I Know Lucy (A Fugitive #1)(4)

Danville was a small pocket of a town near San Francisco. I moved here when I was eight. My grandfather died leaving my dad this really healthy inheritance and they decided they wanted to try a small town for a while. So they picked one of the wealthiest towns in California. I’m not sure if that’s why Mom had always loved Danville or not, but when they both scored teaching jobs here, we packed our Sacramento bags and headed closer to the coast. I really love it. It’s a cool town and I’d made cool friends. I’m not saying I didn’t want to spread my wings and see some more of the world, but as far as childhood’s go, I think it’s safe to admit that I’d had a pretty sweet ride and I was grateful for it.

I slid my tray onto the table and took a seat, tucking my bag behind my feet.

“So, which one’s the new flame?” AJ arched his eyebrow. It popped up above his thick-rimmed, rectangular glass. He was wearing his bright orange pair today. So AJ. The guy’s fashion sense was off the charts.

I unwrapped my sandwich, giving him a droll look before firing a warning shot at Elliot.

“What!” He threw his hands up. “I haven’t had a chance to tell them yet.”

“It was Jaeda actually.” Liesl’s smile was all sweet like.

Damn it, that grin could win any guy over. I snorted out a chuckle and picked up my sandwich.

Liesl was one of the most beautiful girls I’d ever met. She was long and lean with dark floating hair and deep brown eyes. Her model looks turned most heads - guys and girls. But the best thing about her was…she didn’t notice any of them. She was the nicest, sweetest human being on the planet and she proved it on a daily basis.

“So?” AJ kicked me under the table. “Which one?”

Knowing they wouldn’t let up until I gave in, I swiveled my head and scanned the area for her. “She’s not here.” I turned back and took a large bite of my ham and cheese sandwich, hoping to stall any conversation for a minute.

“There she is.” Elliot pointed over my head and we all turned, very unsubtly, to take a look.

Thankfully Dani was looking the other way so couldn’t see us all gawking at her. Her thin frame eased through the traffic, her straw colored hair catching on the breeze, a few wisps tickling her delicate nose. She had an apple in her hand and as she turned in our direction, I quickly spun around.

She headed past us without looking our way. I nearly called out for her to join us, but somehow I knew she’d politely refuse.

I watched her walk over the green grass and head for an isolated tree. I would have kept studying her if AJ hadn’t kicked me again.

“Would you quit it?” I kicked him back.

He gave me his big, cheesy grin. The one that made his round cheeks score with deep dimples. “What is it with you and skinny waifs anyway?”

I frowned, pointing at Liesl. “What are you talking about? You’re dating one.”

Wrapping his large arm around his slight girlfriend, he gave me a pointed look. “Liesl Ekland is not a waif. She is a gift from heaven. An angel in human form, sent to dwell among us.”

We all rolled our eyes as AJ began his standard speech about the love of his life.

“Oh no, he’s not doing the Liesl speech, is he?” Jaeda dumped her bag on the table as Liesl elbowed her boyfriend with a blush.

“Angus, stop it.”

Elliot and I snickered. AJ hated being called Angus. As a kid, he used to demolish anyone who even muttered it, but Liesl loved the name. She thought it was adorable and refused to call him anything else. He let her, because he was totally in love with her, but Elliot and I couldn’t stop the snickers every time we heard it.

He cut his lengthy ode to Liesl short and then turned the heat right back to me.

“As I was saying…” He cleared his throat. “What’s with the goofy look on your face? You’re not going down this path again, are ya?”

“What path? You guys, it’s just curiosity.”

My friends collectively groaned.

“Do we need to list them?” Jaeda grabbed my hand, batting her blue lined lashes at me.

I shook my head and slid my hand away, then rolled my eyes as they started listing them anyway.

“The witch from Junior year. Remember how you thought you were cursed for like the whole summer?” Liesl grimaced.

“I wasn’t cursed.” I tried to brush it off, pretending that I didn’t spend three months freaking out that the girl had hexed me like she said she would when I broke up with her.

“The crier from 2011. Ugh!” Elliot pretended to gag.

I rolled my eyes, but that was a fair call. Suzette Pearce cried over everything. At first it was sweet and I could comfort her, but then it just got exhausting. Breaking up with her was the hardest thing I’d ever done. Memories of her screeching wail still sent shivers down my spine.

“The cheerleader.” Jaeda could barely get the words out. She had always been disgusted by Bambi.

“That was like two dates.”

“Two dates too many.” Her eyes bulged.

“And then there’s the stalker of 2010.” Elliot winced.

“Lest we forget.” AJ used his deep dramatic voice.

“Hey, she was sweet.” I pointed at them both.

“To start with, yeah, but then the checking in every three seconds began. The whole making sure she knew where you were and what you were wearing.” AJ made a face.