Riley walked down the drive a few feet and waited until the truck came to a stop and Libby got out.
“I was wondering what Travis needed,” Riley said, not letting on that he’d already known it was her.
“It’s just me,” Libby said. “I’ve been helping out Travis, and I decided that we should make some fliers to post and to hand out. But, my laptop is at Lucas’s house. I was going to go there, but I saw all ya’ll putting up lights, so I came here first.”
“Yeah, we trying to get the house decorated, then do the diner and the trailer park, too,” Riley said.
“Us, too. Roman’s at the house helping Travis as we speak,” Libby said.
“Ahhh, that’s where he got off to. Ya’ll need any more help?” Riley asked.
“I think we’ve got it. All we have to do is some more baking tonight, and then set everything up tomorrow for tomorrow evening. We’re going to move the tables in each night to the workshop because it’s closer than the barn. Then put them out again each afternoon. They were about finished decorating the house when I left, and were going to decorate the work shop and the barn next before finishing up with the fence line along the highway. We’ve already got the arch up and all the supplies needed for ornament and wreath making,” Libby said.
“Sounds like ya’ll have it covered,” Riley said.
“Is everything okay here?” Libby asked. “Do ya’ll need me for anything?”
“No, everything is good. Richie hasn’t said a word about needing anybody to fill in so I think they’ve got it. Is your jeep broken?” he asked, changing the subject.
“No, I let Scotty take it to school this morning. It was cold and Travis’s truck doesn’t have heat, and I didn’t think I’d be going anywhere today.”
“Must have been there pretty early for Scotty to take it to school,” Lucas said from a few feet away.
Libby glanced over to Lucas. “I was. I ended up spending the night,” she said, not even making an effort to lie about it.
Lucas stood there expressionless for a moment, just looking at her before starting to walk in her direction. Instead of stopping in front of or beside her, he walked past. “I’ll get your laptop,” he said, being careful to not put any emotion at all into his voice.
“I don’t want to interrupt ya’ll. I can go get it,” she said, but Lucas ignored her and kept walking.
“Is everything okay?” Libby said, turning back to Riley.
“Yeah. He’s fine. Just feeling a little sorry for himself.”
Libby looked back over her shoulder toward Lucas again. “I intentionally made sure that I held nothing back from him. He knew what Travis meant to me. He knew that I was actually Travis’s mate even though we weren’t together. I was honest with him. And we were nothing more than friends. It was never more,” Libby said, wanting Riley to understand that she didn’t lead Lucas on.
“I know that. And so does he. He’s finally figuring out that having a mate isn’t such a bad thing, and he’s missing your companionship. He’s not mad at you. He’s just adjusting. It’ll be fine,” Riley said.
“I didn’t mean to hurt him,” Libby said. “I even stopped spending so many nights at his place, trying to be sure it wasn’t misread.”
“Don’t worry about it, Libby. It’ll be fine,” Riley said.
“I’ll try. But I feel bad…”
“Don’t. You’ve done nothing wrong. So, let me ask, where exactly do you and Travis stand?”
“He’s made it perfectly clear that he wants me. He’s owned all his mistakes. And I’m seeing what happens next,” she explained.
“To be clear, you might be thinking it’s none of my business. And you’re partially right, but, you asked to join this Pride. That makes your welfare my concern. And Travis is a friend as well.”
“I understand. And we’re better than we’ve been in a while. We haven’t finalized anything, and for the most part he’s giving me my space. But, he’s kissed me a few times,” she said, blushing profusely.
“And that makes you happy,” Riley said, grinning at her.
“It does,” Libby admitted.
“Alright. That’s all I needed to know. If anything changes that you don’t like, or you need me, you know how to get me,” Riley said.
“I know. And no matter what happens with me and Travis, I’m still part of your Pride if you’ll have me,” Libby said. “I mean, do I have to give one up to have the other?” she asked with a worried expression on her face.
“Not at all. I’m only making sure you’re safe and happy, and that what’s happening is what you want to happen. You’re part of this Pride until you say you don’t want to be.”
“Well, that’s not going to happen, so, you’re stuck with me,” Libby said. Libby heard Lucas’s footsteps coming toward her up the drive and turned around to watch him approach.
“Here you go,” he said, handing over her laptop bag that held her laptop, charger, mouse and ear buds. He also handed her a grocery bag with some makeup she’d left at his place and a pair of jeans and a top. “You left a few other things, too. I put them in that bag,” Lucas said.
“Oh, okay. Thank you,” Libby said, accepting both bags from him. She felt awkward, she loved Lucas, he was one of her best friends, if not her best friend. “Lucas…”
“It’s okay, Libby. I’m happy for you. I’m glad your heart’s not hurting anymore,” he said.
“You don’t seem happy,” Libby said. “And for the record, nothing’s been decided yet,” she said.
“Sure it has. You feel different. You’re more relaxed, not as tense. It’s been decided,” he said. “And regardless, you’re his. You’ve always known that and you made no secret about it. Anything I’m dealing with is my own doing. We’re fine. No worries,” Lucas said.
“You sure?” she asked.
“Absolutely. But you tell him if he fucks up this time, I’ll kick his ass,” Lucas said.
Libby chuckled softly. “Okay. I’ll tell him.” She stepped toward Lucas and hugged him. Lucas hugged her back. “Thank you, Lucas,” she said. “I love you, my friend.”
“Love you, too. I’ll see you when you’re done being the Christmas elf over there,” he said, stepping back and chucking her gently under the chin. “And you need to hurry. While they can cook their asses off over at the diner, they don’t make the donuts as fluffy as you do,” he said. “And I miss my morning donuts.”
“I won’t be long. I’ll be back next week, except for the weekends when I’ll be working at the Christmas Village.”
“I’ll see you then,” Lucas said, striding toward Riley’s house.
“You’ll see her before then,” Lazarus said, watching the whole exchange.
“Huh?” Lucas asked.
“Maia said we’re all going to Travis’s tomorrow to cut down Christmas trees and see what all else he’s got there to do,” Lazarus reminded him.