Page 4 of Sweet Boys Love Christmas
He pulls the clean shirt on, and I nearly whimper in protest as the gorgeous view is covered up. But, somehow, Luke in a plain white tee is almost more lethal.
He’s the complete opposite of Tommy. Close-cropped dark hair and stubbled jaw to Tommy’s slicked-back sandy brown hair and clean-shaven face. His face is sharp, angular, whereas Tommy is almost baby-faced.
Luke settles in the seat across from me. “You think that because you said no when I asked you on a date, I wouldn’t stand up for you when a guy is clearly being a dick? If that’s the kind of guy you think I am, then you don’t know me at all.”
My stomach sinks. “I… that’s not what I meant.”
He taps his fingers on top of the table. “Then what did you mean?”
“I don’t know,” I answer softly, gaze lowered to the tray in front of me. “I guess I’m not used to guys like you.”
Hurt flashes across his face. Clearly, he’s misinterpreted my words. “Guys like me. Got it.”
I clear my throat and force myself to hold eye contact. “I meant that you’re a good guy, and the guys I’m used to…”
“Aren’t? Who are you hanging out with?” His lips twitch with a barely there smile.
“I mean”—I wiggle my fingers, indicating what just happened—“look at how my ex acted. You didn’t even get mad when you ended up covered in my food.”
Head tilted, he frowns. “Why would I get mad about that?”
My shoulders crawl up to my ears. “A lot of guys would.”
Luke shakes his head, swiping a half-full bottle of water from the table. He uncaps it and takes a sip. “You need to hang out with better people.”
I don’t know what makes me say it, but the words tumble out. “Are you implying I should hang out with you?”
“No, actually.”
I wince at the way his words sting.
“I’ve made it clear I’m interested in you,” he says, his tone gentle. “I like you. A lot. I don’t want to just be your friend.”
My chest tightens at the admission. I have to say, I respect the guy for being honest.
“Right.” I lower my head and grasp the edges of my tray. “I’ll go to a different table.”
He puts his hand on the tray with enough pressure that I can’t move it. “Stay. Eat your treat and tell me what happened.”
“What happened?” I ask stupidly.
He sits back, rubbing a hand over his stubbled jaw. His blue eyes are an endless ocean I could drown in. The long dark lashes only make them more gorgeous. How unfair. My lashes are almost white. I have to coat them with mascara even if I’m not wearing any other makeup.
“You were sad when you came in. Tell me about it.”
He noticed my mood when I came in? My breath hitches at the idea. I should keep my mouth shut, but I find the words tumbling out anyway. “It was my mom. I was supposed to go to London with my parents over Christmas, but they got invited to the Maldives with friends, so they canceled on me, and I’ll just be here.” I shrug, scooping a gummy worm off my plate. “I know what you’re thinking.Oh, poor little rich girl can’t go to London. Really, though, Icouldgo by myself. But I just…” I bite down on the gummy worm, tear the chunk off a little too violently, and chew it up. “I guess I’m tired of having to work for my parents’affection. I’m tired of never truly getting it. I want them to see me as a person, not an accessory.”
The sympathy in Luke’s eyes has me wanting to crawl under the table and dig my way out of this building.
“I wasn’t thinking that about you,” he says, lacing his fingers on the table. “Don’t assume you know what I think. But I am sorry your parents make you feel that way.”
“Sorry, I just…” I gesture between us.
“I may be a scholarship student, but I don’t walk around here judging all of you who aren’t. Okay,” he drawls, “maybe sometimes.” He winks in a way that makes my stomach stir. “What are you doing for the holiday instead?”
Sighing, I rest my chin in my hand. “I’ll be here. I don’t see the point in doing something now. It would only remind me of how alone I really am.”
Sitting taller, he angles in. “You won’t be alone.”
