by Hotcheri
Smiling up at him, I locked my fingers behind Luke’s neck, strands of his soft, silky hair running through my fingers.
“You think we could be soul mates?” I asked in a carefully reflective tone, marveling at how normal my voice sounded. Even though I knew that Luke was just joking, just thinking about us being soul mates…
Well, don’t think of it, then.
Luke grinned, shaking the hair out of his eyes so that he could look at me better. “Why not? We get along, we complement each other’s styles beautifully, and you’re the perfect height for a guy like me to…”
His voice trailed off as he gazed down at me, a twinkle in his eye. Biting the inside of my cheek, I wanted to ask ‘perfect height for what?’ but decided not to. I also decided to ignore the fact that he seemed to be staring at my lips, because I had to be imagining that. Had to be.
Feeling slightly rattled, (I’d like to see you try to keep your composure when it seems a guy as handsome as Luke Astor can’t take his eyes off your lips) all I could come up with was a sluggish, “Oh, really?”
Why, oh why, did I even go the soul mate route? Damn that Billy Ocean song, bringing out my soppy side. Luke seemed to have taken the topic and ran with it, evidently electing to forget about what we had been discussing before ‘Suddenly’ started to play and I decided to put my two cents in. What had we been talking about before the song came on? How his dad had taken it upon himself to ruin what would have been a perfect night if I had been related to Yvonne Sawyer. Hmm, no wonder Luke was finding the topic so interesting. I couldn’t blame him. I didn’t want to think about the incredibly offensive stuff that his dad said either, and I didn’t have to live with the guy. I took several calming breaths as I tried to wipe the memory of Mr. Astor's smug smile out of my head and concentrate on Luke instead.
He smirked, showing off those sexy dimples. “Don’t you agree?” he asked, chucking me lightly under my chin.
Regroup. Fast!
“I may be the right height for a guy like you, but are you the right guy for a girl like me?” I asked, tossing my hair over my shoulder like I had seen Robyn do, just a few seconds ago.
Looking confused but extremely intrigued, Luke said, “Do elaborate.”
“Well,” I continued, tapping my cheek with a long, fake fingernail, “I have certain things I look for in a guy. Certain things that you’ll have to possess or do to be my soul mate.”
Ugh, I’m a terrible bluffer. Luke didn’t appear to notice that I had no idea what I was talking about, which was a good thing.
“And here I was, thinking that you weren’t picky,” he murmured as our eyes locked.
I smiled boldly. “When it comes to guys, I am,” I lied, glad that I wasn’t Pinocchio. Me, picky when it came to guys? Maybe if I had been asked out more than twice (and yes, that’s counting Luke), I would be, but as it were… Robyn would have laughed if she had been close enough, but thankfully she was on the other side of the dance floor.
Biting his lip, Luke shrugged. “Okay, let’s hear your list of certain things you look for in a guy,” he said playfully, a smile on his face.
Behind us, I heard a sharp sniff from none other than Joanna. She was dancing, her head on Timothy’s shoulder, and glaring in our general direction. I didn’t like the look on her face at all. Hopefully, I’ll get through the rest of the night without having to deal with her. Beware the jealous ex-girlfriend.
Turning back to face Luke, who was staring at me with an entranced sort of look on his face, I racked my brain to think of something stupid I could say to put him off wanting to be my soul mate. Celsiana. He doesn’t really want to be your soul mate. You should know this! I ignored the derisive voice in my head. Course I knew that Luke didn’t want to be my soul mate, which was why I was playing along! Duh!
“Firstly, he has to be strong enough to carry me,” I babbled, enjoying the look of utter mystification on Luke’s face. Classic. “I’m very fond of piggyback rides.”
That, if you haven’t figured out already, was a bald faced lie. Although I’ve given countless piggyback rides, (I do volunteer at a daycare, after all. It’s practically in my job description) I have yet to be on the receiving end of one. But I’ve seen plenty of guys running around Wal-Mart and Target, giving their girlfriends piggyback rides. It looks vaguely uncomfortable. And try as I might, I just couldn’t envision Luke walking around with me on his back.
Unfortunately, (or fortunately, I’m really not sure) Luke seemed far from daunted by the carrying thing.
Pointing to his arms, he quipped, “I don’t need a license for these guns.” Shooting me a smouldering look, he continued. “I can carry you anywhere. Want me to demonstrate?”
In the middle of the dance floor? Hell no!
I shook my head rapidly, taking a small step back, just in case he saw fit to throw me on his back in one fell swoop. I would not put it past him. “Not here.”
Still smiling, Luke wrapped his arms tight around my waist, pulling me so close that I could feel his heart beat through the thick material of his tux jacket. Or is that my heart? Didn’t matter. Being close to Luke just did something to me. My pulse raced every time I caught a hint of his cologne, my skin tingled whenever we touched- I knew it was wrong, especially since we were just friends, but it felt so- right. Corny but true. At least he didn’t notice. And thank goodness I wasn’t shivering anymore when he touched me.
“You’re in safe hands.”
I snorted with laughter, giggling up at him. “Did you just quote an All State commercial at me?”
Sheepishly, Luke grinned. “Maybe,” he conceded. “But enough about me, I’m dying to hear more about your idea of Mr. Perfect.”
He’s right in front of me.
I smirked, the perfect deal breaker popping into my head. “Do you like shopping?” I asked Luke sweetly.
Shaking his head instantly, he shuddered. “Oh, God no. I hate shopping!”
He shivered again and I grinned. “You’re exaggerating.”
Why are all the guys I know so against shopping? Apart from Ahmed, that is.
“I would rather be dipped in honey and fed to fire ants than hit the mall,” Luke proclaimed dramatically. “I hate shopping that much. Most guys do- I guess we’re conditioned to.”
Perfecto.
“If you’re my soul mate, you’ll have to accompany me to every sale, every shopping spree and every store opening I want to go to,” I said, feeling deliciously evil and loving it. I barely even went shopping because my credit was practically imaginary, and on the rare occasions that I did shop, I never bought more than three or four items at once. Grinning at the scared look that flitted across Luke’s face, I continued. “And you’ll carry all my bags and you will like it.”
“You wouldn’t,” Luke breathed, sounding absolutely terrified. So if he hated shopping that much, who bought him his clothes? Maybe he was an online shopper.
Finally feeling like I had the upper hand, I gave a self-satisfied chuckle. “Oh, yes I would. We can go to the big sale at Macy’s too. It’ll be fun!”
Running a hand through his hair, Luke shook his head. “Dude, that’s scary. We’ll have to have an in-depth discussion about that when we’re alone.”
“I’m guessing that’s a hell no.”
“Not even the pleasure of your company could turn shopping into something remotely fun,” Luke said, giving me a lopsided smile and making my heart thump erratically. He thinks my company is pleasurable! I guess I’m either not as weird as I thought or he likes that I’m weird. “I hate it.”
Enjoying myself immensely and conveniently forgetting that at the end of the dance, I was going to have to join Mr. Astor’s company again, I came up with another idea to put Luke off. “Here’s another one. You won’t complain when I take hours to take ready.”
Even though I take about 5 minutes to put on my makeup. Now Robyn, on the other hand....
“I can do that,” Luke said triumphantly. Dammit! He n
odded in Joanna’s direction and leaned in closer to whisper in my ear. “Miss Diva over there used to spend 2 hours getting her hair right. I was patient. And if you’re going to all that trouble to look good for me, I wouldn’t be a jerk about it.”
Ugh. Was he trying to be my Mr. Right? Stupid boy.
Rolling my eyes at how unjust Luke was being (gorgeous, friendly and understanding? Why????) I decided to play my trump card. There was no possible way he would agree to do this one. Only one of Robyn’s many boyfriends had agreed to this and after everything popped off, he never talked to her again. Ever.
“Last but definitely not least, you’ll have to watch Titanic and The Notebook with me.” Luke’s eyes widened and he licked his lips, looking horrified. I burst out laughing.
“Celsiana Sawyer, I give up,” he said, talking over my giggles. “I can handle the piggy backs, we could talk the shopping one over and I really wouldn’t mind waiting for you to get ready. But watching Titanic and The Notebook- forget about it. No way.”
“They’re great movies,” I protested, my eyes streaming with tears of laughter. “The rain scene in The Notebook is a classic-.”
“I’d rather watch Alvin and the Chipmunks than watch either of those movies.” Luke snickered drily. “You’re not asking your soul mate for much, are you?”
I wiped my eyes, the giggles subsiding. Thank God for waterproof mascara. “It’s my heart that’s gonna end up being broken, so I figure I shouldn’t just settle for anything,” I said, still playing along with the soul mate joke, even though Luke still appeared to be dead serious. But he couldn’t be, could he? Am I that oblivious?
“You of all people should never just settle, CiCi. You deserve the best.” I stared up at him, my heart jumping till it felt like it was in the region of my throat. He’s flirting with me! Luke Astor is flirting with me and I don’t know what to say! Luckily, he continued, giving me time to regroup. “Which is why you need to get with me. I can handle some of the things you’re looking for, and a lot more you didn’t mention, if you know what I mean.”
He wiggled his eyebrows at me, grinning sexily. I searched for a witty comeback, which was hard to find as all I could hear in my head was Faith saying ‘Do you wanna know what I heard Joanna tell Wendy? He’s a good kisser!’
Thinking about Luke being a good kisser was a distraction that I really didn’t need.
I settled for saying, “I think I do know what you mean,” and Luke pinched my cheek gently.
“So, do I qualify?” he asked hopefully. “Am I Celsiana Sawyer soul mate material?”
More than you’ll ever know. But you’ll never know, as long as I can keep my big mouth shut.
“Nope,” I said brightly. Ooh, you liar!
“CiCi-!” He gave me a puppy dog look that I tried to ignore. “Don’t be like that.”
“You have to do all the things I want or it won’t work.”
Luke grinned suddenly, tapping his chin. “You’re trying to put me off, aren’t you?” he asked shrewdly. Before surprised little me could answer, he went on. “Yeah, I can tell. But I’ve got news for you, my beautiful.”
My mouth was dry (my beautiful? He just called me his beautiful?) but I managed to croak out “What’s that?”
I saw Joanna peering snoopily at us as Luke bent his head down to my ear again, positively smothering me with the delicious smell of soap and him. His lips caressed my ear as he whispered, “I don’t scare easy. And I love a challenge.”
He stepped back, looking very pleased with himself. I could barely breathe. He was viewing me as a challenge? When had everything changed and why the hell was I the last to know?
“But-,” I blustered, shoving my hair over my shoulder as I tried to think of something-anything! - to say.
“We’re meant to be, CiCi.” Luke chuckled, running a hand up my bare arm and raising goosebumps. “It’s our destiny.”
I finally found my voice, to my relief. Looking up into Luke’s smiling face, I said, “I thought you don’t believe in destiny?”
To my surprise, his fingers grazed my locket and he winked at me. “I feel the pull of destiny,” he said, his fingers still on my locket, which was lying dangerously close to my cleavage.
I pouted, enjoying how it felt to flirt with Luke- so natural and fun. “Now you’re making fun of me.”
Shrugging shamefacedly, Luke said, “I’m sorry, you’re just too easy!”
I saw this as a way to wrap up our awkward yet highly entertaining soul mate talk, hopefully for good. Too much wishful thinking is dangerous for a girl like me.
“My soul mate would never make fun of me, so you totally fail.”
Luke groaned, seemingly upset. “At least I tried,” he said, biting his lip. Jauntily, he added, “But I’m not stressed. About soul mates, I mean.”
“Why?”
He squeezed my shoulder. “We’re only 17, we have all the time in the world to find our soul mates and be unhappy for life.” Grinning ruefully, he stared off into space. “That is, if I live that long.”
My stomach lurched guiltily. In the excitement of the night, I had completely forgotten about the aneurysm. I was sure that Luke had forgotten about it too and was only mentioning it now because he happened to remember.
I frowned at him. “Don’t say that.”
He shot me a crooked smile. “Sorry. I forgot.”
“Being cynical doesn’t suit you, Luke.”
“I’m just saying, after observing my dad and Hope, I’d much rather not even go the marriage route.”
Feeling puzzled, I had to ask. “But- they’re happily married, aren’t they?”
“Depends on what you call happily,” Luke said cryptically as the song ended. That’s certainly cleared up a lot. But Luke didn’t seem inclined to go into detail and I didn’t want to push him.
He bowed. “Thank you for the lovely dance.” As he straightened, he added, “And sorry I kept stepping on your toes.” At least he noticed. “I’m a bit rusty.”
I looked down at my French manicured toenails, encased in a pair of brand new (courtesy of Mrs. El Hamed, one of the sweetest women ever) Gucci sandals. They seemed all good. Note to self- next time I dance with Luke, wear steel toed boots. If there was a next time.
Smiling at Luke, I said, “You’re very welcome. Oh, by the way, might I suggest dance classes?”
Shaking a finger at me, Luke chuckled. “Now who’s making fun?”
“I couldn’t resist.”
Luke kissed my hand, a slow caress of the lips. I shivered as his upper lip caught just a little on the skin of my hand as he stepped back, staring sexily into my eyes all the while.
Hot damn. Luke’s hotness is gonna be the death of me.
“That should make Faith happy,” he commented, placing a warm hand on my bare back and leading me off the dance floor.
Trying to act like I every nerve in my body wasn’t fired up from the hand kiss, I managed to say, “I wish I had a brother who did things to make me happy.” I sighed, looking sideways at Luke. “Faith’s lucky to have you.”
Luke smiled at me, his eyes lighting up with gratitude. “Thanks, CiCi.”
We headed back to the table which was empty apart from Luke’s smugly smiling dad. Just the smile alone made me seethe and I had to bite my tongue to hold in the angry torrent of words threatening to flood from my mouth the more I looked at the arrogant man. It was a huge effort for me, with my big mouth, not to say anything about how rude I thought he was. Even though I had assured Luke that his dad’s rude behaviour and offensiveness hadn’t bothered me, I was lying. He was a jerk, pure and simple, and he didn’t realise how much his words had hurt me. But I had to control myself. This was his turf, and in a way, he was entitled to act like that, since I was the interloper. And as corny as it sounded, this was Luke’s night. I could tell that Lucas Senior didn’t think much of his son (but thinking about how reckless Luke had been before Shane died, who could truly blame him) and I didn’t want t
o make things worse for Luke by launching a tirade against his father, even though the man had singlehandedly ruined my night. So I took a deep breath and stared at a wine glass on the table.
Apparently Mr. Astor been watching us dance because the first thing he said before we even sat down was, “It’s obvious that somebody needs a few ballet lessons pronto, eh? Luke clearly isn’t dancer material.”
He laughed at his own terrible attempt of a joke and I glanced up at Luke as his hand stiffened on my back.
He’s just like Nate!
Maybe he was even worse. Although Nate got violent and yelled at me from time to time, when he was sober he pretty much left me alone. He didn’t want anything to do with me when he hadn’t had anything to drink. Luke’s dad seemed to get a kick out of always attempting to belittle Luke with a snide comment here, an insult there... Didn’t he feel sorry for his son having to deal with the aneurysm?
I sat down silently, keeping my eyes glued to the wine glass as I wondered where Faith and Hope had gone. Luke evidently wondered the same thing because he remained standing, his eyes narrowed as he took in the empty seats.
“Where’ve Faith and Hope gone?” he asked mildly.
Mr. Astor waved a dismissive hand. “Home. Sit down, will ya? Last thing I want if for people to start asking why Lucas Astor’s son is dressed like a moron.”
He laughed nastily, raising his glass of wine to his lips. Luke’s hand tightened on the back of his chair. He didn’t sit down, or give any hint that he’d actually heard his dad talk. “Why’d they leave?”
