Page 71 of Lost Love on 6th Street

However, it’s not just the sexual component. It’s so easy to be around him. From the very beginning, he’s helped me find my footing here. Helped me embrace Austin with open arms and vice versa. He’s treated me like a queen, even when we weren’t involved romantically. He’s a good fucking man.

So why do I feel like running away?

“Eleanor, what are you afraid of?”

I bite on the inside of my cheek. Chew for a few moments. “I don’t like taking risks.”

“Okay, well I could have told you that,” Jolene says.

“So, why’d you ask?”

“I mean with Luke. What are you afraid of? He seems like a great guy, so unless there’s something you haven’t told me—”

I can’t let her finish that sentence. “He is a great guy.”

Jolene smiles in her sweet way when she thinks she knows better than me. “So? Are you not attracted to him?”

“Of course, I’m attracted to him! You’ve seen him.”

“Just asking! Pretty isn’t everyone’s type,” Jolene says, holding her hands up.

“True, just look at the guy you’re dating.”

She kicks me under the table. “Tom is cute!”

“So is his wallet.”

Snickering, she flushes. “Yeah, fair. And speaking of, Luke’s no slouch in that department either.”

“Oh my god.”

“I’m just saying. Pays for most everything, right?”

I sigh. “True.”

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

I eye her. “What?”

“You’re the problem, Eleanor!”

I gape at her, unable to keep from laughing though she’s cut me down at the knees. “Wow! Thanks!”

“I’m just saying, you’ve got a sexy man with at least some amount of money who is totally obsessed with you to the point of trying to make your life easier by finding you an apartment and you’re turning your nose up at him. You have to ask yourself why.”

“Because I’m terrified it won’t work out and I’ll be stuck here in Austin because of some guy!” I cry out. “There. That’s it.”

“Oh, honey, from the sounds of it, I don’t think Luke is just some guy.”

He hasn’t been. Not for a long time.

“You’ve been all out of sorts about him for a while now, and the second he looks like he’s actually yours, you’re running the other way.”

I sigh. “People change, Jo.”

“Sure. Fine. Let’s say something changes and he becomes a total shit. You break up. Now you have a lease in Austin. Is that so bad?”

Is it so bad?

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