Crazy Love

by Highley, Kendra C.

  Luke sank back against his pillows. Parker was right—Luke could follow Charlotte’s advice and still work toward racing next week. “Okay, that’s the plan. I’ll tell Michael.”

  “Good. Now stop pouting and start figuring out how to make things up with Charlotte. Otherwise, you’ll race like shit.” Parker hopped up. “Now, I have a date. Zoey’s parents are over here for the evening, and we’re going to her house. We need some alone time.”

  “Spare me the details, bro.” Luke sat up slowly, waiting for the room to stop spinning. He hadn’t felt this off-kilter since his twenty-first birthday barhop. “Have a good time, though. I’m…I’m glad you two worked out.”

  Parker gave him a lopsided smile and leaned in for an awkward hug. “Thanks.”

  After his brother left, Luke had to wonder when the kid had become so smart. Maybe he always had been, but Luke hadn’t noticed because of his own ego. No, he hadn’t noticed. He’d done his own thing, consequences be damned. But the last few weeks had taught Luke something—going for what he wanted without thinking it through was a terrible way to live.

  Especially since karma was a bitch and gave people concussions to remind them they weren’t invincible, immortal, or even all that strong. The human body had limitations.

  And…he owed Charlotte an apology. It wouldn’t change his plans to race, but he’d been an asshole, which couldn’t stand. Charlotte wasn’t a distraction, and as soon as his head stopped hurting, he planned to chew out Michael for putting the thought into his head. For now, Luke would focus on the things that mattered—and he was capable of handling more than one at a time, thank you very much—and do the right thing.

  He picked up his phone, cursing the headache that started as soon as he focused on the screen. Are you there?

  He watched the screen. It made his eyes cross, but the message went from “delivered” to “read.”

  He let out a slow breath. Would she answer?

  C: Yes. How’s your head?

  Luke closed his eyes a moment. She’d written back. Hurts. But someone told me my brain is bruised, so I’m not surprised.

  C: Well, yeah.

  L: When you come back to Aspen, can we talk?

  There was a long pause. Finally: Yes. New Year’s Day, the café. We both need a little time to sort things out.

  If she was willing to talk to him, Luke would wait until June if she asked. I’ll be there around ten. See you then.

  C: Get some rest in the meantime. Pls take care of yourself.

  L: I will.

  But only as much as he had to until he could get onto the mountain.

  “You’re getting better,” Dr. Sloan, Michael’s favorite sports medicine guy, said. “Your scores are approaching normal.”

  Luke nodded, noticing it didn’t hurt when he moved his head. The fogginess and blurred vision was gone, too. His balance was slightly off, but it was only New Year’s Eve. In two days, he’d feel better. “Can I take it again on the second, before I do my walk-through at Buttermilk? USSA will want clean results.”

  Dr. Sloan tapped his pen against the page. “Sure. The odds are good that you’ll be ready. I get what the ER doctor was telling you, but the concussion was mild, and you’ve taken care of yourself. No promises, but I think you’ll be able to race.”

  Thank God. “Good.”

  “But you should not practice before then. I know that sucks, but you need to stay off the board until we run through the diagnostic on the second.” Dr. Sloan’s pen now pointed at Luke’s forehead. “I will not have scrambled brains on my record.”

  “Noted.” Luke shook his hand. “Thanks.”

  “Don’t mention it.” Dr. Sloan handed Luke the readout. “Give that to Michael. He needs it in case a USSA official starts sniffing around. Your concussion was pretty public. They’ll be looking.”

  “Yeah, I bet they will.” And probably because Tucker tipped them off. “I’ll see you in a few days.”

  Luke left the doctor’s office feeling both elated and restless. His entry into the race looked good, but he couldn’t work out or take a run up at Snowmass. The thing with Charlotte would stay unresolved until tomorrow. The only good thing was his dad had come home and was moving very slowly around the house under his own steam.

  Not sure what to do, Luke started his Jeep and turned out of the parking lot, only realizing he was headed for the café when he was halfway up the mountain. He had no idea what kind of welcome he’d get, but today was his last day for free food, and he finally had an appetite for more than soup and oatmeal.

  The bell above the door dinged like always when he came in. A woman he didn’t recognize asked him if he wanted a table, and he pointed at the bar. It wasn’t the same without Charlotte.

  “Well, if it isn’t the boy wonder.” Evangeline appeared at the bar and set a mug of coffee in front of him. “How’s the head?”

  “Better. How’s Kit?”

  “Very good.” She gave him a sly smile. “That’s all on you.”

  He’d heard—gossip from the circuit flew faster than the snowboards. “Should I apologize or expect a thank-you?”

  “Definitely a thank-you.” Evangeline pulled out her order pad. “Which is why I haven’t kicked you out for dumping Charlotte like an asshole. I’m feeling forgiving.”

  Shame curled in Luke’s stomach. “I was an asshole, but I also had a concussion. I don’t really…remember everything. I do remember saying stupid things I’ll never get to take back.”

  “Oh, you definitely said stupid things.” She raised an eyebrow. “Charlotte wasn’t happy at all.”

  Well, shit. “I’m going to meet up with her tomorrow, grovel some. See if she’ll give me another chance.”

  “Good. I think you two work better together. It might be hard to convince her of that, though.” Evangeline produced a pen from her apron. “What’s for breakfast? And don’t even say, ‘the usual.’”

  “I’m not feeling like the usual anyway. Denver omelet?”

  “Very good, sir. Coming right up.” Evangeline looked over her shoulder at the kitchen. “Dad! Charlotte’s young man is here!”

  Luke put a hand over his face. The entire café had to have heard that. Mr. Bzdyl came plowing out of the kitchen, still carrying a spatula. “Luke! Evangeline says you bumped your head. It’s okay?”

  Bumped my head…that’s one way to put it. “Yes, sir. Much better.”

  Mr. Bzdyl wagged the spatula at him. “You be more careful. Who else will chase down hooligans for lovely Charlotte?”

  Luke smiled. “I’ll do my best.”

  Evangeline nudged her father aside and refilled Luke’s coffee. Once Mr. Bzdyl was out of earshot, she said, “Charlotte’s flight lands at six twenty. She took an Uber to the airport. Might be nice if someone showed up to drive her home. Too bad I have a hot date tonight, otherwise I’d go get her.”

  Luke stared at the bar, rubbing at a coffee stain. “Think she’d get into my car?”

  “Only one way to know for sure.” Evangeline winked and went to wait on another table. As she passed by, she said, “Don’t break her heart, though. I’m hell to deal with when I hold a grudge.”

  “I believe you.” Luke watched her go. Evangeline loved Charlotte, that was certain. If she thought he should go pick up Charlotte, then he would.

  And hopefully, she’d accept.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Charlotte

  “I’m going to miss you.” Emily gave Charlotte a big hug. “You have to come back to take me prom dress shopping. Promise.”

  “I promise.” Charlotte squeezed her sister tight. Emily had driven her to the airport, and it was really hard to let go, knowing she wouldn’t be back for a while. “And you promise to call me if you need me.”

  “I will, but Charlotte, we’re doing okay. I was scared last week when Mom fell, but she’s strong, and I can be, too.” Emily let her go and smiled. “Good luck with Luke. And, if you ever take a picture of him with his shirt
off, you better text it to me.”

  Charlotte laughed. “Okay, that’s a little weird. Besides, you’re dating a football player. I don’t think you need any more encouragement.”

  “True.” Emily kissed her cheek. “See you soon.”

  “Love you, sis. Be good.”

  Charlotte turned to walk into the airport, and Emily called, “Love you, too. And you don’t be good!”

  Charlotte waved over her shoulder. “Count on it.”

  The flight back to Aspen seemed shorter than the flight home. Charlotte had taken her mother’s advice to let Luke be Luke and to worry about what she wanted. And what she wanted was to pass her MCAT…and see if she could make things work with Luke. That didn’t mean her heart wouldn’t be in her throat every time he competed, but watching him out there was sexy as hell. She didn’t want to give that up, even with the risk.

  Besides, she liked him. A lot. This wasn’t something she could just let go because of an argument.

  She gathered up her bags and followed the line of people into the terminal. Fumbling with her phone to find the Uber app, she pushed through the security doors. A man in a hurry bumped into her, mumbling an apology, and she dropped her phone.

  “Shit!” Charlotte bent to pick it up, but someone got there first.

  She recognized the hand…and the bit of wrist showing beyond the cuff of his flannel shirt.

  Charlotte straightened up slowly. Luke held out her phone, giving her a crooked smile. “It looks fine. No scratches or anything.”

  “I buy good cases.” Yeah, because that’s what’s important right now. “What are you doing here?”

  “Evangeline wanted to pick you up, but she’s out with Kit, so I came.”

  It was stupid to feel disappointed, but Charlotte’s stomach clenched. Was he only here because Evangeline had asked? “Oh. Thanks for covering for her.”

  He reached for her carry-on. “I wanted to. I needed to see you.”

  Charlotte met his eyes, seeing an apology there. And more. “I wanted to see you, too. We could go to my place, have some coffee?”

  Or whiskey. I could really go for a shot or two.

  “Sounds good.” He led her out of the main terminal to his Jeep. “I wanted you to know I heard what you said the other day.”

  Once he hopped into the driver’s seat and started the car, she asked, “What did I say?”

  “About being safe. Taking the concussion seriously.” He shifted into reverse. “I’ve been seeing a sports medicine specialist at the hospital. He’s a doctor Michael knows. I’m going through the ImPACT protocol. I go back the morning of the walk-through, and he thinks I’ll be cleared to race.”

  Charlotte’s eyes widened. “Really? That’s great!”

  And it was—if he passed the protocol, they both got what they wanted. He’d be able to race, and she’d have the relief of knowing he wasn’t snowboarding while impaired. He’d be fit and ready, and she’d be there to cheer him on.

  “Yeah.”

  “Still…” She swallowed hard. “What about all that ‘You’re a distraction’ crap? I don’t want to hang around if you still think I’m going to mess you up.”

  “Charlotte…” He glided to a stop at a light outside the airport and turned to meet her eyes. “You’re not a distraction. Not a negative one anyway,” he added with a lopsided smile. “I let a few people get into my head and was stupid enough to listen, but I’m done with all that. I was an asshat, and I’m so damn sorry. I don’t want to lose you.”

  They started moving again, and Charlotte was glad for the distraction. This way, he wouldn’t see the tears in her eyes. “You sure?”

  He nodded, staring straight ahead. His hands were tight on the steering wheel. “Absolutely.”

  She let out a shaky sigh. “To be fair, I kind of let myself get distracted, too. I wasn’t studying enough for the MCAT, and I’m all sorts of freaked out about it. I can handle it, though. I can handle this. Let’s both agree it’s bullshit and try to make this work.”

  He flashed her a relieved smile. “I’m good with that.”

  “So, uh, how’s your head now?” She wasn’t going to comment on the fact that he was driving, but she wanted to know either way.

  “Much better. Before, I wasn’t thinking straight for a day or so. After I came to my senses, I realized I should’ve listened to you. Since then, I’ve been good, and made progress. Still, the USSA probably knows about the concussion by now. I wouldn’t put it past Tucker to report me after Kit roughed him up in front of everyone. But if I have clearance from the doctor, there’s nothing he can do to stop me.”

  Except send Luke sprawling. “Hopefully he’s learned his lesson.”

  “Doubtful. But it’s fine. I’m faster, bigger, and stronger. The only reason he got the jump on me is by coming up behind me and hitting me blind. He’ll be disqualified if he tries that shit at the race, so all I have to do is stay in front of him.”

  “Which you will,” Charlotte said. “You’re going to beat him and put him back at the kids’ table.”

  Luke laughed. “I think you’re more pissed at him than I am. Want to be my bodyguard?”

  “Yes, because it’s a nice body, and I don’t want anything to happen to it,” Charlotte blurted out.

  Luke gave her a sidelong glance, his gaze searing. “You think so, huh?”

  Charlotte flushed from her forehead to her toes. Just one look, and she was ready to throw herself at him. “Yes. Yes I do.”

  “I feel the same way about yours, you know.” Luke’s hands tightened on the steering wheel, and Charlotte noticed their speed had jumped up a bit. “I feel that way about all of you. Your strength, your brains, the way you don’t bullshit anyone. You’re you, all the way through. That’s something I’ve struggled with, but you make me want to try harder.”

  Her jaw fell open. “You mean that?”

  He pulled into a space in the resort parking lot and turned to look at her, his expression dead serious. “Yeah.”

  She leaned across the console and kissed him. He seemed a little surprised by that, so it was a second before he caught on and kissed her back. He was more tentative than he had been before, and it was sweet.

  Have I domesticated a former player? Charlotte let out a soft chuckle against his mouth.

  Luke broke away and pressed his forehead to hers. “What?”

  “Nothing.” She kissed his jaw, loving the way he tensed up at her touch. “Let’s go inside.”

  The café was dark and quiet when she let them in through the front door. Charlotte took a deep breath of cinnamon-, coffee-, and bacon-scented air and realized she’d missed it more than she’d expected. She’d needed a dose of Arizona, and being home had calmed something inside of her, but now she felt like the café was welcoming her back, glad she’d come home.

  “What is it? You look a million miles away,” he said. “Is something wrong?”

  “Nothing’s wrong.” She took his hand. “I’m fine.”

  More than, really.

  “Oh, okay. Good.” He held up her suitcase, his voice hopeful. “Should I carry your bag up? Or do you want me to stay down here?”

  A weight lifted from Charlotte’s shoulders. She wanted to give this—them—another try. “Come up,” she said. “Let’s talk.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Luke

  She’d asked him up. That was good, right? She hadn’t refused the ride home, and she’d kissed him. But, the “Let’s talk” had him rattled.

  Goddamn it. This is not you, man. You aren’t a scared rabbit. Go up there, face whatever, and deal with it.

  Luke squared his shoulders and nodded. He picked up her bag and followed her upstairs to her little apartment. Charlotte went around turning on lights, but the room was cold, and he noticed her shivering.

  Enough—he was owning this situation.

  Luke set her bag down near her dresser, then went to build a fire in her fireplace. He’d gotten pretty good
at it during his brief stint in Boy Scouts, and winters here offered a lot of practice. Besides, having something to do with his hands made things less awkward.

  Charlotte came to stand behind him. “Thanks. It’s freezing in here. I turned down the heat to sixty-five, but the thermostat said sixty-one.”

  “Yeah, you have to leave the heat running a little warmer if you’re going to be gone more than just a day during winter, especially up here, where it’s colder and windier.” The little flame he’d coaxed into life was rapidly catching on the dry firewood. It wouldn’t be long before it put out good heat.

  When he couldn’t mess with it anymore without looking like he was stalling, he went to the couch without being asked and sat. “So…talk?”

  Charlotte glided over and sank down next to him. Right next to him, so they were touching. She kicked off her boots and tucked her feet under her, causing her to lean into him even more. “Simple—I want you in my life. I was miserable when we broke up. I’m glad you’re feeling better. And I hope you kick Tucker’s ass at the race.”

  Luke blinked. “That’s it? Because I’m the one who needed to apologize.”

  “And you did.” Charlotte snuggled in closer, her body warm and soft against his. “It was my turn. Are we good?”

  Heat crept up the back of Luke’s neck. Good? Good? He was great. “Absolutely. I missed you while you were home.”

  “I missed you, too.” She leaned up to kiss his cheek. “But I’d rather you show me.”

  So what if the room was on the chilly side? Luke felt like he would burn any second. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her onto his lap. “Are you sure about that? Because I’ve been sitting around the last few days and have a lot of pent-up energy I’d really like to expend.”

  Charlotte laughed and met his eyes. Hers sparkled. “That sounds like it could be fun.”

  That’s all she had to say. Luke covered her mouth with his own, feeling like he’d finally come home. If home was where the heart was, he’d found his. She curled into him, pressing her chest into his, and he held her tighter.