17. Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Seventeen
PENNY
I n Lucas’ apartment, I toss my purse on the coffee table and flop onto the couch. Lucas stays standing, his hands on his hips. He wasn’t pleased with my suggestion of ending things and moving out. Why? Our living arrangement is only about the crises I’m in. He’s made no mention of turning what we have into something real. If I stay any longer, I’ll get too attached. Who am I trying to kid? I am attached. This is something more to me than friendship.
When Lucas told Darren I was his girlfriend, my heart leaped with joy. We’ve talked about doing the fake relationship thing, but hearing the world ‘girlfriend’ said out loud was bittersweet. How wonderful if those words were true? It’s not hard to imagine what kind of life that would be. Especially with how he looked and touched me at lunch.
It’s easy to get lost in the fantasy of it being real. And the way he protected me from Darren, shielded me from the paparazzi while waiting for the car, is something I’ll never forget. Being in his arms makes me melt. The world around me disappears. Never have I felt so safe. In that moment I was his and he was mine.
“Are you really considering leaving?” he asks.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Was he not listening to me in the car? “I can’t keep pulling you into my drama.”
“Like I told you, it is my choice.”
“Don’t you want to go back to your daily routine? Have your apartment to yourself…date?” The word ‘date’ clogs my throat. I don’t want to picture him with another woman. Another sign I’m getting too close and now is the right time to back away before I fall too hard.
“I don’t date,” he says flatly.
“I know you said you don’t want marriage and kids but surely you date. I’ve seen you with women.”
Sitting on the arm of the couch, he crosses his legs at the ankles. “I haven’t dated in years. Ever since I learned about my father’s affairs. I fu—have one-night stands,” he corrects himself.
I don’t miss that he almost said ‘fuck’. Just because we haven’t been in each other’s lives for years doesn’t mean I haven’t read about him being a playboy in the tabloids. “You don’t see a woman more than once?”
He shakes his head. “Rarely.”
It gives me a thrill that he’s changed all that for me, but I say, “Living with me must be a huge inconvenience to your life. Don’t you want things to go back to normal?”
Before he can answer, his cell phone rings and he glances at the screen. “Yes, Samuel.” He listens to what the security guard is saying. “That’s fine. Thank you.” Ending the call, he tells me, “Claudia is on her way up.”
What bad timing. I want to finish this conversation. Now it will have to wait. “We’ll talk about this later?”
He gets to his feet. “Sure. I’ll give you and Claudia some privacy.” His face is expressionless, his voice monotone. I can’t make out what he’s thinking.
“You don’t have to leave. Whatever she has to say will probably involve you.”
“Fill me in later. I have work to do. If you need me, I’ll be in my office.”
I watch him walk out of the living room. Something has shifted with him. Does he not want me to leave? Why wouldn’t he? If he’s used to a revolving door of women, I’m in the way.
A couple of minutes later, there’s a knock on the door. I get up to answer it and Claudia barrels inside, storms into the living room, and paces. “Why are you making my life so difficult? Are you doing it on purpose?”
I raise an eyebrow. This is a tone I’ve never heard from her before. “Excuse me?” I’m the one who had to go into hiding. Whose career is slipping through my fingers. And she’s telling me I’m making her life difficult.
She makes an annoyed huffing sound. “Have you seen what’s online now? How am I supposed to fix your career if you keep doing stupid things? God, Pen, can’t you do anything right?”
Jerking back, I stare at her incredulously. The situation I’m in has been stressful for everyone, but there’s no excuse for Claudia to speak to me like this. “You need to calm down or leave. Come back when you have something useful to say.” Never have I had to put Claudia in her place. Yes, she is my friend, but she’s also my employee. This is a time where we need to put our friendship aside.
She blows out a breath and sinks onto the couch. “I’m sorry, Pen. I shouldn’t have said that.”
I take a seat next to her. “I haven’t looked online. Are things that bad?” Of course they are; she wouldn’t have barged in here with so much attitude if they weren’t.
“The good news is, you’ve convinced people you and Lucas are a couple and not just a casual fling.”
“Great.” That was the point of being seen together. I know there is a but coming.
“But…” There it is. “There’s bad news. That scene in the restaurant is everywhere. Darren is made to look like a heartbroken man trying to reunite with his ex-fiancée. While Lucas is portrayed as a home-wrecker. I can’t believe he punched him. He’s only helped Darren by acting like a neanderthal. Everyone is sympathizing with him. More so than before.”
I sink my head in my hands. All this work, and our lives put on hold, for nothing. Things have only gotten worse. I can’t keep doing this. It’s not fair to Lucas. It could even affect his business even more.
“Darren provoked Lucas and threw the first punch. Did no one see that and post about it?” I ask.
“Not that I’ve seen. Apparently, the punch to Darren’s stomach is more entertaining.”
“Darren started it,” I try to plead Lucas’ case.
“Doesn’t matter. Darren is buckled over in pain and gasping for breath. You and Lucas are seen leaving the restaurant like lovers on the run.”
I scratch my fingers through my hair. “What do we do now?”
“You should talk to Darren without Lucas. Try and work things out,” she suggests.
My head snaps up. “You want me to get back with Darren?” My skin crawls at the thought.
She waves her hand. “No. Definitely not. He’s a pig. You should talk to him about what he’s doing. Ask him to stop. Offer him money. Let him keep the apartment. Do anything to get him to shut his mouth. Otherwise, he’s going to keep milking this. We know that after his injury his sponsorships dried up. The sport has lost interest in him. This is giving him the attention he craves.”
Lifting my legs on the couch, I wrap my arms around my knees. “Do you think offering money will work?”
Claudia shrugs. “Worth a try. You can’t keep living like this. Especially with Lucas. He’s such a man whore he’ll probably ruin this ‘fake relationship’ by screwing some other woman and getting caught.”
Didn’t he just tell me he only does one-night stands and never dates? How long will it take for him to miss that life? He might say he is in this with me, but he’ll soon tire.
“You can’t trust him to see this through,” Claudia says bitterly.
My spine stiffens as I remember a conversation I had with Lucas. How Claudia hit on him at a party behind my back. “Speaking of Lucas…” I don’t agree with what she’s saying because I can trust Lucas. He might eventually want to go back to his normal life, but he won’t destroy what we’ve worked on to get there. “Why didn’t you tell me you tried having sex with him while we were in high school?”
She gives a nervous, surprised laugh and doesn’t look me directly in the eye. “What are you talking about?”
Oh, she knows exactly what I’m talking about. I see the guilt on her face. “Lucas told me you wanted to hookup at a party. Described in detail what you wanted to do to him. And he refused.”
Claudia rolls her eyes and flippantly says, “That was years ago. Who cares now?”
“I do.” High school feels like a lifetime ago, but this information is fresh to me, so I care. A lot.
She gives me a look as if to say seriously? “I can’t remember what happened.”
“You knew how much I liked him. There wasn’t a day that went past that I didn’t talk to you about him. Why would you do that behind my back?”
“You always had a sick obsession with him. It’s no surprise you finally got your wish,” she says, avoiding the question.
Tiny pricks trickle up and down my spine. I hate that she’s brushing this off as nothing. If I had found out about this back then, it would have been a big deal. Maybe big enough to end our friendship. I would never have forgiven her.
“Why did you hit on him?” I want an answer.
Tossing her hands up, she says, “He kept flirting with me. Asking me to dance. Getting me drinks. I was drunk. Who wouldn’t want to fuck the hottest guy in school? When I saw him head to the bathroom, I followed him. I wouldn’t have tried anything if I was thinking clearly. It would have ruined our friendship, and I’d never jeopardize it for a boy. You’re not upset with me, are you?” She gives me a pleading look as if asking for forgiveness.
Deep down in my gut I know she’s lying. In one breath she tells me she doesn’t remember anything, and in the next she’s telling me how she followed him into the bathroom. And seems to remember the night vividly. Except Lucas mentioned nothing about getting her drinks and asking her to dance. Yet I believe his story over Claudia’s. Something in my gut doesn’t sit right.
For now, I let it go. Is there any point dredging up the past? What’s done is done. She was a teenager who made a mistake.
“No, I’m not upset with you. Just curious,” I say.
“Why is Lucas bringing that night up? Does he want to cause trouble between us?”
“Why would he do that?”
She shrugs. “Who knows? Maybe he gets a kick out of other’s misery. This is why you need to leave. We don’t really know him.”
“I think you’re wrong about him wanting to cause trouble. It just came up in conversation, that’s all.”
Claudia gives me a skeptical look.
“Anyway, I’ve already decided it’s time to move out,” I say.
The thought sits heavy on my chest, crushing the air from my lungs. Why does walking away from Lucas feel wrong? Why does everything inside me want to spend every minute I can with him? The answer is within reach. But I’m not ready to grab on to it. Not when nothing has changed between us.
We’re friends who are fake dating. Nothing more.
“Excellent. I’ll help you pack. The sooner you’re out of here, the better.” She stands. “Where’s your room?”
I’m sharing Lucas’ room. Even though Claudia knows we’ve slept together, my gut is telling me not to tell her our sleeping arrangements. Will she read too much into it? Ask questions I’m not ready to answer?
Like she can read my mind—or my facial expression gives it away—she narrows her gaze. “You’re sleeping in his room, aren’t you?” She blows out an exasperated breath. “What are you doing? Sex with him is one thing, but to share his bed every night is something deeper. Are you falling for him?”
Flicking my gaze in the direction of Lucas’ office, I focus on keeping my voice down. I don’t want him overhearing this conversation. “I’m not sure how I’m feeling. All these years I hated him and now… Well, now that I know the truth, and we’ve spent so much time together, things are shifting into—”
Claudia tosses her head back and scoffs. “Oh God. Please don’t say love.” She screws her nose up in disgust.
What is her problem with Lucas? For the first time ever it makes me not want to talk to her about this kind of stuff. We have always been open about the crushes we’ve had, the men we’ve dated, relationships we’re in. But with the hostility vibrating off her, I want to keep things to myself, yet I feel because of our close friendship I have to give her something.
“I was going to say, shifted into more than friends. I just don’t know what. He hasn’t mentioned if he’s feeling the same way.”
“Lucas Alessi is a player. Because he’s committed to this ‘fake relationship’ bullshit, he can’t play his usual game. So guess what you are?” She doesn’t give me time to answer. “You’re his live-in sex toy. Why would he give you more when you’re giving him everything he wants without leaving the apartment?”
If she’d stuck a dagger in my chest, I’d be less surprised. Where is this cruelty coming from? I’ve never seen this side of her before. So harsh and unforgiving. Once I could confide in Claudia with everything; now I feel I’m being judged.
“I shouldn’t have mentioned anything,” I say. “You obviously have issues with Lucas, and you’ll never see what I do.” A man who has stopped his life for me. One who has cared and protected me and opened up his home.
Sighing, she takes my hand. “I’m sorry. I never meant to make you feel bad about what’s happening, or not happening, between you and Lucas. I’m just worried about you. It’s no secret what he’s like. I’d hate for you to get hurt because you’ve fallen for him and he’s broken your heart.”
I squeeze her hand and smile. “Thank you for caring. I know what I’m getting into. “He’s not going to break my heart,” I emphasize. Do I say that to convince her or myself?
“So, he’s going to stop this ‘fake relationship’ and make it a real one? If I can see you’re falling for him, surely he can too. Will he let you keep this up knowing this?”
Oh no…no…no. He can’t know. Not when this is temporary. Not when he’s not offering anything more.
“He probably knows you have feelings for him, yet he’s keeping you here. Exploiting them for his own selfish reasons. Unless he’s ready to stop pretending and make things official, he needs to let you go.” She gives me a quick hug, like that’s supposed to soothe her words. “You are my best friend. If I can’t tell you the truth, who can?”
I give her a ghost of a smile. Her comments masked under the guise of being my best friend don’t make the hurt any less. “I need to talk to Lucas.”
Claudia rises from the couch. “Good idea. I’ll go so you can get it over with.”
I follow her to the foyer, and we say our goodbyes. When the door closes behind her, I lean against it, my heart beating rapidly. I’m falling in love with Lucas. I can’t keep ignoring my feelings. This wasn’t supposed to happen, and yet I couldn’t stop myself. Now I really can’t stay. If I do, it will only be harder to leave.
Walking to Lucas’ office, I knock before I enter. He’s sitting on the edge of his desk, fiddling with a camera. When he sees me, his face lights up with a smile. Oh God. His smile shoots an arrow through my heart. I want him to look at me like that forever.
He points the lens at me and says, “Strike a pose.”
I cross my eyes and stick out my tongue.
The camera clicks a few times, and Lucas laughs. “That photo will be the showpiece for the next Alessi Fashion catalogue.”
“Whenever you need a model, you know where to find me. Although, with my talent, I don’t come cheap,” I joke, but my heart is heavy in my chest.
“I’ll pay whatever you’re asking.” He grins. It’s so sexy I feel the buzz from it travel all the way to my toes. “I’m assuming Claudia’s gone.”
I nod and take a seat by the window. Far enough away so I’m not tempted to place myself between his legs and kiss him until we both can’t breathe and forget about telling him I’m moving out.
“Lucas, we need to talk.”
“Uh-oh. Sounds serious. Did Claudia give you more bad news?” He places his camera on the table and gives me his full attention.
“Darren’s appearance at lunch and the fight is all over the internet. He’s getting more sympathetic votes.”
Lucas runs his fingers through his hair and sighs. “Why on earth did that fucker show up at the restaurant? Hasn’t he caused enough damage? How much longer is he going to make your life miserable?”
“Claudia says I need to talk to him. Offer him money to stop him from doing anything else.”
Lucas propels from the desk. “The fuck you will. You’re not getting near that asshole or giving him money.”
I throw my hands up. “I have to do something. Going out to lunch as a couple only caused more drama. I’m running out of options.”
Pacing in front of me, he says, “We’ll think of something.”
I get to my feet and go to him. Holding his hands in mine, I stop him from wearing out the floorboards. “I have to talk to him. I need to get my apartment back.”
“You’re moving back into the apartment?”
I couldn’t think of anything worse. “No. Not after what he’s done in there. But it’s mine and he has no right to live in it.”
“So you’ve changed your mind, you’re not leaving?”
I shake my head. “It’s time I go.”
He swings his head to the side to stare out the window. When he turns back there’s a hint of sadness in his eyes. “You really want to leave?”
No! I want to scream. I see my life here with you. “I can’t stay forever.”
My heart stops for a beat, waiting for him to say forever is what he wants with me. I wish he didn’t believe he was like his father. Maybe things could have been different.
“Penny, you’re welcome to stay as long as you want. I’m not kicking you out if that’s what you’re worried about.”
No, I’m worried that I’ve fallen head over heels in love with you and you’ll never reciprocate my feelings.
“Thank you, but it’s time,” I say.
Rubbing the back of his neck, he blurts out, “I don’t want you to leave.”
“You don’t?” I hold my breath, waiting for him to say more.
“No, not when things are still bad. I can’t let you face it on your own. I’m involved too. Moving out is not the way to fix things.”
I exhale a shuddery, disappointed breath. That wasn’t the declaration of love I was hoping for. “Staying here won’t fix things either.”
Shoulders drooping, he gazes at me with something I can’t decipher. Is it longing? Conflict? Whatever it is, he appears to be struggling with his thoughts. Then he says, “Where will you go?”
“I’ll find a hotel secure enough to keep the paparazzi away.”
“What about your apartment?”
“I’m selling it. I can’t stand the thought of living in it after Darren has tainted it.”
“That’s if Darren leaves.”
I rub my forehead with my fingertips. A headache is brewing. Darren turned my life upside down. The least he can do is give me back what’s mine. “He will.”
Lucas raises a dubious eyebrow. “What makes you so sure?”
“If he refuses, I’ll offer him money. With the loss of sponsorships, he’ll need it.”
Lucas tosses his arms up. “Are you fucking kidding me? Hasn’t he taken enough? He doesn’t deserve a dime from you.”
Feeling depleted, I drop onto the couch. “I don’t know what else to do.”
With a heavy sigh, Lucas sits next to me. Putting his arm over my shoulders, he pulls me to his side. Tears sting the backs of my eyes at his comforting gesture. My heart shudders. How am I supposed to walk away from this?
“I’ll get him out of your apartment,” Lucas says.
Tilting my face up to him, I see he’s wearing a hard expression. I cup his cheek. At my touch, his face softens. “You need to keep away from him. Look what happened at lunch. He’ll try to provoke you into doing something you’ll regret.”
“I’ll never regret beating the shit out of him if I get the chance.” His jaw tightens.
“This is why you can’t be near him.”
“I won’t touch him.”
I find that hard to believe. “Really?”
“Not much.” He smirks.
I can’t help laughing. I playfully poke my finger into his ribs, causing him to squirm. “You’ll get yourself into trouble. Darren is my problem. Let me deal with him.”
“But I’d actually enjoy paying him a visit,” he says with a twinkle of mischief in his eyes.
I poke harder and he bucks. “Not funny. Stay away from him. Darren is mine.”
Lucas grips my wrist, knocks me onto my back, and pins my hand above my head. His face is like iron. “Never say he’s yours again.”
I open my mouth to explain what I meant, but he clamps his lips on mine, sucking any words and breath from my mouth.
Like he’s claiming me.
Wanting me to be his.
And only his.
If only that were true.
The kiss ends as abruptly as it started. His face hovers above me, his chest heaving, his eyes locked with mine. A connection is binding us. He looks like he wants to say something. Like he’s struggling with thoughts that are on his mind. Then, as if something snaps, he lets me go, pushes off the couch, and gets to his feet.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?” he asks. “You don’t need to deal with him alone.”
All desire and emotion is wiped clean from his expression. How can he change in a blink of an eye? Was I mistaken in thinking a bond is building? Or is this only two people stuck in a shitty situation and needing each other to pull through it? Is this all one-sided on my part, or is he fighting feelings he doesn’t know how to deal with?
“I’ll be fine.”
“If he gives you any trouble, call me and I’ll come right over.”
I smile. “Thank you. I will.” I get to my feet. “Well, I should get this over with.”
When I walk past Lucas to leave, he holds onto my wrist and stops me. “I hope you get what you want.” Why does it look like it pains him to say that?
I bite my bottom lip, stopping myself from saying what I really want is you .
Lucas arranges for a driver to take me to my apartment building. What will I do without him when this is all over? I toss that thought away for another time, because right now I have bigger problems to face.
I step from the car and rush into the building. Keeping my hat pulled low and my sunglasses on, I find a quiet area of the lobby to wait for Darren. I can’t believe I had to call him to let me into my own apartment. My keycard for the elevator and door is in my suitcase which I left at Lucas’ cabin.
I send Darren a text to let him know I’m in the lobby and I take a seat behind a potted palm and wait. Watching people come and go, I’m pleased no one takes any notice of me.
After fifteen minutes and two more texts reminding Darren I’m still waiting, he finally arrives with a smug grin on his face like he takes great pleasure having me wait.
I’ll wipe that smile off your face when I kick you out.
Getting to my feet, I narrow my eyes at him. “What took you so long?”
“Busy,” he says unapologetically. He was so desperate to talk to me at the restaurant and now it’s like he has no interest that I’m here. His behavior is strange. What is going on with him?
“I told you what time I’d be here—” I stop myself from making a scene. “You know what? It doesn’t matter. Let’s get this over with.” With both of us standing together, I notice some people are looking our way. “Let’s talk in my apartment.”
He puffs out his chest. “Whatever you have to say, you can say it here.”
Oh, he’s trying to act like a tough guy. I may be small in height, but I will not let him intimidate me. I can’t believe I thought I loved this man. Even wanted to marry him! What was I thinking? He can’t compare to Lucas even if he tried.
Is always comparing men with Lucas going to be my life now?
Unfortunately, the answer is yes.
Pulling myself up as tall as I can get, I stare him dead in the eye. “We will talk in the apartment now, or I will make a scene. One that won’t make you look good in the eyes of the public. And we know what a fame whore you are, don’t we?” I tilt my chin up, challenging him to argue.
His eyes widen as he scans the area around us. Like the weak, little man he is, he nods and turns toward the elevator. Once inside, he swipes the keycard and presses the number to my floor. On the way up we don’t say a word. Being in such a confined space with him makes me uneasy, and as soon as the doors open, I burst from the cart.
Walking into my apartment, it feels like I haven’t been here in months not days. Lucas’ penthouse feels more like home than this space. That’s because Lucas is living in it.
There are empty pizza boxes, Chinese take-out containers, tubs of ice cream, and beer bottles on every surface. Every piece of furniture is covered with dirty clothing and trash. And there are numerous stains on the carpeting where it appears drinks have been spilled or food has been dropped.
“What have you done to the place?” I sniff with disgust.
“The cleaner hasn’t been by yet.”
“And you let it get to this state in only a couple of weeks?” I’m going to burn the place down with everything in it.
He shrugs. “Doesn’t bother me.”
It’s then I take a better look at Darren. He isn’t looking so great either. Once a well-built, muscular, good-looking athlete, he now looks disheveled and a little thicker around the middle. Lack of exercise and eating like a college frat boy wouldn’t help with his appearance.
I don’t even try to find a clean spot to sit down. The place is filthy. I’d rather stand. The quicker I get this over with, the quicker I can get out of this dump.
“Darren, you need to move out.” Better to get straight to the point.
His eyes widen with surprise. Did he think I’d let him live here forever? “I’m not moving. This is my place.”
Is he kidding? He has never contributed to any of the finances.
“This is my apartment. I want you and your stuff out because I’m moving back in.” He doesn’t need to know I’ll never live here again.
He drops his hands on his hips. “I thought you were shacking up with that peacock fashion designer.” He curls his top lip.
“It’s none of your business what my living arrangements are. This is my apartment. You’ve outstayed your welcome. You need to leave.”
He smirks. The revolting gesture makes me shudder. “Already having trouble in paradise?” His gaze scans up and down my body with an unflattering expression. “I’ve seen the women he fucks. You’re not exactly his type.”
I swallow back the nausea rising to my throat. He knows where to hit me in the place I’m most vulnerable. What I won’t do is let him see how his words affect me. Never will I let him put me down again and make me feel like I’m not good enough.
“My relationship with Lucas is not your concern,” I state.
He scratches his cheek, his face filled with confusion. “I know you weren’t fucking him when we were together. You made it clear you hated each other. Yet suddenly, out of nowhere, you’re playing the loved-up couple. Doesn’t make sense.” Then, after a beat, amusement glints in his eyes. “Unless… you’ve done something stupid like pretend you’re in a relationship to gain your reputation back.”
I must have pulled a face because his mouth spreads into a mocking smile.
“You have! It’s all fake.” He laughs out loud. “Look at you, the squeaky-clean America’s sweetheart being so sneaky.”
I scoff. I can’t let Darren have these thoughts. If he tells anyone, the charade is over, and I’ll be dealing with another fire to put out. “Believe what you want if that makes you feel better. What Lucas and I have is real. Something we never had. He loves me for who I am. Not for what I can give him. It wasn’t hard moving on.”
I hope my performance is convincing. Lucas may not love me, but he has shown me I deserve so much better.
To deflect the conversation away from my relationship with Lucas, I say, “What I don’t understand is why you’re being so vengeful and cruel to me. It was you who cheated on me and played the video in front of my audience. What did I ever do to you to deserve such treatment?”
He shrugs. “Nothing.”
I wait for more. When he doesn’t expand on his answer, I say, “That’s it? All you have to say is nothing ?” I shake my head. “You know what? I don’t care anymore why you did it. I just want you out of my apartment and to never see you again. I’m giving you two days to pack up your things and leave. And take all this rubbish with you,” I add as I wave my hand out to indicate the trash filling the area.
With that, I march into my bedroom. I open the closet, pull out a suitcase and toss a few items of clothing in it. Even though Lucas practically bought me an Alessi Fashion boutique, I still want a few items of my own. At the dresser I take jewelry from the drawers and my favorite perfume. I don’t want Darren taking anything valuable that doesn’t belong to him.
Once I’ve filled the bag with everything I need, I make my way to the living room. Darren is sitting on the couch with his feet propped on the coffee table, looking as if he hasn’t a care in the world. Yet underneath the bravado is a scared man. I can tell by his slightly wide eyes and stiff facial features. Without me and my money, he has nothing.
I open the door. I turn back around and say, “Two days. If you’re not gone, I’ll have you removed.” Forget about offering him money. He doesn’t deserve it.
“I didn’t plant the video at your show,” he says before I close the door.
This stops me in my tracks. “You expect me to believe that?”
“Why would I ruin a good thing?” He holds his arms out wide to take in the apartment. “With you I had everything.”
An icy chill prickles the back of my neck. It was never about love and commitment to him. I was his ticket to fame and fortune.
“If you didn’t do it, who did?” I ask. “Karen Featherstone?”
“She was just as surprised and pissed as you.”
I doubt that. “If not you or Karen, then who?”
“Someone who hates you enough to want to tear you down.”
For a beat I’m frozen. Who would want to do that to me? Apart from Lucas, I’ve never had a problem with anyone. It had to have been Darren. He’s trying to play with my head. Making me suspicious of everyone in my life.
I point a finger in his direction. “I want you gone in two days.”
He salutes me with a grin.
God, I never want to see that man again.