“I didn’t ask you to take me,” I point out as I pull up Heidi’s number on my iPhone. She answers drowsily on the sixth ring.
“Ah, shit.” She yawns, and I hear her roll over in her bed. “I worked late and forgot to set my alarm.”
“It’s okay! Lucas is here to take me to get my new license, but I’ll stop by your place tonight or something.”
My best friend is quiet for several seconds, and I imagine she’s just as stunned as I am about my brother showing up at my apartment. “Um, okay. Let me know how that one goes.”
I glimpse over at Lucas, who’s rubbing the pads of his thumbs against his temples in frustration. “It should be interesting.” After I promise Heidi that I’ll call her the moment I’m done taking care of my personal business today, I end the call.
Lucas stands up, taking his car key out of his pocket. “You done?” His voice is sardonic, but I hold back a sharp reply as I nod and close the doughnut box.
“I’m ready.” As he heads to the front door I grab my folder of paperwork from my desk and start to join him, but then I stop. I glance down at my ring finger, which has started to scab. There’s no point in me going to the DMV just to get another license that says Kylie Martin if I can help it. “Hey, Lucas?” I call out.
“Yeah?”
“How long does it take to do a name change on your social security card? Is it right away?”
Even from the other room I hear him make a frustrated noise. “Google is your friend. Look it up yourself.” I glare daggers in his general direction, literally biting my tongue as I sit behind the desk and open my computer.
After a few minutes of research, I discover that getting a new social security card will take several days and since I obviously can’t wait for a new license, I make myself a note so I’ll remember to take care of the name change another day. The sooner the better.
Instead of using the parking garage, Lucas has left his car on the curb, and I lift an eyebrow as we walk down the steps toward the brand new Audi. This is the first time I’ve seen it. I didn’t even realize he was buying a new car.
“Sam get you a gift with your money?” I ask, and he narrows his hazel eyes into dangerous slits.
“Kylie, I swear to God—”
I climb into my seat, cutting off his threat by slamming my door. As I wait for him to get inside of the car, I turn my gaze on the driver’s seat. He’s still glaring at me when he closes his own door and presses his fingertip to the push start.
“Maybe this was a bad idea,” he growls, but I shake my head. The more I think about it Lucas randomly picking me up is a very good thing. This talk is a long time coming, and when I tell him so, he suddenly goes defensive. “You want to talk about Wyatt then? Since we’re sharing our feelings.”
I press my lips into a thin line. Of course I don’t want to talk about Wyatt. It hurts like hell to think about that man, but I know it’s something that I’ll eventually have to acknowledge. Just because he lied to me doesn’t change the fact that I still love him. Just because I walked away from him doesn’t change the fact I’ll have to see him again when I’m working.
“Ask away,” I tell my brother, squaring my shoulders.
He pulls the Audi into traffic. “Alright. What happened?”
“Why would you assume something did?”
He gives me a hard stare. “Because he called me wanting to know if you were alright. Apparently I’m the go-to guy on all things Kylie Wolfe.”
My chest tightens and I run my fingers through my hair nervously. “And?”
“I lied. I told him I saw you yesterday morning, and you were the happiest I’ve ever seen you.”
For what seems like an eternity, we sit in traffic, completely silent. Once I digest what Lucas has just told me I clear my throat. “I’m not sure if I should say thank you or be irritated.”
“Irritated because I finally stepped in and tried to do something to stop you two from hurting each other?”
“Yeah, irritated that after eight years, you’re just now showing an interest in your kid sister’s personal life.”
“You don’t think I give a shit about what’s happening with you? You’re my sister. Don’t ever think for one second that I don’t love you, you got me?” When I nod, he adds, “I just want you to be happy.”
My throat tightens up, and I clench my fists. “Thanks, Lucas,” I say in a hoarse voice. He turns his head slightly, giving me a sad smile as he touches my shoulder. “I love you too.”
Even though there’s nothing I want more right now than to stay with him in the car and talk with him about Samantha, he pulls the Audi into the DMV lot, parking the car in the furthest spot from the entrance.
“Lucas,” I say before I get out, and he cocks one of his thick eyebrows. “When I’m done in here, we’re going to talk about you.”
He doesn’t move or say anything, but he doesn’t have to. I know that I’ll be able to get something out of him, even if it’s not the absolute truth.
Since I have all of the documents I need to get a new license, the whole process from start to finish takes less than an hour, which is like a miracle for the DMV. My brother looks surprised when I slide into the Audi and tucks his phone back into his pocket.
“Let me guess, you’re missing shit?” he demands, but I shake my head, flipping open my wallet to show him my new card. He moves his head from side to side incredulously as he starts the car. “And I can bet money when I have to come in and get my renewal it’ll take me all day long.”