Page 32 of That Summer

“Yeah, later.” He laughed as he picked up his dishes and carried them into the kitchen.

“Rummy,” Lucas said, fanning out a pair of sevens, and three nines.

“Damn you.”

“And that’s the game.” He laughed, adding up his score. “You’ll never beat me at cards.”

“Yeah? Well it’s an old person’s game, anyway.”

“That would be true if it wasn’t me and you playing.”

She gathered up the deck and fed them back into the case. “Where’d you learn to play?”

“My Pops. Used to play in the camper as kids out at the track. Claimed it was supposed to help us out think the other players, but it never did. All that happened was he’d kick our asses every game, but it never stopped us from trying to outsmart him. One day we vowed we’d win.”

“Did you?”

“No, but there’s still time.” Lucas stood up and stretched out. “Speaking of time, is it six o’clock already?”

She craned her neck and checked the clock. Standing up, she peered out the patio doors. The sun was still fairly high up, pouring bright light into the living room and brightening up the kitchen. With the sun setting after nine pm, it was hard to pinpoint a set dinner time. Having supper when it got dark out only applied in the winter. She refocused her sights on him. “Are you getting hungry?”

“Actually, yes.”

She walked into the kitchen, opening up the fridge. “I’ll start dinner.”

Lucas joined her, leaning over the top of the fridge. “I didn’t say that so you would cook me dinner. I was thinking we’d go out tonight.”

“I thought we were done with the driving today? My body can’t handle any more, remember? That’s why you started kicking my ass in cards.”

“Yeah, I’m aware. You had enough blackouts this morning to last a lifetime.” Strawberry-blond hairs stood on end as he ran his fingers through his hair. “We can walk. There are a couple of available options nearby.”

She closed the fridge. “Sure, let’s do that. I don’t feel much like cooking anyways. I’ll go freshen up.” As she spun on her foot, a thought popped into her head, causing her to slam her other foot down. “Wait? Is this about that surprise?”

“No.” He shook his head. “That comes later.”

A tilt of her head. “Okay.”

“Go clean up. I’ll tidy up out here.”

A few minutes later, with piqued curiosity, she emerged from her bedroom. Sporting a silky amethyst-coloured top matched with tan shorts, she said, “I’m ready.”

It used to bother her having her accident scars visible, but somewhere over the summer, that modesty disappeared. In a way, it was freeing.

Lucas did a double take.

“I know, different right?” She waved her hand up and down. “I figure if we’re going out for a dinner, and there’s no training involved, I wanted to dress up a little.”

“Now I’m under-dressed.”

His camo green shorts and a grey t-shirt were totally acceptable.

“You look fine,” she said. The apartment stood tall behind them, shrinking the further they walked away. “It’s hard to believe summer is almost over.”

“I know, right? It went by so fast.”

“And when you start classes, you’re taking…”

For a fraction of a second he hesitated in his footing.