Hearts Laughing in Sweet Love

"Nobody's tearing us apart anymore..."

Lucas wrapped me in his arms, patting my back with a soothing rhythm.

I cried my eyes out, and when the tears finally dried, my eyes were swollen shut.

Lucas dabbed at my tears, "Why are you still a crybaby, just like back in the day?"

"Lucas."

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for letting me know."

I brushed his fingers off again, "It showed me I wasn't totally off my rocker."

"Seeing you thriving, I'm genuinely glad for you, Lucas."

"So what's that supposed to mean?"

"We're worlds apart now, and I'm not the dreamer I once was."

My eyes lingered on his face, taking it all in.

"I'm about to get married and settle down."

"I loved you deeply, but Lucas, I've truly let you go."

Lucas's expression turned stormy.

I gave him one last look, then dropped my head and walked away, "Lucas, don't come looking for me anymore."

"Think your fiancé would still walk down the aisle if he knew about your puppy love?"

My feet felt like they were stuck in cement.

Lucas's voice was soft but hit me like a ton of bricks.

The tension I'd bottled up for eight years just shattered.

I spun around, tears flooding, and my bag smacked him hard across his body and face.

Lucas took it on the chin, letting me vent my rage.

"Lucas, how could you even go there?"

"Who was it that promised the moon only to pull a fast one?"

"I was just a kid, Lucas! All I cared about was acing tests, how could you play me like that?"

"I'd been on pills for two years, did everything you wanted—what did I get for it?"

"Lucas, you dropped me first. You're the one who let me down."

I slowly caught my breath, clutching my bag, glaring at the mark the chain had left on Lucas's face.

"Go ahead, tell him. If he's gonna dump me over being conned and pushed around when I was young and dumb, then he ain't the man I thought he was."

Lucas touched the red mark on his face.

His eyes were red, blood surging.

And it added a wild charm to his striking looks.

"Emma, that's just how I roll. You pushed me to it."

He propped himself against the car and whipped out his phone.

"Find Emma Bennett's boyfriend for me."

Lucas flicked a cigarette into his mouth and bit down, "Dig up his info and hit me up, stat."

He finished, "And ring up my old school pals. I'm throwing a reunion and I've got news to share."

"Lucas, cut it out!"

At my wit's end, I whirled around, tears streaming, "What's your endgame?!"

"I'm not up to anything, just gonna spill some tea with the old gang about you and me."

Lucas hung up nonchalantly. He eyed me like I was prey in his trap.

"Lucas, what do I gotta do for you to cut me loose?"

I murmured, "I'll quit my job tomorrow. Better yet, I'll leave town and you'll never see me again, deal?"