Read Online Love, Lucas by Chantele Sedgwick - Free Book Online Page A

over the seat of my borrowed bike anyway. It’s a little big and my toes barely touch the ground. Carson stands up on his pedals and bounces next to me. He’s obviously a biker. My friend Emmy back home would get along great with him. I watch him bounce a few more times until he notices the look on my face and laughs.
    “Don’t worry. I’ll stay with you.”
    Not very reassuring, but I smile and pretend my heart’s not beating a million miles an hour. I push off the ground and while I’m a little wobbly at first, my feet find the pedals and we’re off.
    We pass a lot of people, most with shopping bags, and they’re all super friendly. A lot of them have dogs and I try to maneuver my bike as far away as possible so I don’t hit one or get chased.
    I swear it takes forever to reach the pier but it’s probably only been five minutes. I’m sweating and a little out of breath, which is ridiculous. We didn’t even go that far.
    Carson jumps off his bike and wheels it over to a bike rail, pulls out two locks, and puts one of them on his bike. I wobble as I put my feet down to stop. My toes scrape the ground and I’m grateful I have real shoes on instead of flip-flops. That would have been a mess.
    “Here,” he says, locking my bike next to his. He steps back and takes in a deep breath. “Let’s go get something to eat.”
    People are everywhere. A lot of women wearing string bikini tops and short shorts. A few guys stand in front of a bar, tattoos covering half their torsos and arms, holding drinks and look like they’re having a good time. We pass a guy playing some little drums and another guy probably in his twenties singing while playing his guitar.
    I take it all in since it’s nothing like back home. I know my parents sheltered me and it probably shows.
    Carson stops at a hot dog stand. “Best hot dogs you’ll ever taste,” he says. “I figured I could show you around more if we got hot dogs. I’m going to have to take you to Ruby’s one of these days.” He gestures to a building with a red roof at the end of the pier.
    I smile. “That would be cool.”
    He walks up to the window and orders two hot dogs, then turns back to me. “What would you like on yours?”
    “A little bit of ketchup and a lot of mustard.”
    A few minutes later, we’re walking down the boardwalk, hot dogs in hand. And Carson wasn’t lying. It really is the best hot dog I’ve tasted.
    “Mustard, huh? I’m more of a ketchup kind of guy. And relish.”
    I wrinkle my nose. “I’m not a fan of relish. Or pickles. Though I do like the smell of them. Which I’m aware is weird.”
    He laughs and throws his wrapper in a garbage can. “You’re funny.”
    I take one more bite and throw my wrapper away as well.
    We keep walking.
    “So, what do you like to do? I mean . . . do you have any hobbies or anything? Besides photography?”
    “Not really.” I hesitate. “I play the guitar a little, but other than that—”
    “Seriously? I’ve always wanted to play the guitar.” He shoves his hands in his pockets and looks at the ground as we walk. “I’m not very musically inclined.” He catches my stare out of the corner of his eye and grins.
    I feel my cheeks heat and clear my throat. I realize I’m twisting my ring around my finger and stop. Why am I so nervous around him? It’s not like we’re on a date or anything. “I’m not that musical either. My mom made me take piano lessons when I was little, but I hated them. She insisted I learn at least one instrument, or sing, which I’ll never do in front of anyone.”
    He throws back his head and laughs. He has a nice laugh. Not weird or annoying, like some guys I know. Just . . . nice. “You mean you didn’t get roped into taking choir in school?” “They would have kicked me out. I suck.” And it’s the truth. Lucas never let me forget it. I take after my dad—totally tone deaf.
    “I don’t believe it.”
    “You should. I wish I could sing, but I just