I fell right to sleep as we drove back into town. Thankful it was a bit of a drive, so I got to rest. No dreams haunted me while I napped, and I felt better when we arrived at Jess's house. There was a truck out front that I didn't recognize. It was blacked out and lifted. You had to be tall to even try to climb into that thing.
"Oh! Good he is still here." Jess said more to herself.
"Who?" I asked. Clearly, she knew who owned the black truck.
"You will see." Jess smiled at me wickedly.
I follow her with a couple of my bags. The driver told me to go inside, that he would bring the rest of it in. I felt bad, but I couldn't argue. Every time I got into his SUV, I kept passing out. Plus, I was curious who else Jess would let into her house. Maybe one of the Holloways? But I don't think any of them would drive a truck like that. Phil likes his trucks at stalk level, and Joel likes his fancy cars. Maybe it was Jordan? I know he doesn't mind driving a truck when it gets cold out. Otherwise, he's on his motorcycle, but I have never seen him or any Holloway in a truck like that. I would be so happy if it were Jordan. I really needed to clear the air with him so we can move past whatever I did that upset him. As I walked in the house, I could hear her parents talking to someone. A rich, deep laugh sounded. It sounded divine. I have never heard a laugh so beautiful before. It sent sparks throughout my body. That laugh did not belong to any of the Holloways. So who was it?
"No, thank you, I couldn't eat another bite if I wanted to." The male voice told Jess's parents, if I wasn't mistaken, that was Lukas's voice. But why would he be here? I turned the corner as I heard Jess's dad laugh
"I have been saying that to her for almost 30years. Yet I still can't help myself when she makes her pastries." I almost dropped my bag as I saw him. Cool blue eyes locked right onto me as I entered the room. He smiled at me like I was just the most amazing thing he had ever seen. Then there is me, mouth opening and closing like a fish in complete shock. Luka was here.... why was he here? The world disappeared around me as I stared at him.
"Hey there, beautiful." He stated his now usual greeting to me. My cheeks flushed as they always did.
"Hii...." I stumbled out a greeting, so lost in him I felt. Each day he spent with me at the hospital made whatever strange feeling I had for him grow. Yet I couldn't articulate a response back at him. You'd think I would have grown more comfortable with him. I always stumbled out a hi or hello in the most unattractive way I could, but that never changed how he looked at me.
"You're just in time, dear. I made some of your favorite treats for you to enjoy while you stay with us. Jess's mom showed me all my favorite treats she made for us when we were kids.
"Thank you." I kissed her on the cheek. "And thank you again for letting me stay with you guys. I really hope I'm not troubling you at all." I tell her even though I know what she will say.
"Danni, you are no trouble at all." Jess's mom told me.
"We love having you here. You are a part of this family. No blood required," Jess's dad said. With a warm smile.
"Your friend, here Luka just finished putting together the bed for you, along with the other furniture you needed." Jess's mom said.
"Wait, what? really? You did that for me?" I looked at him wide-eyed. Why did he always seem to be there to help me now?
"Of course, beautiful, I would do anything for you," he states that so easily to me, and I instantly flush even redder. Then I heard Jess and her mom giggling in the corner. That made me flush even more.
"Come on, you lovebirds, let's go see how he did," Jess calls out, and I follow only because I know Luca will come with.
The room was simple and small, but it was nice. The bed was on a beautiful bedframe with built-in shelving. I don't know how he does it, but he always seems to know exactly what I like. I have been asking for a bed set like this forever.
"Did Jess tell you I have been begging my parents for a bedset like this?" I eyed Luka and Jess. Jess shook her head as if she was saying Nope, wasn't my idea.
"No, it was just something I could see you liking." Luka admitted.
"I don't know how you do it, but you always seem to know what I like." I tell him. Jess was chuckling in the corner.
"I don't know," he shrugs, "I just can see you in it all happy and relaxing."
"That's not a very good answer," I tell him. I could feel my bratty side start to show.
"You're right," He smiles wickedly, seeming to like my bratty side. "Now that I know you are happy with my choice, let me go bring up your stuff so you can get settled." With that, he walks away, and I'm tempted to chase after, but I don't.
"Jess, why didn't you tell me he was gonna be here?" I questioned my best friend.
She laughed, "because I wanted to see how you reacted when you got to see him. Maybe you try out cuddling on your new bed?" She gives me a wink.
"No, your parents are home. That would be rude." I used it as an excuse, because I really did want to cuddle with him. Maybe even kiss.
"They are going out to eat soon, my dad's leaving for a work trip tonight, so they are giving us the house so you can get settled," Jess stated.
"Oh yeah, and what are you going to be doing?" I asked. What was she going to? Just hang out and be ignored? That wasn't fair.
"Oh, I got a babysitting job tonight. I think you should ask Luka to keep you company." She winks.
"What? No way!" Yeah, I wasn't keen on being alone with him, but I also didn't want to be alone.
"Do I want to know why Danny looks flustered?" Jess's mom came in with some refreshments, looking very amused.
"Oh, I'm just teasing her about her man friend." Jess smiled.
"Oh, I don't blame her one bit on that. You picked a good one Dani. I'm just flushed from all that small talk with him and I am married." Jess's mom laughed and set down a basket. "I made this for you hun. Jess told you we would be gone tonight?"
"Yes she was just telling me about that." I tell her.
"Okay good. Now we are okay if the Holloways or your lovely man friend is around, but that's it, okay? Unless we are home and you ask first." Jess's mom tells me.
"Yes ma'am." I answer her politely.
"Okay! good girl. Be safe and have fun tonight." Jess's mom turns to leave.
"Oh wait mum, I need to ask you something! Danni I'll be right back." Jess leaves and follows her mom out the door. A moment later Luka returns. Hands full of bags. I couldn't believe how many bags he was able to carry up in one go and he looked completely unbothered by the weight of carrying it all.
"Looks like you got most of the things you needed while shopping," Luka said carrying a lot of the items into the room. Here are your new clothes. He hands me the bags filled with clothes. I will let you organize them. That's a bit personal, and I don't want to invade." Luka tells me, handing me the bags filled with clothes.
"Thank you" I tell him as I sort through the clothes. I made a small pile of Jess's items. I appreciated him letting me do this.
"Hey, would you be okay if I put your bed together for you while you do that?" He asks. "Is there a certain way you would like the bed?"
"You can do that for me, thank you, and no real certain way. I would just like the lighter purple at the top. But it's no big deal." I tell him. I didn't want to push, especially with all he has done for me. I didn't want to seem ungrateful.
"You got it beautiful." Luka smiles and gets to work.
I finished putting my new outfits away, and I think to myself. I have never had a matching bedroom set. It made me kind of sad to not have a bunch of random furniture to try and complete my bedroom. What a silly thing to be upset about. I laugh at myself.
"What's funny, beautiful?" Luka asks.
"Huh?" I turned as I asked, and I am yet again blown away by how beautiful this man is. He is just watching and waiting for me to respond. He is sitting on my bed. Even though he is sitting down, he is still tall. While sitting down, he is just above eye level. I am just blown away by how crystal blue his eyes are, and when he smiles, they practically twinkle. I could easily stare into his eyes for hours. Wait... he asked me a question. I clear my throat a bit and step closer to him. I look away as I point to the furniture around the room.
"It is silly, but I was just thinking about how I have never had a matching bedroom set before. My stuff was always mismatched because they were hand-me-downs or something my dad made." I tell Luka. I loved this set, but knowing why I needed a set made me a little sad too.
"Is that so?" He mumbles under his breath. I almost yelp as he pulls me into him by my thighs. My god, his hands were huge.
"Uhhh...Yes. I stuttered. He made me so nervous, but never in a bad way. It felt so good that it scared me. We were practically nose to nose now. How did he get so close to me. It was getting hard to breathe.
"So beautiful. Tell me about your day?" Luka didn't seem to be as bother as I was by his touch and his closeness.
"You want to hear about my day?" I ask breathless.
"Yes, beautiful I want to hear about everything. I want to know everything, even the little things, about you." He tells me so sincerely that it confused me.
"Why?" I ask. I couldn't help myself. He was so handsome and he has been so kind to me. Why did he want to know? Why did he care?
"To put it simply, beautiful I like you."