Just a Little (5-8) by Tracie Puckett Read Free Book Online

slightest hint of desperation.
    Another minute went by and I didn’t answer.
    “I don’t want to fight with you, Julie. I’m driving myself crazy.”
    “Sure,” I said. “When can you fit me in?”
    “The sooner the better. Now, if you can swing it. There’s a lot I need to say to you.”
    “Like?” He took another deep breath, but didn’t answer. “Should I worry?”
    “No,” he let out a long breath, “you weren’t wrong when you accused me of lying to you, Julie; I did. I lied. And you have every right not to trust me.”
    “Luke—”
    “I wasn’t being honest with you. And I need to see you. I need to tell you everything, Jules—beginning to end.”
    “You’ll tell me everything,” I repeated, but it wasn’t a question.
    There was something unsettling about the way his words sounded. Everything . What did he mean? Everything ?
    Sorry Julie, I cheated on you?
    Sorry Julie, I never loved you?
    Sorry Julie, I never want to see you again?
    “Meet me at the District Café,” I tried not to read much more into what he’d said. “I’ll be there in five minutes.”
    The five minute walk through Oakland was the longest trip of my life. Everything he’d said still weighed heavily on my mind. After all we’d been through, hadn’t Luke learned by now that honesty was the key to making this relationship work? He’d spent so long running from me, from his feelings. When he’d finally confronted them, vocalized them, and allowed himself to be a little vulnerable, things started falling into place. Then he snapped right back into his shell of secrecy.
    I lied.
    About what? I should’ve asked.
    I’ll tell you everything.
    Great! But what’s that mean, exactly?
    The heaviness settling in my stomach made me question whether or not I really wanted to know what everything really meant. What if it was monumental? What if it would change the way I looked at him for the rest of my life? What if… what if he closed the door on everything we were meant to have?
    Luke sat at a corner table in the back of the café. Still in his uniform after a long day on patrol, he stood as I approached. He helped me with my chair and then reclaimed his seat.
    “Can I get you—”
    “I don’t want anything,” I hoped he’d just cut straight to the point. I had no interest in making small talk over coffee while he drummed up the nerve to tell me why he’d asked to see me.
    “You should take off your coat,” he nodded at a nearby fireplace. “You might get warm.”
    “I think I’ll keep it on,” I said, having no idea how long I’d be there, or how fast I’d want to flee if I didn’t like what he had to say. I leaned forward and rested my hands on the table. “Let’s do this, Luke. You said you were going to tell me everything. What’s that mean?”
    He looked up from his coffee and bit his lip. The way his fingers gripped the mug made me long to feel the warmth of his touch.
    “Matt won’t be happy when he finds out that I’m telling you.”
    “What’s Matt have to do with anything?” I asked. “I thought you wanted to talk about us ?”
    “You’ve been worried about him, Julie,” he finally took his hand off the mug. He reached across the table and threaded our fingers together. “I know what he’s been up to. I’ve known since the beginning, and if it’ll earn me some of your trust, I want to tell you what’s going on.”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “First, I need you to promise you’re not going to tell him that I told you.”
    “I can’t do that.”
    “Then I can’t tell you,” he dropped his head. “If he finds out you know, he’ll know I said something.”
    “Then don’t tell me,” I pulled my hand from his. I pushed myself back from the table and stood. “I thought you asked me here to tell me the truth, not to list the conditions of your honesty. I’m just gonna go.”
    “Julie, no,” he grabbed my wrist, “I’m sorry. Please sit down.” His eyes grew sadder