WILD (✓)

~ eighteen ~

Sunday morning, I roll over in bed and am startled by Lucas's absence after a couple nights sleeping beside him. I sit up, pulling my comforter around me, and rub the sleep from my eyes. "Hey, baby," Lucas leans over to kiss my messy brown mop of hair.

"You're leaving?" I lean into his kiss, noting his jeans and sneakers.

"The hospital called and asked if I could come in. Something about their server being down and needing to take records by hand," he grimaces at me, but his big eyes reveal excitement. I smile, loving that he loves his job so much.

"Fine, go be a hero, I guess." I pout but hop out of bed to say goodbye, noticing a lump in Hannah's bed that wasn't there when we went to sleep. She must've come back from Cassandra's dorm late last night.

"Actually, is there a cafe around here? I need a coffee for the road," he asks, grabbing his keys and phone and shoving them into his pockets.

My body stills but before I can speak, Hannah is up too, throwing her comforter to the floor dramatically. "Ugh, yes. Kat lets go to the Science Center, I have so much to do today,"

"Are they even open?" I groan, even though I know they are. Going to the Science Center carries the high risk of running into CJ - an experience I'd rather not repeat, I cringe remembering Friday evening at the BBQ place. I hope Hannah can read the urgency in my eyes.

Oblivious at the worst times, Hannah insists. "Yep, 8AM on Sunday's, duh." She pulls her blonde hair into a bun and puts slippers on, not bothering to change out of her pajama pants.

"Guess I'm in luck," Lucas smiles brightly, planting a kiss on my lips and pulling me out of the room, Hannah right behind us.

Despite all the telepathic signals I try to send to Hannah, she cannot seem to cooperate today. I curse her mentally as she begs Lucas to just sit with us for a little bit before he goes. Surprisingly, Hannah is such a procrastinator - she'll do anything to put off her homework, though you can't tell by her grades. Her procrastination apparently includes sending my anxiety through the roof, I think to myself, as I scan the room for familiar tan skin but come up empty.

"So Lucas, when will you be visiting next?" Hannah nibbles her muffin innocently.

Lucas squeezes my thigh under the table. "Whenever Kat will have me,"

The comment sends her swooning across the table. "Okay Kat, I've seen enough. You have my blessing,"

"Blessing?" I laugh, still nervous. I tap my straw into my empty cup, hoping Hannah will get the hint.

She doesn't. "To get married, of course."

"Hannah!" I shout at the same time as Lucas lets out a laugh.

He stands and grabs his duffel bag from the floor. "On that note, I think I'll leave while I'm ahead then. It was great meeting you Hannah," Lucas waves and offers one of his most charming smiles.

I walk him out of the building and to his car parked out front. "Sorry about Hannah, she's a mush." I chuckle, relief that we made it without a CJ run-in coursing through me.

"I like your friends," Lucas says softly, hugging me to his chest. "I'd love to visit more often,"

I tilt my head back to see his face. "I think I could deal with that," I tease, but decide I'll offer to see his campus first to avoid more awkward confrontations with CJ.

He gives me a kiss and promises to call once he gets in safely. As his car drives away from campus, I feel my anxiety subside to its normal level.

I return to the cafe, ready to spill everything to Hannah. I need some advice here, I think to myself before halting in my tracks.