Page 35 of Meeting Mr. Adorkable
Lucian shrugged.
Arlo’s shoulders slumped. “Okay, guess I really should be going.”
“Yes, I guess you really should.” Lucian crossed his apartment in a few steps, opened the door, and peered out. No sign of Mr. DuPont, thank god.
“Maybe we could get a coffee sometime?”
From a kiss that had made his heart sing to a tepid, vague invitation for coffee. His stomach plummeted. So this was how it was to be; best to just suck it up, and maybe look for flights home and swallow whatever was left of his pride.
“Bye, Arlo.”
“Bye.” Arlo opened his mouth, but whatever he was going to say he thought better of it. “I’ll see you around?” A question, not a statement.
Lucian nodded, not trusting himself to answer as he quietly closed the door behind Arlo, slumping against it for the second time in less than half an hour.
The silence in the apartment pressed in on him, along with his crushing loneliness. But at least he had his pride and his dignity, and that had to mean something. Perhaps they could meet for coffee, just as Arlo had suggested, and talk about everything that didn’t matter and nothing that did as they sat and smiled politely at one another.
Lucian gasped as a hand reached into his chest and squeezed tight, crushing the breath from him. It was sad and grim and everything he didn’t want. Fuck pride, fuck dignity…
He slung open his door, just in time to hear the door to the street slam shut, the finality of its thud a punch to his stomach. He hurtled down the stairs, just catching himself from going head first, and ran out onto the street.
“Arlo, wait.”
Arlo turned, his eyes wide as his mouth dropped open in surprise.
“Forget coffee. I make a mean cup of tea, so if you want…”
“If you’re sure?” A slow smile lifted Arlo’s lips, a slow smile that burrowed deep inside Lucian. He didn’t know if he’d done the right thing in calling Arlo back, and didn’t care. Maybe it was just another random act, as random as sticking a pin in a map which had led him to a small Wyoming town.
“Who knows? But the offer’s there if you want it.”
Arlo’s widening smile was the only answer he needed.
CHAPTERTWENTY
Lucian eschewed the tea bags in a mug approach, and instead brought out the pot bearing a print of Danebury Manor on one side, and the family crest on the other. The mugs, however, were the second best Target had to offer.
He kept his mind focused on what he was doing, because what he was really doing wasn’t up for scrutiny. Placing everything on a tray, and adding a packet of Hobnobs from the care package, he turned. And stopped. Arlo was studying the montage of photos that took pride of place on the wall next to the window overlooking the quiet side street.
His family and friends. The manor. The gardens. His animals.
Arlo turned and waved a hand at the photos. “Is this…?”
“Yes. Home and my family.” He put the tray down and joined Arlo. “That’s Mum, on the sofa, and the grizzled ball of wool on her lap wearing a Santa hat is my dog Wally. The goon grinning into the camera, because he’s had too many eggnogs, is my brother Eddie, and that’s my sister Bella, next to him.” Lucian smiled. He’d snapped the happy, carefree photo last Christmas Eve.
“This is my favorite, though.” He pointed to a smaller photo, dog-eared with age, of a boy and a man, both dark-haired, both with wide smiles, petting a puppy. “Me with my dad. It was my tenth birthday. The bundle of fluff’s a baby Wally. He was Dad’s special present to me.”
Arlo leaned in and narrowed his eyes. “You look more like your dad than you do your mom. So your dad’s Lord Blaxston?”
“Was. My brother now holds the title. Dad died the year after the photo was taken.”
“I’m sorry.” Arlo’s eyes brimmed with compassion.
“He was lovely, and I still miss him. Got lots of great memories, though, which I’ll always treasure. Anyway,” he said, moving away from the wall of photos and sinking into the couch, “shall we have tea?”
Arlo joined him. “Are you sure you’re not a member of the royal family? I mean, I never expected some kind of palace…”
“Palace?” Lucian laughed. “Thought you might have googled it, though.”
