CHAPTER 12
MCKINLEY P.O.V
Getting back to work was strange because Courtney was off on her honeymoon. Nick was taking her to France and I've been getting emails of all these pictures of them kissing and I found it really gross so I sent her back pictures of Luke that I've taken while he was asleep. Luke was busy with work and planning his trip to California, which he tried to talk me out of because he would be busy but I had to check out the offices over there anyway.
The trip to California would be in a few weeks so I was cramming to get most of my work done now so I would be able to just relax on our vacation but I knew that wasn't going to work out. I had decided to take a trip over to the book store on my lunch.
I smiled as I walked over to the area where I met Luke and I couldn't help but think about where our lives were heading right now. I didn't know what would happen with me and Luke. Luke had become distant lately and I wasn't sure why but I was telling myself it wasn't my fault. We had gone to court with Sam, who was convicted of assault,breaking and entering, and stalking. Me and Luke had checked the apartment and found that more than ten pair of panties had gone missing. He wasn't happy.
I looked at the new books that covered the shelves and picked one out,reading the back of it. When I didn't find any interest in it, I put it back.
"Oh, hey." Luke said as he bumped into me.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" I asked him.
"I'm buying a birthday present." He answered. My birthday was coming up in May and I really wasn't expecting Luke to get me anything. I assumed he was buying the gift for me.
"Oh." I smiled. "I'll leave you be then." I smiled kissing his cheek before he pulled me into him.
"Let's do dinner tonight, my place. I'll cook for you." He smiled and I nodded.
"I'll be there." I smiled kissing him again. I had debated if I should say that I loved him before I left him but it freaked me out to say it so I left. I grabbed a coffee and a breakfast sandwich before heading back to work where I finished my work for the day before I closed my computer down and headed off to Luke's. I knocked on his door before I heard the dog, Loki, bark and when Luke opened the door she gladly let me pet her head.
"Hi." Luke smiled kissing me.
"Hi." He let me in the house before he went back to the kitchen. "What did you make me?"
"Well, I made steak, inside a baguette with garlic buttery stuff on top of it with homemade mashed potatoes with the cheese in it like you like it." He answered.
I sat at the table with the wine that he had already set out at the table checking my emails
I sat at the table with the wine that he had already set out at the table checking my emails.
"How was work today?" He asked as he checked on the steak.
"It was fine. We haven't been busy recently. But I got an email from my lawyer saying that Sam will be in jail for 3 months and she thinks that I should get a restraining order from him."
"I agree." He said.
"Would I have to move though? I like my apartment."
"No, I think he would. Doesn't he still live with his parents?" Luke asked and I nodded. "What a loser." He said and I laughed.
"Well we had it easy."
"We did not have it easy." He said. "You grew up with an alcoholic father. How is that easy?" He asked.
"I meant our lives now. We both have awesome jobs and can afford to live on our own."
"He's a creep." He said and I sighed. I knew he was right but he was also being so over dramatic. Sam had always been nice to me but for some reason he turned crazy and stole my panties. I'm sure he was jealous of Luke, who wouldn't be? He was amazing and he was attractive.
"He was jealous."
"Of what?"
"You! Duh! He wanted to date me and I dated you instead."
"Awe, that's the cutest story I've ever heard." He said making me laugh. He put a piece of whatever he made onto a plate in front of me and added a blob of mashed potatoes and gravy next to it. I waited until he sat down to start eating.
"It's amazing." I nearly moaned as I swallowed the first bite. Luke could cook certain things very well while other things he had trouble with. But this, I'm sure we would be having a lot. Me and Luke tried to have dinner together at least two times a week to catch up if we weren't able to talk because of work. Some weeks we had dinner together every night while others we didn't.
"Thank you. I slaved for an hour to make this." He said eating. I laughed. We made small conversation before Luke hinted that he was tired and wanted to go to sleep so I headed home, texting him when I made it safe.
That night I laid in bed watching Netflix. It was lonely without Luke but I understood that he wanted time to himself and that couples didn't need to spend all of their time together. I got up to get a snack and make sure the front door was lock before heading back to bed and cuddling with the cat, who still didn't have a name even though Luke called him Georgie.
I texted Luke a quick good night even though I wasn't expecting one back, thinking he was already asleep. And that's when I saw his snapchat story, of him clubbing. Without me. His girlfriend.
*LUKE P.O.V*
I knew I shouldn't have told Mckinley that I was going to bed when in fact Michael had invited me to go clubbing. I didn't have to always let her know where I was or who I was with. We had the bartending pouring drink after drink and we were watching different women walk by, which I couldn't do anything with them because of McKinley but I could still look.
"None of these girls are hotter than my girl." I yelled over the music while taking a shot and putting the glass back down.
"Shut up, we all know McKinley is hot! Stop rubbing it in." I smirked to myself. I knew that I had scored. I knew that I shouldn't be here. I knew I should have just told her the truth. She wouldn't have wanted to come to the club anyway and she would have understood that I wanted time to hang out with my friends.
"I should go."
"No! Stay!" Michael said and I nodded. And for the rest of the night we drank and partied.
I was wasted off my ass when I checked my snapchat and saw that Mckinley saw that I wasn't in bed where I said I was going to be
I was wasted off my ass when I checked my snapchat and saw that Mckinley saw that I wasn't in bed where I said I was going to be. I went to the bar to grab one last drink before heading outside of the club to get into the uber I called for.
"McKinley." I said looking at her. She looked beautiful under the moonlight even though she was wearing sweats, a huge sweatshirt, and no makeup.
"If you don't know what you want, Luke, let me go." She said leaning again a pole. "I'm a very understanding person but I will not let you hurt me." She said before walking away.
"No, McKinley." I yelled running after her grabbing her arm which she pulled away from standing with her hand between our bodies. "Please don't leave me."
"Don't lie to me. I know where this is heading. 'I'm not cheating', 'we're just friends', 'I've never seen that girl in my life.'" She said.
"I would never cheat on you." I said shaking my head. "Listen, the guys called when I invited you over for dinner and I didn't want to say no to either of you." I explained myself.
"So just fucking tell me that! Don't just tell me you're tired. Tell me you were going out with the guys! I would have left without another word! Instead you lied to me." She was so upset with me and I never wanted to be the person who made her upset.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know what to do. It's hard to choose between you and them. I love you but they're my best friends. And your friend is away right now."
"I was perfectly fine with just her before you, Luke." She said which broke my heart. "I can live without you."
"I don't want you to live without me." My voice was low now, hoping I was actually saying the right things or if I was imagining all of this.
"Then start acting like it." She said walking away from me and everyone walking around watched me as I ran my hands through my hair and got into the uber giving the guy the address to get me home.
When I got there, and actually got into my apartment, I crashed. Right on the living room floor. When I woke up the next morning, I tried to call McKinley but she didn't answer the phone and thats when I knew I screwed up. I had this perfect girl in the palm of my hands and I let her slip away.
I showered before I got dressed and headed down to the book store, I had to check if she was here. When I couldn't find her I tried her apartment but she never answered the door. I sat down in her hallway because eventually she would come out or come home from wherever she was.
"Go home, Luke." She said as she came out of the apartment in the same clothes she was wearing this morning when I saw her outside the club.
"No, we need to talk." I said following behind.
"About what? About the fact that you lied to your girlfriend? About something as stupid as this?" She asked.
"Yeah exactly. So why are you even mad if you think it's stupid?" I asked and she stopped walking making me bump into her.
"You lied to me." She said pushing me away. "Lying is the worst thing you could have done."
"I could have cheated on you." I said and she laughed. "I could have. I know a lot of people."
"You would never cheat on me. I rocked your world. More ways than one." She said which was true. She was the most amazing girl I had ever met and I was head over heels in love with her but this fight was so stupid and I felt as though we shouldn't be having this fight.
"Then get over me lying to you! I didn't do anything wrong. I just went out with some friends."
"Luke, you told me you were tired. You could have just said 'hey I have some plans with my friends I have to go meet up with them' and I would have left. Instead you go out clubbing and having fun!" She shouted. "While I had to sit in my apartment scared to death that someone else was in here with me."
"We got new locks for your door. No one is coming in." I said.
"Who cares if someone does." She said as she left the building with me following behind her. "Not like you would be sober enough to come home and help me."
"I would have done my best." I answered.
"Your best isn't enough." She said.
"God you're so over dramatic! Maybe this relationship isn't working!" I shouted. She stopped dead in her tracks and looked me right in the eye.
"If that's what you want."
"No, that's not what I want. I just want you to forget about this. So I went out with some friends drinking, who cares. It's not that big of a deal."
"To me it is."
"Well I'm sorry okay? I didn't mean to hurt you." I said.
"But you did. And you don't even care that you hurt my feelings." She said finally feeling defeated. I hugged her. All she needed right now was a hug.
"I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. Please forgive me." I said kissing her head.
"I'll think about it."
CHAPTER 13
MCKINLEY P.O.V
Waking up the morning of my birthday was amazing. I woke up with Luke's head buried between my legs with two fingers working their way in and out of me. Luke knew exactly how to pleasure me and exactly how to get me over the edge.
Once he was finished with his time between my legs, he made me shower with him. Once were both showered and dressed, he dragged me out to his car where he took me out to breakfast at some little shop outside of the city.
"Can I have my present now?" I asked him and he shook his head.
"After dinner." I sighed. I was very impatient and I wanted him to give it to me now.
"Can we at least go shopping?" I asked.
"For what?"
"For clothes. The warmer weather is coming and I need some spring and summer clothes." He nodded his head. I'm sure he was going to love shopping with me. Now that it was May, and the warm weather was in fact here, I needed more skirts for work because even though it's air conditioned, I still get hot.
"We can do whatever you want." He answered as he paid the bill and we headed back out onto the streets to make our way to Time Square to shop.
"How come you're making me wait until dinner? Is it because you didn't buy me a present?" I asked and he laughed.
"I bought you a present I just want to make you wait." I pouted. I didn't want to wait until dinner. We usually did dinner at like 6 and he would make me wait until after dessert. We walked around, each of us picking stores to go into and he gladly carried my bags for me.
"I'm going to get a snack." I said to him as I wandered off to find something to eat. I bought myself some pretzels and knew if I didn't buy any for him he would kill me so I bought two and brought it back to him. "Here, Babe." I handed it to him.
"Awe thanks." He smiled kissing me. "But it's your birthday not mine."
"I know but I have to treat you sometimes too." I smiled.
"Yeah, I guess. But we have dinner in an hour. We should head back and get ready." He said and I nodded. We walked hand and hand back to my apartment where he made me wear a fancy red dress to match is tie. He made me take pictures before going to the place where he insisted wasn't expensive even though I knew it was. We ate in silence before the waiter came over and took away our plates, setting a chocolate cake in the middle of the table. "Happy birthday, my love." Luke said leaning over the table to kiss me.
"Thank you." I smiled kissing him back. He fed me the cake while I fed him a few bites but mostly took it myself.
"Are you ready?" He asked and I nodded as he helped me stand and led me to his car. "The boys want to see you." He said. "They're at my place so we can just stay there tonight?" I nodded as he drove. He pulled up to the house and tons of cars were on his street which stressed me out because there's never this many cars around.
He helped me out of the car, bringing to the front door and opening it.
"You should really lock your doors, Luke. Someone will come in and steal the dog." He laughed. He flicked on the light to the living room and tons of people screamed out 'surprise'. I smiled, shocked that Luke had planned this.
"You guys!" I said turning to Luke smiling. "Did you plan this?" I asked and he nodded proud of himself. I kissed him and Michael whistled before pulling me away and hugging me.
"Happy birthday." He said and I smiled thanking him. They all had me open my presents before any time of party thing started. Luke had bought me a book which I was surprised about but I shouldn't have been because I saw him in the book store a few weeks ago and he didn't have an answer when I asked him what he was doing there.
"Thank you, everyone!" I smiled. I barely got the words out before the music was turned up and someone handed me a shot. The rest of the night was spent drinking and dancing.
I laughed as Luke changed me out of my dress and into one of his shirt. I was more drunk than I should be and I thought everything was funny.
"What's so funny?" He asked.
"Nothing." I laughed covering my mouth trying to get myself to stop laughing but it wasn't working for me. He got into bed next to me pulling me into him. Thankfully I didn't have to work the next day.
"Good morning sleepy head." Luke said as he shook my sleeping body. I groaned already knowing that I had a headache and really didn't want to get out of bed.
"No." I said.
"I have some Advil." I nodded as I sat up rubbing my head. "The blinds are closed." He commented and I nodded as I took the pill from him and took his cup of coffee, taking a sip. "Did you have a good birthday?" He asked and I nodded.
"Yes, thank you. Best birthday ever." I smiled laying back in bed.
"I'm glad. What would you like for breakfast?" He asked.
"Chocolate chip pancakes. Please." He nodded as he left and I picked up the book he bought me and flipped to the first page which had a letter from Luke telling me happy birthday with a smiley face. I began reading and on each page, Luke had highlighted something and wrote a little note next to it either saying that it reminded him of me/us or he thought that it was cute.
I had never had someone do that for me before and I knew that Luke was the one. He changed my mind about marriage.
*LUKE P.O.V*
McKinley had been acting different since her birthday. I wasn't sure what it was about but I really needed to know that it wasn't something I did wrong. It wasn't that she was sad or angry about anything, she just like... didn't talk?
"What's wrong with you?" Michael asked as I was running around the office.
"Nothing." I said. I had had two coffees that morning and I shouldn't have done that because it makes me crazy.
"Dude seriously." He said.
"Tinley doesn't talk anymore." He looked at me confused. "Since her birthday, I don't know. She's barely said three words to me."
"What did you do?" He asked and I shrugged. "Just ask her. Don't just assume something is wrong but also don't assume that something isn't wrong. She could be perfectly fine." He said and I nodded.
"Am I worrying for no reason?" I asked.
"Well, I don't know. She loves you. You can tell." I nodded.
"She loved my present." I smiled. I had spent weeks reading and commenting on things in that book. "She takes it everywhere she goes."
"Luke, what if she changed her mind?" He asked and I panicked looking at him.
"What do you mean what if she changed her mind? She doesn't love me anymore?" I asked upset.
"No, you dumbass, about marriage." He clarified. "She said she didn't want to marry anyone. What if that's changed?"
"I gotta go." I said grabbing my keys and rushing over to her office. I rushed up to her office and she looked taken back when I came flying into the room breathing hard.
"What are you doing?" She asked handing me her water bottle.
"You changed your mind." She looked confused.
"What?"
"About marriage. You want to marry me." Her eyes widened.
"Where would you get an idea like that?" She questioned sitting down.
"The book. The book I bought for you. You fell in love with it just like you fell in love with me." I said and she smiled at me.
"No one has ever done that for me. I didn't know how to react and yes, you changed my mind about marriage." We had only been dating for roughly 6 months and I had changed her mind about something very serious. "I don't want you to like propose right now or anything though." I laughed.
"I won't. But I want to marry you too." I left with a kiss to her lips and rushed back to work. I was more than thrilled to see what would happen to us in the future.
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