Fitting The Pieces (The Riverdale Series Book 3)

by Janine Infante Bosco

  * * * * *

  That night Cara was sitting on her bed, folding the last of her clothes that she needed to put into her suitcase, when she came across Luke’s sweatshirt. She smiled slightly as she folded it. She had worn that shirt more in the last month than he probably had since he bought it. She laid it on top of the rest of her clothes and decided to call him. She didn’t need the sheet of paper with the phone numbers anymore. She had only called one number almost every night. Well, except for when he told her the truth about what had happened between them. She shook those thoughts from her mind when she heard his voice come through the line.

  “Hello?” Luke said into the phone sounding a little frazzled.

  “Hi, did I call at a bad time?” She asked, noticing the change in his voice.

  Luke ran around his bed, chasing after the beagle puppy that was wearing a T-shirt that read, “Born to Be Wild.”

  “What? No, now is good.” He snapped his fingers at the dog that was eating his favorite pair of boots.

  Cara narrowed her eyebrows as she listened to Luke rustle around on his end of the line. Her eyes widened when he groaned. “Um… you know what I’ll just see you tomorrow. I didn’t realize you weren’t alone.”

  Luke pried his boot from the puppy, that wagged his tail happily waiting for Luke to throw the boot that’s sole was now flapping off. He looked down at his boot miserably before straightening his shoulders when he heard Cara.

  “Wait, what did you say?”

  “I said it’s obvious you’re not alone and I’ve interrupted. Go back to doing, whoever… I mean whatever you were doing. Shit!” She threw her head back in embarrassment and it thumped loudly against her headboard. “Ouch.”

  Luke laughed into the phone and chucked his already mangled boot across the room for the puppy to attack. “Cara I’m alone. I was just distracted looking for something.” He fibbed with his eyes on the beagle that was wrecking his house. “How was your last day?”

  “It was good. I finally found the courage to speak with the group. Oh, and I got this nifty little pin symbolizing that I’m thirty days clean.” She said as she fingered the silver pin she had pinned to her shirt.

  “That’s great.” He said as he took a seat on the edge of his bed. “Are you looking forward to coming home?”

  “Yeah, I’m just about finished packing. I packed my favorite sweatshirt and thought to call you. You’ll be here tomorrow to pick me up, right?”

  “No, I was thinking I’d let you hitch a ride, since you robbed my favorite sweatshirt.” He said jokingly.

  “Luke, robbed is such a harsh word. Why don’t we use borrowed instead?” She smiled as she relaxed against the pillows. She was going to miss these phone calls. “Yes, I think the word borrowed is so much nicer, don’t you?” She said teasing him.

  “Fine, you borrowed my shirt. So you’re planning on giving it back?” He asked as he dropped his upper body against the plush mattress. He stared up at the ceiling as he waited for her to answer.

  “Well, no I didn’t say that. I tell you what, I’ll make it up to you… I’m getting the hang of this amends thing.”

  He closed his eyes briefly pushing out the thoughts of how he’d like her to make it up to him, out of his demented head. “Just keep it.” He said roughly.

  “Ah, there’s that change in your voice again. Are you going to fall asleep on me, Luke?” She asked softly recognizing that gruff sound she became used to.

  He let out a shaky breath and shook his head. If she only knew what her voice did to him. “No, I’m fine. “ He didn’t want her to hang up. If he was being completely honest, he didn’t want this conversation to ever end. For the last few weeks Luke had grown accustomed to having these moments with Cara all to himself. After tomorrow he’d have to share her with the rest of the world and he didn’t know how he felt about that. The idea of not being able to talk to her like this made him feel a little unsettled.

  “Don’t hang up.” He muttered.

  “Okay.” She whispered.

  “I dropped Ava off at my mother’s for the night so I could leave first thing in the morning. I’ll probably be there by ten.”

  “You sound excited to break me out of here.” She said half teasing, half wondering if it was true.

  “I’ll tell you who’s excited to see you… Ava.” He said and then eyed the puppy who no longer chewed on his shoe. Luke cringed imagining the possibilities of all the damage the wild thing could be causing.

  “Is she really?” She smiled, thinking of the little girl who almost was her niece.

  “Did you tell her where I was all this time?” She asked sheepishly and was almost afraid to hear the answer.

  “She thinks you were on vacation.” He said lightly.

  “Some vacation…” She murmured. “I’m horrible. Who goes on vacation and doesn’t even send a postcard?” She joked.

  “Don’t sweat it. She’s a good kid, she’ll understand.” The puppy found his way back into Luke’s bedroom this time the little devil was tugging on the roll of toilet paper, dragging it into his bedroom. Luke sighed, tomorrow couldn’t come fast enough.

  “You know I remember the night you and I watched Jake race. You were going through a tough time with Ava’s mom not being around. I’m sorry I never asked until now, but, did that wind up getting better for the two of you?”

  He took a deep breath and thought about his answer for a moment. “I guess so. I try not to think about what I can’t give her and just focus on what I can. It’s hard sometimes, but I’m lucky. She’s really a great kid and even when things are hard for her to understand because she’s just a child she makes the best of it.”

  Cara smiled as she listened to Luke talk about Ava. “You know one thing I always thought about you, was that you’re a great father. Not a lot of men could do what you’ve done and do it as well as you have.”

  “Thank you.” He said hoarsely. He wasn’t good at accepting a compliment yet, listening to her talk about the kind of father he was, made him proud for some reason unknown to him.

  “You know it’s not fair.” She said softly. “I feel like you know much more about me than I do you. You should fix that.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Tell me something, Luke. If you really want to get buck wild, then make it something no one else knows.” She basically dared him.

  “Are you always this spunky?” He asked amused.

  “Did you really just call me spunky?” She laughed. “I’ll tell you what. I’m going to pretend you didn’t call me that and that you’re not trying to stall.” She said pointedly and waited for him to laugh because it was beginning to be one of her favorite sounds.

  “I sleep naked.” He confessed.

  Her eyes widened and then she quickly recovered. “That doesn’t count! Anyone you’ve ever slept with would know that.”

  “You didn’t.”

  “No comment.”

  He laughed and then so did she. “Alright, Spunky, if I’m going to get up at the crack of dawn to bring your ass back home. I better get some shut eye.” He didn’t want to cut their conversation short but the damn dog disappeared again.

  “Okay and Luke? You should know that I’ll be thinking about a nickname for you. I’ll make sure it’s just as horrid as Spunky, if not worse. Goodnight.”

  “Goodnight Spunky.” He crooned into her ear before he ended the call and went in search for the little beagle that was bulldozing his house.

  Cara’s Journal: October 20

  Dear Jake,

  I can’t sleep tomorrow I am going home. I did it. I completed my stint in rehab. I packed my bags. I double checked all the drawers and now I’m just laying here. Every time I close my eyes, I feel as if I can’t breathe. I’m pretty sure it’s an anxiety attack. I’m rambling aren’t I?

  The truth is I am a nervous wreck! What am I going to do when I get home? I mean this is kind of like my second chance at life. I can’t screw it up. I should probabl
y rethink some of my life choices. Like for instance, do I really want to be a bartender forever? My counselor thinks it might be too much of a temptation for me, even though alcohol wasn’t really my problem. She thinks it goes hand in hand, that it will start off as just one drink and escalate from there. One drink will turn into two, which will turn into me having the urge to get high.

  Maybe she’s right. All I know is that I’m going to do everything I can to take this chance and make it worth it. Not everyone is given a second chance right? I’ll make it worth it for the both of us.

  Love always and forever,

  Cara

  Chapter Nine

  Cara stood in the lobby of Lakeview looking out the large glass windows, waiting for Luke’s truck to pull up in front. She looked down at her watch, noting that it was almost ten in the morning. Any minute she told herself before she glanced around the lobby of the place that she had spent the last month trying to find herself. A horn, let out a stream of honks from a distance and she turned around to look back out the window. A grin spread across her face as she saw Luke pull up. She took a deep breath and grabbed the handle of her suitcase, wheeling it behind her as she stepped through the automatic doors.

  He had pulled his truck right in front, not bothering to pull into a spot. Luke shifted the truck into park and jumped out, leaving the engine running. Her eyes followed him as he walked around to the tailgate of the truck and leaned his arms over it. He lifted his head and his eyes met hers. He smiled casually in her direction.

  “You ready, Spunky?” He asked as he pulled down the tailgate and stepped towards her. He was wearing the same hat he had the day he dropped her off, only this time it was backwards. She could see the ends of his hair peeking out and curling around the back of his neck. He was clean shaved and dressed casually in jeans and a Henley. He added a down vest over his Henley that was zipped halfway up his chest. He looked good, she thought, and then it came to her. She had been obsessing over a nickname for him since they ended their call last night.

  “I’m ready.” She said with a smile. He grabbed her suitcase and hauled it into the truck, closing the gate. She walked towards the passenger door, but he got there first, and opened it for her. She climbed into the truck and then turned around to face him before he shut the door.

  “Thanks, Stud Muffin.” She said sweetly, and waited for his reaction to her nickname.

  “Stud Muffin?” He asked and raised an eyebrow at her questioningly. Cara bit her lip and watched as his cheeks reddened. She reached over and pinched his cheek. “Oh yes, definitely. And you’re blushing. I love it!” She said as she leaned closer. Yep, he was definitely blushing.

  Luke placed his hand delicately on her wrist as she squeezed his cheek he could feel her breath on his face. He slipped her hand down from his face and shook his head.

  “You’re not calling me Stud Muffin.” He said gruffly and her eyes narrowed and she pointed her finger at him.

  “There it is… that sound your voice makes.” She pointed out. Luke blew out a breath and shook his head.

  “You’re killing me, Spunky.” He said before he pushed her legs into the car and shut her door. He walked around the truck and got into his seat stealing a quick glance at her. She was trying not to smile as he shifted the truck and pulled away.

  As Luke steered the truck down the pathway, she glanced out the window and her smile escaped as she silently bid farewell to Lakeview. She watched Lakeview disappear through the side view mirror as Luke accelerated down the road and drove away. When it was completely out of her view she turned around to face him.

  Luke felt her eyes on him, but he kept his eye on the road. “I stopped off and got you coffee.” He pointed to the cup holders between them, indicating the one to his right was hers.

  “You’re the best Sugar Plum!” She said and took the coffee.

  Luke groaned. “I think I liked Stud Muffin better.”

  She smiled before she took the first sip of coffee. “So…” She said as she placed the coffee back in the cup holder. “I liked the game we played last night and was thinking since it’s such a long drive, we could play it again.”

  “What game was that?” He asked almost frightened. He was slowly learning that Cara got a kick out of teasing him and seeing how far she could push him to react. He wasn’t sure if he liked it or hated it.

  “It’s called getting to know Luke Lanza and what makes him tick.” She said and shrugged her shoulders. “So you’re going to drive and I’m going to poke and prod to my heart’s content.”

  “You’re going to poke me?” He said clearly amused.

  She leaned her head back and laughed. “I bet you’re ticklish.” She looked over and watched his face grow still and she laughed harder. “You are ticklish! That’s great. Relax Stud Muffin I’m not going to tickle you while you’re driving.”

  “Thank God for small favors.” He said as he swiped his hand along his brow that perspired at the mere mention of her tickling and touching him.

  “Okay, are you ready?”

  “If I said no, would it make a difference?”

  “Probably not,” she answered honestly. “I’ll start with simple questions.” She said with a devilish grin on her face.

  Three and a half hours later and they were an exit away from Riverdale. Luke looked exhausted and not from all the driving, but from all the questions. She now knew that he could cook, but only three dishes. He was a pro with the barbeque though. His longest relationship was with Ava’s mother, Marie, and that was when they were kids. He hates dating and feels uncomfortable in fancy restaurants. He wasn’t only a baseball fan, but he loved all sports. Football season was his favorite and he was Jets fan. He prefers cotton sheets and didn’t even know they had flannel or satin ones. He likes to work out and since he rarely has time for it, he put a small gym in his basement. Friday night is date night with Ava. Then there was the thing that squeezed her heart. When she asked him what he likes to do for fun, he said rollerblading with Ava and then he invited her to come the next time they go to the roller rink.

  Yeah, she thought that was adorable.

  Luke turned left when he should’ve turned right, and she looked over at him confused.

  “Where are you going?” She asked curiously.

  “I need to make a detour.” He said simply. “It’ll only take a few minutes, but I have to pick up my Pipsqueak.” She watched as his lips curved at the mention of his daughter.

  “Oh, okay. Where is she?”

  “She’s at her friend’s birthday party.” He said as he looked ahead of him. Cara studied him for a moment and then chuckled. He raised an eyebrow when he heard her giggle. “What?”

  “You must wreak all sorts of havoc.” She said as a matter of fact.

  “I don’t follow.” He said confused.

  “Oh come on!” She said and nudged his arm playfully. “I can just picture all the single teachers swooning over you when you go pick up Ava. I’d be willing to bet you fuel a lot of dreams from single moms too.” She said with a big fat grin. His cheeks reddened again, which only caused Cara to grin wider. Her eyes widened with mischief. “Maybe even the happily married ones too.”

  Luke groaned and turned an awful shade of crimson. “Okay, you’re not allowed to talk anymore until we get to my parent’s house.”

  “I think it’s adorable how embarrassed you get when I talk about your devilish good looks.”

  “Cara…” He said in that gruff voice.

  “There’s no reason to be uncomfortable. We’re friends, right? Maybe we should set boundaries.”

  He slowly drove up a block glancing at the addresses, trying desperately to pretend they weren’t having this conversation.

  “For instance, if you get this bent out of shape when we’re talking about you being a Stud Muffin, then how are you going to react when you tell me you had sex with someone?”

  Luke slammed on the brakes and looked at her as if she lost her marbles alon
g with his patience. “Are you kidding me right now?”

  “No.” She said innocently. “Friends talk about sex, Luke.”

  “Okay, first boundary. I don’t talk about sex with you… ever.” He said frustrated.

  “So does that mean I can’t talk about sex? I mean not that I’m having any. I actually don’t have any desire too, it’s just too soon. But I mean one day I’d like to again.”

  Luke decided to get out of the car at that moment. He couldn’t listen to her anymore. Cara quickly climbed out of the passenger seat jogging after him. Damn him and his long legs.

  “Luke! You didn’t answer me.” She said as she caught up to him, and walked alongside him towards the door of Ava’s friend’s house. He stopped in his tracks and turned around to face Cara, abruptly. Her eyes widened when he stared at her with a hooded gaze.

  “Boundary number two, I definitely don’t want to hear you talk about sex.” He raised an eyebrow. “Not now, not in six months from now, not ever.”

  She leaned closer to him and whispered. “It’s not like I’m going to dirty talk or anything, Jeez.”

  He looked at her for a moment, letting his eyes travel to her full lips. “That’s a shame. I bet that’d be something.” He said huskily, referring to her dirty talk. He shook his head as if to shake away the thoughts that clouded his mind and mumbled under his breath that she was going to be the death of him.

  She cocked her head to the side and crossed her arms against her chest. “That’s basically saying you want me to dirty talk, and that means I would have to talk about sex. Maybe you should rethink your boundaries.”

  He forced himself to turn around and ring the doorbell. He couldn’t believe he was walking up to a kid’s birthday party, to pick up his daughter, with a semi-hard dick.

  The door swung open and Nina’s mother greeted them. “Hi Luke.” She said with a smile and turned around. “Ava, your dad is here!” She called out.