Chapter 32
Lucas
Lucas let go of Willow, his body moving instinctively towards the noises outside.
‘The first responders are here,’ he said to Willow, urgently pulling his clothes back in place. ‘We have to go out there.’
Willow was already adjusting herself, tugging her dress back into place and flattening her hair. Her eyes gleamed in the darkness.
‘Luc, we need to talk about what just happened.’
Lucas leaned forward and kissed her lips. It was all he could do not to pull her body against his. Maybe they could hide here in the shadows and wait for all the chaos to die down? He shook these thoughts away. It was crazy.
‘You need to get checked out,’ he rasped, his fingers gently running over her injured arm. ‘And we need to help everyone else. We can talk later.’
She nodded quickly. Her hand gripped his. ‘I need you to know—’
But at that moment, the door burst open. Willow released her grip and Lucas instinctively backed away.
Standing there in the fading light, was a rescuer.
He looked familiar. Sickness washed through Lucas.
‘There you are!’ he declared, rushing towards them. ‘What are you doing hiding out here?’
Lucas felt like he was caught in a slow-motion movie. His gut twisted as he realized who it was.
‘Jake!’ Willow cried and allowed herself to be engulfed in his arms. ‘I was scared – Lucas – he was comforting me …’
Comforting – was that what she called it now?
And why was she making excuses? She and Jake were no longer together.
Were they?
Lucas stood there, frozen. Jake. Of course, it had to be him, didn’t it? Of all the first responders in the area, he had to show his smug face? What the hell did that mean now?
And how was Lucas expected to deal with this?
‘What are you even doing here?’ Willow gasped.
Jake stepped back. Lucas almost wanted to choke on his words as he muttered out a greeting. Jake really was the all-American hero – dressed in his uniform and looking the part with his hands on his hips, ready to save lives.
But where had he been? Had he been there for Willow?
Did he ever even love her? Lucas had his doubts.
‘I was asked to help out. When I heard it was a rescue mission in Honey Springs, I didn’t hesitate,’ Jake said proudly. ‘I needed to make sure you were OK.’
‘I’m fine,’ Willow said. Lucas could detect the awkwardness in her tone. Did she already regret what they had done?
Jake had a flashlight; he cast it over Willow. ‘You don’t look fine. You look pale. Are you shaking?’
‘No – no, it’s just the shock I think …’ She batted him away. ‘It’s your dad you need to worry about, Jake. He got hurt in the landslide.’
‘Eric?’ Jake seemed stunned. ‘He’s hurt?’
He turned, flashing his light back into the main room. ‘I didn’t see him when I first walked in …’ he muttered.
Funny that, Lucas thought. Jake had barely noticed Eric these past few years.
‘He’s sleeping on the floor, near Janice,’ Lucas said instead. ‘She’s been looking after him real good.’
‘I see.’ Jake nodded, seeming to take this all in. He walked slowly over to Lucas and patted him on the arm. ‘I should thank you too then.’
‘Thank me?’ Lucas blinked back, confused. ‘For what?’
‘For looking after Willow. She means a lot to me.’ Jake grinned. ‘But I’m back now. I can pick things up from here.’
Can you now? Lucas thought darkly, but he kept his thoughts locked deep inside, buried alongside so many that he longed to say but knew he never could.
Lucas tried to keep busy, helping the first responders move between the townsfolk.
He offered calm responses to those that needed it and gave information where required.
The first responders had used specialized emergency vehicles to reach the site and could take a few people back to the nearest hospital just outside of Honey Springs.
It was clear that Eric and Ava were the most urgent patients, but Lucas also persuaded Adam to go too.
The swelling on his ankle was pretty bad, and Lucas was concerned it might be a break, aggravated by the fact that Adam had continued to walk on it.
Luckily, the other injuries that people had sustained seemed mainly superficial and could be treated at The Diner.
Willow and Jake stayed with Eric as the first responders prepared to move him. Lucas could see that Jake looked pretty cut up. He clasped his dad’s hand.
‘I’m sorry I wasn’t here,’ he muttered. ‘I should have visited sooner. I didn’t realize how bad things had gotten.’
‘You should thank Willow,’ Lucas said coolly. ‘She ran back to rescue him. It’s because of her that Eric is here now.’
Jake looked up at Willow. ‘You did that? For me?’
Willow coughed. ‘Well, I did it more for Eric, Jake …’
‘Yeah, but for me too. This is my dad after all.’ Jake shook his head slowly. ‘I always knew you cared, Willow, but this is something else.’
She tipped her head away from him, and her eyes briefly caught Lucas’s. She looked in pain. ‘Yeah, I guess it is.’
‘Well anyway, it made me realize a few things. I’m going to talk to my boss. Will, I’m going to ask for a transfer, so that I can move back to Honey Springs. I want to move into mountain rescue work and I think that will be popular on my pages.’
‘Will it?’ Willow looked a little stunned. ‘I thought you wanted to stay in Seattle?’
‘Yeah, I did, but now I’m thinking there might be more in Honey Springs than I remembered. I’m thinking maybe it could be good for us too, you know?’ His expression was a little sheepish. ‘Maybe this time apart has made me realize a few things …’
‘Jake, I …’
Willow seemed to be struggling to find the right words, but she wasn’t shutting this down all together.
That was all Lucas needed to hear. He moved away.
He didn’t want to hear anymore. He couldn’t stand it any longer.
Willow could barely look at him. Jake was heady with love and gratitude towards her and as usual, Lucas was on the outside looking in.
Jake coming back here for good would be the worst outcome.
He didn’t want to be in this freaking mess. This wasn’t what he asked for.
Why was everything going so desperately wrong?
He leaned against the counter, watching the activity swarm around him.
Only an hour or so before, Willow and he had been together.
It had been the most wonderful moment, as if in that brief time, they were the only people in the world.
They had had sex. It had been beautiful and dangerous and just how he had imagined.
Everything he had dreamed of had been in his arms momentarily and now it was gone.
He should regret it, but how could he regret something so good?
It was almost cruel that he had got what he wanted but had it snatched away again.
‘Dude.’
Lucas turned to see Greg standing there. He looked exhausted. Dirt smudges lined his face, and his glasses were cracked. This night had taken its toll on them all.
‘I’m going back to the bar; I need to check out the damage,’ he said quietly. ‘I wanted to make sure you were OK first though?’
‘Me? I’m fine.’ Lucas shrugged. ‘The Diner is still standing, isn’t it? I’ll be alright.’
‘That wasn’t what I meant.’ Greg nodded towards Jake and Willow. Jake had his arm around Willow now as they both watched Eric being placed on a stretcher. ‘I saw you disappear into the backroom with her. You were gone for some time.’
‘You should set up with the Parkers,’ Lucas muttered. ‘You’re getting good at spying on people.’
‘Stop avoiding the question,’ Greg urged gently. ‘Are you alright?’
Lucas could have denied it. He could have brushed him off with some excuse or another, but what would be the point? Greg knew him better than anyone.
And Lucas was so damn tired.
‘No.’ Lucas sighed heavily. ‘No, I’m not OK, and I haven’t been all the time she’s been back in town.’
Because that was the truth. Willow Davis was slowly killing him, and he no longer knew what to do about it.
He watched Willow and Jake standing together by the door of The Diner. Most of the townsfolk had been treated and moved now, so it was quiet inside. Eric had just been loaded onto an ambulance. Lucas felt helpless as he leaned against the counter, wishing he could look away but not being able to.
Instead, he continued to watch as Jake took Willow’s hands in his, as he pulled her into a tight hug. Her head rested against his shoulder so easily, like it belonged there.
He then watched as Jake’s hand gently stroked her hair. As he kissed her forehead.
A deep hollow opened inside him. Lucas felt giddy and sick.
That should be him. Not Jake.
How could this be happening again?
Jake was talking gently to her and Willow raised her head slowly and nodded along. Her eyes were locked on Jake’s; her smile was sweet and true.
Lucas ran a hand through his hair and let his heart finally shatter.
His thoughts were dark but determined. This had to end now.
He had to finally learn to let her go.