“Seriously? Is that why you gave me so much to do?”
“Yeah. Sorry.”
“I think it’s cute that you were jealous. Too bad I couldn’t do that to you so you had to stay home working instead of…” I trail off, suddenly feeling like I’m on the wrong track.
“I’m a moron, and I don’t deserve you.”
I glare at him. “Don’t say that.”
He continues as though he hasn’t heard me: “But I want you to know. Nothing happened between me and Faye. You’ve wrecked me, Ava. I don’t want anyone but you, and if I can’t have you, I want no one at all.”
“But…”
“I ‘dated’ Faye because it would look more convincing if I did that before marrying her. Most people believed Elliot and Ryder’s show, but not everyone. If I’d married her out of the blue, people would start talking again.”
“You care about what they say?” The idea is unfamiliar. Lucas is always so steady and clear on what he’s trying to do.
“I don’t care…but Elizabeth probably does. She’s beautiful and wealthy, and has her share of stalkers and creeps. If they knew she had to marry soon, they might think it’d be their chance.”
My mouth forms an O. I never thought about that.
“And just to let you know, I’m going to have to see Faye again tomorrow.”
“Why?”
“To break things off cleanly. We may not be…intimate anymore, but she’s always been a good friend.”
“Do you regret she’s going to feel used?”
He runs his hand through his tousled hair. “I don’t know. The marriage was her idea, and even though we were seen in public, I never told her I would marry her.” He scowls. “I know you were watching when we kissed at the medical center opening.”
So he did that on purpose, to hurt me… I push away the ugly feeling it elicits. We were estranged then, angry and in pain.
He holds up a forestalling hand. “Elizabeth told me. I had no idea until then.” His visible eye narrows. “Faye said an ex-boyfriend was watching, and she wanted to show him they were through. So I figured, why not? It was an easy enough request, and I was still messed up from our separation. But I didn’t like being manipulated into hurting you.”
“Thank you for that.”
“So…stay the night?”
I laugh softly. “All right. I have a feeling if I say no, you’re going to move into my place.”
“It’s a distinct possibility. But that apartment is small, and I don’t like that it doesn’t have any security.”
“It’s a safe enough neighborhood.”
He snorts. “I’m not leaving anything to chance. Rachel’s going to look for an acceptable property, and we’re moving in together ASAP.”
“Can’t we just move into your current place? It’s not like I need a separate bedroom.”
“Not the best idea. I’m crashing with Blake at the moment.”
My happiness dims a little at the mention of his oldest brother. “You are?”
“We’re on two separate floors, but still.”
I’m quiet for a moment. “I see.” I clear my throat. “Okay, that’s fine. I won’t pretend I’d be okay living with him, but I do need to work things out with Blake. He’s your brother, and I don’t want awkward feelings between us.”
“Well, he’s going to have to deal or I’m cutting him out of my life.”