CH 1: As Fate Would Have It

Maya and good luck were never on the same side. Hell, Maya and good luck weren't even friends, so the moment fate literally breezed in through the door of Delia's Diner, she wanted to sink down into her white Keds and never resurface.

"Uhh, hello?" At her side, her sassy, middle-aged employer, Delia herself, impatiently waved a hand in front of her stunned face. "Customer at 2:00! Well…" She looked around as though assessing their precise coordinates. "Maybe more like 12:00, but my statement still stands. Go on, girl! I'm all tied up."

You and me both, Maya bitterly thought. She was hallucinating right now. Yeah. She absolutely had to be hallucinating.

Fumbling for the notepad tucked inside her apron, she grabbed a pen with her free hand, resisted the urge to stab herself with it, and then moved over toward his table akin to a prisoner awaiting her execution. And in many ways, she was. For years now, Maya had been imprisoned by Lucas Friar's eyes – had been killed just by his smile.

Ugh, get a grip, she thought.

Now at his side, her heart somersaulted while Lucas scanned the menu. It was so clearly him – it had been at least five years since she'd seen him last, but she never forgot a face. And his? Well, his was downright impossible to forget. During the height of her infatuation, she'd found herself sketching his features for hours – the kind sparkle of his eyes, the mischievous curve of his mouth, the…ugh, disgusting. She was so disgusting. Pathetic. A loser. While Lucas had returned to Texas, it was so obvious that he hadn't been thinking of her. And if he had, it certainly wasn't to the level she'd thought of him.

It never was.

And perhaps it never would be.

"Are you going to order or what?" All at once, Maya froze, not having intended to have such bite to her tone. Hell, she hadn't intended to speak at all, if she was being truthful with herself, because she wasn't prepared for those eyes to turn upwards, spearing through her chest and dragging straight through her heartstrings.

Cool it, Maya. He's just a boy. A stupid, worthless-

"What would the 'or what' cover?" Lucas flashed a grin then – the grin – and all her prior vitriol diminished.

Unbidden, her lips curved into a smirk and she tapped her pen against the notepad, canting her head. "I really don't think you want to test me, Huckleberry."

"Ah. So I see that hasn't changed," he replied, sneering. "I was hoping you might've retired that one, seeing how we are out of college now."

Maya winced. She'd started late due to tight funds, but she was in school – community college – and it bothered her that he just assumed they led the same kind of charmed life. He'd always known her far better than she cared to admit, so what was this? Was he genuinely that naïve, or was he still seeing the best in her when no other boy would? Or could.

Twisting her mouth, she tisked before offering, "Well, I guess I could upgrade you to 'Texas Toast,' seeing how I'm feeling generous." She wasn't. Not truly. "Or maybe Jingle Brains would suffice? 'Cause it kind of seems like you forgot my number."

All at once, Lucas' smile vanished. "I thought we both agreed that it was better if we…you know…didn't remain in contact? Since we could never be just…"

"Friends," Maya finished for him, a slight warmth spreading through her cheeks. "Right. Well, maybe I was hoping you'd forget that stupid rule. Maybe I really could've used your support these past few years."

Lucas' mouth turned downward. "The phone goes both ways, Maya. You didn't need me to-"

"I did," she hissed at him, gripping at her pen. "Riley's my best friend. Even after you ended things, it just…it felt wrong to even consider it." She exhaled, smoothing a hand through her ponytail. "What do you even do now, anyway? Rope cows and eat vittles around a campfire?"

Slowly, Lucas' smile returned. "I'm a rancher, if that's what you're asking."

"Ugh, you are so predictable. Couldn't you have at least pretended I was wrong?"

"As much as I would love for you to be wrong, I somehow love disappointing you far more," he teased.

Maya chewed her lip. "I'm not disappointed…" I could never be disappointed in you. "I'm just completely underwhelmed, I guess. You could've at least pretended you were an assistant vet on Dr. Pol, or something."

"Would that really have earned me any brownie points?" Lucas asked, skeptical.

A slight smile tugged the corner of her mouth. "Not even a at least your shame would've been viewed by millions."

"Right. My mistake."

An amiable silence passed between them then, soft and warm before he finally reminded her, "Uhh, my order?"

"Oh! Right," Maya fumbled, clumsily lifting her pen. "What'll you have?"

"Scrambled eggs, home fries, and a side of forgiveness?" Lucas asked, his face such an open mask of needful pleading that she nearly faltered. "And maybe I can get an order of you? Uhh, to-go?"

At that, Maya laughed, drawing a hand over her mouth to hide her scorn. "God, you are so cheesy. Did that line actually work on any of your college girls?"

He grinned, sheepish. "It's no line," he assured her. "I genuinely want to see you…to talk and catch up. If you're free?"

"Well-"

"C'mon, doesn't this seem fated?" Lucas pressed. "I'm in town since I needed to cross through for my travels – don't ask, 'cause I know you'll just make fun of me – and then I decided to come in here. To this diner. Where you work." He shrugged, leaning forward against his elbows. "I don't know about you, but I incorrectly interpreted all the signs from when we were kids. But not anymore, Maya. You're important to me, and I just…I want to see you. Even if it's just for a little while."

Maya opened and closed her mouth a few times, blatant shock lighting up her face and spiraling right into her restless heart. "I…I-I have to finish my shift, but I'll be done around noon," she stammered. "Do you think you can wait for me then?"

A soft look of introspection crossed Lucas' face, and he offered her a fond, world-weary smile. "Maya, I feel like I've been waiting for you my entire life. What's a few hours?"

Oh, hell. That was a good line. That was a very good line – and flushing a bright, healthy pink, she cleared her throat, mumbled a soft, "I'll go turn in your order," and then booked it back toward the counter. Though once she started keying in the order – herself not included in that list – she jerked in alarm when Delia appeared at her side.

"Girl, what are you still doing here?" she asked.

Maya looked up in surprise. "I'm sorry?"

"I heard the tail-end of that conversation," the older woman said, arching a brow, "and let me tell you something: that's one smitten little puppy. It'd be a shame for you to make him wait."

Maya winced, incredulous. "Oh, no," she said, "he's not-"

"He is. I'm old enough to know," Delia said, waving a hand. "And besides, things are finally calming down again, so I don't mind taking on the rest of the morning crowd. I can call in Cindy."

"But-"

"You're one of my best servers, Maya. Hell, you're one of the most hardworking, too," she cut in. "Let me do this for you. Take a load off! And better yet…" She winked, then made a suggestive gesture in Lucas' direction.

Oh, God.

Fighting back a grin, Maya agreed, "I'll make a deal with you: never do that again, and I'll be out of here once 'Texas' is done eating."

Delia grinned too. "Deal. Now go get ready before I change my mind!"

Flustered, Maya finished keying in Lucas' order, then turned and made a beeline for the breakroom in the kitchen. She wasn't one who believed in primping and pleasing a man, but she certainly hoped she had enough time to make herself look presentable…

A/N: Lyrics in the title are from "Ribcage (Acoustic)" by Crywolf.

So, I hadn't seen this show in years (didn't even finish it, if I'm being honest), but then I randomly saw a bunch of Lucaya gifsets on Tumblr, and started watching a few compilation vids, and HERE I AM cuz I was SUPER displeased to find out they never even kissed. I knew since the very beginning that they were the dynamic with the most chemistry, and they deserved better than what we got. So here I am. Writing some fix-it fic. I intend to write one more chapter (unless my ideas shift).

If you read and enjoyed, comments are very much appreciated! ❤ Thanks so much for reading!