Georgia

Chapter 18

Caroline

My head still reeling from everything Luke said I look up to see Michelle walking towards us. I quickly pull my hand out from under Luke's, he gives me a hurt look.

"Hey, there you are." Michelle says, "You kinda freaked me out a little the way you ran off."

"Sorry I just...um...Michelle I'd like you to meet Luke, Luke this is my friend Michelle." Michelle looks at me her eyes wide. She takes Luke's hand.

"Nice to meet you." Luke says shaking her hand.

"You too. I've heard a lot about you."

"Really?" Luke says with a big smile, turning towards me.

"No she hasn't." I say thru gritted to Michelle.

She laughs, "Hey so we're gonna be taking off. Jackson ran into some friends and we're all gonna take the party back to his place. You're welcome to join us Luke."

"Oh uh, thanks. I think I'm gonna take it easy tonight." He looks at me, "Actually I was gonna ask you if you wanted to hang out a little, catch up."

"Yeah, I'd-" I start to say before Michelle interrupts.

"Well you know the last time this one was left in your care, cowboy, I seem to remember her coming back home pretty broken and ups-"

"Michelle!" I shout. I swear sometimes her mouth is too much.

She moves away as I try to smack her arm. "What? Sorry, geez!"

"No, you're right but that wasn't on purpose, just a little bad communication. She's not the only one that walked away in pieces from that night so trust me it ain't happening again."

I stand up and grab Michelle's arm, "Excuse us for a second." I say to Luke walking away from the table pulling her with me.

"I can see why you were so torn up over that one, Carol. He's gorgeous!" She says still looking back at Luke. "You sure you'll be ok with him?"

"I'll be fine."

"Well don't do anything I wouldn't do!" She says laughing as we're walking back to the table.

"Nothings gonna happen. Nothing can happen. James, remember? Even if I wasn't with him I am not getting myself wrapped back up in that man again."

"Oh yeah...sure, Carol. You keep telling yourself that! Ok cowboy I have been informed that this precious one right here will be safe with you. Don't break her!"

Luke chuckles, "You have my word, she'll be back to you in one piece."

Michelle walks back to our group leaving Luke and I at the table alone. What am I doing? Maybe I should just go back with Michelle. He called, he wanted more and that feels unbelievable to know but what good does it do now? Am I just setting myself up for more heartbreak if I spend time with him right now? I wouldn't cheat on James, I care about him a lot but it's so hard to look past the fact that one small touch from Luke sends a shock thru me that I've never felt with anyone else. That my heart stopped the second I laid eyes on him.

I look up from where I was tracing an indent in the table with my finger to see that Luke is staring at me. "What?" I ask embarrassed.

"Nothing, I just can't believe you're here. I thought about what it'd be like if I ever got to see you again, I just didn't think it'd be happening in a bar in Nashville."

"You thought about it?"

"I used to think about you a lot, Caroline."

"Used to?" I ask trying not to sound hurt. I did after all let go thinking of him too.