“I will, Lily, and try not to have too much fun in that apartment all by yourself.”
“Goodbye, Gretchen.”
“Goodbye, Lils.”
I smiled as I hung up the phone and picked up my guitar. I could hear Luke trying to play something. He kept strumming and stopping. The little game we played just before Gretchen called was fun. He would play a tune and stop, and I would play it back. I couldn’t help but wonder how his hand was doing. Something about him bothered me. On one hand, I couldn’t stop thinking about him. On the other, I couldn’t stand him. I got up and put my guitar back. I had a corner in my living room that sat empty, so I moved my guitar there. That guitar holds a lot of memories for me; some bad and some good.
***
The next morning, I stumbled out of bed, tired as hell, and made my way to the kitchen for some coffee. You’d think I’d be used to only getting a couple hours of sleep a night since it’s been over a year. I poured a cup then headed to the bathroom for a shower. I stepped out of the shower and heard my phone beep from the next room. I walked over to it, and there was a text message from Sam.
“Good morning. I need to see you before I leave for work. Can I stop by?”
I smiled because he probably wanted to talk to me about his date with Gretchen. I replied back.
“Sure, the door’s unlocked. Grab a cup of coffee, and I’ll be right out. I’m getting dressed.”
I quickly ran to the door and unlocked it then ran back into my bedroom. As I was putting on my black pants, I heard Sam come in.
“Hey, Lily, it’s just me.”
“Hey, Sam, I’ll be right out!” I yelled.
I put on my shirt and walked out to the living room, rubbing my hair with a towel.
“You look very professional today.” I smiled.
He was wearing a three-piece black suit with a light green shirt and matching tie. Needless to say, he looked hot.
“I have a meeting today with a big client, and he’s the uptight, everything needs to be professional, type of person.”
“So, what brings you here for a visit this early in the morning?” I asked.
“Being a teacher, I knew you’d be up getting ready for work.”
“Follow me to the bathroom. I need to start getting ready,” I said.
Sam got up from the table and stood in the doorway of the bathroom while I put on my makeup.
“I had a great time with Gretchen last night. She’s an amazing person.” He smiled. “I think the four of us should go out.”
I was leaning over the sink, putting on my mascara. “The four of us?” I asked.
“Gretchen, me, you, and Luke.”
“I don’t date,” I said as I looked at my eyes in the mirror.
“I know you don’t, and I’m really sorry to hear that.”
I instantly looked at him. “Gretchen told you, didn’t she?”
“Yes, she told me all about your ex and what had happened at the church.”
“Damn her. Just wait until I talk to her,” I said in anger.
“Don’t, Lily. She’s worried about you. She told me that she’s happy you moved to Santa Monica because then she can keep a closer eye on you. She doesn’t want you to be lonely.”
“I like being lonely. Did she say anything else?” I asked as I ran a brush through my damp hair.
“She told me that your family isn’t dead and that they’re still living in Seattle.”
“My family’s dead to me, Sam. What my sister and mother did is unforgivable. I want you to forget about that conversation, and don’t ever mention it to anyone. Do you understand me? I’m starting my life over, and that’s my story. I never plan on seeing either of them again.”
“Ok, I’ll forget about it, but I want you know that Luke isn’t a bad guy like you think he is. He’s hiding himself, just like you are.”
“I don’t care about Luke, Sam. I’m not interested in men, period. I don’t care who they are. They’re all lying, cheating bastards who break my heart over and over. I refuse to ever let it happen again.”
He put his arm around me and held me tight. “I understand, and don’t worry; your secret’s safe with me.”
“Thank you, Sam.”
“I have to go, or I’ll be late. Have a good day with your students.” He smiled as he turned and left the apartment.
“Have a good, professional meeting!” I yelled from the bathroom.
As I was blow-drying my hair, I couldn’t stop thinking about what Sam had said about Luke; that Luke was hiding himself. I didn’t care about Luke or his life. I threw my hair up in a ponytail and headed out the door.
***
The students were wound up, but we had a productive day. I was sitting at my desk as the students were doing a writing assignment when Charley came up to me.
“Miss Gilmore,” she said.
“Hi, Charley, what’s up?” I asked.
“My uncle’s taking me to the carnival Friday night,” she said with a huge smile plastered on her face.
“Wow, what a nice uncle you have.” I smiled back.
“He’s the best! He takes care of me a lot while my mom’s working. He helps me and my mom out since my daddy isn’t around.”
Hearing Charley say those words broke my heart. I knew what it was like not having your dad around.
“Your uncle sounds like he’s an amazing person.”
“He is, and I love him very much. I think you would like him, and he doesn’t have a girlfriend. She died.”
“Oh, Charley, I’m sorry to hear that. I’m sure that I’d like him.”
The bell rang, and the end of the school day had arrived.
“Bye, Miss Gilmore.” Charley smiled and waved.
“Bye, Charley. See you tomorrow.”
The classroom emptied, so I walked around putting things away and straightening the desks. I grabbed my bags, got in the Explorer, and started driving down the road. As I was driving and listening to my favorite tunes, my car started to shake. I quickly pulled over onto the side of the road, and it stalled. I turned the key to try and start it, but it was dead. I sighed and got out my phone. I tried to call Gretchen and Giselle, but there was no answer. Shit—shit—shit! I said as I got out and leaned up against the side of the Explorer. I tried to call Sam, but he didn’t answer either, so I left a message and told him where I was.
Thirty minutes had passed, and I was getting ready to start walking when a motorcycle pulled up behind me. I was a little nervous. He pulled off his helmet and looked at me. I couldn’t help but smile as Luke got off his bike and started walking towards me.
“So, you’re my knight and shining armor?” I asked.
“Something like that,” he said. “Pop the hood so that I can take a look.”
I popped the hood and stood next to Luke as he examined the engine. “Try and start it,” he said.
I got inside and turned the key—nothing. “Sorry, but it still doesn’t want to start!” I yelled form the driver’s seat.
Luke shut the hood and walked over to me. “It’s probably the alternator. You’re going to have to get this towed.”
“Great,” I said as I put my forehead on the steering wheel.
“My buddy owns a garage not too far from here. I’ll call him and have him come tow it.”
I looked over at him. “Thank you, Luke.”
“No problem,” he said as he walked away and made the phone call.
He walked over to me and handed me his helmet. “Here, put this on.”
I looked at him confusion. “Why?”
“Because I don’t want you on the back of my bike without one on.”
I looked at him like he was crazy. “I’m not getting on the back of that thing. I hate motorcycles.”
“Suit yourself,” he said. “The guys won’t be here for another two hours. If you want to sit in the hot sun, or the hot car, that’s fine with me. I really don’t care either way,” he said as he walked away.
/> I sighed as I got out of the truck. I sat down on the ground next to it. This is going to be the longest two hours of my life. Luke got on his bike and started it. He pulled up next to me and yelled over the roaring engine. “Are you sure? This is your last chance!”
“I’m sure,” I said.
He sped away and left me sitting there on the side of the road in the hot sun. I pulled my phone from my pocket, and it was dead. Of course it was; could this day get any worse? A few minutes later, I heard the roaring engine of a motorcycle. I look up and saw Luke getting off his bike. He walked over to me and grabbed my arm.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?!” I yelled as he pulled me off the ground.
“Taking you home, and watch your mouth,” he said.
“I’m not getting on that thing, and you can’t make me!” I said as he was dragging me to his bike.
He stopped dead in his tracks, turned around, and looked at me. “What is it that you’re scared of, Lily?”
“Nothing,” I said as I walked back to the Explorer. “Just leave me alone, and go home, Luke.”
I sat inside to try and escape him. He opened the passenger door and climbed in. I stared straight ahead and wouldn’t look at him.
“Something about motorcycles has you freaked out. Tell me what it is, and maybe I can help you.”
“You can’t help,” I said as my eyes started to tear. He wouldn’t stop staring at me, and once again, he was making me feel uncomfortable.
“Please, just tell me, Lily,” he whispered.
I sighed and took in a deep breath. “I was in a motorcycle accident with my dad when I was a child. I can still remember the pain, as if it happened yesterday. I haven’t been on a bike since, and I don’t plan on starting now.”
“I can understand that, but you’ll be safe with me; I promise.” He said.
I turned my head towards him. There was something in his eyes that drew me into him. It was hot, and the thought of sitting here for the next two hours wasn’t a pleasant one. “Fine, I’ll go,” I said hesitantly. “But just to let you know, I may have an anxiety attack.”
He reached over and touched my hand. I should’ve pulled back, but I couldn’t. He tilted his head and smiled. “You’ll be fine.”
We both got out of the Explorer and walked over to his motorcycle. The memories of the accident started to flood my mind. He handed me the helmet and saw I was shaking. He clasped my shoulders.
“Take a deep breath. You’ll be safe.”
I took the helmet and put it on. There was something soothing about his voice. I trusted him, and I started to calm down. He straddled his bike and started it. He patted the seat behind him and told me to get on. I climbed on and leaned forward, wrapping my arms around him as tight as I could. I closed my eyes as he took off down the road, and the only thing I felt was the wind against us and Luke’s muscular form. He looked back for a second and asked me if I was ok. I told him I was. The sick feeling that I had a few minutes ago had passed, and it wasn’t so bad riding with him; he made me feel safe.
We reached our apartment building, and I let out a sigh of relief. He pulled into a parking space, and a car pulled up next to us. I looked over and saw my student, Charley, getting out of the car. Luke got off his bike as Charley ran up and hugged him. I took off my helmet.
“Miss Gilmore!” Charley’s eyes lit up.
Luke looked at her. “This is Miss Gilmore; your teacher?” he asked in shock.
“Yes, Uncle Luke, that’s her.” She smiled.
I looked at Charley with widened eyes. “This is your uncle that you’ve been telling me about?”
“Yes! It sure is!” Her smiled widened.
A woman was walking over to us with a couple of bags in her hands. Luke immediately took them from her. She looked at me and held out her hand. “Hi, Miss Gilmore, I’m Maddie, Charley’s mom.”
I smiled as I shook her hand. “It’s nice to meet you. Please call me Lily.”
“Miss Gilmore, why are you riding on my Uncle Luke’s motorcycle?” Charley asked.
“Your teacher lives in the apartment next door to me. Her car broke down, so I gave her a ride home,” Luke said.
“I had no idea you lived here, Lily,” Maddie said. “Charley and I live in the apartments upstairs. My parents own the building.”
“Uncle Luke, can Miss Gilmore come with us to the carnival on Friday?” Charley asked.
Luke looked at me, and I looked at him. I could tell he was uncomfortable. “Thank you for inviting me, Charley, but I won’t be able to make it,” I said.
“Uncle Luke, tell her she can come,” Charley whined.
“Yeah, you can join us. Maddie has to work at the bar Friday night, so Charley’s staying with me,” Luke said nervously.
“Please, Miss Gilmore. Please,” Charley begged.
How could I resist her? “Ok, Charley, I’ll go.” I smiled as I put my hand on her head.
We walked inside the building, and I said goodbye as the three of them headed upstairs to Maddie’s apartment.
I opened the door and threw my things on the chair. I grabbed a bottle wine and poured some into a glass. I stood against the kitchen counter as I remembered something Charley said about her uncle. She said he didn’t have a girlfriend because she died. I was in deep thought when I was startled by a knock at the door. I looked out the peephole, and Luke was standing there.
“Hi!” I smiled. “Come on in.”
He walked inside. “I just wanted to tell you that I called my buddy’s garage. They towed your Explorer, and it’ll be ready sometime tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Luke. I appreciate it. Do you want a glass of wine or a beer?” I asked.
He put both hands into his jean pockets. “Nah, I need to get going,” he said. He opened the door and turned around. “I’m driving Charley to school in the morning; I can give you a ride if you don’t already have one.”
I tilted my head as my heartbeat was starting to quicken. “Thank you, but I don’t think the three of us will fit on your bike.”
Luke shook his head and laughed. “We wouldn’t take my bike. I have a vehicle.”
“You do?”
“Yes, and my sister wouldn’t let me take Charley on the bike anyway; she hates motorcycles.”
“Thank you for your offer. I think my students would appreciate you making sure their teacher gets to work.” I smiled.
“Ok then. I’ll meet you here in the hall at 6:45 a.m.” He smiled back.
I took a deep breath as he shut the door. Something’s happening to me. That feeling was beginning to come back, and it scared the shit out of me. I can’t and won’t let myself go down that road again. I’m happier alone. I need to be alone for my own sanity because I couldn’t take more heartbreak. Just as I was getting caught up in my emotions, there was a knock at the door. I looked out the peephole, and saw Luke standing on the other side. I opened the door and stared at him.
“By the way, I’m Luke Matthews,” he said as he held out his hand.
“It’s nice to meet you, Luke Matthews. I’m Lily Gilmore,” I replied as I shook his hand.
He turned and went back to his apartment. I shut the door, smiled, and headed for the shower.
7
Luke
I couldn’t believe that Lily was Charley’s teacher. I walked into the apartment where Sam was cooking dinner.
“What are you making, dude?” I asked him.
“I’m making chicken parmesan. Gretchen’s coming over for dinner,” he said.
“Thanks for the notice, bro.”
“Sorry, I was in meetings all day, and it was kind of a last minute thing. Did you go and pick up Lily?” he asked.
“Yeah, I had her car towed to Huey’s Garage. It’ll be ready tomorrow. Hey, did you know that she’s Charley’s school teacher?”
“I knew she was a teacher, but I had no idea she was Charley’s. That’s pretty cool, don’t you think?” he asked.
“I guess. I’m driving her and Charley to school in the morning. Maddie has to be at the bar early for a meeting. Lily’s going with me and Charley to the carnival tomorrow. Why don’t you and Gretchen come with us?”
Sam gave me a pointed look; his brow raised. “You asked her to go with you to the carnival?”
“No, Charley asked her to go.”
“And she said yes?” Sam asked in a surprised tone.
“Yes, she did. She wasn’t going to turn down Charley.”
“That’s great, Luke. Gretchen and I already have plans for Friday night though, sorry.”
“Wow, you’re really serious about this girl,” I said.
“I really like her, man. She’s all I ever think about.”
I walked over and put my hand on Sam’s shoulder. “That’s great. I’m really happy you found someone. I’m going to go up to Maddie’s to give you and Gretchen some privacy.”
“Thanks, man.” Sam smiled.
I walked out the door and up to Maddie’s apartment. Charley was playing video games, and Maddie was cooking dinner. I could tell something was wrong with Maddie, and it looked like she’d been crying.
“What’s wrong, Maddie?” I asked.
“Nothing’s wrong. It’s the onions,” she said.
“Daddy called,” Charley spoke from the couch.
“Is that true?” I asked Maddie.
She nodded her head without saying a word. “What did the bastard want?!” I spat.
Maddie turned and looked at me. “Not in front of Charley, Luke.”
I looked over at Charley who was lost in the world of video games. “Then let’s go into the other room. I want to know what that bastard wanted,” I whispered.
We walked into Maddie’s room. “All he said was that he’s coming to town in a couple of weeks and that he wants to see Charley. I told him that he couldn’t see her until he paid his child support, but he said I better watch it or he’ll take me to court and sue me for full custody of her.”
“Over my dead body,” I said in anger.
“Calm down, Luke. I have a couple of weeks to think of a plan. Technically, I can’t keep him from her. He’s her father,” Maddie said.
I shook my head as I walked out of the bedroom. I walked over to the couch and sat down next to Charley.