Consider Me

Chapter Thirty: Lucas

We reached Florida safely. It was noon in UK when we left and it's currently evening in America. The time difference made it perfect to coordinate our resting hours and go by our itinerary. The minute our plane landed at the airport, we all stretched in our seats and yawned except for Lily who has fallen asleep somewhere mid flight. 

I haven't woken her up and I'll make sure no one does. She didn't sleep the night before our flight due to excitement which was contagious since I couldn't sleep as well thinking about spending a week with her. More like sharing one bedroom together. 

One by one, our friends start to descend the plane except for Sabina who is watching me and Lily. "Are you going to carry her?"

"Yep," I begin to roll my shirt sleeve, "Can you grab her sandals?"

"Just wake her up Lucas," 

"No," 

"She's not a child. She won't cry if you wake her mid sleep," Lily stirs at her voice and I straighten to my height. 

"Either help or leave Sabina but I am not waking my girlfriend,"

"Jesus, you lovesick fool,"

"I am not-" I didn't argue as I bend down and wait for Sabina to untie Lily's strappy sandals. She leaves the plane first to make sure I won't hurt her friend while carrying her down the stairs and wait by the footing. 

I lift Lily easily without much effort, adjust her head on the inside of my upper arm and carry her to the door. Donald, the pilot nods at me before I head out and meet our friends at the compound. 

"The cars are waiting for us by the gate. Come on," I take the lead and walk to the exit with Lily in my arms and our friends behind me. No one saying a word but I can see shock and disbelief in their stares. Even Ryan who is trying his best to understand me. Well, get in line dude. I am too wondering the fuck is wrong with me. 

But no matter how much I think, I can't come up with an answer. I am trusting my gut feeling in this which feels right. And that's all I need as I watch Lily move her arm around my neck and snuggling closer to me in the car. Fuck. 

My hearts beating really loudly. I am afraid, it'll wake her up. The hell do I do now? Shift her head to my right side? But the car isn't big and she might wake up if I move. I roll my lips and look around the space, outside the window before releasing a breath. 

"Jesus calm down. Your making it beat even harder. She's just a girl," I swallow. Just a girl, right.  

"Did you say something?" Ryan asks from the passenger seat in the front, 

"Nope,"

"You sure?" He looks at me through the rearview mirror.

"Yep," He doesn't look convinced but doesn't stretch the topic further to. The ride to the beach house was long and tiring. We were already exhausted from a nine hour flight, the additional one hour drive to the house was like adding water in an already soaked cloth, making it heavier. 

When the car enter the highway leading to the beach, I fell asleep. Lily was even closer to me then before. Her head on my neck, legs tangled on my thigh and arms around my waist in a loose grip. I feel like a tree branch and she is a koala. My koala. 

Ryan wakes me when we reach our destination and holds the car door open for me as I stretch my arms as much as I can with Lily in my lap and then carry her to the  door. 

"Lucas, my god your still haven't woken her up," Sabina says looking tired like the rest of us. Hair messy, heavy eyes and yawning every few minutes. She is tucked inside Jackson's arm.