Chapter 167

Lucas's lips met mine, and it seemed like everything else in the world melted away.

"I know," he agreed, pulling his lips away. "Things have felt so chaotic lately, it's nice to forget and have fun for once."

I nodded in agreement, playing with the ripples in the water. "We need to have more moments like this. Just you and me, away from everything else."

Just as I was opening up, Lucas pulled another goofy expression.

"Stop! What are you doing?" I giggled.

His grin was infectious. "Trying to earn a smile, or maybe even a laugh. Looks like I won."

I tried to pretend like I was unimpressed with his tactics, but the corners of my mouth betrayed me as they lifted into a smile. "You're such a goofball."

Right now, it felt like the connection between us was stronger than ever.

It was such a contrast to the way I had been feeling. Moments like these reminded me of how much I cared for Lucas.

We eventually left the water and started getting dressed again but the cold breeze against my skin made goosebumps travel down my arms.

We didn't have any towels to dry off with and I began to shiver.

"Are you cold?" Lucas asked, not hesitating to offer me his hoodie.

I took it from him gratefully, slipping it over my head. It smelled just like him which meant that I doubted he would be getting this hoodie back anytime soon.

I slipped into the hoodie which was three times my size. It was comforting to be wrapped in something that was his.

"It looks good on you," he commented as he observed me with a smile.

I looked down at my attire. The bottom of his hoodie brushed the tops of my knees. I imagined I looked like a toddler wearing a giant T-shirt.

"I don't think I'll ever take it off," I said.

He shrugged as if it was no big deal. "You can keep it."

Lucas drove the two of us toward Grandma Jo's house. I would need to drop him back off at Kendrick's house, but first, he insisted on wanting to see Grandma Jo.

I'm sure she'd be surprised to see Lucas again. I wasn't sure when she had spoken to him last, but she brought him up all the time.

There was no doubt in my mind that she missed having him around the house. It probably brought back a lot of fond memories for her when Lucas was younger, back when we used to call him Bear.

Lucas reached his hand over and rested it on top of mine, giving me a gentle squeeze.

"Thank you for today," I said, moving my hand over his so that they locked together. "I really needed that."

"You don't need to thank me," Lucas replied. "You deserve to feel special, and I haven't been showing you that enough."

I gave him a sweet smile, "Well, you succeeded today."

"Get used to that feeling," Lucas said with a wink as we pulled onto Grandma Jo's driveway.

As we parked, I hopped out of the car and Lucas and I walked toward the door hand-in-hand.

"Is it weird that I'm kind of nervous to see my grandma?" Lucas whispered quietly in my ear.

I snorted a laugh. "Why would you be nervous? I'm sure she'll be just as excited to see you."

His blue eyes locked onto mine. "I haven't seen her since I told her I was moving back in with my father and you know how she feels about him."

"She understands why you had to do it," I said, trying to give him some reassurance. "She doesn't hate you for making that decision."

"I know that," he said. "I just hate disappointing her."

Suddenly the front door opened and Grandma Jo appeared. She must've heard us as we got out of the car.

"Shana," she started but then she was startled when she saw Lucas there.

"Hi Grandma," Lucas said with a wave, leaning in to give her a hug. But I noticed that as Lucas wrapped his arms around Grandma Jo, she kept hers stiff at her sides.

"Shana, do you mind giving Lucas and me a moment alone?" Grandma Jo asked as soon as Lucas pulled away.

I hesitated, looking from Lucas to her, unsure of what to do.

"Uh, sure," I eventually said with a puzzled expression. "I'll go head to my room."

"I'll come get you after," Lucas said, a similar confused look in his eyes that he tried to keep hidden.

I left Lucas and Grandma Jo at the front entrance and began to walk away to my room.

I couldn't help but wonder what she wanted to discuss with Lucas without me hearing. My curiosity gnawed at me as I thought about the possibilities.

I knew she didn't like Kendrick, and thought he was no good for Lucas, but is that what this was about?

Whatever it was, I hoped it wasn't anything too serious.

Lucas POV

Grandma Jo invited me into her cozy living room and sat across from me on her flower-pattern couch.

When she mentioned she wanted to just speak with me privately, I felt like. a little kid getting in trouble all over again. I could tell Shana was confused as to what Grandma Jo would want, according to her facial expression.

I knew that whatever Grandma Jo had to say, I would be getting some kind of lecture.

She regarded me with strong, piercing eyes. Her voice, though gentle, held a firmness that demanded you listen carefully. "Lucas, do you know what you're getting yourself into?"

I shifted in my seat awkwardly, contemplating her question.

Grandma Jo had never been a fan of my father, Kendrick, and for good reason.

He was cruel toward her and everyone he encountered.

She also believed that he had a way of holding me back. He always made sure I knew I was inferior to him.

"I know what I'm doing, Grandma," I said.

"It doesn't seem like you do," she continued. "I've noticed the way you've been treating Shana since you left."

Oh... so this was about Shana? She must've observed that I hadn't been treating Shana correctly in the past week since I left her house.

"You know," she carried on, her eyes solely focused on mine, "I warned you not to let your relationship with Shana be short-lived."

I recalled my conversation with Grandma Jo where she told me that Shana and I had something special and that I shouldn't ruin it or let it end too quickly.

"No, don't worry. I won't let her go," I said. "I know I haven't been my best recently, but I'm trying to make an effort. I'm trying to change."

"Good," she'd said then, her expression softening with relief. "You better be."

"I am, Grandma. I actually just took Shana out on a date, and we had a good time."

Now, her concern for Shana was evident in the worry that etched itself onto her face. "Shana is a great girl. She's always been there for you, and life isn't fair to her, just as it's not always fair to you."

I nodded in understanding, appreciating Grandma Jo's genuine concern for both of us. "I know, Grandma. And I won't let her down."