Chasing Forever(61)

So did she. “It’ll be fine. I’m not nineteen anymore.”

Right then her phone buzzed, and she pulled it away from her ear to check the incoming text. It was from Lucas.

Meet me in the building lobby in 30 minutes.

Thirty minutes later, per Lucas’s instructions, she stepped off the elevator with her purse over her shoulder. She paused, scanning the lobby for Lucas. He was standing near the floor to ceiling glass windows, with his back to her and his hands in his pockets. He looked incredibly sexy in his custom navy suit, and for a moment, she stopped to appreciate the picture he made. He slid back the cuff of his shirt to check the time.

“I’m not late,” she said, walking toward him.

He turned around, flashing his devilish smile, dimples included. “Not yet.”

“So what’s with the secret meeting?” she asked. She wanted to kiss him and touch him. Seeing him every day and having to monitor every look and every touch was harder than she thought. She wished the summer were over.

Lucas pushed the glass door open. “Follow me.”

She followed him as he turned right and then when he reached the end of the block, he held out his hand. Smiling, she threaded her fingers through his. “Now are you going to tell me what’s going on?”

“I thought we’d get some fresh air. You know, take a few laps around the block. I know how much you hate that Summary Judgment Motion you’re working on.”

“No, it’s not too bad.”

He laughed and shook his head.

“Okay, it’s pretty dull,” she admitted.

They stopped at a crosswalk. “Do you remember our first date?” he asked.

“This time or six years ago?” she asked, not sure she liked where this was going. She didn’t want to remember the past.

“Six years ago,” he said quickly.

“You mean brunch?”

“Yes. You probably don’t realize this, but after I dropped you off at your dorm that night, I barely slept. I’d met a beautiful, funny woman at a party I didn’t want to be at, and I couldn’t wait to see her the next morning.”

“Okay,” she said weakly. She could hardly sleep that night either, but she didn’t think she wanted to relive that night because it was…tainted.

“And you didn’t disappoint me. I actually called my mom that day and told her I’d met the perfect girl.” He squeezed her hand. “I thought I could take you to brunch today, and I could have a new ending for that perfect date with the perfect girl.” He stopped in front of a small building with a black and white striped awning and pushed a piece of hair away from her face. “One that doesn’t end with hurt feelings, deceit, or misunderstandings.”

Regan looked down at her shoes. She was speechless.

When she didn’t say anything for a few moments, he tipped up her chin. “Did I disappoint you? Maybe the idea sounded better in my head than in reality.”

She pulled his head down to hers and brushed a soft kiss across his lips. He was systematically breaking down all her barriers leaving her more open and exposed than she’d been six years ago. “I love it.”

He flashed his King of the Panty Droppers smile, the one that had slain her heart from the day she met him at that fraternity party years ago. “Good. I’ll think of a way for you to show your gratitude later.”

Her eyes narrowed in feigned anger, but she couldn’t completely suppress the smile curling up the corners of her mouth. “Only if brunch is as delicious as it smells.”

“You can count on it.”





Chapter Twenty-Five





Lucas nervously checked his watch. Shit. He was running late. Olivia would be irate, and he really needed her to be rational tonight because once she got into a mood, there was no pulling her out of it.

Despite the fact he intended to push Olivia out of his life once and for all tonight, Lucas felt guilty not disclosing this with Regan. She wouldn’t like it one bit, but he promised her a new beginning and to do that, he needed Olivia out of his life for good.

Briefly, he considered breaking the news to Olivia over the phone, but he knew she would never believe he was serious if he didn’t do it in person. They’d been friends since they were kids and the friendship between their families made ignoring each other difficult, which had stopped him from pushing her out of his life in the past. When he thought about his childhood, he couldn’t remember a major event without her. They went to the same schools, the same summer camps, and the same vacations. She even followed him to college.

He rubbed his temples. He’d majorly fucked up everything in college. He crossed the line with Olivia beyond friendship and now the waters were so muddied their friendship was always on edge and wrought with tension. The first time he’d hooked up with her, he promised he’d never do it again. He didn’t want a serious relationship with her and given their history, indulging in a friends-with-benefits relationship was beyond stupid. Too bad he ignored his promise repeatedly and then he met Regan, and he knew he’d never touch Olivia again, and he hadn’t, even after he allowed Regan to walk out of his life.