Some Things You Can't Control

03: Play It Cool

^^ Lewis Johnson

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Chapter 3

Play It Cool

- EDEN GARCIA -

As quickly as I can possibly manage, I fling myself out of my car with Cassidy's purse clutched between my hands as though it's my lifeline.

Crossing the lot, I keep my eyes fixed on Cassidy's white sedan which is yet to pull out of it's space. As I make the distance, I notice Lewis look over from the corner of my eye but refuse to make eye contact with him.

Not yet, I tell myself.

Confusedly, Cass looks up from where she'd been tapping away at her phone and winds her window down.

"Is everything okay?" She questions.

"You dropped this," I state, handing the purse to her through the window.

"Oh god, Eden, you're a lifesaver. Thank you. I need this tonight."

"It's all good. See you tomorrow, yeah?"

She flashes me a grin. "Yeah." Cassidy waves to me as she finally reverses out.

I take a deep breath, heading back in the direction I'd come from as I recognise a familiar figure starting my way. Lewis catches up to me just before I reach my car.

A swarm of butterflies make themselves known in my stomach, like tiny warriors intent on ensuring my internal discomfort.

"Friends again already?" An evident level of amusement is laced in his deep tone. I meet Lewis' golden brown eyes and feel a smile spread uncontrollably across my face.

"It's complicated," I reply with a lop-sided grin.

"As is everything to do with you," he teases.

That's a fair call.

"It's called injecting a little excitement into life," I improvise, before muttering, "though I'd prefer it if the excitement could just fuck off for a while." A genuine laugh emanates from his lips, eyes twinkling as he looks around the almost-empty parking lot.

The silence that descends over us could almost be described as awkward as we both studiously ignore the elephant in the room. My brain rakes around for something to say, but it's about as effective as trying to safely cross my room in the darkness.

A few seconds later, I spontaneously come to the realisation I need to gear-up and ride this elephant.

"Hey, I realise yesterday I just kinda walked out on you," I speak up finally, meeting his eyes somewhat cautiously.

Lewis rubs the back of his neck with his hand- a nervous habit of his I've come to recognise over the years. "Uh, yeah, kinda," he replies, offering a small smile. It doesn't reach his eyes, and the sparkle in them is now noticeably absent.

Shit.

"I promise it wasn't intentional, if that makes any difference," I try, "I've felt bad about it all day cause I hate ditching people."

"You had to do what you had to do; I get that. It was really great of you to stop Jake getting into anymore shit."

I sorta just shrug, before grinning somewhat cheekily. "So you forgive me?"

"Edes, there's nothing to forgive."

And just like that, my worries are gone.

"That's excellent news."