Reagan thanked Luke and told us how we made all her dreams come true. Then she and Shane hopped in the old van and started it up, and drove down the road until they were out of sight.
“Just us now, huh?” “Luke said gazing towards me.
“Just us,” I replied.
“I have exactly 1 minute until I have to haul ass out of here and get back to work.”
“Or... you could leave now so you don’t have to “haul ass.” I joked.
“But then I wouldn’t be able to do this.” He said softly kissing my lips once more. Then he hopped back on his bike and zipped back down the road until he was out of sight.
..
“You never hang out with me anymore.” Gia pouted, arms crossed tightly across her chest, looking at me with a mean mug on her face.
“Gia, it’s literally only been two days since Shane and Reagan left and you know I only get to see her once a year.”
“Well I love Reagan too you know and I only got to hang out with you guys like once.” I sighed as Gia continued to pout.
“Well Sutton, honey, your time does seem to be awfully occupied lately.” My mom had a huge smile on her face. She was never a hard ass. I knew her real motive was to get the scoop about Luke and me.
“Well actually, I do have something I want to tell you guys.” My mom’s smile grew into a full-on grin. I think she at least had a little bit of an idea of what I was about to say. “I’m actually seeing someone.” My heart fluttered and I laughed obnoxiously out loud. “Why did I say it like that sounded so weird.”
Gia’s 8 year old mind did a 180 and completely forgot she was mad at me. “It’s that boy!” She stuttered. “The one from the boardwalk who ran you over!” I laughed again.
“His name is Luke and he’s actually really great.”
“I’m happy for you sweetie.” My mom said. I saw a little bit of hurt in her eyes. It probably opened up her old wounds with Lawrence. “Well back on topic I think it would be nice if you hung out with Gia here and there too. You know I’m super busy during the day.”
“With me!” I heard Aunt Helen chime in from the living room where she was watching Wheel of Fortune and shoveling her dinner in her mouth.
“I wanna hang out with Luke!” Gia said with excitement.
“I’d like to meet him too, Sutton.”
“Me three!” Aunt Helen chimed in again between bites.
“Okay, guys. I’ll talk to him. I was actually about to leave to meet him, maybe he can come to dinner this week, and then maybe you can hang out with him.” My mom and Gia both had the same devilish smiles on their faces and although I couldn’t see her from where I was standing I was sureAunt Helen’s matched theirs too. I chuckled and rolled my eyes then headed out the door to stroll down to the boardwalk.
When I approached the counter Luke was sitting back in a chair. He stood up gently kissed me and listened intently as I explained what had just unfolded at my house just a little while ago.
“So they really want to meet me?” Luke questioned me with one elbow on the counter at the Pizza Shack, the other arm tossing peanuts up to catch in his mouth. I stood at the counter in front of him.
“I mean are you okay with that? I know we’ve practically just started dating.” I felt my cheeks turn a rosy red again. Luke rubbed his chin with his hand and munched on the peanuts he had in his mouth.
“Actually we’ve been dating for three days and three hours and of course I’d love to meet them, Sutton. If they’re related to you, I’m sure they’re pretty great.” He said with a grin.
“Dinner tomorrow night at my house?” I asked nervously.
“Sounds great to me,” Luke said, lifting my hand up to kiss it.
..
Gia stood up on her tippy toes and attempted to peer out my bedroom window, asking if Luke was here for the third time in the past five minutes. I proceeded to check my phone for the second time in the past 30 seconds. It was still 6:50.
“10 minutes G. Chill.” For some reason, I was super nervous.
“I think I’ll go change into my sparkly dress. Oh yeah and I forgot my lip gloss!” Gia scurried out of my room into her bedroom. She seemed to think she was the one dating Luke. The vibration of my phone shook me. Luke’s name popped up on the screen.
Be there in 5.
I took a deep breath, sprayed myself with five more spritz of perfume, and found my way down the stairs. “Aunt Helen you’re going to join us at the table tonight, right?”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” She shouted in a half sarcastic- half-serious voice. “Sutton Rae, come help me record Wheel of Fortune please.” My mom giggled and rolled her eyes. I walked into the living room and took the remote from my aunt. I hit record and placed the remote onto the snack tray to my right. Just then, the doorbell rang. I gulped and heard Gia stumbling down the stairs in her sparkly dress and Cinderella high heels.
“I got it!” She screeched with excitement. I raced to the door hoping to get there before Gia. She beat me by a second. I stood behind her as she swung the door open.
“Hiya there!” Luke was wearing khaki pants and a slightly wrinkled blue short-sleeved button up. He pulled one hand out from behind his back, and was holding four beautiful roses. He bent down
