Page 82 of Second Chance for the Single Mom

“Can I say something?” Lucas asked.

“Only if it’s another compliment about how I look better now than I did when I was seventeen.”

He licked sauce from his lips and said in a lusty tone, “It’s not even close. You’ve aged like fine wine.” He tapped my face with his finger. “But what I was going to comment on is howeasythis feels.”

“I was thinking that at dinner!” I agreed. “You’re so much more comfortable in your own skin.”

“You, too,” he said. “It’s easy being around each other when we’re not bubbling cauldrons of hormones.”

“Ugh, I used to get soangryat you back then,” I said.

He pulled my legs sideways across his lap and began massaging my calves. “To be fair, I gave you lots of reasons to be angry.”

“True, but I’m not even talking about the big stuff. Little things used to piss me off. Stupid stuff.”

“Like what?”

“The way you opened cans of soda one-handed.”

He blinked at me in confusion. “Seriously? How else are you supposed to do it?”

I mimicked the motion. “You’re supposed to hold the can with one hand, and then pull the tab with the other! You always did it with one hand, like you were trying to show off. Ohh, look at me, I can open a can of soda while driving. I’m so cool.”

Lucas stared at me.

“I told you it was stupid stuff,” I said. “I was such an angsty teen.”

“Hormones,” Lucas repeated. “I’m glad we’ve reconnected now that we’re older and wiser.”

“I don’t know about wiser, but at least I don’t feel like I’m always on the verge of crying.”

“God, we were so dramatic back then.” Lucas shoved another handful of fries into his mouth. “Do you remember how we broke up the first time?”

“Which time? The one where I caught you looking at Jennifer Coleman’s tits at lunch?”

“First of all, I onlyglancedat them,” Lucas argued. “She was sitting across from us, and she bent forward. I couldn’t help it.”

“I’m still mad about that,” I muttered.

“But no,” Lucas continued, “I’m talking about the time you said it was cheating to watch an episode of a show without you.”

I felt myself bristle. “It was the series finale ofNew Girl!You were supposed to wait for me!”

“And have it spoiled by the internet? Yeah, right. I stand by my decision.”

“I see you haven’t matured after all,” I said, sticking my nose in the air.

“Apparently not.”

I laughed and caressed his cheek, smearing a tiny speck of cheese. “Hey, can I say something?”

“Always,” he replied.

“I’m really glad you moved back to Vancouver.”

Lucas smiled, then looked away.

“Did I say something wrong?” I asked. It felt like the right moment to say something sentimental, to reveal a vulnerable slice of my heart.

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