Chapter 34
Sabrina started regretting saying yes about four minutes after hanging up the phone.
Not because she didn't want to see Lucas.
That was the problem.
She wanted to see him far too much.
Which explained why she'd already changed outfits three times despite the fact Lucas had seen her cry in oversized hoodies before.
Humiliating behavior honestly.
Rain tapped softly against the windows while she paced her apartment trying unsuccessfully to calm down. Every few seconds she glanced toward the clock.
Then headlights appeared outside her building.
Her heartbeat instantly spiraled.
Oh no.
He was actually here.
For one brief second she considered pretending she was asleep.
Then the intercom buzzed.
Cowardice ended quickly after that.
By the time she opened the apartment door minutes later, her pulse was racing hard enough to concern medical professionals.
Lucas stood in the hallway wearing a dark coat damp from rain, exhaustion lingering beneath his eyes.
But the second he saw her, something in his expression softened immediately.
Not dramatically.
Quietly.
Like seeing her made him breathe easier.
And suddenly Sabrina forgot every prepared thought in her head.
Neither of them spoke at first.
After everything that had happened between them, this moment felt strangely fragile.
Lucas looked overwhelmed just standing there.
"You're staring," Sabrina said softly.
A faint smile touched his mouth.
"I missed your face."
Her chest tightened instantly.
She stepped aside without another word.
Lucas walked inside slowly, like he was afraid one wrong movement might ruin whatever fragile peace had formed between them.
The door clicked shut behind him.
And suddenly they were alone again.
The silence stretched between them, heavy with everything they still hadn't said.
Lucas slipped off his coat while Sabrina stayed rooted near the couch pretending she could still think clearly.
She lasted maybe three seconds.
Then she crossed the room first.
No hesitation this time.
No overthinking.
Her body simply chose him automatically.
Lucas barely had time to react before she wrapped her arms tightly around him.
The breath that left him almost broke her heart.
Relief.
Pure relief.
His arms closed around her instantly, pulling her against him like he'd been holding himself together by force alone for days.
Sabrina buried her face against his chest while emotion crashed through her all at once.
She missed him.
The warmth of him.
The safety.
The way Lucas held her like she mattered more than anything else.
Lucas pressed his face briefly into her hair.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
The rawness in his voice hurt.
Sabrina only held him tighter.
Because honestly, she wasn't ready for apologies yet.
She just needed him here.
Lucas seemed to understand.
After a long moment he pulled back just enough to look at her. His hands stayed against her waist carefully, almost like he still couldn't believe she'd let him touch her again.
Rain tapped softly against the windows while the city glowed gold outside.
"You watched the interview," he said quietly.
"Unfortunately."
A small smile appeared.
"I was terrified."
"I noticed."
He laughed softly under his breath before his expression turned serious again.
"I meant everything."
Sabrina swallowed hard.
"I know."
Something vulnerable crossed his face at that answer.
Like some part of him still expected her not to believe him completely.
She studied him quietly.
He looked tired. Emotionally stripped raw.
But lighter too somehow.
Like telling the truth publicly had finally taken some weight off his chest.
"You really did all that on live television," she murmured.
Lucas looked mildly horrified now that she mentioned it.
"I emotionally blacked out halfway through."
Despite herself, Sabrina laughed.
The sound immediately changed something in his expression.
Relief again.
Like hearing her laugh mattered more than the interview itself.
Lucas stepped closer until barely any space remained between them.
"Sabrina."
The way he said her name still did dangerous things to her heartbeat.
"What?"
His eyes searched her face carefully before he spoke again.
"I need you to know something before we do this."
Her pulse jumped immediately.
"I can't promise I'll handle everything perfectly," he admitted quietly. "I'm still learning how to exist inside this industry without letting it control every part of me."
The honesty grounded her more than perfect promises ever could.
"But I swear to you," he continued, his gaze locked on hers completely, "I will never make you question whether I choose you again."
Emotion rose painfully in her chest.
Because that was what she needed.
Not perfection.
Choice.
Consistency.
Lucas lifted one hand slowly toward her face, still careful even now.
Sabrina leaned into the touch automatically.
His thumb brushed gently beneath her eye.
The tenderness nearly ruined her.
"You know what the worst part of this week was?" Lucas asked quietly.
"What?"
"Sleeping."
Her brows pulled together slightly.
"You weren't there."
The confession hit hard.
Because she understood exactly what he meant.
The late-night calls.
The quiet routines.
The way they'd slowly become part of each other's lives without realizing it.
Lucas looked away briefly before admitting softly, "The apartment didn't feel like home anymore."
That almost shattered her completely.
Because suddenly Sabrina realized this wasn't just love anymore.
They had become emotional safety for each other.
Tears burned behind her eyes again.
Lucas noticed immediately.
"Hey," he murmured softly.
"I hate you a little for making me emotional."
"That's fair."
His forehead rested gently against hers.
Warm.
Steady.
For the first time in weeks, everything felt quieter.
Not fixed.
But survivable.
Sabrina closed her eyes briefly.
"What if this gets worse?" she whispered.
The question lingered heavily between them.
More headlines.
More attention.
More pressure.
Lucas stayed silent for a moment before answering honestly.
"Then we face it together this time."
Her breath caught softly.
Not a promise that life would suddenly become easy.
Just together.
And somehow that mattered more.
Lucas pulled back slightly then, just enough to look at her properly again.
His gaze dropped briefly toward her mouth.
Sabrina's pulse instantly lost all stability.
Because somehow after all this time, Lucas still looked at her like kissing her was something dangerous.
Something he wanted too much.
"Sabrina," he said softly.
"What?"
"I'm trying very hard to be emotionally mature right now."
She laughed quietly.
"Sounds difficult for you."
"Extremely."
Then he kissed her.
And this time there was no panic afterward.
No hesitation.
No retreat.
Just relief.
The kiss started slowly, almost careful.
Weeks of heartbreak and longing poured quietly into it.
Lucas's hands tightened gently against her waist while Sabrina's fingers slipped into his hair instinctively.
She missed this.
Missed him.
Lucas kissed her like someone finally allowed to stop running.
When they finally pulled apart, both breathing unevenly, he rested his forehead against hers again with a soft disbelieving laugh.
"I love you," he whispered.
No fear now.
No walls.
Just truth.
Sabrina looked at him for one long second before answering softly:
"I know."
Lucas groaned immediately.
"You are genuinely evil."
She smiled for the first time in weeks.
Then finally whispered:
"I love you too."
The look on his face afterward was something she knew she'd remember forever.
Because Lucas Cooper, the man who spent most of his life hiding from vulnerability, looked completely undone by being loved back.