Breathe

Chapter 23

"Two things define you. Your patience when you have nothing and your attitude when you have everything." -Unknown

I bring the hot cup of coffee to my lips as I wait at the kitchen island for Luke to shower.  I'm not sure where his parents are because they weren't here last night.  Anne left a few minutes ago to pick up Jake from his friend's house.  Surprisingly enough, after Luke told everyone in the basement to leave, they listened.  

"Hey," Luke says, startling me from behind.  He presses his lips to the top of my head and spins my chair around to face him.  I hate how every time I look into his blue eyes all I can see are secrets.  I'm so tempted to ask him but I can't find a way to bring it up.  I'm going insane not knowing because I have the compulsive feeling to know everything.  Fuck, I need to talk to Mrs. Simmons about this.

"What is it?" Luke asks, trying to read my eyes after I take too long to respond.

"Nothing. Hi," I smile.

"Are you ready to go?"

"Where are we going?"

"I'll tell you in the car so you can't back out of it," he smirks.

"What?"

"Come," he says and leads me through the garage. "Which car do you want to take?"

"The Audi,"

"Okay. You like the Audi?"

"Yeah.  People's reactions are funny when you drive it," I laugh.

"What do you mean?"

"Guys always stare at it with envy.  It's funny how much guys care about cars."

"You have to admit, it's a nice car." he laughs.

"Yes it is," I say, and he smirks.  "You smirk at me a lot."  He doesn't say anything and instead he lets out a laugh.  I pout my lower lip out like a little girl.

"You're cute," he says and puts his hand on my thigh.  The feeling of his touch on my thigh is much more comforting than I thought it would be.  This whole "secret" situation has had my body tense since I heard him talk about it last night.  This is the first moment since last night where my heart rate has returned to normal and my muscles have relaxed.

"Wait, so where are we going?"

"Shopping." What?

"Shopping? Don't guys hate shopping?"

"I do, but with you it shouldn't be so bad.  I really need new clothes, but I've always refused to go shopping before.  I don't want to hurt Anne's feelings, but I hate the stuff she buys me."

"So you're just dragging me along?" I say and imitate his famous smirk.

"Sort of, you're doing some shopping too.  Our Montana trip is in less than a week so I thought we could buy some clothes and whatever else we need for the trip."

"Next week?" I say rather loudly.

"Ugh, yeah? November eleventh?" 

"I didn't realize it was coming up so soon, shit."

"I'm surprised Valerie didn't bring it up.  All the guys and Valerie are coming too."

"I must've missed the conversation."  I can't believe I forgot about the trip.  It's coming up so soon, and things like that don't usually slip my mind.  I have way too much to do by then.  A mental list of things to do is already forming in my head.

"We're leaving the airport Friday.  I'll print off all the information for you later."

"I still haven't asked my parents. Remind me to do that when I go home," I say.