A minute later, Luc’s opening his front door and letting me go ahead, the familiar bachelor-pad décor of dark and wooden tones wrapping around me like a warm fluffy blanket.It makes sense, considering I spend half of my non-working time here.
“Are we eating at the island or the coffee table?”I ask, waiting by the long black leather sectional that breaks up the living and kitchen space.
Luc closes the fridge, two beers in hand, before he makes quick work of the bottle caps then grabs the two red paper bags from the counter and walks toward me with a smile.“If you want to grab the utensils and some napkins, I'll get us set up in front of the TV, ready to watch whatever rom-com you’re going to torture me with tonight.”
“You know you don’thaveto be tortured right?You could justadmityou enjoy them,” I say with an exaggerated sigh, earning a sexy smirk from the man who tortures me without even knowing he’s doing it.
Why is it that every damn time I think I can live with just being friends with him, he acts like the most perfect boyfriend in the world?
“Thanks, beautiful,” he says, shooting me a grin when I return to the couch and take a seat at the other end.
“Why you all the way over there?”
I tilt my head and smirk.“Just making sure you can’t steal anything off my plate.”
He gasps, feigning offence with a flat hand over his grey CPD tee.“Would I do that?”
I snort as I sit on the edge of the couch, holding my plate out while Luc dishes the food between us.“You forget I know you, Luc.You’re always stealing my food.”
“Maybe it’s all mine and I’m just sharing it withyou??”He snickers before stuffing a guac-stacked corn chip into his mouth.
I roll my eyes and lean back into my seat, wrapping an arm around my plate like I’m guarding it.“Okay, Luc.Whatever you say.”
“Good.Now, you ready to watch another lovey-dovey movie?Can you at least pick one with a tortured vampire or something manly?”
“A vampire?”I say, arching a brow.“That’s your definition of manly?”
“Because he’s immortal, he doesn’t get the random grey hairs or these little wrinkles around his face like usnormalmen do.”He squints, making his eyes crinkle.“Gives a mortal man like me something to dream about.”
Without thinking, I lean over and gently pat his cheek, biting my lip to stop myself from laughing at his disgruntled expression as I shift back.“Don’t worry, Luc.You’d be just as handsome as you are now if you were a vampire.”
He grunts around his mouthful of a crispy bean tostada.“Bet you say that to everyone.”
“Yeah, Luc.Becauseeveryoneneeds reassurance from theirmuchyounger best friend about not getting old and wrinkly.”
“That’s why you’re my girl.You’ll always make me look younger than I am.”
“True!Good to see I have a purpose in life.”
“You’re not just here to make me look good.You know that, right?”
I roll my eyes—again—but this time it’s to hide the nervous spike in my pulse as to what’s going to come out of his mouth next.When he’s all mushy like this—one of my favorite sides of the man—it’s hard to know what he might say.“Yes, Luc.I’m here to keep thehordesof women from beating down your door.”
He lightly taps my ankle with his.“Exactly!And you’re my best friend.I can’t imagine watching these lovey-dovey movies with anyone else but you.You’re my girl.It’s what we do.”Then he lifts the remote and pushes play.
As the movie starts, and we eat our dinner in comfortable silence, I can’t help but wonder how long it will be before hecanimagine being just like this with another woman—one that’snotme.Or maybe it’s time I start looking for someone else to watch lovey-dovey movies with that I can actually cuddle with while doing it, like I really wish I could do with Luc right now.
All I know is, something has to change, and maybe if Luca won’t see what’s right in front of him, then it’s time I keep my eyes open for someone who can.