Just a Little Embrace Read Online Free Page B

whisper.
    “What happened the other night?”
    “You know,” I said. “Before you left?”
    He scrunched his brow and shook his head. “I haven’t the slightest clue what you’re talking about—”
    “What you said,” I said. “What you told me —”
    “What I told you?” he asked. “What did I tell you?”
    And as if he didn’t need any further elaboration, a worried look swept across his face.
    “Julie,” he said, leaning down to meet my gaze. “What exactly did I say to you?”
    I spent the next five minutes reliving our conversation on the porch—from him interrupting my talk with Derek, to the moment when the cab pulled away and he called me a liar for not admitting that I loved him . And the entire time I talked, Luke looked as though he was hearing it for the first time… he looked as though it had never happened.
    When he didn’t speak, I took a step forward and forced him to meet my gaze.
    “Luke,” I said. “Why didn’t you just tell me how you feel ?”
    He turned on his heel and stomped out of the house, taking long strides down the steps, and then took off for his run down the sidewalk.
    “Luke!” I chased after him. “Luke, you didn’t stretch—”
    “It’s one thing to have a stupid crush, Julie,” he called back. “But it’s another thing to try and manipulate me into believing that I actually care about you.”
    I finally caught up with him and ran side-by-side . “You’re saying I’m lying?”
    “What other possible explanation is there?”
    “Gee, I don’t know,” I said. “Maybe that you really do have feelings for me?”
    He snorted and turned the corner, picking up his pace and leaving me to fight to keep up.
    “Luke,” I said. “I would never lie to you. I’m telling you the truth —”
    “And another thing,” he interrupted. “You shouldn’t be hanging out with that Derek guy. I told you I don’t trust him —”
    “You never said that,” I said. “You told me to keep my eyes peeled —”
    “Well , I’m telling you now,” he said, raising his voice . “Stay away from him.”
    “Why?” I asked, taking each stride in step with him. “ Because he’s nice to me? Because he talks to me like an equal? Because you feel threatened that maybe he’ll steal my attention away from you ?”
    “Threatened?” he asked, almost laughing. “God, Julie. Get over yourself. ”
    As we ran side-by-side for the next two blocks, my side began to ache and my le gs were pulsing with cramps . I struggled to keep up with him, and after a second or two, he’d taken a six-foot lead down the sidewalk.
    “Luke,” I panted. “Please slow down. I can’t keep up —”
    “Not my problem, Little,” he said. “ You are not my problem . ”
    And as if I couldn’t stand another jab from Luke, I stopped in my tracks, picked up a palm-sized rock, and launched it at him, hitting him square in the back.
    He stopped running and turned to me with the promise of an evil wrath burning in his eyes. “What the hell is your problem?”
    “You!” I yelled. “You know, I’m sorry if you can’t accept the truth, but here it is. I care about y ou, Luke. And I think you care about me . You told me you had feelings for me, and despite the context, I can’t help but think that … that drunken confession the other night was the most hones ty I’ve ever gotten out of you.”
    “You need to stop,” he said, pointing a finger at me. “You don’t love me. And y ou don’t want me to love you , Julie .”
    And with that, he turned away and took off running once again .
    “Luke!” I yelled as he turned the corner. “Lucas Reibeck! Stop running from me!”
    But he was gone.
    And I was alone.

 
    Chapter Five
    Friday September 21
    The next four days dragged on for what felt like an eternity. I hadn’t heard from Luke, and that was a downer considering he’d planned to meet me for a morning run twice again this week (and never showed up).
    I’d dropped subtle hints to