Lucas

Allie hasn't seen or heard from Ted and I'm glad he took the warning so far. It was the first night I had to go home to get ready for this stupid booster whatever. I have a suit, so I threw it on.

After, of course, I romanced the hell out of my damn house. She agreed to the weekend here, and I'm making the most of it. She won't want to leave, which is exactly what I am going for.

Champagne, strawberries, scented candles, and I even got the stupid rose petals. I bought something called an "essential oils diffuser" and spent an hour figuring out what the fuck it does. It has mood lighting on it so that was the main priority. I downloaded "Sexy Jazz Instrumentals" because I don't think the Black Eyed Peas would do it for her. At least, not for tonight.

If she wanted to take a bath, I got daisies to go in the water. I thought they would look better. Oh, and some tiny candles that are supposed to float on the top of the water.

Per her reasonable demands, everything Kat-related has been removed from the house. I just have to get through the next four hours of my life. I already know how I'll pass the time. I got Allie a gift. Well, two. One with a shiny rock in a tiny box. I think she will like the engraving.

Love, Lucas-freaking-Kennedy.

That's the point. I'm going to tell her that. She knows, but I need her to know. Tom saw the ring and congratulated me. Then he said not to screw things up for myself.

I've never screwed things up with her. This time.

After we leave the stupid dinner, we're going to a little spot I happen to like on the edge of the lake and I am going to ask her. If I chicken out, Tom threatened to tell Jadon who would spill the beans.

When I pull up to Tom's house, I know the rusted Volkswagen parked out front belongs to the one and only Charity. Allie has gone into great detail letting me know that Charity is actually dating some fireman. I don't particularly care, but we are having a "brunch" at my house next weekend and Charity is bringing the guy and Joel is going to show up.

I get the feeling he's still hung up on her so things might get interesting. It wasn't my idea, I should add. It was Allie's and she's the one that didn't want to tell either of them.

I don't need to knock, but for the sake of this, I will.

Charity leans her head against the doorframe. "Ah, Lucas... don't you look handsome as always?" She's in a striped tank top with a cow giving me the finger and some shorts that look like she ripped them herself.

"Charity, you look like you're about to go to the Milk Alternative Convention."

She snorts like a pig and I know she's not going to hate me. "Come in."

Stepping inside, I somehow feel more nervous than I did the first time I walked in here to confront Allie about Jadon. My stomach is in knots.

"Allie!" Damn, Charity is loud. "Lucas is here!"

"Daddy!" Jadon comes running through the house and jumps in my arms.

"Hey buddy, what are you up to?"

I can tell Charity takes on the "cool aunt" role in his life. "Auntie Cherry gave me popsicles."

Popsicles. Not popsicle. "Oh yeah? How many?"

"Six!"

Charity shrugs. "We're pulling an all-night rager, Lucas. I set up the virtual reality and we are going to walk on the moon. Then count the starts, and whatever else. We are young and this is summer."

Oh, Allie's gonna love that one. "Have fun." I noticed Tom was already gone so we will just see him at the event. It's at a country club close by.

Jadon hops down and runs off to the kitchen. He said something about getting another popsicle.

"She's going in jeans. She couldn't decide what to wear."

I roll my eyes. "She texted me to pick a color. I know that's not true." Whatever her dress looks like, I chose red.

"That was for her underwear, idiot." Wait, really? Charity fucking laughs when I look at her. "Wow, you're gullible. But seriously, have fun or I'll find you. I'm tiny but mighty."

"You and that empty gun in your purse?"

She shrugs. "Not so empty now."

Allie rounds the corner at the top of the stairs and that feeling comes back to me. She is, in fact, in a dress the same color as a rose. The short skirt looks like rose petals all folded together. From the waist up, it's tight around her and her boobs...

I could put my face in them.

Nope. None of that. I need to at least wait until we make it out the door.

Allie's lips are painted with a dark red lip gloss or stain. Whatever they call it these days.

None of it matters. When she smiles, I think my heart stops for a second knowing it's for me. It's like moving forward together, but going backward in time.

Her hair is down, and I can smell it from here.

"You look handsome, Lucas," she says. I know I'm supposed to speak, but what am I supposed to say?

"You look..." I clear out my throat because I don't even know what to say.

"He means beautiful, Allie."

When the hell did Charity get here? This is my damn dream come true and I didn't invite her.

Allie's eyebrows climb her forehead. "Are we going to leave?"

"Sure, where are we going?"

"Umm..." she looks over at Charity and back at me. "To the dinner?"

Oh. Right. "Yeah, I was just... you look beautiful. Say goodnight to Jadon."

She giggles and walks into the kitchen. There's a heavy object thrown in my chest. "What the fuck?"

"It's her bag, Lucas. She needs clothes."

No, she doesn't.

Allie comes back out and points at Charity. "You really let him have four popsicles? Really?"

Four?

"I think he's at eight now."

Allie opens her mouth, but I pull her by the hand. "Let's go. Charity can deal with the aftermath."

She towers over me just a little, and I'm not complaining, honestly. It's maybe an inch or two and I am that much closer to her chest. "Come on, I got you a present."

Her eyes light up as we make our way to my car. Yes, car. The one we were in on her birthday and the one from the night we met. I'm thinking this car is good luck for me. For us, rather.

"What did you get me?"

"You'll see."

Yeah, I'm going to ask her tonight.