RAISING SUMMER

CASING THE JOINT

It's been three months of hard work. Luke and I are juggling co parenting if you could call it that. I hired a temporary employee for Sugar and Spice so I could help Luke with starting the bar and gave Katy a well deserved raise and promotion. She's graduated since and is saving up a bit before she heads to college. She offered to babysit on the side. I was a little skeptical at first but Summer had been sleeping through the night successfully, without a hitch so Luke and I agreed to let her try.

Luke and I were going to go a couple minutes outside of town to scope out a similar bar that's been around for a while. My nerves were set on fire. It would be the farthest we have been away from Summer.

"You'll call me if anything happens.."

"I'll call of course." Katy rolled her eyes. She followed me down the hallway. Luke turned to me, stunned into silence. Quickly recovering he closed his mouth.

"You clean up nice, I see you don't only own sweatpants and baggy sweaters." He smiled.

"Has anyone ever told you you're as charming as a snake?" I sneered, straightening my skirt and pulling my coat in.

"My favorite animal." He sighed. "Ready for our date?" He held out a hand.

"This is not a date, this is research only!" I scolded. "It's more like casing a joint."

"Casing a joint? What are you, the Italian Mob?"

"Let's go!" I snatched my purse from him. As we arrived at Fallens. Luke immediately left me to my devices as he checked out the live musicians. This place was crowded as hell.

"Excuse me, may I get a Shirley temple?" The bartender nodded. As I patiently waited, scanning the room for Luke. Who of course was already smacking lips with a woman across the way.

"How does he work that fast?" My ears burned and my stomach turned as I focused my attention elsewhere.

"A whisky and a shot for the lady." The man next to me looked pointedly at me.

"Oh no thanks I don't really drink." I shook my head

"You don't drink and you're at a bar all alone." He hovered and his breath reeked.

"I'm not alone." I rolled my eyes.

"You look pretty alone to me but don't worry I can keep you company." I grabbed my drink and took a sip. Trying my best to ignore him. My skin burned as he brushed up against me. I had had enough so I threw my drink in his face. He staggered back wiping the sugary concoction from his face.

"You bitch!" He shouted and all hell broke loose as Luke came from behind me and slammed his fist into the man.

"Luke!" I shouted. As the dirty bastard knuckles connected with Luke's eye. The man staggered back into another couple and in return they started badgering him as well. The bartender screamed for security as I yanked Luke by his shirt away from the brawl escaping through a side door. Blue and red lights already illuminated the bar entry way. Omg I'm going to jail. I started to panic, clinging to the wall. As a few footsteps approached heading straight our way. Luke covered my body with his and kissed me.

I didn't have time to think my mind raced as Luke's hand gasped my hip tightly. His over hand clutching the back of my head pulled me into the kiss, where I fell deeper into oblivion. There was a time I dreamed of him kissing me like this. I never imagined it would feel like free falling. He tasted like cinnamon. My stomach somersaulted as he kissed me like it was second nature, easy, like breathing. It took me a while to notice the footsteps were gone. Luke forced a step back panting.

"Are you okay?" He asked searching for marks and or bruises that didn't exist.

"Yeah." I stammered trying to catch my breath. He sagged in relief. My mind tried to adjust from the abrupt change. I felt a buzz all throughout my body. I was hot all over. He looked at me as if this didn't completely alter his brain chemistry. In fact he looked un-bothered and nonchalant how?

"C'mon, let's go home." He placed his hand on the small of my back and walked me to the car in utter silence.

At home I paid Katy her dues thanking her for watching Summer. Who was still sleeping like an angel. Before I walked to my bedroom and changed into my pajama shorts and an old band t-shirt that belonged to my dad.

"Shit!" I heard the hiss from our shared bathroom. I rounded the corner. Luke was attempting to take care of his eye. Already purple and his eyebrow slightly cut.

"Let me help?" I asked. He relented as I grabbed the first aid kit bringing it to his room. He sat on the edge of bed. "How bad does it hurt?" I asked.

"Manageable." He looked up as I dabbed alcohol along his brow to clean it. His jaw tensed but his eyes never strayed from mine. His hand found my hip again and my heart lodged in my throat.

"If that's how all your dates go, I'm glad I only gave you one." I chuckled trying to lighten the mood. To my surprise he laughed softly. I grabbed the ointment from the box and gently lathered the cut.

"Me, what about you? I left you alone for a few minutes and you're throwing drinks in random men's faces." His teeth grinded though he tried to force a laugh.

"Are you mad at me?" I scoffed.

"No." He groaned.

"Seems like you are." I closed the tube of ointment slamming the first aid box closed.

"Let's just forget it even happened." He stood up and brushed past me.

"I'm sorry your unsolicited help ruined your tonsil hockey with a girl you knew for five seconds before you started swapping DNA with her." I retreated from the room to the kitchen freezer grabbing a bag of frozen peas as he followed me.

"Are you jealous?" He chuckled.

"Jesus Christ you're insufferable." I slammed the freezer door.

"Omg you are!" Luke chuckled.

"Not much to be jealous of if it's available to 90% of Willsborough!" I shouted.

"Did you just creatively call me a slut?" He leaned against the counter.

"If the slipper fits Cinderella!" I slammed the peas on the counter.

"Jane stop, that's not why I'm mad." I rolled my eyes.

"I didn't ask to be harassed by that douchebag and I didn't ask for your help, you stepped in. Then you have the audacity to look at me like I ruined your night!" I slid the peas over to him before storming off again.

"Can you let me talk? For Christ's sake!" He whispered as I shut the door in his face before stumbling into bed.

Maybe I overreacted. Maybe I was a little jealous. Maybe I should have heard him out but I couldn't think over the roaring in my ears. I don't know what hurt more. The fact that I thought he cared enough about me to come to my rescue. Or the fact that I thought the kiss we shared meant anything to him. He kisses women all the time. I mean God! How could I be that's stupid. That kiss was only for show, clearly my brain knew what my heart couldn't distinguish. Maybe I was just upset that that kiss meant more to me than I cared to admit.