Chapter 87

“What’s your name?”

He opens the backpack and pulls out his notebook. That softens me up and I feel a sudden urge to protect him. I’m blaming Christmas for this weird feeling. Or maybe I should blame him. Or his eyes. Or the fact that he is so beautifully out of place.

Lucas, he writes.

“Please to meet you, Lucas. I’m Pete,” I say, holding out my hand.

He seems hesitant for a moment, then looks at his hands. He removes one of his poor gloves and wraps his fingers around mine. That small gesture, his politeness, makes me even surer that this guy has not been living on the streets for a long time and makes me want to hug him. Yep, there must be something wrong with me.

He smiles and blushes a little. God, he’s so cute! No. He’s handsome. Really, really handsome, but with a gentle beauty.