Chapter 1 #2
"And you always were a pain in the ass." The words slip out before I can stop them. I immediately want to take them back. But Lucas actually laughs. A low, rumbling sound that does things to my insides.
"Fair enough." He says, smiling. "So what brings Maya Bennett back to the land of the living dead?"
I take another sip, buying time. How do I explain that my life has become a country song? That I'm homeless and heartbroken and possibly unemployable? That sitting here talking to him feels like the first normal thing that's happened to me in weeks?
"Rental fell through," I say finally. "Thought I'd grab a drink while I figure out Plan B."
His eyebrows raise. "Plan B being...?"
"Working on it."
We stare at each other across the bar. I'm struck by how much and how little he's changed.
He's bigger now. More solid. Lines around his eyes that speak of responsibility.
But underneath all that grown-up masculinity is still the boy who helped me with calculus.
Who never made fun of my Harry Potter obsession.
The boy I was half in love with and too scared to do anything about it.
"That bad, huh?"
"It's complicated."
"Most things are." He straightens up. I catch another glimpse of those forearms as he reaches for a towel. Seriously, Maya, get a grip. "The offer stands, by the way. If you need somewhere to crash tonight."
I blink. "What offer?"
"Upstairs." He jerks his head toward the ceiling. "I've got a loft above the bar. Couch is comfortable. Better than sleeping in your car."
The casual kindness in his voice nearly undoes me. "I can't—"
"Why not?"
"Because..." Because being in a confined space with you sounds like emotional suicide. Because I'm already remembering why I had such a crush. Because I can't handle one more complication in my disaster of a life.
"Because it's weird?" I finish lamely.
Lucas shrugs. "Weird's relative. Besides, it's just for one night. Unless you'd rather try the murder motel on Route 9."
Before I can answer, my phone buzzes against the bar. Loud and insistent. I glance at the screen.
My blood turns to ice.
Evan Pierce.
My hands start to shake. Not from the cold this time.
I stare at the screen, paralyzed. The phone keeps buzzing. Each vibration feeling like a countdown to something terrible. My first instinct is to decline the call. Pretend I never saw it. Throw the damn thing across the room.
But something makes me swipe to answer. Curiosity. Defiance. Maybe just sheer stupidity.
"Maya." Evan's voice is smooth as ever. Like honey over broken glass. "There you are."
"Evan." I grip the phone tighter. Super aware of Lucas watching me. "I thought I made myself clear—"
"You did. Crystal clear. But you see, that's where we have a problem." His tone shifts. Becomes something darker. More possessive. "You can't just walk away from our partnership like that. We had an agreement."
"We had a contract. Which I fulfilled. And then I terminated our business relationship." My voice sounds steadier than I feel. "Professionally and permanently."
Evan laughs. The sound makes my skin crawl. "Maya, sweetheart, you're not thinking clearly. The stress of losing your job, that unfortunate situation with Derek. It's obviously affecting your judgment."
My blood runs cold. "How do you know about Derek?"
"I know a lot of things. For instance, I know you're not in Seattle anymore." Something predatory in his voice now. Like a cat playing with a mouse. "I know you drove east today. Long drive, especially in this weather."
The phone nearly slips from my suddenly sweaty palm. "You're—are you following me?"
"Following is such an ugly word. I prefer 'keeping track of my investments.’ He pauses. I can practically hear his smile. "And Maya, you are definitely an investment I'm not willing to write off."
"I'm hanging up."
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." His voice drops to barely above a whisper. "You see, I've been doing some research on your little hometown. Willowbridge, population 8,400. Charming place. Very... isolated."
Terror shoots through me. "Evan—"
"It would be such a shame if something happened to disrupt that peaceful small-town atmosphere. Especially to people you care about."
My eyes fly to Lucas. He's gone completely still behind the bar. His jaw is tight. There's something dangerous in his expression I've never seen before. He can't hear Evan's words, but he can clearly hear the tone. My reaction to it.
"Don't you dare—"
"I'm not threatening anyone, Maya. Simply pointing out that actions have consequences. Your actions, specifically." Evan's voice turns almost conversational. "I'll be in touch soon. We have so much to discuss about your future. Our future."
The line goes dead.
I sit there staring at my phone. My hands shaking so badly I can barely hold it. The warm, safe atmosphere of the bar suddenly feels fragile. Like something that could be shattered by one wrong move.
"Maya." Lucas's voice is low. Controlled. But I can hear the steel underneath. "Who was that?"
I look up to find him standing directly across from me. His hands flat on the bar. Those blue eyes are hard as winter ice. There's something in his posture that screams protection and danger in equal measure.
"Nobody," I whisper. Even I don't believe it.
Lucas moves closer. His voice drops so only I can hear. "That didn't sound like nobody."
And suddenly I realize that coming back to Willowbridge hasn't solved anything. I haven't escaped my problems.
I've just brought them home with me.