I Know Lucy (The Fugitive Series) (17 page)

Her teeth popped over her bottom lip as she sliced a carrot into thin strips.

“Like this?” She pointed with her knife.

“Perfect, my little assistant.” AJ beamed, kissing the side of her head like a father would.

She laughed and pushed him away with her elbow. “So what else are you gonna put in there?”

“I’m thinking garlic, a little oyster sauce, a touch of salt. It doesn’t need much, the vegetables speak for themselves and dad gave me a really nice cut of beef.”

I leaned against the open doorway, watching them work. AJ was humming some operatic piece, making Dani grin. As if sensing my gaze, she glanced at the door and her face lit up. It was like looking at sunshine and I couldn’t help but smile back.

“Hey, you feeling better?” The way her soft voice lilted over the words, sounding genuine with concern, broke some of the hardness I’d been carrying around all day.

“Yeah, nothing a nap couldn’t fix.” Now who was the liar? “Sorry I’m late.”

She just smiled, her blue eyes dancing as if seeing me looking better was the best thing that could have happened to her today. Was I just imagining this stuff? She seemed so genuinely into me sometimes and it made me want to forget about tomorrow.

“Carrots please.” AJ reached for the board, which Dani deposited into his hands. She went up on tiptoes, to watch him throw them into the wok.

The pan hissed and sizzled.

“Man, that smells good.” Dani took a slow luxurious sniff and smiled. “I’m famished.”

“Sweetie, you’re always famished.” AJ grinned.

She blushed, dropping back to her heels and patting him on the back. “Only for your cooking.”

“That’s because he’s the best.” Liesl appeared from the other doorway, wrapping her slender arm around his large waist. She looked so petite beside him. Her brown eyes sparkled as she gazed at him, their noses touching before she went on tiptoes to give him a kiss.

Dani scratched her neck and shot me a bemused smile. I rolled my eyes and beckoned her into the dining room. She followed without hesitation.

Elliot and Jaeda were already seated, Jae’s purple painted lips on overdrive.

“It’s a good idea. Everyone will like it. Don’t be such a party pooper.”

“What’s Elliot pooping on now?” I slid out a chair for Dani. Taking a seat beside her, I looked across the table at Jaeda’s delighted smile and Elliot’s droll gaze.

“Jae wants to play Trivial Pursuit after dinner.”

We were always split over the game thing. Elliot was a movie freak and would always rather be in front of a screen. Jaeda, the socialite, preferred constant interaction. She usually pushed for loud games like Pictionary and Charades, but I’d be up for Trivial Pursuit. I loved that game and couldn’t help wondering if Jaeda chose it so that I could shine in front of Dani. I was the knowledge nerd in the group. As a kid, I read encyclopedias for fun. I had every copy the Guinness Book of World records, dating back to the early ‘80s when my dad started collecting them, and my favorite channel on TV was Discovery. I tried to keep that one to myself, but my friends soon found out and I was quickly labeled a knowledge nerd. I took it all in my stride, knowing their jibes were only in fun.

After dinner they’d all be hankering to be my partner. When it came to Trivial Pursuit, they fought over me like parents in a custody battle.

*****

As usual the meal was divine. I’d never liked Asian style food before AJ made me try his beef stir-fry. I hadn’t looked back. Mom tried to pull it off once. It was a disaster. So I saved up my Asian nights for AJ. After the meal, we cleared off the table and set up Trivial Pursuit.

“I’m going with Zach.” Elliot piped up before anyone else could.

“Don’t you think Dani should get to pick first?” Jaeda gave Elliot a pointed glare.

He looked across the table at Dani, his expression dry and unreadable. “Nope. I’m going Zach.”

Dani just grinned. “Fine. I choose Liesl then.”

Liesl jumped up from her spot and nudged me out of my chair while Jaeda plopped down next to AJ. “Don’t worry.” She tapped his arm. “We’ll kick ass with the Entertainment questions.”

“Damn right, little missy.” AJ rapped the table with his knuckles then looked to his girlfriend. “Okay, darlin’ pick a color wheel.”

The game went well. We all had to explain the rules to Dani first, who had never played. We were all surprised by that one. She just blushed and said her family had never been big on board games. In spite of the fact she was Trivial Pursuit virgin, she was damn good. I knew she was intelligent before, but the game just made me like her even more.

Damn it, Trivial Pursuit.

I wanted to cancel my plans for the morning, but I knew Uncle Al would never let me get away with that. Elliot and I won after seventy minutes of play.

“Yes!” He gave me a high five and looked all smug while the rest of the table sat back with a relieved sigh.

“Finally. It’s over.” AJ started packing up the game while Liesl giggled at him and started picking wedges out of color wheels.

“Now let’s talk weekend, peeps. What are we doing?” Jaeda flicked her hair over her shoulder and leaned her elbows on the table.

My eyes dropped away from Dani’s sweet gaze. I reached for the last wheel and started dislodging wedges. “I’m not around this weekend.”

“Where are you off to?” Jaeda flicked my elbow.

I didn’t have the guts to face Dani as I said it, so kept my eyes focused on the plastic game pieces. “Uncle Alex invited me to hang out tomorrow.”

“Oh, I love him. He’s so hot.” Jaeda squeezed my arm. “Can I come?”

“Firstly, that’s gross, and secondly, no. It’s just a guy thing.”

She slumped back with an exasperated sigh. “Okay, fine.” Her cute little nose wrinkled. I nudged her ankle with my foot and winked at her. Her huff vanished. “Well, I might just hang out with your girlfriend instead then.” She turned to look at Dani, oblivious to the fact that the air had been sucked from the room.

Dani’s cheeks flushed pink. I glanced away to spot Liesl’s bemused grin. I didn’t want to look at Elliot. He’d be seething. Me getting another girlfriend he’d have to rescue me from? He would not be impressed.

“You and me are hanging out Sunday, remember?” Elliot nudged my elbow. “Halo 2 rematch.”

“That’s right.” I nodded, hating that I’d agreed to that. Hanging out with Elliot was so not what I needed right now. If anyone could make me spill the beans, it was him.

I chose to pack away the game as slowly as possible, while the girls talked weekend logistics and I tried to figure out how I could get out of my Sunday plans with Elliot. My tired brain couldn’t think of anything. I’d just have to play it cool and keep my mouth shut.

Containing my yawn as I slid the Trivial Pursuit box lid on was impossible. It was only ten, but I was done. I needed to catch some zzzzs before tomorrow. I doubted I’d sleep much, but at least I’d be horizontal.

“I’m out. I’ll see you guys on Monday.”

“Me too.” Dani jumped from her seat. “Thanks so much for having me, guys.” She smiled. “I guess I’ll see you girls tomorrow then.” She looked nervous saying it, like she wasn’t really sure if she did want to hang out with my friends, but she was doing it anyway. For me? Or for other reasons I didn’t want to consider?

We said our goodbyes and walked to the door together. I couldn’t say anything. I was nervous she’d ask me more about my uncle or San Fran. Would she suspect what I was up to?

“Are you alright?” Dani’s nose wrinkled as we stepped out the front door.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” I kept my gaze down as I pulled the door shut.

“You don’t seem fine.” She sounded nervous. “Have I done something wrong?”

I was stumped for a minute. What the hell was I supposed to say to her?

“Nope.” I gave her a tight smile that said otherwise.

The light in her eyes dimmed, her expression faltering as she took a step away from me, down the driveway, ready to walk home to who knows where. I tried not to let it rile me.

The air between us grew thick and suffocating. My hands were shoved in my pockets. I wanted to pull them free and reach for her, but I didn’t. She stood a few paces away from me, looking awkward and shy. She was waiting for me to ask. I knew she was, but I couldn’t form the words. I didn’t want to play her games anymore.

Finally she sighed. “Okay, well I’ll see you on Monday then, I guess.”

Her non-smiling wave nearly killed me. Before I could stop myself, I caught up with her retreating form and grabbed her wrist. Screw the games, I’d keep playing them if it meant wiping that forlorn look off her face.

“Wait.” Spinning her around, I pulled her towards me, holding her tight to my side. “Can I give you a ride home?” My soft question was laced with humor.

A relieved grin spread across her face. “Nope.”

I gently touched her cheek, my thumb caressing her jawbone. “Well, I guess I’ll just have to kiss you goodnight here instead.”

“I guess you will,” she whispered, running her fingers into my hair and leaning towards me. Our lips met for a warm embrace that was mostly tender, but tinged with a hungry desire that couldn’t be denied. She wanted me, I could feel it in the way her lips moved, in the opening of her mouth and the willingness to let me in. I pulled her close, running my hand up her spine and cradling the back of her head. My tongue darted into her mouth, tasting her sweetness. She was divine. Her body against me felt right, my senses reeling in my exploration.

I could have stayed there all night, forgetting the world and who this girl might be. Her touch made me lose all sense of time and place. The truth didn’t matter when her tongue was grazing my bottom lip and her fingers were dancing through my hair. She tried to pull away twice, but kept diving back towards my mouth before she finally managed to separate herself from me. Her blue eyes were on fire, her narrow lips puffy and beautiful.

I looked into her ignited gaze, my resolve to find out who she was faltering within me. I didn’t want to know, until her face flushed with realization. Her eyes suddenly went skittish as she touched her lower lip like she’d just done something she knew she shouldn’t have. She swallowed back the emotion, but then caught my eye and I saw it again, that starry-eyed euphoria. Yep, she definitely wanted me, she just didn’t think she was allowed me.

I had to find out why.

Initially I wanted to find out her secrets to give myself a reason not to fall for her, but now I wanted to prove myself wrong. I needed to discover that my imagination was on overdrive. I needed to find out that this girl was just Dani. The girl I was falling in love with.

“G’night, Zach.”

“G’night Dani.” I kissed her lightly one last time and took a memory shot of her dreamy smile, tucking it away forever. No matter what I would find out tomorrow, I’d always have this moment. As her body disappeared into the darkness, I pulled my phone free. I didn’t have the energy to talk, so instead sent a three-word text.

See you tomorrow
.

The message swooshed away to Uncle Alex along with half my soul.

Chapter 20

May 2014

Uncle Alex answered the door with a steaming mug of coffee in his hand.

“Don’t suppose you have a second one of those?” I asked him, bleary-eyed.

With a chuckle, he led me up the stairs and into the kitchen of his small apartment. I looked out the window, a little in awe as always. His apartment may be small, but it had the best view of the bay I’d ever seen. I could even see the edge of Alcatraz.

“Sugar, right?” Uncle Alex called over his shoulder.

“Just one.”

I picked up the newspapers sprawled over the table and read a few headlines. Nothing captured me. I could barely soak in the text. I’d been up half the night reliving the feel of Dani’s sweet tongue in my mouth.

“So.” My uncle placed a bright red mug on the table beside me before pulling out his chair and spinning it around. Throwing a leg on either side, he leaned his elbows against the back and gazed at me with those sharp blue eyes of his.

His wayward curls, unshaven face and easy smile made him look like a surfer, but those eyes — they were all business.

I blew on my coffee and took a quick sip, buying a few seconds to gather my thoughts. His eyes never left my face. I felt them drilling into me and eventually sighed.

“Her name’s Dani, at least I thought it was until I looked through Luke’s yearbook. He’s adamant the girl’s Riley Mitchell.”

“And you’re positive it’s not two different people?”

From my back pocket, I pulled out the photo I’d scanned and reprinted. Opening it up, I handed it to my uncle. “I’ve been looking at that girl for the last ten weeks. I know it’s her.”

“She’s pretty.”

“Yeah.” That thought should make me happy, but it just made this whole thing so much harder to bear. I was nervous about what we’d discover today. Part of me wanted to pull out now, but how could I let myself fall for a girl who was obviously hiding something pretty huge? It would be irresponsible. I wasn’t going down Stalker Chick Lane again…and besides the day was all about proving myself wrong…right?