Playing with Fire

Chapter 8

Lucas

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"Hey ladies look who I found coming in the door. Figured they could sit with us." She gave all the girls a smile. She sat on Chris's lap in the chair that he grabbed to pull over to the table. Andy went into the booth first and handed the beer to the red head sitting in the corner of the booth she smiled at him and they started talking. Jacob had a choice of Lily or the brunette and I wasn't giving him the option on this one. 

"Lily would you like to sit with me at the booth next to this one?" I wanted to talk to her without everyone watching us and seeing what was happening. Now she was staring at me like I had five heads and she didn't know what to say. I could see her look towards Sara as to see if she would have the answers for her. I did see Sara give her a little nod and I was able to breathe a little. 

"Okay I can do that for a little but than I want to hang out with my girl friends." I just gave her a nod before moving to the side of the table for her to slide out of the booth and for Jacob to be able to slide in and hand the beer to the girl he was sitting next too. We walked to the booth behind the one everyone was around and we both slid into the seat across from each other. 

"Here you go this is for you." I handed the beer over to her that Sara grabbed. She took it from me but didn't seem to take a drink or look like she was going too. 

"Sara choose the beer for everyone."

"Thanks for it. I'm not a huge fan of beer. I know she bought a round for everyone so I will drink it, it just might take me all night." She gave a small laugh and I smiled at her.

"If you want I can order you something new and I will drink the beer. You should be able to have fun with us and not have to worry about drinking something you don't like."

"I can't do that. You have done enough for me the last two times you guys have come into the restaurant." I knew she was talking about how the last two times we went to Empire I left her a $50 tip and a note. 

"Those tips were nothing. Sara told us tonight how you were kind enough and told her she didn't need to share her tips with you even though that was the rules. Waitresses don't make that much money without tips plus you did give the best service to us. I think you may give Sara a run for her money." She started laughing and it made me happy to know that I made her laugh. 

"It isn't fair to take her tips when I was holding her back from how she normal gives service. Fine I will take you up on the offer of a new drink. I like Moscato." I gave her a smile and made my way up to the bar. It didn't take any time to order her a glass a Moscato. We came here often and some of the bartenders did try to go home with us. Once I had the wine I made my way back over to the table. 

"Here you go. I hope you like this better." I handed her the glass and moved back into my seat and took the beer that was in front of her and placed it next to my other one. 

"Thank you." 

"I know you said you were here for Graduate School, is this close to home for you?"

"No I am from Vermont so I got a few hours away from home. I needed a fresh start and I liked the small town city feel that I got when I visited here. I knew that this would be the place for me."  Syracuse did have a special place in my heart. I had grown up here and would always want to be apart of this city. 

"I have never been to Vermont. I have heard that it is gorgeous there."

"It is especially in the Fall but it just wasn't the right place for me anymore. What made you want to be a firefighter?" Her question took a back for a second but I always had that answer prepared because it was the most asked question that I got. 

"I always wanted to give back to the city that I was raised in. This city has helped make me the man I am today. Plus there is a part of me that loves the adrenaline rush that you get when you go on a call." 

"Sounds like you live an exciting life."

"I do, I feel like when I am ready to slow down I will know. I'm only 24 and still have plenty of time ahead of me." She was shaking her head at me which made me curious what she was thinking. 

"What?"

"You make it seem like being your age you can't have a plan or things to keep you tied down."

"I don't have anything tying me down right now. I am able to do whatever I want without having to answer to anyone." This was the life I lived and I didn't need anyone to tie me down. I wanted to be able to do what ever when ever without having to answer to someone where I was. 

"You live a completely different life than me. I have always wanted to settle down and have my career and then my family down the road. Don't say it is because I'm a girl or anything. I am younger than you and I want that for my life." 

"That doesn't sound like something someone younger than me would say." I chuckled and took a sip of my beer. She was sounding like the girls I would hook up with more than once. Those were the ones that thought they could change me and make themselves my wife. That never happened and I don't see it changing anytime soon. 

"I am 22, just got out of undergraduate at the University of Vermont and celebrated my birthday a few weeks ago and then moved out here. I didn't waste anytime getting out here and getting a job. I still have some time before classes start but I wanted to get a little acquainted with the area."

"My offer still stands about showing you around." I gave her a smile hoping that she would be willing to take me up on my offer. 

"Yea I got the note you left." There was something behind her voice. I decided to just drop that for now. I didn't want her to get pissed at me or anything. Sitting here getting to know Lily it wasn't helping me get over how she was driving me crazy. She was everything I never wanted. She wanted to establish a life outside of her job and having fun. She wanted the family and that was something I could never do. I knew it was probably for the best that I walk away from her.