How (Not) to Fall in Love(49)

Liz flitted around the cover model couple, forcing them to pose while she snapped photos. I’d wondered why she hadn’t left for the concert when I arrived. I busied myself washing clean cups, trying not to stare, while my heart shattered even more.

Sal leaned over the counter, talking under her breath. “Darcy, honey, when it’s time for you to finally pick your boy toy, he’s the one.”

“Shut up,” I hissed.

“Oh, come on, sweetie. He’s unbelievable. I didn’t know they made them like that in this neighborhood or I would’ve moved here years ago.”

“You’re obnoxious.”

“Yet still you love me.”

I threw a towel at her just as Lucas and Heather approached us. Sal dodged the towel, which hit Lucas in the chest. Just kill me now. I was already dying inside anyway. “Sorry, Lucas,” I muttered, mortified.

He bent down to retrieve the towel, and then tossed it to me, a tense smile on his movie star face. I stuffed the towel in the hamper under the sink as Heather watched us, annoyance wrinkling her tiny, perfect nose.

“Darcy, you remember Heather,” he said, his jaw tight as he inclined his head toward her.

I wiped my hands on my apron. “You look amazing,” I said to Heather, forcing a smile. I glanced at Lucas. “You both do.” Lucas ducked his head and I thought I saw his neck redden slightly, but Heather nodded, as if I’d only stated the obvious.

“I didn’t think you were working tonight,” Lucas said, looking up, his brow furrowed.

I cleared my throat, noticing that Heather was antsy, obviously ready to leave. “It was last minute. Liz asked me to close up so she can leave early for a concert with Charlie.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Closing solo?”

“Sure.” I forced a smile I didn’t feel. “I’ll be fine. I know where the first aid kit is.”

His answering smile looked forced, too. I missed his easy, sexy grin. Heather tugged on his arm. “We should get going, Luke. Our reservations are at seven thirty.” Luke? I’d never heard anyone call him that, unless I counted Pickles calling him Lukie.

Lucas glanced curiously at Sal, who’d been watching our exchange intently.

“Sorry,” I said. “Forgot my manners. This is my friend Salena. Salena, this is Lucas.”

I paused. “And this is Heather.”

“Call me Sal,” she said, offering her hand to Lucas, batting her eyelashes while ignoring Heather. Heather’s eyes narrowed. “So is this just a regular Friday look for you two?” Sal asked.

Lucas laughed nervously. Heather didn’t. “It’s, uh, Homecoming,” he said, turning away from me to face Sal. “We’re on our way to dinner.” He glanced over his shoulder at me. “I told Charlie and Liz we’d stop by. Photo op. They insisted.”

I nodded. “They would.”

Sal tapped a finger on her chin. “No offense, Lucas, but you look a tad old to be a high school dance escort.”

His eyes widened, then he laughed. “You think they won’t let me in? I graduated from Sky Ridge two years ago.”

“I’m a senior at Sky Ridge High,” Heather piped up. “Luke and I met last summer.” She looked up at him, dreamy-eyed.

Liz rushed back into the store, an out-of-breath Charlie trailing behind her. “Oh, thank goodness you’re still here. I ran next door to borrow Charlie’s video camera.”

“Looks like you borrowed Charlie, too,” I said. Liz bopped around like Lucas was her son.

Lucas briefly closed his eyes, looking embarrassed as Charlie zoomed in on him with the camera. “You guys are too much.” His voice sounded strained.

Heather giggled. “I want copies of the video.” Behind her, Sal stuck a finger down her throat, pretending to puke.

One of the knitting ladies circled around the paparazzi hubbub and asked me for a latte. I was never so happy to wait on someone in my life.

“Have fun tonight,” I heard Charlie say over all the chattering. “You can party all night, Lucas. You’ve got the day off tomorrow.”

I tried not to imagine Lucas spending all night with Heather. They finally left, Heather waving to everyone like she was on top of a float. Lucas looked distracted, nodding a curt good-bye to Liz and Charlie, not even looking my way as the door closed behind them.

Sal turned to me, looking like the Cheshire cat. “My, my. How very interesting.”

My heart ricocheted wildly in my chest. Lucas thought of us as friends. But seeing him with Heather made me realize how much I cared. How much I wanted something more.

Give it up, Darcy. It doesn’t matter how much you want it.

Guys like Lucas were destined for girls like Heather. It was an unwritten law of the universe.

“Don’t you have a party to go to?” I slammed coffee mugs into the sink.

Sal shrugged. “I do. But I’m glad I didn’t miss all that drama.”

Liz joined us at the counter, bubbling like a shaken-up soda can. “Weren’t they something? My goodness, she was so beautiful. And Lucas…” Her voice trailed away as she looked at me. She cleared her throat and some of the fizz went out of her voice. “Darcy, thanks so much for closing up tonight. Charlie and I are so appreciative.”

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. I imagined Liz and Sal examining me like a lab specimen, wondering how the sight of Lucas and Heather together had affected me. I couldn’t let them know how much it had.