Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 404(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 404(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
“I owe their father my life,” I counter.
“Why? Did he practice every day of his life as a kid? Did he get you that spot at their high school? Get you into college? Play your games? You did the hard work. He helped, sure, but don’t give him the credit for shit you did. He wants the credit because that’s the way men like him are, so they can use you. He does it with you, and from what Lucas said, he did it with Ellis. Lucas is the only one who had the courage not to give him that power. You shouldn’t do it anymore, either. You deserve better too.”
The sound of footsteps comes from the stairs, and Isla smiles, picks up her wine, and finishes the glass just as Lucas plops down beside me, sitting sideways with his legs over my lap. “What did I miss?”
“Nothing.” I lean over and kiss him.
“I’m ordering a car,” Isla says. “I’m gonna head out.”
“Ooh, that means I get to have sex soon,” Lucas teases.
“Oh my God.” I shake my head, but I’m not at all surprised those words come out of his mouth.
“Lucky.” Isla pretends to pout before saying, “Though it’s probably not too late for me to find a trick for the night,” and it’s even easier to see why they’re such good friends.
When her car arrives, I hug her, Isla squeezing me tightly. “Thanks for coming over, Isla.”
“Thanks for having me.” She points to Lucas. “And for putting up with that guy.”
“I like that guy,” I answer, and Isla smiles. I’m fairly certain Lucas is trying to bite back a smile as well.
Lucas walks her to the car, the two of them saying goodbye. I linger on the porch, waiting for him. Once the car is out of sight, Lucas says, “I’m gonna smoke real quick. Sorry. I’ve been trying to slow down.”
“You don’t have to apologize.” I wrap my arms around his waist and pull him closer. “I will always worry about your health, but I told you I don’t want to change you.” I press my lips to his throat, once, twice, then pull away.
Lucas doesn’t respond, just nods and lights up, taking a couple of drags in silence while we stand a few feet apart.
“You really are beautiful, you know that?” I tell him, and he grins.
“Yes.”
“I’m serious.”
“Me too. I’m fucking hot.”
“Inside and out.”
“Baby…I’ll give you a hint, if you want in my pants, I’ll never tell you no.”
Lucas winks, and I know exactly what he’s doing—trying to keep things light, not letting us get into anything too deep. It would be easy to do the same, but…
“How long?” I ask, and his pupils flare in what looks like panic.
“It was just a crush.”
“How long?” I ask again.
Lucas sighs, then takes another drag. “From the beginning, Hunter. I can’t tell you the exact moment. I thought you were cute, and at first, I just thought…I’m not supposed to feel this way about him.”
“Because I’m a guy?”
“No, because you were Ellis’s. Even before you two were dating, you were Ellis’s. You were always supposed to be Ellis’s. If Ellis were alive, you would still be his, even if the two of you weren’t together anymore.” Lucas stubs out the cigarette and places it in the covered ashtray he brought over.
I walk over to him, hold his face, and keep my gaze locked on his. I wonder if he can hear my heart beating. The damn thing is pounding like a drum. “I’m yours, Lucas. I was always supposed to be yours. I feel it, and I fucking hate that I didn’t know it back then. That I was young and confused and I hurt you…hurt Ellis. I fucked everything up, but this, between us, this is right. Ellis was always meant to be my best friend, and I was always meant to be yours.”
Lucas drops his head back against the porch pillar and closes his eyes. I wish I knew what was going on inside his head, but I can also tell Lucas is trying to work through something. “You were always nice to me,” he says, without opening his eyes. “Even when my father would get frustrated at you for it. You tried to include me. You looked at me like I mattered, even though I had no interest in the only thing that was supposed to count.” His eyes flutter open, showing me all that pretty brown. “One day…I was fifteen at the time…we were all going to your game, even Dad, because it was their bye week. I actually wanted to go. I liked watching you play, though I tried to hide it. I came downstairs with my camera, and my dad asked where I was going. I got embarrassed and said nowhere.” Lucas sighs. “He’s weird like that. Since I didn’t want to play, it’s like I didn’t deserve anything football-related. Mom and Ellis asked me to come, but I pretended I never wanted to go in the first place, and so they left, and I went out and got drunk. I listened to the game from outside the stadium, making my way through a bottle of vodka and wondering why in the hell I was there. I got home late that night, and you found me drinking in the backyard. You didn’t sleep well then either, and I used to get up at night, hoping to run into you.”