Strangers To Lovers

Chapter Fourty-Seven

Although Dylan and Levi were busy investigating Mr. Connor, Luke and I were left with little choice but to stay at my house. It should have been the perfect opportunity to relax and enjoy each other’s company, but instead, I felt like we were being watched—like every move we made was under some kind of invisible surveillance. The air was thick with tension, and even though Luke did his best to keep things light, there was a nervousness underlying everything we did.

It was barely two o’clock when I broke the silence, turning to Luke as he scrolled through Netflix, pretending to be invested in some random movie. “So, do you have any plans for tonight?” I asked, more to distract myself from the growing anxiety gnawing at me.

Luke looked over with a soft smile, but I could tell his mind was elsewhere. “I figured we could hang out, maybe watch a movie, order in. Keep things low-key.” He paused for a beat, then added, “Unless you’re sick of me already.”

I gave a half-hearted laugh. “No, I’m not sick of you… But do you think your mom knows what’s going on? About Troy?”

His smile disappeared, replaced by a more serious look. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she did. She’s always one step ahead. And if she finds out Troy’s piecing things together... well, she won’t just sit back.”

I couldn’t suppress the shiver that ran through me. “Do you think she’d go after him?”

Luke’s jaw tightened. “Maybe. But Troy’s smart. He won’t make himself an easy target. He’s been through enough.”

There was a long pause as the weight of the situation sank in. It wasn’t just about us anymore—it was about Troy, and the danger he could be in.

“Well,” Luke said suddenly, shaking off the heavy mood, “how about we stop worrying about that for now? I’ve got an idea.”

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued but cautious. “Oh?”

He grinned, standing up and offering his hand. “Let’s go out.”

I blinked in surprise. “Out? Where?”

He chuckled, tugging me up from the couch. “Anywhere but here. You need to breathe a little, and I’ve got the perfect place in mind.”

“Luke, we can’t just—”

“Yes, we can,” he interrupted, grabbing my jacket. “We’ll keep it low-key. Besides, I know a few spots where no one will bother us.”

The thought of getting out, even for a little while, was tempting. And being with Luke made it even more appealing. “Alright, but if we get caught, this is all on you.”

He smirked. “Deal.”

We hurried out of the house, and for a brief moment, it felt like we were escaping. The cool air hit my face as I stepped outside, and I breathed in deeply, savoring the freedom of it all. Luke tossed me the car keys as we approached his sleek black car.

“You’re driving,” he said casually, leaning against the passenger door.

I stared at him, my heart skipping a beat. “Wait, what?”

“You heard me.” He grinned. “I want to see you behind the wheel for once.”

It was such a simple gesture, but it felt like a huge step. Luke had never let anyone drive his car—especially not me. I grabbed the keys, my hand trembling slightly, and slid into the driver’s seat. As I adjusted the mirrors, I could feel his eyes on me, that playful grin still plastered on his face.

I shook my head, unable to suppress a smile. “Alright, where are we going?”

“Metro North station,” he said.

I turned to him, confusion written all over my face. “We’re taking a train?”

He nodded. “Yeah, we’ll leave the car here and take the train into the city. It’ll be fun. Plus, it’s harder for anyone to follow us that way.”

I mulled it over for a second before shrugging. “Okay, I’m in.”

We drove to the train station, and I parked the car in one of the underground garages. As we walked toward the station, Luke reached for my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. The gesture was so subtle, but it grounded me, reminded me that we were in this together.

Once on the train, Luke’s usual confidence wavered as he fidgeted in his seat, glancing around at the other passengers. I couldn’t help but laugh at how out of his element he looked.

“Not a fan of public transport?” I teased.

He rolled his eyes. “I’m just not used to it. It’s a little... overwhelming.”

I grinned, leaning my head against his shoulder. “You’re so out of your comfort zone right now, it’s kind of adorable.”

“Adorable, huh?” He raised an eyebrow, smirking. “I’ll show you adorable.”

The rest of the train ride was a mix of playful teasing and quiet moments of peace. Luke would occasionally steal glances at me, and I could see something in his eyes—something deeper than just the banter we shared.

As we arrived in the city, the crowded streets of Manhattan were a far cry from the quiet, secluded life we’d been living. Luke seemed both excited and overwhelmed as we stepped into the chaos.

“This is... intense,” he muttered, looking around at the bustling crowds.

“Welcome to New York,” I said, smiling. “It’s a little crazy, but you get used to it.”

We wandered the streets for a while, ducking into small shops and grabbing snacks from street vendors. Every so often, Luke would pull me close, his arm around my waist, as if he needed the reassurance of my presence in the sea of people.

Eventually, we found ourselves in Times Square, the bright lights and giant billboards illuminating the night sky. I couldn’t help but laugh at how touristy we were being, but Luke didn’t seem to mind. In fact, he looked like a kid seeing everything for the first time.

“Wanna take a picture?” I asked, pulling out my phone.

He groaned playfully. “We’re really doing the tourist thing, huh?”

“Come on, it’ll be fun,” I said, dragging him to a spot with a perfect view of the square. “Just one.”

We took the picture, and Luke grumbled the whole time, but I could see the amusement in his eyes. Once we were done, he grabbed my hand and led me to a nearby ramen shop he had found online.

“I didn’t know you were into ramen,” I said as we walked inside.

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” he replied with a wink.

We sat down at a small table near the window, the smell of broth and spices filling the air. The place was cozy and quiet, a stark contrast to the bustling streets outside. Luke ordered for both of us, and soon, bowls of steaming hot ramen were placed in front of us.

“I’ve never seen you so excited about food,” I teased, watching as he dug into his bowl with enthusiasm.

“Hey, ramen is serious business,” he said, slurping a noodle and grinning.

We spent the rest of the evening eating, laughing, and sharing stories about our lives before all the chaos started. For the first time in what felt like forever, we were just two people on a date, enjoying each other’s company without the weight of the world pressing down on us.

As we walked back to the train station, hand in hand, I realized how much I needed this—how much we both needed this. Luke turned to me, his expression soft. “Thanks for today.”

I smiled, leaning into him. “Thank you for getting me out of the house. I needed this.”

“Me too,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

As the train rumbled along the tracks back home, I closed my eyes, resting my head against his shoulder. For the first time in a long while, I felt at peace. Whatever came next, we would face it together.