Unbeautifully Loved (Breathe Again) by Emma Grayson

arm’s length, just lower them enough to see what Lukas is about, ‘cause if I’m right, which I usually am, then it will be worth it.”
    “What makes you think there’s something there between Lukas and I that I need to take a chance on?” I said accidentally out loud.
    “Lexie, open your eyes babe. A man who isn’t interested in you, does not look at you the way he was looking at you, he doesn’t act affectionately towards you like he was and he sure as hell wouldn’t go out of his way the way he did,” she said in a matter-of-fact tone.
    Without thinking, my mouth opened and I couldn’t stop what came out, “Last night he said he wanted to kiss me, but with what happened he didn’t want my mind on that when he did it,” I said in a rush.
    Mollie’s eyes bugged out and her mouth fell open as she stood there looking at me, like she was waiting for me to tell her more. “We didn’t. He just told me he wanted to,” I said quickly.
    Her mouth closed and her lips curled into a big smile. “See Lexie, I told you, a guy who is not interested in you does not come out and say shit like that.”
    Maybe, maybe not.
    “Wait – you didn’t tell me how it went at the station?” Mollie asked changing the topic of conversation.
    I hadn’t told Mollie yet, I didn’t want to bring it up at breakfast when Finn was close by. “It went fine. Talked to one of the detectives, guy’s still out there– God knows where. Found out I wasn’t the first, just first to get away unharmed...” I trailed off.
    Her eyes widened. “What does that mean?”
    “Well, let’s just say there have been other girls and I’m the lucky one.” Mollie looked at me confused, still not getting what I was saying.
    So I told her everything I knew.
    “Fuck, that’s creepy! What kind of sick fuck goes around attacking women? Are you going to be okay going to and from work at night? Maybe ask someone to car pool or something.” She was worried; I could see it all over her face. “Maybe one of the girls or a bartender?”
    If only I could manage to work that one out.
    “Oh, you don’t have to worry about that, I have a ride, most likely one every night ‘til this creep is caught,” I said annoyed, thinking of Lukas.
    “Lukas?”
    “Yep”
    “Wait– why was he pissed at the station?”
    “I don’t know, ‘cause I was waiting outside for him?” I questioned unsure, shrugging my shoulders.
    Her brows furrowed. “Why were you outside alone, especially with the psycho who attacked you still on the loose?”
    Of course she would take Lukas’ side.
    I rolled my eyes. “I don’t know. When I was done talking to the detective, I couldn’t find Lukas so I decided to wait at the truck and then I ran right into this huge ass giant man. I mean literally ran into him, body slamming into his.” I slammed my hands together showing her just what I meant. “Fucking scared the shit out of me. But strangely enough he was kinda hot. Anyways it was weird, and then I ran out of the building and waited for Lukas.”
    Mollie burst out laughing and I followed.
    It felt nice to actually laugh after everything that has been going on. I couldn’t remember the last time I laughed so hard over anything.
    After we finished laughing, we finished the kitchen while I told Mollie about Lukas and him “demanding” I take the night off work. I also told her how strange he was acting about me not telling them what happened, especially Colt.
    But no surprise, she agreed with Lukas being my ride to and from work.
    We finished putting the last of the dishes away and since it was a beautiful day out, we got Finn ready to walk down to the park.
    As Mollie and I left the house and started walking, I started getting a strange feeling, like we were being watched; the same feeling I got in the bar last night. Looking around I didn’t see anyone or anything that was unusual, but the feeling vanished the closer we got to the park.
    Just like that, it was