“Oh boy…” Nick muttered while he cranked his neck from side to side. He took a sip of his drink and then braced his hands on the edge of the bar, preparing for whatever disaster was about to fly out of his friends mouth. “Ok, go… lay it on me.”
“I’m falling in love with her.” Luke said sadly.
“Fuck.” Nick said, thinking it was worse than he thought.
“Yeah.” Luke confirmed and took another gulp. He stared at the amber liquid as he placed the glass back on the wooden bar. “Love’s never come my way… why the fuck now? Why her?”
“Hell if I know.” Nick said and lifted his hand up to signal the bartender that they definitely needed refills. “I mean I suppose it could be worse.” Nick tried to remain optimistic.
“Worse than your brother dying and you fall helplessly in love with the love of his life?” Luke asked.
“How about we dissect that question? No, it doesn’t get worse than your brother dying.” He decided to go out on a limb. “Especially after you thought you would be the one to save him.” He knew he struck a nerve because Luke chose to turn his face to him at that moment and that’s when he slid the envelope into his hand.
“Christ, Jake gave you a letter too?” Luke asked as he put down his drink and took the envelope.
“What?” Nick asked confused.
“Cara found a letter Jake wrote to me before he died.” He looked down at the envelope in his hands. “She gave it to me over two months ago and I still haven’t read it, so if this is another message from the grave, I’m not opening it.”
“You’re fucked.” Nick said seriously.
“Thanks, man.” Luke said with a sigh.
Nick shook his head. “It’s not from Jake.” He said as he watched Luke open the envelope and pull out the papers it contained. “I found them in the office this morning.” When he originally came across the paperwork he thought this may be the perfect way to help Luke deal with losing Jake.
Luke looked down at the paperwork. “It’s the deed to the land I bought.”
“The land you bought to start up the garage to build custom bikes. The land you bought to start up Jake’s dream.” Nick offered.
Luke lifted his gaze from the paperwork. “A dream that we said we’d help create because he was sick, but ultimately the plan was to give him a chance to make his own dreams come true.”
“So what, you’re just going to hang onto that land for the hell of it? In all the years I’ve known you, you’ve never started something you didn’t finish. Why start now, man?”
“I don’t know… to be honest, I had forgotten all about it.” He admitted and glanced back at the deed. “It doesn’t feel right.” He looked up at Nick. “He’s not here to enjoy it so why the hell even bother?”
“Well, for starters, it’ll give you one last chance to do something for him.” Nick said, knowing his friend well enough to know that he felt like the transplant failed, despite the fact that it hadn’t. A lot of the guilt that Luke harbored had to do with the fact that Luke wasn’t able to save his little brother. Maybe Nick was wrong, maybe the idea of building a garage that specialized in customized bikes, wouldn’t help Luke grieve.
“I’ve already taken from him and now you want me to build a business that he wanted to build on his own and what? Reap the benefits of that too?” Luke shoved the papers back in the envelope. “I can’t do it.”
“Donate the profits.” Nick offered. “Start a foundation in his name. Do something that makes it okay for you to be the man that your brother looked up to.” He grabbed his drink and took a healthy swig. “I already ordered fifty thousand dollars in parts for motorcycles so I suggest you get the fuck on board with the idea.”
“You did what?” Luke asked absurdly.
“You’ll come around…” Nick said, shrugging off Luke’s anger. “As for the letter your brother left you? Read the fucking thing. I’m not going to pretend I knew why Jake did half the things he did, but seems like he asked you to take care of Cara for a reason. Maybe that reason is in that letter, maybe it’s for you to figure out on your own, but for the love of God, if Jake left me a letter I wouldn’t be able to stare at it for two months not knowing what it said.”
Luke looked at Nick absorbing his words and for no good reason other than his gut telling him too, he wrapped his arm around Nick and patted him on the back. “Jake loved you like a brother too. He’d be really thrilled that you were marrying our sister.”
* * * * *
Cara looked on, watching as a young couple took the dance floor at the restaurant that she, Sam and her two friends Phillip and Mallory were having dinner at. Smokey Sid’s Barbeque was a little hole in the wall that showcased cover bands on the weekends while they served up Riverdale’s best ribs. After their dress fittings the girls decided they wanted to indulge and chose Smokey Sid’s for dinner. Phillip met them there and after dinner they decided to stick around and listen to the band.
Sam tore her eyes from Mallory and Phillip, who were at the bar refilling their margarita’s and focused on Cara. She watched as her friend watched the couple on the dance floor with a faint smile on her face.
“I miss that.” Cara whispered and then looked back at Sam. “Sorry, I lost myself for a minute.”
Sam looked at the couple that laughed as they twirled around and around, not giving a damn who watched. She diverted her eyes back to Cara. “I miss watching it.” She said softly, meaning every word. Back in the day she loved going out with Jake and Cara. Jake was a dancer, loved to dance, and he would always drag Cara out on the dance floor. Even if there wasn’t a dance floor, if Jake heard a song he liked, he’d grab Cara and they’d dance.
“I used to hate to dance.” Cara said remembering. “The first time Jake and I went to a club, I stayed in the corner hiding from him the whole night. There were a bunch of us that night and Jake made it his goal to dance with everyone. I thought I’d just look ridiculous until he pulled me out of the corner and led me around the dance floor. I took his lead and followed his steps… and before I knew it, I was the one looking for him to dance with.” She laughed at the happy memory. “I miss that.”
“So dance.” Sam said.
“I have no one to dance with.” Cara said chuckling. “And I’m not that desperate to go dancing by myself missy.” She took a sip of her diet soda and looked up when Phillip and Mallory made their way back to the table with their glasses full.
“I’m a genius!” Phillip announced.
Sam laughed and eyed Cara, insinuating that this should be good, coming from a drunken Phillip. “Okay, I’ll bite. Why are you a genius?”
“Samantha, darling, I’ve come up with the perfect mate for our dear friend Mallory.” He said as he draped an arm around her shoulders.
“Don’t pay any attention to him. He’s wasted.”
Cara laughed. “Well, come on, let’s hear it.” She encouraged Phillip.
“Luke!”
“My brother Luke?” Sam asked taken back.
“Do we know another?” Phillip asked as he scratched his head trying to rack his brain.
Mallory rolled her eyes and plopped herself down in a seat, taking a long sip of her slushy margarita. “I may have admitted that I thought he was drop dead gorgeous.”
“Actually, you said you wouldn’t mind getting on top of that.” Phillip said in a matter of fact tone and took a seat beside Cara. He looked at her, nudging her with his elbow. “What do you think Cara? Since apparently Samantha needs a minute to take in my genius idea.”
Cara swallowed and looked at Mallory, who lifted an eyebrow, anticipating her answer. She was beautiful, Cara thought, and she seemed nice enough, but… she wasn’t good enough. She knew that sounded horrible, even inside her own head, but it’s what she felt. She looked at Mallory and she couldn’t see her being the woman that made Luke smile and he deserved to smile. He had a great smile. Mallory still had oats to sew, that was apparent in the way she carried herself, and ag
ain she wasn’t trying to demean her in any way.
Sam stared at Cara for a moment before turning to look at Phillip. “It’s a bad idea.” She looked at Mallory. ‘No offense, you know I love you. But Luke, well, he’s kind of taken.” She lied. Cara glanced up at Sam, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion.
“Lucky lady.” Mallory mumbled and then turned to Phillip. “Onto the next one?”
“Sorry sweets, really thought that was a solid one.” Phillip said reluctant to go on the prowl again finding Mallory a mate.
“Cara, come with me to the ladies room, these two are on a mission.” Sam said as she rose to her feet and nodded towards Mallory and Phillip who were perusing the restaurant for their next conquest.
Sam pulled her to her feet and tucked her arm around Cara’s and dragged her to the ladies room. “I love the both of them dearly, but they are a lot to handle when they’re drunk. And when you’re sober and they’re drunk? Well, they’re just crazy.”
“Why’d you tell them Luke was taken?” Cara asked once they were inside the bathroom.
“For starters, Mallory is all wrong for Luke. No use in setting them up only to end in disaster. Besides, he is kind of taken. You know how hectic his life is, he’s taken by everything he’s got on his plate. When does he have time for a woman?”
“I’m a woman. He took me to dinner last night.” Cara blurted out, leaving out how badly that went, still trying to get over the fact that her words sounded like she was confirming they went on a date.
Sam swung open the door to the stall. “You and Luke went to dinner?”
Shit! Way to go Cara. She decided now was a good time to reapply her lip gloss and turned around and faced the mirror, digging into her purse for the tube of gloss. “Yeah, so I mean that proves that if he can take me to dinner, then he can find the time to take any other woman.”
“Luke took you to dinner.”
“We’re friends Sam. You and I are at dinner aren’t we?”
“Luke took you to dinner.”
“Does he not eat dinner usually?” Cara asked incredulously wishing Sam wouldn’t make such a big deal of it.
Sam opened her mouth to say something when her phone rang. She reached into her purse and pulled it out, seeing that it was Nick on her Caller ID. “Hey, honey.” She said her eyes firmly on Cara through the mirror.
“Where are you?” He slurred into the phone. “And what are you wearing?”
She took her eyes off of Cara and looked at herself reflected in the mirror. “I’m at Smokey Sid’s and I’m wearing a green dress.” She couldn’t help but smile.
“What color underwear? No, don’t tell me… I want to be surprised, but I bet they’re nude.” Nick stated in his drunken stupor.
“Baby where are you?” She asked with a big smile on her face.
“Rudy’s.” He said and then she heard a muffled noise. “I’m not asking her that.”
“Not asking me what?” She insisted.
“Shit! You heard that. She heard you, asshole.” Nick said, elbowing Luke in the gut.
“Nick, what aren’t you asking me?”
He sighed and she could picture him rolling his eyes as if it pained him to ask. “Are you with Cara?”
“Yes, of course I am.” She said as it clicked in her head, that it was her brother asking.
“She’s with her. Are you satisfied?” Nick retorted. There was more shuffling and muffled noises before Sam heard Nick’s voice. “Fuck no, I will not. Dude, stop being a pansy and call her and ask her yourself. You do realize I’m on the phone with your sister right?”
“Nick, focus babe.” Sam said.
“Luke’s drunk.”
“Sounds like you are too.”
“Yeah, but he’s an annoying drunk. Stop it!” He ordered.
Sam covered her other ear with the palm of her hand, straining to make out what Luke was saying.
“I’m not asking Sam to find out what color underwear Cara’s wearing.” Nick said to Luke. “Babe you still there?”
“Uh… yeah.” Sam said, her eyes immediately returning to Cara.
“Can you come and get us?” Nick asked sweetly through his slur. “Okay, fine! I’ll ask.”
Sam turned around and stepped back inside the stall. “I’m not asking her what color underwear she’s wearing, Nick.” Sam whispered harshly into the phone. “I’m leaving now.”
“I love you baby.” Nick crooned into the phone.
“I love you too. No more drinks for you or Luke. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
“Get it together Lanza, Sam’s picking us up.” Sam heard Nick shout before she laughed slightly and hung up the phone. She stepped out of the stall and looked at Cara. “That was Nick.”
Cara smiled. “I figured as much. Is everything okay?”
“They need a couple of designated drivers.” She fibbed. “Mind driving Luke home?”
Cara crossed her arms against her chest and eyed Sam suspiciously. “He asked for me to drive him home?”
Sam shrugged her shoulders. “Does it matter? Come on, before they order more drinks and we have to peel them off the floor.”
“What about Phillip and Mallory?” Cara asked, letting Sam drag her out of the bathroom.
“I’ll text them, but I doubt we’ll be missed.” She said quite certain and headed for the door. Cara sighed heavily, so much for avoiding Luke for a day… and then she smiled because she was happy she was going to see him after all, even if he was inebriated.
* * * * *
“I’m getting married in less than a month.” Nick said shockingly as he sat beside Luke in the mostly empty bar.
“I know.” Luke said as he yawned and then he realized that before he knew it, they would all be in Cabo and he’d be tortured watching as Cara paraded around the beach in a bikini. He groaned. He lifted his head miserably and his eyes found the mesmerizing hazel ones that never failed to captivate him.
“Spunky.” He mumbled sure that his eyes were playing tricks on him.
“Hi.” Cara whispered softly.
Luke peered at her a moment before he reached out and let his fingertips graze her cheek softly. “You still mad at me?” He asked as he dropped his hand back to his side.
“No.” She said honestly watching as he sat up straight on the stool.
“I don’t like when you’re mad at me.” He confessed his eyes boring into hers.
“Man, I’m getting out of here.” Nick said, swaying on his feet with his arms wrapped around Sam.
Luke tore his eyes from Cara and looked over at Nick watching him attempt to nuzzle Sam’s neck. She giggled as he rubbed his hands along her stomach, showing the slightest hint of the evidence that Nick and Sam’s baby was growing there. His eyes reached his sisters and saw the happiness reflected in them and he smiled at her.
Sam untangled Nick’s arms from her waist and leaned into her brother wrapping her arms around him. He hugged her tightly with one arm wrapped around her.
“Take her dancing.” She whispered into his ear, giving Luke one final squeeze.
“I don’t dance.” He said, barely audible.
“Maybe it’s time you learned.” She whispered back before placing a fleeting kiss to his cheek.
Sam pulled back and winked at her brother. “I love you.” She mouthed.
“Ditto.” He said and then she took Nick’s hand and looked over her shoulder at Cara.
“You’ve got him?” She asked her.
Cara nodded before turning to Luke. “I’ve got him.” Sam glanced between them for a moment longer before she turned around taking Nick’s hand and walking out of Rudy’s, Nick guessing a different color of the rainbow with each step they took.
Cara took a step closer to Luke and then another until his knees brushed her thighs. She looked up at him from under the fringe of her dark lashes. Luke ran his palms down the length of his thighs resisting the urge to grab her waist and pull her between his legs and bury his face in her
neck.
“How drunk are you?” She asked, taking her lower lip between her teeth.
“I’m sobering up.”
“Liar.” She said accusingly with a smile. “You ready to go home?” She asked, cocking her head to the side.
He was drowning in the depths of her eyes. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the keys to his truck, handing them to her. She took the keys and stepped back, allowing him room to get off the stool. He groaned slightly when he first stood and then composed himself and followed her out of the bar.
She glanced around the lot until she found his truck. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure he was following her, before reaching for his hand and pulling him alongside of her. They walked to the truck in silence and then she unlocked it and opened the passenger door for him. He sighed and climbed in, leaning his head against the headrest and closing his eyes. She leaned over him and pulled his seatbelt across his body. As she secured the buckle she felt his hand on her cheek. The seatbelt clicked into place and she lifted her gaze to meet his. He softly brushed her hair back, tucking the strands behind her ears. He lifted his other hand and cupped her face, cradling it in the palms of his hands as he stared at her.
“You’re so goddamn beautiful.” He whispered huskily.
“Luke?” She said softly.
“I’m just looking at you, Cara.” He said defeated, but not willing to let go of her yet.
“No… that’s not it.” She shook her head slightly and then let out a heavy breath. “How drunk are you? Like on a scale from one to ten, ten being you won’t remember anything, five being a fifty-fifty shot you will, and one being the no chance in hell.”
“Five.” He said honestly.
“I really hope you remember.” She whispered before leaning in and pressing her lips softly against his. She kept her mouth still and looked into his eyes, seeing the surprise in them and watched as it was replaced by something else, something like want. She let her eyes drift closed and pressed her mouth firmly against his letting her lips become acquainted with the feel of his. His thumbs caressed her cheeks as his lips fused onto hers. She let her tongue slide out and run along his lower lip. His lips parted and she accepted the invitation, sliding her tongue over his. He tasted like liquor and the slightest hint of peppermint. Their tongues mingled for a moment exploring, testing the waters. For the first time in a long time something dormant in her sprung to life and she ran her fingers through his thick hair, pressing against the back of his head, holding his mouth to hers. She moaned into his mouth as his teeth nipped at her lower lip and he cocked his head to the side to get a better hold on her mouth. She pressed her mouth to his once, twice and again before she reluctantly pulled back. Her fingers still curled in his hair, her forehead resting against his. Her eyes remained closed as she took a much needed breath.
Fitting The Pieces (The Riverdale Series Book 3) Page 17