HIM
into concern over the sadness in his eyes. Luke brings his hands up toward my face and places them on my cheeks."I mean it, Ali," he whispers earnestly.
His eyes lock in on mine, and he kisses me. His kiss is passionate. I can feel the raw emotion behind it as well as the words he spoke. I look into his eyes.
"I'm falling in love with you too," I reply as a single tear leaves my eye and rolls down my cheek.
I am, undeniably so. He kisses me again, wiping away my tear with his thumb, and we hug each other tightly. We break free from each other, and I grab my coffee. Luke and I walk to my dad's office. I close the door and sit down on the couch.
"I'm not sleeping with Bridget. I've slept with her, yes, but not sexually," he begins to say.
I don't interrupt him; I let him talk. He sits down next to me and continues talking about his relationship with Bridget.
"We've stayed the night with each other a few times but have never had sex. We've had some gnarly make-out sessions, and she's given me head twice. The last girl I had sex with was a friend from Colorado that I would meet up with every few months. The last I saw of her was over seven months or so ago. Bridget and I stayed together the night before your father's Will reading. She was drinking with Jason that night then ended up at my house. She slept in my bed, and I slept on the couch," he continues.
"I told her the next morning I wasn't interested in her the way she is in me. She found out about us and called me while I was at your house the other day, and I told her I like you. She's been inviting herself over and asking me to come over almost every day since. I don't reply to her calls or texts or show up. I was supposed to go there last night to change the oil in her car but wanted to be with you instead," Luke finishes.
He takes out his phone and shows proof of the messages from last night, explaining the one I saw this morning. The rest of the texts asked if he was coming to change her oil. I believe him now as I know how she can be when it comes to a guy, more so with one that doesn't want her the way she wants him. I've watched how crazy obsessed she can get and the shit she did to Jason when we were in High School.
I'm glad Luke came clean and was honest, so we can move forward from the entire Bridget drama.
Chapter Forty-Six
It's always more complacent showering in your own home, not that my shower at Luke's wasn't enjoyable. My mind fades into dreariness, and everything becomes a foggy illusion. The hot water calms me, and I can do my best thinking; it's very therapeutic.
Work sped by today after my early morning talk with Luke, clearing the air over Bridget and her whorish antics. He told me everything about his past sex life, even the last time he had sex before me. He also confessed that he's falling in love with me.
A little over a week is relatively soon to be falling in love with someone, but I feel the same way. I do, because he makes me feel different about myself and life in general. I don't put myself first as much since I've been infatuated with him. Things seem to have more meaning now, and there's more to life than being focused on sheltering myself from the world and those I care about most.
Ris called me back on her morning break, and I told her everything, including my amazing sexcapades with Luke yesterday and what happened with Bridget this morning. She wants to claw her face off, to put it nicely. Ris said that she can usually call a guy's bluff because men lie to get what they want, well, so do women, but she wholeheartedly believes Luke. She called Bridget every term for "slut" you can think of, and that she will be a problem since she can't take a hint.
I leave soon for Milwaukee, and I'm excited, yet apprehensive, about the trip. I don't want to leave Luke where Bridget is hot on his trail, and I don't want to be forced to face Troy once he finds out that I'm back for a few days. I need to get in and out when I get to Facade. If only Luke could come with me, then I could relax a little, and my mind would be somewhat at ease.
I'm pretty sure I've been in here almost an hour, just rambling over my thoughts. I'm surprised the water is still hot; usually, if I take longer than my regular twenty-minute shower, the water starts to turn lukewarm then slowly runs cold. I should get out anyway; Luke will be back from his house anytime to stay the night. I don't have to worry about cooking dinner; we ate at Mary's. I'd be wasting my time trying to one-up the exquisite dinner he made me last night. The spaghetti I made him was no match for his cooking talents. Popcorn and a movie sound perfect right now anyway.
I step out of the shower; my fingertips are starting to prune. My skin is red and splotchy. I can see the steam lift from my arms and head in the lightly fogged mirror. I dry my hair and body, then let the towels slump to the floor. I look over my naked body in the mirror before applying lotion. I don't harshly rip apart my body as I have done every time before. I stare into the mirror, imagining Luke's hands running up and down my naked body, and I can feel goosebumps rise as I continue staring at myself. I can feel the