Chapter 168
Ellie POV
Lucas is sitting in the far corner of the lunch spot, as he belongs there.
Of course he does.
He’s tucked between two tall plants that have absolutely no reason to survive in a place that smells like grease, melted cheese, and freshly baked dough.
A laptop sits open in front of him, the screen glowing faintly.
One hand rests near the keyboard.
The other holds a slice of pizza he hasn’t finished.
The afternoon sunlight pours through the window behind him, catching in his hair and turning it almost golden.
Like he belongs in some annoyingly poetic coming-of-age movie.
Not in my very inconvenient, very complicated life.
Then he looks up.
Our eyes meet.
I stop walking.
And he smiles first.
Slowly.
Like he’s just been handed something he never expected but is very happy to receive.
“Well,” he says, setting his pizza down and leaning back in his chair.
His voice is warm.
Amused.
“If it isn’t the most popular woman in the pack.”
My eyes narrow immediately.
“Don’t.”
He raises both hands slightly in surrender.
His grin only gets wider.
“Don’t what?”
A pause.
“Congratulate you?”
His eyebrows lift.
“I heard wedding bells are in season.”
“Lucas.”
My voice is sharper.
“I mean it.”
I turn away from him and continue walking.
I pick a table on the opposite side of the room.
Somewhere with my back to him.
Somewhere I can see the counter.
Somewhere I can pretend this conversation isn’t happening.
I make it three steps.
“Ellie.”
I ignore him.
“Ellie.”
Still ignoring him.
I sit down.
I grab the menu even though I already know exactly what I want.
Pizza.
Cheese.
Emotional stability.
In that order.
I do not look up.
Then I hear it.
A chair scrapes softly against the tile.
The quiet snap of a laptop closing.
I already know what he’s doing.
A second later, Lucas drops into the seat across from me.
Like it was always his.
I slowly lift my eyes.
He smiles.
Completely unbothered.
“Hi.”
“I need you to leave.”
“You walked into my territory.”
I stare at him.
“It’s a public restaurant.”
“Still counts.”
I look toward the counter.
I silently beg a waiter to appear and save me.
Unfortunately, the universe hates me today.
Lucas watches me for a moment.
The teasing fades.
Something quieter replaces it.
Something more careful.
“You look terrible.”
I glare.
“Thank you.”
He shrugs.
“Not ugly, terrible.”
A pause.
“Just…”
He studies me.
“Emotionally catastrophic, terrible.”
I say nothing.
“Sure, you almost died recently.”
His eyes narrow slightly.
“But this feels more like you either punched someone or wanted to.”
“Both.”
The answer comes immediately.
His mouth twitches.
For a moment, neither of us says anything.
The silence isn’t uncomfortable.
But it isn’t easy either.
Then he tilts his head.
“So.”
I already know what’s coming.
“It’s true?”
I look down at the menu.
“Yes.”
He studies my face.
Like he’s searching for something.
“You’re really marrying him.”
I pick at the corner of the menu.
“You pack people really need hobbies.”
“Ellie.”
The way he says my name makes me look up.
“What?”
He leans back.
“Is it for love?”
The question hangs between us.
“Because before…”
He trails off.
I know what he means.
Before, I wanted nothing to do with Dominic.
Before, I spent years pretending I didn’t care.
Before, everything was different.
I stare at him.
He holds my gaze.
Completely serious.
For once.
Then suddenly, his expression changes.
A grin appears.
“Or is he blackmailing you?”
I blink.
He lowers his voice dramatically.
“Blink twice if you need rescuing.”
Something inside me snaps.
“Why do you always assume I need rescuing?”
My voice is quiet.
But sharp.
Sharp enough to hurt.
“I turned you down.”
His smile fades slightly.
“Remember?”
I look away.
“Pretty clearly.”
My fingers tighten around the menu.
“I’m marrying Dominic.”
I look back at him.
“That should answer your question.”
The words fall harder than I intended.
The second they leave my mouth, I regret them.
Lucas goes still.
Not angry.
Not offended.
Just…
Still.
Like I hit something I didn’t mean to.
Before either of us can fix it, a waiter finally appears beside the table.
“Can I get you anything?”
Lucas doesn’t look at the menu.
Doesn’t hesitate.
“Hawaiian.”
I blink.
“Extra pepperoni.”
The waiter nods.
“And two waters.”
Then he walks away.
I stare at Lucas.
“You didn’t even ask.”
He shrugs.
“You always got Hawaiian in the cafeteria.”
I say nothing.
“Extra pepperoni.”
His eyes flick toward me.
“You used to pick the toppings off first and eat those separately.”
A small smile appears.
“Like a psychopath.”
I look away.
Because he’s right.
Annoyingly right.
I don’t even want Hawaiian.
I wanted cheese.
Plain.
Simple.
But he remembers.
And somehow…
That bothers me more than it should.