The Fluke

14 - Luke

Rain started falling in fat, heavy drops just after we finished grilling dinner. Luckily a large portion of the patio, including the dining area, is covered. We were able to eat our meal and marvel at the rare desert rainstorm.

"This is unbelievable. I've never seen anything like this before," Nate says, having returned from his 24 hour fuck fest with Amber.

"It doesn't happen very often but when it does, it always freaks me out," Amber chirps from beside him.

Oh yeah. He brought her with him. The two have been attached at the hip since they arrived.

She's a cute little thing. Petite all over, long blond hair. And Nate can't keep his hands to himself. If she hasn't been sitting directly in his lap then he's had a hand on her thigh or around her shoulders at all times. The sight of their easy companionship makes my jaw ache from clenching it so hard.

I glance across the table and watch Jules as she stands to begin clearing everyone's plates. What I would give to be able to touch her the same way Nate is touching Amber, and to be able to do it in front of everyone. If it were up to me I wouldn't be holding back at all.

I hear teeth chattering and look back at Amber in time to see Nate pull her out of her chair and back into his lap. "Are you cold, babe?" he asks as he wraps his arms around her and rubs his hands up and down to warm her up.

I hardly contain my eye roll but then my gaze catches Jules watching Nate and Amber with a wistful look on her face. I can't help the hope that spreads in my chest, wondering if she's looking at them with the same thoughts that I'm having. Wishing she could climb into my lap, her brother and Gavin be damned.

She piles more plates onto the stack in her arms and then shoots me a flirty smile as she rounds the table. I lean back in my chair and subtlety nod toward my lap as if to say climb on.

She fights a giggle and shakes her head before heading inside.

A moment later her brother, Gavin and Slade come ambling onto the patio from the kitchen which effectively kills my day dream of Jules straddling me when she comes back out.

To even further kill the mood, Gavin notices Jules isn't outside anymore and directs a question to me. "Did Jules take the dishes inside?"

What an asshole.

"Yeah," Nate answers before I can.

"I'll go give her a hand," I say, about to push up out of my chair.

"Nah, man." Gavin stops me with a firm hand on my shoulder. "You relax. I'll go."

I watch his retreating back and spend the next five minutes ignoring everyone at the table and silently fuming. Alone time with Jules cannot come fast enough. I need to get the truth about Seattle out in the open and then discuss letting Spencer know we are interested in each other.

The truth of the matter is I don't view her as a dirty little secret and I don't want Spencer to find out and think that I was keeping something like that from him and disrespecting his sister in any way.

Having made up my mind about that I'm even more anxious to get her alone. I'm also sick of having Gavin act like her guard dog.

Spencer suggests we move to the fire pit, which luckily is also under the protection of cover.

Jules and Gavin emerge from the house and, shockingly, Gavin inserts himself in the chair beside me which leaves only a chair on his opposite side open for Jules.

I violently fight another eye roll.

Jules brought out a few blankets and distributes them around, everyone settling in and getting comfortable. A flash of lightning causes Amber to shriek and burrow herself under Nate's arm. Moments later loud, rolling thunder sounds overhead.