her star boy - Chapter 5: Chapter 5

Devyn
DEV'S FIT^
I'm not sure what has me walking into Sips at noon on Tuesday, other than pure unadulterated idiocy. I'm not a people pleaser like I used to be, so I have no valid explanation for why I said yes to having lunch with Luis Pierce. Maybe it was to get him to shut up; maybe it was because I want to know how he's been and how his family are and what his life is like in Michigan.
All I know is that when I walk into Sips and see him already sitting at a low table with sofa seats, I should walk out. In the interest of preserving my sanity, I should walk out and leave Luis Pierce in the past, where he belongs.
Unfortunately, I find myself doing the opposite.
Luis stands up when he sees me approaching, pushes his hands in his pockets. I noticed that he doesn't have that egotistical, cocky, self-loving air about him. Like he grew out of being a boy. Humility is attractive and something I'd look for in a guy that isn't Luis Pierce, if I ever looked at guys for that kinda thing. I don't, though.
"I wasn't sure if you still like..." he trails off. "I don't know, I didn't want you to have to wait in the line when you have places to be," he says and it's awkward. I think I might hate it.
Then I look down at the table and see that opposite him is a saucer with a slice of banana bread. Next to it, a pale yellow smoothie.
"Pineapple, banana and coconut," he nods in the direction when I look back up at him.
Two of my favourites. I don't like him for remembering, and I want to go home.
"Nice," I close the distance between us and he wraps his arm around me in a weird sort of side hug. "Thanks."
We sit down, and I realise he's only got a drink in front of him. A glass filled to the brim with a green liquid that looks like it contains lemongrass and would be great for your internal organs but absolutely disgusting.
"I don't trash eat during the season," he tells me, as if he can read my thoughts. I wish he'd stop knowing things about me.
"Right. How is that? Being a NFL player?"
"Shit. It's... everything," he settles back in the arm chair opposite me, spreading his legs. "And sometimes, it's entirely too much."
"Right," I pick up my smoothie. "But you still love football? There's no use in holding on to something you don't love anymore."
Luis looks me square in the eyes. "Yeah, I still love it."
I have to look away, place my cup down.
"What about you? Being a paediatrician sounds gruelling beyond what I could comprehend," he gains my attention again, like he needs me to focus on him.
"It's a hard job," I say truthfully. "And I love it."
Luis smiles and it's dimpled. "I'm glad."
We fall into easy conversation then. All the time we spent apart didn't feel like anything until it was time to discuss all those years worth of change. We speak about Stanford and Michigan and sports and nursing and how his sister had a baby and my brother got married. How college was nothing like we'd thought it would be.
When our conversation slows down and I take a sip of my smoothie, I glance back up to find Luis's eyes on me.
I narrow my eyes. "What?"
He sits back in his seat, crosses his arms. "You've got that same look in your eye. It's devious."
"And you're still an asshole," I tilt my head and smile sweetly. "Good to see some things don't change."
Luis's lips turn up in a grin and now my eyes are on his mouth. "I've learned a thing or two since college." His eyes burn into mine. "You should stick around and find out."
"Ugh," I shake my head, press my tongue against my inner cheek. "I forgot how much I hate you, Pierce."
"Love you too, Banks."
My stomach drops at the old nickname, and the casual use of the word love and I glance at my phone to give me something else to focus on. Then I realise that it's a half hour past 2PM and I need to get home to sleep before my night shift.
"I need to go," I tell Luis, standing up at the same time and pulling out my wallet. "This was nice..." I don't know what else to say.
Luis frowns. "Devyn put your purse away."
I'm midway through pulling out a couple dollar bills. I glance up at him and shove them back in, and then my wallet into my purse.
"Thanks. For breakfast," I nod.
"Yeah, thanks," he rubs the back of his neck, takes a step toward me. "Maybe we don't let another five years by, next time.
My lips part before I've finally formed a thought. I settle on, "Maybe."
I'm about to turn on my heels when he closes the space between us. I look down to see he's holding out his unlocked phone.
"Let me have some way of speaking to you again, Dev," his voice is quiet and low and it's all I can hear over the bustle of the café.
I look up at him and my gaze meets his and a wave of something causes my arms to prick with goosebumps. "Okay," I tell him, not taking my eyes off his while I accept his phone.
"Okay?" his brows raise. I nod.
I put in the number and hand back the phone. And then I finally turn and walk away.