Part 8 (1/2)

Zach stood and extended his hand for mine. ”I'd love to dance with you, sweetheart.” I gave him a weak smile. s.h.i.+t. s.h.i.+t. s.h.i.+t. There were only two other couples on the dance floor. Zach walked up to the dance floor and spun me around and pulled me to him. I kept my eyes off of Luke and the blonde. I focused on Zach only. We danced in silence as he held me close to him.

I could feel Luke's eyes on me. One peek showed I was right. Luke smiled slightly at me and I gave him a weak smile in return.

The band finished the song and made an announcement. ”We're taking a break, but please keep on dancing y'all. We've got some Frank for ya!”

Zach's phone started to ring. He pulled it out of his pocket and said, ”s.h.i.+t, I have to take this call, Libby. I'll be right back.” Zach looked over my shoulder. ”Hey, your friend Luke is here. Y'all should dance together.”

”That's a wonderful idea.”

My eyes widened in horror at the sound of Luke's voice. I spun around and saw him standing there. I looked around for the blonde. ”She excused herself for a phone call.”

My mouth dropped open slightly. I turned to say something to Zach, but he was already out the door. I felt Luke's hand on my waist and my breathing stopped.

Turning back around, I gave him a smirk as he held open his arms. Frank Sinatra's ”It Had To Be You” began playing. Luke pulled me into his arms as we began to dance. I was terrified he would hear my heart pounding in my chest.

”How have you been, Libby?”

Taking in a deep breath, I was overcome with Luke's musky smell. I closed my eyes and tried to keep myself from burying my face into his chest. I looked into his green eyes. I slowly licked my dry lips and reached deep down into my stomach to find my voice again. Something about being in Luke's arms, with a stupid Frank Sinatra song playing, had me all weak in the knees.

”I've been um, fine. Busy with school and ...” My voice trailed off.

”Zach?”

I pulled my head back. ”What?”

Luke smiled and said, ”You've been busy with Zach?”

I looked back to the door, willing Zach to walk through it and take me out of my misery right now.

Glancing back at Luke I asked, ”Who's the blonde? A new f.u.c.k buddy?”

Luke tensed in my arms as his smile faded. ”An old girlfriend.”

An old girlfriend? h.e.l.l I wasn't expecting him to say that.

I was sure my confused expression was priceless. ”I started dating her beginning of my freshman year.”

Anger consumed me as I looked away. ”I guess that explains things.”

”Excuse me?” Luke asked as we stopped dancing.

I let out a nervous laugh. ”Why worry about the girl you kissed the night before you left for college when you can have something like that? Who cares if you left her wondering what in the h.e.l.l she did wrong.”

Hurt flashed across Luke's face and for one brief moment, I was glad he felt the same hurt I was feeling. I held up my hands and said, ”You know what, I'm sorry I even said anything.”

I spun around, but Luke grabbed my arm. ”Wait,” he said in a whisper.

I dropped my head and shook it. ”Wait for what, Luke? Wait for you to get drunk again and tell me how you really feel and come on to me because that's the only time you're attracted me?”

”Me? What the f.u.c.k, Libby? You want to talk about getting drunk and coming on to someone? What about that night during Christmas break?”

I slowly turned around and looked at him. ”What are you talking about?”

Luke threw his head back and laughed before he looked back into my eyes. ”You really don't remember? You came into the barn and practically begged me to f.u.c.k you, Libby!”

My hands came up to my mouth as I stood there. I shook my head and moved my hands to my stomach. ”Did we? Oh my G.o.d ... please tell me we didn't? Oh G.o.d, no!”

Luke's smirk faded and it looked as if tears were building in his eyes. ”Don't look so repulsed by the idea of being with me, Libby. Nothing happened. Glad to know the idea of being with me makes you feel sick though. I won't be bothering you again. Drunk or sober.”

Luke took a step back and was about to turn around when I called out his name. ”Luke, wait I didn't ...”

”Libby? Is everything okay here?” Zach's voice stopped me in my tracks as I stood there and watched the blonde walking back in and up to Luke. She wrapped her arm around him and reached up on her tiptoes and whispered something into his ear. He looked down at her and gave her a slight smile as he nodded his head. They turned and walked back to the table where Luke pulled out his wallet and threw money down.

I tried to call out for him, but nothing came from my mouth. ”Libby? What's going on?”

I turned back to Zach. ”Nothing, I'm sorry. Can we get out of here now?”

Zach pulled his head back with a worried looked on his face. ”Are you sure Luke didn't do or say something to upset you?”

Putting on my best fake smile I nodded my head. ”I'm sure. If anything he just showed me how I'm ready to move on.”

Raising his eyebrow, Zach asked, ”Move on?”

Smiling, I took a step closer to him as I reached up and put my lips to his ear. ”I'm ready, Zach.”

Swallowing hard, Zach searched my eyes. The corners of his mouth rose in a smile as he took my hand and led me out of the restaurant.

My head was spinning. I needed to push Luke Johnson from my mind and heart once and for all and I only knew of one way to do it.

Zach walked me to the pa.s.senger side of the car and opened it. ”Please, take me now, Zach. I need you now.” Zach reached his hand behind my neck and pulled my lips to his. It didn't take long to get lost in his kiss as I pushed my fingers through his hair.

Yes. I am finally going to be able to move on.

STEPPING THROUGH THE door of Starbucks, coffee in hand, I began to head back to Hullaboo Hall, where my dorm was. I sighed in relief, knowing I was going to have some alone time finally. I had a one-room dorm, but next year I would most likely be moving into the house that my parents bought along with Alex and Grace's parents.

Zach had been all over me since I mentioned I was ready to go all the way with him. His father had called and needed him to come home for a family emergency, so he was gone that night I told him I wanted to make love. Then with finals, we had both been busy.

My phone vibrated in my pocket, reaching in I pulled it out.

Zach: I can't wait to see you sweetheart. I've been fighting a d.a.m.n hard on for the last two days. I can't wait to be with you. I've been dreaming of this moment since you first smiled at me. I'll be there this afternoon.

I swallowed hard and closed my eyes, only to run smack into someone. My coffee went everywhere. ”s.h.i.+t,” I said as I knelt down and began picking up the books I dropped. When the person I ran into bent down, I knew instantly it was Luke. Glancing up, our eyes met. ”I'm, ah, I'm sorry I wasn't paying attention,” I said as Luke gave me a weak smile. His eyes were filled with sadness. I swallowed hard as we looked into each other's eyes.

”No worries. You seemed occupied with your phone.” Luke handed me a book and I began wiping it, getting most of the coffee off. Luke had slowly stood and I began to stand as well, reaching for the spilled coffee cup. When I looked at Luke, I saw him looking down at my phone.

”Luke? Um, can I get my phone back?” Luke turned and looked at me. His eyes were filled with regret. He slowly handed me my phone, turned, and walked away. I pulled my head back in surprise and watched as he walked off. I slipped my phone into my pocket and headed to my dorm room.

Thirty minutes later there was a knock on my door. I swallowed hard and took another look in the mirror. My blonde hair was pulled up and piled on top of my head in a loose bun. I had on a Texas A&M tank top, sans bra, and short jean shorts. I spun on my heels and opened the door.

Zach's mouth dropped open as his eyes traveled up and down my body. ”Jesus, you're breathtaking.”