Maya and Lucas had been working on a project all night at his place. Maya was resisting the urge to just close her eyes and fall asleep right then and there. She brushed a few strands of hair away from her face and sighed quietly. With her head in her hand and elbow propped up on the table, she furtively looked at Lucas.
His eyebrows was screwed in concentration; his eyes were slightly squinted; and a small frown was visible on his mouth. He bent over the computer, typing the last few sentences. His toned forearms and huge hands made the computer look tiny. This, along with the delirium tiredness brought onto Maya, made her giggle.
Lucas glanced over at her, which made her giggle even more.
He turned back to the computer with a smirk on his face, hit a few more keys, then shut it.
"Bed time," he announced as he stood up. She felt like tiny next to him. Especially since he was standing and she was sitting. He stretched his muscular arms out, making him look even more huge. Stupid Huckleberry. Maya looked up at him, feeling less giggly and more exhausted. She checked her phone. 2 a.m. .
"I better get going" Maya said as she hurriedly stood up. It's not like she would get in trouble for being out this late, but she was secretly afraid of walking home this late at night. If she had told Lucas this, he would have insisted to go with her. He's such a gentleman. Stupid Huckleberry.
Lucas grabbed her arm gently. "Maya, you're not walking home alone this late."
Maya saw it coming, but treated it like a challenge. She looked at him directly. "I can take care of myself, Hee-Haw." Her stubbornness had never faltered.
Lucas smiled. "I know you can, believe me."
He was still holding her arm; his warm hands encircled her wrist. His fingertips glided down her forearm and lightly grabbed her hand. She was distracted her for a few seconds, only focusing on what his callused hand felt like against her soft skin.
She shook her head. "I need to go." But she didn't move. Stupid Huckleberry.
He became serious. "You're either letting me walk you home or staying here."
Maya didn't want Lucas out this late. His mom would worry and Maya knew how many crazy, dangerous people were out this time at night.
Their faces were inches apart and he was making intense eye contact. Did he move closer?
What the hell is going on?
Maya snatched her hand away. "Ugh, fine. I'll stay. Will your mom be okay with this, though?"
He grinned. He had won that time. "Of course, I'm just being a gentleman." He winked at Maya.
She rolled her eyes. Stupid Huckleberry.
"Now, if you'll follow me to my room, we may then change into our PJ's. You can borrow some of my clothes if you want. And I'll sleep on the couch."
Maya looked down at her jeans and shirt. It would be way too uncomfortable to sleep in, so she would definitely need his clothes. But he would give up his bed, too? She felt slightly guilty.
"Lucas I can sleep on the couch it's really no problem —"
He held up his hand in her face, making her stop talking.
"It's called chivalry. Get used to it" — he tipped an invisible cowboy hat down — "Ma'am."
She rolled her eyes but smiled in spite of herself. Stupid Huckleberry.
He led her to his room and she sat on his bed while he dug around some drawers to find clothes for her. She took in his room and noted the Dallas Cowboys posters and the array of trophies he had managed to collect. Pretty much exactly how she had pictured it.
He turned around and timidly offered her a red t-shirt that had "Everything's bigger in Texas" printed on it and grey fleece sweatpants.
She took one look at the shirt and burst into hysterical laughter. Lucas knew this is what she would react like, so he just chuckled and rolled his eyes. After a minute of her laughing and her rolling around on the hardwood floor, Lucas rolled his eyes and threw the clothes at her, and told her he was going to change in the bathroom. "So get dressed and go to bed," he playfully ordered. He turned around and strided towards his bathroom then shut the door.
Maya knew the clothes would be huge, and she was right. The t-shirt went down to her knees and she had to roll the waistband of the pants multiple times for them to even remotely fit. She placed her jeans and shirt on his desk and decided to ask Lucas if there were any extra toothbrushes for her to use. Morning breath was not acceptable, especially if Lucas Friar would be there when she woke up.
Snap out of it, Maya.
"Lucas." She tapped on the bathroom door. No answer. She slowly turned the knob.
She opened the door cautiously and saw that Lucas was brushing his teeth. He had sweatpants on but no shirt. Maya's eyes widened. His tanned biceps were more visible now that there was nothing covering them, and his slight six-pack was easy to see in the well-lit bathroom. Maya gulped.
Being so athletic has blessed him.
"Yes?" Lucas asked, smirking at her. He was amused. He leaned against the sink, his large hand gripping the toothbrush. Stupid Huckleberry.
"I just needed…if you have…an extra toothbrush." She took a deep breath. His back muscles flexed in the dim lighting.
"Yeah, sure, one second." He bent down and opened the cabinet beneath the sink, finding exactly what Maya wanted. He handed it to her and raised his eyebrows, smiling. She glared at him. "You're so annoying," she stated. She walked out pulling the door closed.
She heard him laugh before the door shut. Lucas went downstairs to make sure the doors were locked and the lights were off before checking on Maya.
Meanwhile, Maya brushed her teeth and slowly got into his bed. It was very comfortable, unlike her bed at home. She laid her head down. The dark green pillow case smelled like pine. For some reason, it made her sad. Lucas was always so nice to her. And she was so mean to him. How could she explain that she's rude to him because she wants to protect him from her?
How could a guy like Lucas ever end up with someone as broken as me?
She curled up in a ball and wrapped her arms around her calves.
I trust him. It's because of this I push him away.
Lucas stood in the doorway of his room and saw that Maya was just staring at the ceiling with a kind of distant, melancholy expression.
"Hey, what's wrong?" he asked.
He sat down at the edge of his bed and gently grabbed her leg that was under the blankets.
She smiled sadly. "You're a really good guy."
Maya looked down.
"You're going to leave. You're going to run away," she shakily murmured.
Lucas felt his heart break.
She took a deep breath.
"Maya." Lucas stared at her. She kept her head lowered. He shook her leg.
"Maya, look at me." She slowly raised her eyes and met his. A tear fell from her blue eye. "I'll always be here."
He rarely saw her show her vulnerable side. She trusts me. He felt his eyes water.
"Maya, listen to me. Always."
He climbed under the covers and put an arm around her. She slowly leaned into him, allowing herself to savor the warmth his embrace brought. Vulnerability is scary. But trusting someone to see your vulnerability is even scarier.
"Please don't go anywhere," she whispered.
Lucas gently kissed her forehead. "I'm right here."
Ugh. Stupid Huckleberry.