Healing Hearts ✅

9. Guidelines

"I don't understand why we have to have Mondays" Maya complains making me chuckle as we're standing at our lockers the next day.

After my lunch with Lucas he drove me home and I finally attacked the large pile of homework I had sitting on my desk. Since I was up so late last night with homework I decided to sleep in this morning but I did take time to walk a freshly baked muffin out to Lucas.

Now I was at school counting down the hours until I could go home. "So what? You just think we should skip to Tuesdays?" I ask, looking up st my friend intrigued.

"Exactly."

"I get it but Maya, Tuesdays would just become the new Monday."

"But we'd only have six days in a week" she replies making me chuckle as the bell rings. "You ready to go to class?" she asks, linking her arm with my mine.

"Yep" I reply but suddenly we're stopped by Missy stepping on front of me.

"Did I see Lucas pick you up from the party on Friday?"

"So what if you did?" I snip. Now that I knew she had cheated on Lucas I had no patience for her. "We're friends and our relationship is none of your buisness."

"Relationship?" she cackles. "Sweetie it's adorable that you think you're anything but a road block in the Missy and Lucas love story. Soon enough he'll be mine again and you'll be on the first flight back to wherever the hell you came from" she snips, throwing her hair over her shoulder. "See ya." I take a deep breath and share a glance with Maya.

"She's a pain. Just ignore her" she waves off. "Let's go honey."

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When I get home I hop out of the car and scan the property for Lucas. After my day today I needed my time with my cowboy. I wander over to the barn and find Lucas shoveling out one of the cow pens. "Hey" I smile, dropping my backpack onto the hay bale beside me.

"City girl. I was hoping I was gonna catch you" he replies sweetly.

"You headin' out soon?" I ask as I hop up on one of the hay bales while he continues to work beside me.

"Yea. Gotta go make dinner and get things ready for her chemo tomorrow."

"Right" I gnaw my bottom lip. "You won't be here tomorrow night."

"Sorry beautiful" he replies as he closes the pen behind him and walks over to me. "You know I'll miss you though" he adds making a blush rise on my cheeks.

"Do I?" I tease, reaching out and wrapping my arms around his neck.

"I hope so" he whispers, staring into my eyes intently. "Riles, I like you so much."

"I like you too Lucas" I confess. We gaze at one another and I see him beginning to lean but I pull back and push him back from me.

"Um" he chuckles, eyeing me confusedly. "Did I just read that whole situation wrong?"

"No" I shake my head. "I have to tell you something."

"Okay" he drags out the y. I gnaw my bottom lip and lower my gaze from his.

"Missy wants you back" I whisper. I'm met with silence causing me to lift my gaze to look at him.

"How do you know that?"

"She told me. She says I'm nothing but a road block" I sigh, running my fingers through my hair.

"Sweetheart" he says softly, reaching forward to caress my cheek. "You are not a road block. You're a girl who I really, really like" his voice drops an octave as he leans in.

"But-" he cuts me off by pressing his lips to mine. Butterflies erupt in my stomach and my head starts spinning as I reach out and take his face in my hands as our sweet, innocent kiss turns into a passionate, deep kiss. His tongue slips into my mouth as his hands drop to my waist and pull me to the edge of the hay bale. I instinctively wrap my legs around his torso and slide my fingers through his hair. When my lungs demand oxygen I pull away panting. "That was well worth the wait" he breathes out, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

"Agreed" I giggle. "Though the interruptions were getting a little frustrating."

"Did you notice that too? Like the entire world was getting in the way?"

"I definitely did" I giggle. I lean forward and reconnect our lips in a soft, sweet kiss before pulling back and resting my forehead on his. "But uh" I push him back. "I'm not sure if telling my dad that we like each other is a good idea."

He laughs, caressing my cheek. "Probably not if I wanna keep my job."

"I'm sorry" I sigh, lowering my head. "It's not like I wanna keep you a secret."

"Sweetheart really. It's okay" he assures me. "But I think we need some guidelines."

"Okay" I say softly, nodding in agreement. "What kind of guidelines?"

"One, exclusivity."

"Fine with me. I want you all to myself" I smile brightly making him chuckle.

"Good. Secondly, the label. Secret or not, I'd like to consider you my girlfriend."

"Deal" I agree. "Anything else?"

"Do we tell Maya?" he asks. I gnaw my bottom lip and think it over.

"I think so" I decide. "She's one of my only friends here and she seems able to keep a secret. I don't see why not" I shrug.

"Agreed. She's the only other person who knows about my mom" he explains. "Trust me. She can keep a secret."

"Good" I smile. "I'm glad we got that covered."

"Me too beautiful" he replies as he leans in to kiss me.