Chapter<i>42</i>


    Lucas‘darkeyesstared intentlyattheirbacks,achilling auragrowingaroundhim,makingothersafraidtoapproach.


    “Lucas.”


    Sophiawalkedover,herfacefilledwithconcernasshelookedathim.“Areyoualright?”


    Shefrowned.“WhatdoesMissYoungmeanby this? Althoughyou’reabouttodivorce, sheisstillyourwife.Howcouldsheshowyounorespectatall?WalkingawaywithMr.Skyler,it’soutrageous.”


    Lucaswithdrewhisgazeindifferentlyand saidcalmly,“Ihavesomethingtoattendto,I’llbeleavingfirst.”


    WithoutlookingatSophia’sexpression,heturnedandwalkedawayinanotherdirection.


    Sophia’sexpressionfrozeslightly.


    Shefeltasenseofcrisis.


    AvelineclearlyhadaspecialceinLucas’sheart.


    Howcouldthisbe?


    Shehadworkedsohardtogetwhereshewastoday,evenlosingalegintheprocess.Sheabsolutelycouldn’tletanyakeherce!


    Ontheotherside,AvelinelookedatRussell.“Mr.Skyler,I’lltreatyoutoamenotherday,butIhavesomethingimportanttodonow,soIcan’tapanyyou.”


    Russellreplied,“Youdon’thavemynumber.Howwillyoutreatmetoameal? Isitjustanemptypromise?”


    +15BONUS


    Avelineasked,“Doyouhaveapen?”


    Russelltookafountainpenoutofhissuitpocketandhandedittoher.


    Avelineunscrewedthepencap,lookedaround,andfinallysaid,Excuseme,”beforewritingherphonenumberdirectlyonhisshirt.


    “Callthisnumberwhenthetimes.”Avelinehandedthepen.backtohimandadded,“Youcanalsobringthisshirttomeforwashingthen.”Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    Russellwasmomentarilystunnedbyheractions.


    Whensheleanedintowritehernumberonhisshirt,afaintfragrancefromherreachedhim,makinghimfebituneasy.


    Nowomanhadeverdaredtogetthisclosetohimbefore.


    Ha!


    ThisAvelineseemedtobebreakingmanyofhisfirsts.


    Hetookthepen,andAvelurnedandwalkedawaywithouthesitation.


    ShehadtofindHenry!


    Thatwashergoalfortonight;asforchattingwiththeyoungman,thatcouldwait.


    ShewentstraightinthedirectionHenryhadleft.Whenshereached.theentrance,shewasstopped,asentrywasbyinvitationonly.


    Avelinehadnochoicebuttowaitatthedoor.


    Timepassedbitbybit,thenightgrowingdeeper,andthestarryskyovertheseawasundoubtedlybeautiful,withtwinklingstarsthatinspiredawe.


    +15BONUS


    Asthenumberofpeopleonthedeckdwindled,Avelinedarednotleave,fearingshemightmissthisopportunityifsheleft.


    Eventually,shecurledupinacorner,constantlywatchingthe


    entrance.


    Thenightwindontheseawasverycold,andAvelineshivered,huggingherselftightly.Herheadfeltheavy,andshekeptnoddingoffwhilesquattinginthecorner.


    Halfasleepandhalfawake,afamiliar–scentedcoatfellonher.Sheinstinctivelygrabbedthecoatandwrappedherselfabitmoretightly.Thescentaroundhernosemadeherfeelveryatease.


    ItwasLu’scoat.


    Whenthedaylightbroke,Avelineopenedhereyesandrealizedshehadfallenasleepinthecorner!


    Shestoodup,supporting herselfagainstthewall,thewarmthofthecoatmakingherpause.Lookingdown,shesawitwasaman’ssuitjacket.


    ItwasLucas‘coat;shehadseenhimwearingistnight.


    She clutchedthecoat,deepinthought.Atthatmoment,sheheardsomenoisesinthedistance.Afewpeopleweringout,headingtowardsthedeck.


    AmongthemwasHenry.


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