How (Not) to Fall in Love(32)

Liz had left me written notes, but I sat back and cradled my hand while Lucas pushed buttons until the register spewed out a long tape showing all the day’s sales. We counted all the cash and then added up the credit card receipts.

Lucas grinned. “Now let’s see how much free stuff Liz gave away.”

“Huh?”

“Pay attention,” he commanded.

The register tape said we had sold $179.45 worth of food and drink. The cash and credit card receipts added up to $159.37.

“Net loss of $20.08,” Lucas said. He sighed. “I don’t know how she does it.”

“Does what?” I was confused.

“Gives away stuff for free and still manages to keep this place open.” He shrugged. “Charlie says the rent for these places is really cheap. Somehow the two of them manage to pay it each month.”

“Does Charlie give away stuff, too?”

Lucas grinned. “Are you kidding? Of course he does. He’s a total sucker. So is Liz. Guess they’re made for each other that way.”

“That’s pretty cool.” A bitter laugh escaped me. “Maybe if things hit bottom for Mom and me, we can get free food from Liz. And some clothes from Charlie.” I wanted to snatch the words back as soon as I said them.

Lucas gazed at me for what felt like forever. “How bad is it, Darcy?”

The directness of his question made me wince. “So bad I don’t even know how to talk about it,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Then maybe you should talk about it.” He crossed his arms over his chest. What would it feel like to have his arms around me? To have him hold me while I spilled out all my fears?

I turned away and shrugged. “Denial is working pretty well so far.”

“Maybe for a while. But the truth beats the crap out of denial. Eventually.” He sighed heavily. “Believe me, I know.”

I looked at him, surprised. “Yeah?” Curiosity consumed me. What skeletons lurked in the closet of Mr. Magic Hands? What truths had he run from?

He turned back to the register and busied himself locking the cash and credit card receipts into a small metal box bedazzled with purple and pink rhinestones. “I’ll show you where to hide this, then we should go.”

The hiding place was in Liz’s fairy cave, under a table covered by star-and-moon patterned fabric. The table looked like it might tip over from the weight of the haphazard stacks of books.

“Very secure,” I observed.

Lucas looked up from where he knelt on the floor, grinning. “It works for Liz. You are now only the fourth person who knows the secret location of Ft. Knox.”

“Hmm…Liz, Charlie, you and me?” I guessed.

“Yep.” He stood up and brushed his hands on his jeans. “Let’s roll. My car’s in the alley.”

After double-checking the front door to make sure it was locked, we turned off the lights in Fairyland. We emerged from the back door into the alley, which was shrouded in darkness.

“Did Liz give you a key?” Lucas asked.

“What? Oh yeah, she did.” I dug in the pocket of my jeans, glancing over my shoulder nervously.

“Are you scared?” There was a hint of laughter in his voice.

I glanced at him and saw his perfect lips curve into a mocking smile. Stubbornly, I jammed the key into the lock, once I managed to find the keyhole in the dark. So what if I was scared? Any normal person would be nervous in a dark alley. Just because Magic Hands was used to it didn’t make me weird.

“She definitely needs a light back here,” I muttered.

“Yeah. But she and Charlie always leave together. Plus she knows everybody in the ’hood. She feeds most of the homeless guys so I don’t think she worries about it.”

The lock clicked into place. “Ready?” I asked. My eyes had adjusted well enough to the dark to see that he was still grinning. So what if I was jittery and wanted to get out of the dark alley? I wasn’t as brave as Liz.

“Don’t worry, Shaker Girl,” Lucas said, and before I could respond, he slung his arm over my shoulders. “My car is right over there. I think we’ll make it there in one piece. Plus you’ve got those badass, shirt-stealing ninja moves if anyone jumps us.”

I went completely mute. How could I expect to keep up a witty convo with him so close, with the warmth of his arm and the proximity of the rest of him driving all thoughts out of my head? Neither of us spoke as we walked down the alley toward a black car. It was awkweirdly awesome.

Lucas dropped his arm to unlock the passenger door of his car. The physical contact had been way too short, and I sighed.

Out loud.

“You okay?” he asked, leaning on the door, waiting for me to get in.

“Oh yeah. I’m just…um, tired.” How lame. I sank into the passenger seat of his muscle car.

When Lucas slid into the driver’s seat, my senses went into hyperdrive and I told myself to get a grip.

“I just need to let someone know I’m running a little late.” He had his phone out, fingers flying over a text.

Stomach plummet. Of course. The goddess Heather was waiting.

“I really don’t mind taking the bus,” I said. “You have plans and—”

“Don’t be stupid,” he cut me off. “I’m giving you a ride. My plans are flexible.”