mr. hemmings // l.h.

48 • madeline

"Welcome to Seattle!"
The flight attendant said a little to perkily into her microphone.

I groaned a bit, looking over at Luke with a scrunched face.

"She's too loud." I complained.

"No," he laughed, "you're just hungover."

I huffed and hid my face in his hoodie sleeve.

When the plane landed and it was time for us to get up we gathered our things. Luke kept me steady in the aisle.

"You used to be quite the partier!" He teased. "When did you turn into such a lightweight?"

I turned back at him, "I guess you calmed me down, grandpa."

He narrowed his eyes, but chuckled. "I'll remember that next time you wanna-"

"Nope, we are not finishing that sentence." I protested.

When we made it off the plane we found all of our bags and got them situated in Luke's car.

I pouted. "I don't want the weekend to be over."

"I know, baby." He sighed. "But I had an amazing time with you."
He opened the car door for me.
Before getting in, I jumped in his arms and squeezed him tight.

"Thank you, Luke. For everything."

"Anything for you. Anything."

I gave him a long kiss on the lips, knowing that the second we parted he'd have to drive me home.

The drive back to my house was peaceful. Luke had his hand on my thigh, and mine rested on top of his. I leaned on his shoulder. Every so often he'd stop singing along to Fleetwood Mac on the radio and kiss the top of my head a couple times.

I didn't say much, but that's the thing.
I didn't have to say much. I was so happy. So content without even saying a word.

Until we got back to my house, that is.
Then, I knew there was a couple words I had to say.

"Luke." I started.

He unbuckled his seatbelt, and looked over at me.
"Yes, angel?"

My heart did a somersault.

"Don't say that." I blushed, with a smile. "Now I'm nervous."

"Nervous?" He grinned. "What for?"

I sighed, a long sigh.
"There's something I need to say to you."

He perked up a bit, and shifted in his seat.
"What's that?"

I froze for a minute, just looking at him.
The messy curls. The sparkling eyes. The flushed cheeks. The small smile.
Every bit of him that I adored.

"This is hard." I whispered. "I don't do this often."

The corners of his small smile flinched a bit, threatening to grow bigger.

"Don't do what?" He asked.
His voice was nonchalant, but his eyes begged me to continue.

"I just- I just feel like you should hear it."

He laughed, "So then say it!"

"Oh, Luke." I laughed back, putting a hand over my face.

Why the hell was I like this? Why did I have to make things so difficult?

"Say it!" He was smiling so big now, and attacking me from across the seat. He knew what I was going to say, he didn't need to hear it. But he wanted to.