Chapter 184

The two of us settled on the couch with a pizza box between us. It was pepperoni, Lucas and I's favorite.

"Want to watch a movie?" Lucas asked, flipping through the TV channels.

"Sure." I settled back into the couch cushions. "What should we watch?"

"Something funny?" Lucas asked, clicking on a movie that had just started. "What about this?"

"Yeah, I'm down," I said, looking down at the pizza box. "Can we eat now?"

Lucas laughed, giving me a nod. "Yes, we can eat now. Geez, someone must be hungry."

"Well, it took someone like two hours to cook something that ended up being inedible anyway. Then it took another hour for the pizza to get here."

"Sorry," Lucas's expression was sheepish and apologetic as he opened the box. "I ruined the night, didn't I?"

"Not at all." I looked at him. "You ordered the pizza, after all."

He snorted. "Great, at least I did one thing right."

As the movie's opening credits flickered on the screen, casting a soft light across the room, I couldn't help but feel a sense of normalcy returning.

Grandma Jo's cozy living room, the familiar, delicious scent of pizza, and the subtle warmth of forgiveness in the air hinted at a night of much needed healing. For both Lucas and I.

"Thanks, Shana," Lucas said, his voice breaking the comfortable silence. "For giving me a second chance."

I turned to him, a small smile playing on my lips.

The warmth of his smile spread through me like a comforting embrace. "You're trying, Lucas, and that means a lot. Let's just enjoy the night and forget about the burnt dinner."

"Promise me you won't tell anyone about that?" He smiled back, his eyes studying every contour of my face.

"I won't tell a soul."

For a moment, it felt like he might lean in, but instead, he returned his gaze to the TV screen.

Throughout the movie, laughter filled the air. We ended up finishing off the entire pizza, my unexpected hunger revealing itself.

I think i had more slices than Lucas did, and he's twice my size.

Once the last bite settled in my stomach, a wave of fatigue washed over me.

I stretched out on the couch, adjusting the cushions for maximum comfort.

Lucas settled on the other side, and as the movie continued to play on the screen, I felt drowsy. Sleep was calling me, beckoning me to close my eyes.

The last thing I heard before drifting off was Lucas's laughter.

A gentle nudge tugged me from the depths of sleep, and as I blinked away the remnants of a dream, there was Lucas, sitting next to me with a soft smile on his face.

"Good morning," he said, his voice a mere whisper.

"What?" I asked, shooting up on the couch. Had I slept until morning?

Lucas chuckled. "I'm kidding. The movie just ended. You fell asleep."

I yawned, stretching my limbs as I looked at him. "Why didn't you wake me up sooner? I missed the whole thing."

Lucas chuckled, "You looked too peaceful, and I didn't want to disturb you."

I shot him a playful glare. "It's from all the pizza I ate."

He grinned, reaching for the empty pizza box. "I know, I've never seen you eat so much before in all the years I've known you."

"Are you judging me?" I asked, ready to fight him if he was.

"Not at all," he said. "I actually weirdly enjoy watching you eat. It's like watching a little bunny nibble on a carrot."

I smacked his arm, making him laugh. "What does that even mean?"

"It means that I find you cute." He winked at me, and I couldn't help but blush at the unexpected compliment.

The soft glow from the TV screen cast a gentle illumination on Lucas's face, accentuating the contours of his cheekbones. In that moment, he appeared more handsome than usual, dressed in comfortable attire that complemented the relaxed space between us.

As we shared the couch, a comfortable silence came over us.

Our eyes met, communicating volumes in an unspoken understanding.

The atmosphere seemed to shift— becoming lighter, as if the weight of the past had momentarily lifted.

I didn't realize how much I had missed him these past few days of us not speaking. It felt good to laugh with each other and just be close to one another.

Lucas shifted, inching closer. He put a hand up to my face and tucked a strand of loose hair behind my ear. I held my breath at the proximity, enjoying the feel of his warmth.

It sent a subtle shiver down my spine.

Lucas noticed and asked, "Are you cold?"

I was about to respond with a 'no,' but Lucas had grabbed the blanket from behind the couch before I could answer. He unfolded it and wrapped it around me, making sure it was snug.

"There," he said, leaning back to observe his work. "Much better."

"I'm not even cold," I said, holding the blanket close to my chest anyway.

"You shivered," Lucas stated matter-of-fact.

"Not because of that."

He gazed at me with an intensity that hadn't been there for a while, and I couldn't help but reciprocate the gaze.

Was Lucas just acting oblivious, or did he really know know what kind of effect he had over me? My body's knee-jerk reaction to his presence always left me feeling alert. I was so aware of him that it felt consuming.

Nobody else had ever made me feel that way, but it was a feeling I enjoyed. It was a feeling that I craved.

I wondered if Lucas felt the same way about me. I know he's been with plenty other girls before me, and I hated comparing myself to them, but I wanted to be special.

I wanted him to feel the same things I felt.

I licked my lips, anticipating some kind of reaction from Lucas. His eyes immediately fell to my mouth.

"I don't want to rush things," Lucas said cautiously. "You've only just forgiven me, and I don't want to do anything you aren't ready for yet."

"Like what?" I asked. "A kiss?"

He swallowed. "Yes. I really want to kiss you right now, but I know you might not be ready for that."

I let him suffer for a few seconds without an answer. Was it smart for me to kiss him? Was I giving in too easily?

Don't be ridiculous, Shana. I told myself. Lucas showed me his true colors last week. He's apologized countless times with not only his words, but with his gestures.

And besides, I really wanted to kiss him, too.

"Who said I'm not ready for that?" I asked breathlessly.

Without a word and without any hesitation, he leaned in, and our lips met in a soft, lingering kiss.

It felt right, relieving even.

We hadn't been this close, this intimate, in what felt like an eternity.

He deepened the kiss and as our lips moved over each other, I felt a strong sense of connection. It was like a bridge was reconnecting what had been strained between us.

The taste of love, care, and forgiveness mingled between us.

For the first time in a while, I allowed myself to be vulnerable again.