Catching Lucas Riley

by Lauren Winder Farnsworth

“It’s a traveling series,” Karen explained. “I don’t know the details or locations they have planned, but her group is holding conferences in various cities to speak about different aspects of childhood health. If Dr. Welch feels you’re appropriate, she’ll have you join the group. There are about ten of them, I believe. She said they originally had fourteen, but four of them were given the opportunity to go on a humanitarian trip to Africa, so they dropped out. She’s kind of desperate for people to make up the difference.”

  “That’s my kind of job opportunity!” Alex exclaimed, rubbing her hands together with relish. “October 21. I’m so there.”

  “I think that’s wise,” Karen said, smiling at her and getting to her feet. “I gave her your information, so she should be in contact shortly. In the meantime, you might want to take some time to put together a new resume highlighting the relevant work you’ve done. That community center class you taught last winter on healthy school lunches would be something valuable to highlight.”

  “I’ll do that, thanks,” Alex said, and Karen left the room. Alex watched her go, her mind racing with new and exciting possibilities.

  Alex studied herself in the mirror, liking how the sleek green dress emphasized her figure just the right amount. It was a kind of a modified mermaid-style gown, fitted from the shoulders to the upper thighs, finally flaring out slightly from there to the floor. As she turned in front of the mirror, the light caught the shimmery fabric, giving her a luminescent glow. She wore her hair down past her shoulder blades. It was long, full, and shiny—like burnished copper. She felt stunning. It was a nice feeling.

  Meredith sighed. “You look incredible,” she said in a dreamy voice. Meredith herself wore a fitted red sheath, her hair piled high on her head and tumbling down in curls. She had been asked to the dance by a boy in one of her classes. A boy that she had been shamelessly flirting with since the beginning of the semester.

  “Thanks.” Alex smiled at her. “I still feel kind of stupid going to this dance . . . it’s a little like reverting back to high school, don’t you think?”

  “Bite your tongue,” Meredith said, shunting Alex out of the way as she moved in front of the mirror to apply some mascara. “I don’t care if we’re reverting to a middle school stomp if it means I get to spend an evening with Collin.” She stuck her tongue out as she attempted to perfectly apply the product to her lashes.

  “Man, you must really like this one,” Alex said, raising her eyebrows. “You’re usually the first one to pass on the organized social events in favor of homework.”

  “Yeah, well . . . he kind of . . . he’s really . . . ,” Meredith sighed, giving up on her attempt to find substance. “He looks like a Ken doll, okay?” she said, giving Alex a pointed look. “I’m sorry, but no one can expect me to pass up the opportunity to date a Ken doll.”

  “Point taken. I’m pleased to see your priorities are so aligned,” Alex said, rolling her eyes. She turned in a circle, trying to locate her shoes in the bedroom that looked like a clothing-centric tornado had struck it. Finally finding them in a corner beneath a pile of half-folded T-shirts, she sank onto her bed to put them on.

  “So . . . are you ready for this?” Meredith asked as she applied some bright red lipstick. The effect next to her creamy skin, black hair and eyes, and red dress was spectacular.

  “Ready for what?” Alex huffed. She was attempting to locate her feet beneath the yards of shimmery green fabric. It wasn’t going well, thanks to the fitted bodice of the dress that refused to let her bend more than two inches toward the floor.

  “For an evening of attempting to pretend like you know Sealey half as well as you actually do, charming Lucas, and refraining from murdering Ashley.” Meredith smacked her lips together and examined her expertly made-up face. “It sounds like a big job to me.”

  “Well, I don’t expect to see Sealey and Ashley much,” Alex said, finally managing to hook one of her delicately silver shoes over her right foot and fasten it. “After all, he has just as much investment in making sure Lucas doesn’t find out about our past dealings as I do.”

  “Geez, the whole thing sounds so scandalous when you say it like that.” Meredith giggled. “Your past dealings . . .” She stepped easily into her matching red shoes and picked up a shimmery black shawl to drape over her shoulders. “Well, I’m ready.” She headed toward the bedroom door. “You’d better hurry. The guys will be here in less than five minutes.”

  “Right behind you,” Alex said, gasping as she leaned forward with all her might to fasten her left shoe. Once the exhausting task was done, Alex stood and straightened her dress around her frame. The fabric skimmed the floor as she turned to the left and right to examine herself in the mirror.

  The doorbell rang just as she emerged into the living room of the apartment where Meredith was arguing with Kacey. The rest of the girls sat around the room, watching the confrontation.

  “I don’t care if it’s idiotic and juvenile,” Meredith insisted, her hands on her hips. “Besides, I wouldn’t be talking if I were you. Of the two of us, one of us has a date tonight and it isn’t you.” She gave Kacey a superior glance.

  Kacey smirked at her and rolled her eyes. Nobody needed to ask why. Of all the girls in the apartment, Kacey was the one who never failed to have a date whenever she wanted one. Meredith’s argument was a weak one indeed.

  “Guys, let’s not scare the visitors,” Alex cautioned as she headed for the door. “Some of us have a vested interest in their sense of well-being, okay?”

  Kacey rolled her eyes a second time and snuggled back into the couch to recommence reading her book. Jaclyn and Rachel turned back to the television, but Sage, who sat right next to Kacey on the couch, was on the edge of her seat. Her eyes were fixed on the door as though a movie star was about to walk through it.

  She wasn’t far off. Alex couldn’t seem to locate her lungs when Lucas sauntered into the apartment, wearing a black suit and a silver tie. His light-green eyes seemed strangely illuminated.

  “Evening, ladies,” he said cheerfully. Kacey grunted, but Jaclyn, Rachel, Sage, and Meredith all smiled admiringly at him.

  “Well, hello,” Jaclyn said, winking at him playfully. Rachel elbowed her. Alex was about to suggest they leave to escape her roommates prying eyes, but she suddenly realized that the room seemed awfully crowded. Turning to look at who had entered the apartment behind Lucas, she saw a tall, tanned, muscular young man with light-brown hair smiling at Meredith; a gorgeous, short, skinny girl in dark blue with curls piled on top of her head; and . . . Sealey.

  Alex felt the dismay invade her face before she could stop it. What was Sealey doing here? He was supposed to be avoiding her! She was on the point of opening her mouth to say something remarkably stupid, but thankfully, Sealey anticipated her.

  “Hi, Alex,” he said loudly, talking over the beginning of her sentence. “Lucas suggested the four of us drive together instead of separately tonight. Good idea, don’t you think?”

  “The four of us?” Alex repeated, still trying to get her expression under control. She had just realized that the beautiful girl in blue was Ashley. She hadn’t recognized her with her hair done up and the copious amounts of makeup on her face. Ashley gave her a smile that was an impressive mix of scorn and superiority and moved close to Sealey, taking his arm.

  “Hi, Alex,” she said in a falsely sweet voice. “Nice to see you again.”

  “Ashley,” Alex replied, dully. She felt suddenly and completely unprepared for this experience. She turned to look at Meredith but found her best friend’s eyes focused on the life-size Ken doll standing a few feet away. No help there.

  “Well, shall we go?” Lucas asked, rubbing his hands together. “Nice to see you guys,” he said to her roommates. “Have a good night, okay?”

  Her roommates called well wishes after them as they left the apartment, but Alex barely heard them.

  “You look fantastic,” Lucas said to her, his eyes taking her in apprecia
tively. Alex saw Ashley roll her eyes at Sealey behind Lucas’s back. Great. So this was how the evening was going to go.

  “Thanks, Lucas,” she replied, taking his arm. “You look pretty amazing yourself.”

  Lucas smiled in response.

  “So we thought we’d hit Elements for dinner, since that seems to be a favorite haunt of yours”—he winked at her—“and then we’ll head to the dance afterward. How does that sound?”

  “Sounds perfect,” Alex replied, her voice still strangely choked. She had not anticipated spending a romantic evening with Lucas constantly observed by his bratty sister and watchful best friend. Her expectations of enjoying the date evaporated.

  Thankfully, within an hour her initial outlook appeared to have been overly pessimistic. Dinner was surprisingly agreeable, thanks to Lucas and Sealey’s constant banter back and forth. It kept her laughing and negated the need to make conversation with Ashley, which was always a plus.

  By the time they made it to the dance, Alex was much more relaxed. Especially with the sea of couples on the dance floor that seemed to be inviting Alex and Lucas to get lost in their midst. She resisted the urge to immediately pull him to the middle of the floor and leave Ashley and Sealey behind. After all, she was attempting to be a more malleable version of her usual pushy self, consistent with her efforts since the beginning of the “Woo Lucas Riley” project. Yanking him away from his sister and best friend probably wasn’t the best way to show her flexibility.

  “I feel like I’m back in high school,” Ashley moaned, looking around the decorated lounge in the student center.

  At last, something Ashley and I can agree on, Alex thought. Still, a chance to be in Lucas’s arms for a solid two hours was not something she was eager to complain about.

  “Come on,” Lucas said to her enthusiastically, grabbing her hand and pulling her onto the dance floor. A slow song was starting right as they entered the fray and Lucas’s strong arms immediately encircled her. She felt heat climbing up her cheeks as his warmth invaded her space. She resisted the urge to lay her head on his shoulder, feeling like she might want to warm up to such a forward gesture. Still, he held her extremely close. Close enough that instead of just letting her hand rest on his shoulder, she could nearly rest her chin there instead. In that position, she had the chance to observe the couples dancing around them. They were all staring at her.

  “Why is everybody looking at us?” she whispered in Lucas’s ear. “Did I rip my dress or something?”

  “Your dress is fine. More than fine,” Lucas replied softly in her ear. “As for the staring, I hadn’t really noticed. But I can’t say I blame them. I would be staring at you too.”

  Alex felt tingles invade her extremities but pulled back to give Lucas a doubtful look. “Somehow I don’t think I’m the one they’re staring at. I’m not the hero of the USU football team.”

  Lucas smiled self-consciously. “I manage to ignore the staring most of the time,” he finally conceded. “I actually don’t love the sensation of having all eyes on me, so I’ve learned to blur out everything around me except the focus of my attention. And for right now, that’s you.” He softly brushed his lips against the side of her face, and Alex closed her eyes, her fingers clenching on his suit coat. The song merged into another slow melody, and Alex and Lucas swayed silently, lost in the moment.

  “Hey, can I cut in?”

  And the moment came to a screeching halt. The voice came from behind her and was infuriatingly familiar. She wanted to turn and give Sealey the dirtiest look he’d ever gotten in his life.

  “Well . . . ,” Lucas said unwillingly.

  “I really am sorry to interrupt,” Sealey said, and he truly sounded sorry. “But Ashley actually sent me over. I think she wants a dance with her brother.”

  Alex refrained from rolling her eyes with extreme difficulty. She suspected that what Ashley actually wanted was a chance to separate her brother from Alex. The little monster. Alex managed to keep her face expressionless for Lucas’s benefit, but it took a lot of effort.

  “Oh,” Lucas said to Sealey, sounding a little mollified. “I guess I should make an exception for the little sis.” He winked at Alex and gave her hand to Sealey, who enveloped it within his long fingers. “Now don’t let her run off to anyone else,” Lucas said to Sealey with a significant look at Alex. “I’m entrusting you to keep her safe for me.” He smiled at Alex teasingly.

  “I’ll do that,” Sealey said, not quite meeting Lucas’s eyes. Alex wondered if he was thinking about the betrayal in the background. Olivia. She watched Sealey’s face closely as he pulled her against him, sliding his arm around her waist. His hand felt surprisingly rough in hers.

  “So how’s it going so far?” he asked her, glancing down at her face. He was taller than Lucas by nearly three inches, and at this angle, it was noticeable. It was rare for Alex to feel so short.

  “Well, we’ve only had one song to enjoy, so I’ll probably have to get back to you on that,” Alex said, not attempting to keep some of her frustration out of her voice.

  “Sorry about that,” Sealey said with a grimace. “But I do as I’m told.”

  “Since when?” Alex scoffed, and he laughed. “Actually, I’m more interested in how things are going with you,” she said with a significant look. “Is Ashley still hanging all over you like she was at dinner?”

  “Well, if she is, can you blame her?” Sealey asked with teasing arrogance. “I’m considering sending a picture of myself in this getup to GQ. I’m fairly certain I’ll get some favorable results.”

  Alex laughed and looked him up and down conspicuously. “You do look pretty good tonight, Witchburn,” she said, really meaning it. Although she didn’t expend much energy checking Sealey out regularly, there was no doubt that he cut an impressive figure.

  “And you’re completely heart-stopping,” Sealey responded in her ear. His voice sounded so deadly serious that she was sure if she looked up, she’d see another affected look on his face.

  But when her eyes did meet his, she was astonished to see that he was sincere. His blue eyes were calm and genuine as he smiled at her.

  “Now, now, don’t go getting all awkward on me,” he said, noting the look of discomfort on her face. “But given the occasion, and the unexpected success of the project thus far, I feel justified in finally admitting to you that you are one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen. I’ve tried to not stroke your ego too much, but I think you’ve earned this one.”

  Alex smiled sardonically at him. “Oh, really? Well, thank you, kind sir.”

  “You’re welcome,” Sealey said, apparently deciding to mistranslate her sarcasm into sincerity. His fingers brushed across the back of her hand, and his arm felt too warm around her waist. Her stomach clenched with unease. All of the sensations at once were so uncomfortable—being this close to Sealey, his arms around her, her hand in his. He was too tall, too intense, and he smelled really good. Too good. She longed to be back in Lucas’s arms, where her thoughts and feelings generally seemed to make sense. It was an interesting reversal, now that she thought about it. A month ago, her internal reactions to each man would have been the opposite.

  Finally, finally, the song ended. Lucas appeared almost instantly at her side, pulling her from Sealey’s arms. In fact, he appeared so quickly that neither she nor Sealey were expecting him, and for a brief period of time, she had both men’s arms around her. Sealey quickly released her, however, and after giving her a somewhat unreadable look, he disappeared into the crowd to find Ashley.

  Alex closed her eyes, her head having finally made it to Lucas’s shoulder, breathing in his scent, relishing the feeling of his hands on her back.

  “Hey, I have something to ask you,” Lucas said, startling her into looking up.

  “Okay,” Alex said, smiling encouragement at him.

  “Next Saturday is my dad’s birthday,” he began. “Ash is throwing a big party for him. It’s kind of an all-day thing. I
was wondering if maybe you might want to come with me. Possibly meet my parents?”

  Alex’s heart leapt with joy at the same time her stomach erupted in a combination of knots and butterflies. The idea that Lucas wanted to introduce her to his family was possibly the best thing she’d heard, maybe ever. But this was the same family that was fully expecting him to marry Olivia when she came home. What if they all held Ashley’s view on the matter? What would Lucas do if his family disapproved of her? Would he break things off? But what else could she say but yes? If things were to ever progress between them, meeting his family was something that would eventually have to happen. Better it happened now, before Olivia returned home and reminded everyone how incredible she was.

  “I’d love to,” Alex said, hugging him gently. “That sounds perfect.”

  Lucas kissed her cheek again. Then, his face breaking into a mischievous grin, he suddenly spun her out, her dress flaring out around her. She laughed as he pulled her back in tight against him, but the sound died in her throat at what she saw over his shoulder.

  Sealey and Ashley were dancing only a few feet away. Given that they had come to the dance together, this was not all that unusual, but the way they were dancing caught Alex’s eye. They swayed gently like every other couple, but to Alex’s astonishment, they were staring intently into each other’s eyes. Sealey’s hand was resting on Ashley’s face, and the expression on his was fiercely focused. Suddenly, Sealey’s head bent purposely toward Ashley’s and their lips met.

  ALEX WATCHED IN shock. In turmoil. There were so many feelings, ranging from confusion to amusement to indignation to pity to fury. So many feelings. What was Sealey doing? After all he’d said about not caring for Ashley in that way! Had he lied to Alex about that? Had the feelings developed within the past hour? And if so, what about Olivia? Or was he just playing with Ashley? At that thought, furious bursts of resentment erupted inside her. She may not like Ashley, but she could never condone any woman being led on like that, no matter how generally annoying she was. And from the look of Ashley’s arms clasped around Sealey’s neck, she at least seemed to think the kiss was genuine.