The Girl in Seat 23 {l.r.h.}

twenty-one.

It was pouring down rain by the time my dad came to pick up the wilted girl with her knees to her chest, pouting away.

I climbed in his old '58 station wagon and slumped into the seat beside him. "Not a word."

He put a hand on my knee. "Your boyfriend..." I glared at him. "Your... Luke, he seemed upset."

"Mutual," I'm grumbled.

"I'm saying maybe you should rethink what you said to him."

"Look, I know you're trying to help me be a better lady or whatever but this is my life. I can do what I--"

"All I'm saying is that if I could have one wish, your mother would be right here in a New York minute. Please don't let someone you care about slip away. I saw how you looked at each other."

********

How on earth did I let my father talk me into meeting up with Luke?

I was staring at the ground, kicking the dust up with my feet. "Look, I'm really... I'm not good with apologies and clearly you're upset and I didn't mean to make you upset but, holy smokes, I'm stubborn. And my father always told me that, but did I listen? No. And so I guess I'm--"

"Oh, would you just come here already?"

I looked up to see Luke with outstretched arms and watery eyes. As soon as I reached him, he wrapped his arms around me tightly. And let me tell you, in an instant all of my demons ran and hid. It was like when it thunders as a child and you hide under your blanket. Like candles flooding a dark room with light. It was safe. It was home.

I looked up at him. "Thank you."

He bit his lip. "Can... Can I kiss you?"

"Maybe." I buried my face in his chest.

He sighed. "You're a piece of work."

********
This is cringey oh no ~Laura :)