His gaze hopeful but his tone firm, he said, “So it’s settled. You’ll come?”

I nodded, and butterflies filled my stomach.

• • •

Did I even sleep? All I did was toss and turn when I went to bed after Drake left. Thoughts of him and what it would mean to be with him plagued me, twisting my insides into a tight knot.

What was I thinking when I let him kiss me? Considering how my body had responded to him so immediately, it was crazy for me to do.

I sighed and rolled over, hugging my pillow. Staring at my cell phone, I decided to cancel. I should have stuck with my first instinct and declined his offer. Now I was going to look like a fool, but I had no choice.

L

UCY

: Hi. Thanks again for yesterday, but I need to cancel going with you today.

I stared at the words and although it saddened me a bit, the knot in my stomach began to loosen, so I sent it.

D

RAKE

: That’s disappointing. Anything I can say to change your mind?

L

UCY

: No, but thank you for the invitation.

D

RAKE

: Are you okay?

Was I? No. I was conflicted and restless, but I decided to keep that to myself.

L

UCY

: Yes, I’m fine. Have fun with your family.

I went into the kitchen for some much-needed coffee and to read the Post. The political section was naturally my favorite. When I saw an article about the two Democratic candidates running in their primary, I didn’t know both, but I did recognize one of them, Fredrik Grissett. He was known for fighting dirty and going for the jugular of his opponents. If memory served, when he ran for mayor, his opponent likened him to an MMA fighter.

The thought of someone going after Drake sent chills up and down my spine. I wouldn’t even run for a spot on the school board for fear of someone doing too much digging in my past or making up vile stories about me. How these politicians handled the scrutiny and mud-raking was beyond me.

I finished grading the few papers I had left and decided to look over the ones Drake had graded. I couldn’t contain the smile that took over my face when I read some of his comments in the margins. He cited laws that I hadn’t even thought of to help my students understand certain details they had overlooked. He didn’t lower the grade on their papers, which was good, since some of the cases I hadn’t even heard of, but his explanations were eye-opening.

After I had showered, I called Mason to tell him I turned Drake down.

“Lucy, did he do something?” His tone was overprotective. Mason might not be my brother, but sometimes he acted like it.

I sighed. “I feel like an idiot. But my nerves and skepticism got the best of me.” I flopped down on the couch. “He was so wonderful too. You should see the way he graded the papers. If politics didn’t work out, he could teach, but I have a feeling his political aspirations will come to fruition. He’s so diplomatic.”

“Sounds like someone is going to regret not going with him today.”

Mason’s playful singsong tone didn’t make me feel any better. That was one word I didn’t want in my vocabulary—regret. All I had as a teenager were regrets, and on my nineteenth birthday, I’d vowed not to have any more. Apparently my ten-year run had come to an end, but the only reason I regretted saying no was because I wouldn’t be hanging out with Drake today.

When I didn’t respond, Mason asked, “What are you going to do all day?”

“I don’t have any plans. Maybe I’ll read.”

“Let’s go do something. Get your nose out of a book for a bit and give your eyes a rest. I’ll think of something and come pick you up. I’ll be there around noon.”

Maybe if I spent the day with Mason, I wouldn’t be wondering what I was missing out on at the barbecue. So I agreed, and spent the rest of the morning catching up on the news.

Just before noon, I threw on a pair of jeans and a cute top. After I grabbed my denim jacket, I stepped outside to wait for him.

The scent of budding flowers, cherry blossoms, and the remnants of rain lingered in the air. This was my favorite time of year. It wasn’t smoldering hot yet, and the humidity was low and bearable. The foliage around my home had new buds sprouting, and the daffodils’ yellow blooms were so cheerful, reminding me of sunshine.

Mason rolled up in his Jeep. The top was down and the music blared, which he lowered to a bearable level as I buckled myself in.

“So, where to?” I asked.

“We’re going four-wheeling. It’ll be fun!” When I gaped at him, he shot me a wink. I glanced at my outfit, thinking of going back inside to change, but he shook his head. “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine.”

A short while later we pulled up to a dirt track, riddled with puddles since it had poured rain overnight. I glanced down at my favorite jeans and glared at Mason, who must have read my mind because he just shrugged.

Grinning at me, he said, “Come on. Let’s go have some fun.”

Begrudgingly, I stowed my purse in a locker and headed to the field with Mason, where we rode ATVs for a couple of hours. He was right; I needed this.

We raced up and down hills, and I was having a blast until he decided to abruptly turn. I slammed on the brakes and my vehicle slid, the tires kicking up mud all over me before the engine stalled. If I hadn’t been wearing a helmet with a face guard, my mouth would have been filled with dirt and muck when I opened it to scream.

Mason tugged off his helmet and howled out a belly laugh at the sight of me.

I yanked off my helmet and narrowed my eyes at him. “You did that on purpose.” Shaking my head, I swiped at the mud caking my jeans, but only succeeded in making it worse.

He held a hand on his stomach as he tried to regain his composure. “Can you start it?”

When I turned the key, the engine just sputtered. Frustrated, I ran my tongue over my teeth. “It’s dead.”

He slid forward on his seat. “Hop on. I’ll take us back, and someone can come out here to pick it up.”

I swung my leg over and wrapped my arms around his muscular midsection, but it didn’t give me a thrill. Mason was a great-looking guy, but he was like the brother I never had, so there was no attraction between us. We might play the doting boyfriend or girlfriend role when someone came on to us and we didn’t want to be bothered, but that happened more often with him than me.

By the time we made it back to my apartment, our clothes were practically covered in mud stains. If I weren’t so annoyed at my jeans being ruined, I might have been able to look on the bright side. After all, I’d just saved money on having a mud bath at a spa, because I was doused from head to toe.

Mason’s hearty laugh as he picked grass out of my hair didn’t amuse me. All I could do was shake my head at him.

“I’m going to go shower. Are you staying or leaving?”

He raked a hand through his hair, which didn’t look as bad as mine, but it was still dirty. “Can I jump in the shower first since I’m quicker? Then I’ll order some food while you’re showering.”

The sound of my stomach rumbling resounded in the room. “Fine, but hurry. I’m gross, and I’m sure my skin is ready to flake off.”

When I heard the shower turn on, I went into my room to peel off my muddy clothes and slip into my robe. While I waited, I sat on the bed and glanced around my room. My bookshelf was full of historical novels and reference books, and my attention stalled on a picture I’d taken of the White House.

I couldn’t get in for a tour, but I’d leaned through the wrought-iron fence and taken a snapshot of the beautiful home on Pennsylvania Avenue. It had inspired me to think of the men and women who’d walked those halls, making crucial decisions regarding our country, and had raised their families there.