of her daily life, nudging her closer to the edge and telling her to just close her eyes and jump. And I'm sure as fuck not going to encourage her to go all in and marry Dr. Luke.