“Liv, I’m not mad. It’s—”
She looked up at him and he saw the tears simmering in the corners of her eyes. She dabbed her face with her napkin. “Lucas, I feel like you’re pulling away from me again, and I’ve waited for so long and I just thought that we could try things between us again. We’re older now. I think we’d be good for each other.”
He grabbed her hand. When she looked small and vulnerable like this, she reminded him of the Olivia from their childhood before she became cold, selfish, and manipulative. He protected her when they were kids because she was shy and she’d always seemed so fragile to him. Their families had spent so much time together, it was natural, but it couldn’t happen anymore. Life had changed them both, and he didn’t want to hurt her, but he couldn’t have her around him anymore. She was toxic.
“Liv, we tried that in college. It didn’t work then, and it won’t work now.”
She squeezed his hand. “We’re perfect for each other, and our parents would be so happy. If you give us a chance, you’d see.”
***
“Regan, table number five is yours,” Parker called to her as she walked backwards out of the kitchen. Parker had been really nice all night, and she already felt a million times better knowing he didn’t hate her.
Regan pointed at him. “You owe me.” Then she heard a familiar voice. Lucas. She didn’t remember telling him where she worked.
A smile crossed her face. She’d happily wait on table number five if it meant spending time with Lucas. After brunch this afternoon, she hadn’t seen him before she left the office. Maybe he’d stay until her shift ended and they could do something together. She turned around, pushing her hair behind her ear and came face to face with Olivia Reynolds. Regan looked across the table at Lucas, then at their interlocked hands on top of the table.
And in spite of everything she’d promised herself over the last six years, her face fell in disappointment. Lucas put his hand in his lap, but other than that, he looked completely at ease, his face totally unreadable. Asshole. She realized this was probably the gotcha moment she’d been afraid of since allowing Lucas to slither his way back into her life.
“Can I get you something to drink?” she asked quietly.
Olivia smiled at Lucas adoringly, and for a second she thought she would be sick. “Regan, is that you?” Olivia asked. “I didn’t ever think I’d see you again.”
No. I bet you didn’t. “Yes.”
“So you’re a waitress now?” Olivia asked in her sugary sweet I’m-so-much-better-than-you voice.
“Not really. I’m in law school and I waitress on Thursdays.”
“Oh.” Olivia shifted in her chair. “Lucas is an attorney. He works at Martin and Black. I’m sure you’ve heard of that firm.”
Regan turned to look at Lucas, and her vision narrowed on him. She took in a deep breath feeling like she couldn’t get enough oxygen in her lungs. What the fuck was wrong with him? Was he really going to do this to her again? He hadn’t said a single word. Her heart started racing. There was no way she’d play nice and serve Lucas and his precious Olivia dinner. “I have. If you’ll excuse me, I need—”
“Regan works there too,” Lucas said, studying Regan’s face. She prayed she didn’t look as nauseous as she felt because right now she had the urge to vomit on their table. Maybe she should. “She’s one of the summer associates. I heard the partners are really impressed with her work. She’s a little rough around the edges, but she’ll be a great attorney wherever she ends up.”
“Oh,” Olivia said, glancing between them. “Lucas never mentioned you. I guess he doesn’t have much contact with summer associates, though.”
“Right,” Lucas said noncommittally.
Swallowing the acid rising in her stomach, she directed her attention on her black peep toe heels, studying the red polish on her toes. She’d fallen in love with Lucas for the second time in her life, and now he was dismissing her like she meant nothing to him. She was a fool.
Alrighty then. She’d had more than enough of this reunion , and of Lucas Evanston. Some people never changed. Apparently, Lucas hadn’t and neither had she. She was the same dumb naïve girl who succumbed to his lethal charm a second time. She pasted a phony smile on her face and pushed her hair behind her ear. “I’ll give you some time to decide. I need to check on one of my orders. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Without waiting for a response, she turned and fled toward the kitchen.