The One That Got Away

Chapter Three

Haley asked Lucas to drive Brooke back to her house. Her boys were fast asleep in the backseat, and Lucas just couldn't help but glance at them from his rearview mirror every once in a while. They so easily could have been his.

He looked at her as she leaned her head on the window. It took a while for them to warm up to each other, but now it was like nothing had changed. He didn't disappear for five years without a word being said. That night at the River Court didn't happen, even though it did.

"What?" Brooke said when she caught him staring at her.

Lucas turned his attention back to the road. "Nothing." he lied, "I was just wondering how you do it, take care of two boys and run a cafe."

"I have an amazing husband."

She had been gushing about Julian all night. Her face lit up every time she talked about him. Lucas forced a smile whenever she would. He wanted to make it seem like he was happy for her. He wanted to be happy for her. He'll get there.

It was just weird for him, brushing his fingers against Brooke's wedding ring this morning. They didn't say goodbye to each other on the best of terms, but she should have invited him to the wedding, or told him she was getting married. He should have at least heard about it from Nathan or Haley, or Peyton.

"So, what's the real deal?" Brooke said, "Why are you really here?"

Lucas kept his eyes on the road as he dug deep into the recesses of his brain. He tried hard to remember the excuses he's been saying all day, for the sake of consistency.

He stole a glance of Brooke sitting beside him. She was waiting for his answer. "I just miss you, that's all." he blurted out. He quickly realized the mistake that he made and kept on talking, "I miss all of you."

Brooke let out a hearty laugh. "Yeah, right!" she teased, "I bet you had a fight with Peyton. It was a big fight so you just had to come back here."

She was right. Lucas couldn't help but laugh at how right she was.

Brooke reached out for Lucas' hand, "Hey, don't worry about it." she told him, "Whatever that was, I'm sure you'll work it out."

Lucas sighed. As much as he hoped they would, he doesn't think that there is anything more they can fix.

"In the meantime, chill out, relax..." Brooke said, "Enjoy Tree Hill."

Lucas nodded. He kept his eyes straight on the road. He tried to keep all of his focus on the road. So much of it was preoccupied by the sensation of Brooke's warm touch on his hand.

"Turn right over there!" Brooke exclaimed.

Lucas almost missed it. She asked him to park on the driveway of this big white house with a red door. He couldn't believe it.

"Do you mind helping me with the twins?" Brooke asked a clearly distraught Lucas, "I only have so many hands."

Lucas agreed. He got out of the car, spun around to open the door for Brooke, but was too late. She already opened the door for herself.

The twins were still fast asleep in the back. Brooke proceeded to detach their car seats. Lucas took on Jude, while Brooke took on Davis.

Lucas followed Brooke inside her house, into the twins' room. He helped put them to bed.

"I think they like you." Brooke said as they watched the small boys snooze in their cribs.

"They were asleep." Lucas chuckled.

"Exactly." Brooke pointed out, "The last time I had Mouth babysit, he called me in the middle of my date with Julian, crying because they won't stop crying."

She said Julian. That was Lucas' queue to leave. "I better head out," he said, "but I hope to see you around."

"Already?" Brooke protested.

"Yeah." he excused, "I have a kid of my own who still can't sleep without a bedtime story."

"Oh." Brooke grimaced, "It was nice seeing you."

"You too."

Brooke reached out to give Lucas a hug goodbye. Lucas bent down a little to meet her. He kissed her on the cheek, then pulled away. He looked at her beautiful face, luminescent still in the dimmed light of her sons' nursery. He leaned in to kiss her other cheek, making any excuse to not leave just yet. But just then, she turned away, and his lips met with hers instead.