Hearts Laughing in Sweet Love

Lucas cast his eyes down and fired up a cigarette.

As he neared the butt, he got serious. "Emma, remember how you used to chill me out when I was ticked off? Slipped your mind?"

I snapped my head up, startled.

Lucas stamped out his cigarette, fiddled with his cufflinks, and suggested, "Emma, it's been ages—how about inviting me up for a bit?"

That's how it was when Lucas first waltzed into my life.

He held all the cards, easily pulling my strings.

Naive and gullible eight years back, I fell right into his trap.

After he ghosted, I was still there, holding the bag like a chump.

Until my college bestie, Jessica Morris, couldn't take it anymore and laid into me.

"Emma, hit up anyone at school. Does anyone's long-distance thing look like yours? Ever think Lucas has been playing you since day one?"

Why hadn't that crossed my mind?

I was just kidding myself.

The first guy a girl falls hard for, the kind everyone can't take their eyes off.

Unbelievably, he picked a nobody like me.

I figured I was living the dream and didn't want the wake-up call.

But when reality hit me woke, and Lucas popped up again,

I realized, whether it was eight years ago or now,

I was just a pawn in Lucas's game.

Maybe my dazed look was what he found amusing.

He sauntered over and casually brushed the hair from my forehead, "Emma, how about we hit the reset button?"

His voice low, soothing, like those times when I was secretly upset and he'd smooth things over.

"You've always been a good girl, Emma, right? Dump that guy, and let's pretend this is all water under the bridge."

Lucas moved in to kiss me, his tongue sliding past my lips effortlessly.

But I shoved him back hard, "Lucas, I'll say it one more time, I'm getting married."

Lucas showed no reaction, his face a mask.

I turned on my heel and left.

Lucas flipped open a cigarette case with a snap.

"Emma, remember where we did it for the first time?"

I froze, turning back to him in shock.

Lucas gave a slight smile, "Downtown, in my penthouse."

His grin widened, his eyes gleaming mischievously, "I've got the whole place wired, high-def cams everywhere, even by the bed."

I shivered, my face ghost-white.

"You were barely grown then, Emma..."

Lucas seemed lost in the memory, his eyes narrowing, "You were breathtaking back then."

"Pure as cream, sweet as a peach. When I'd taste you, it was like...the juice just spilled everywhere..."

"Stop, Lucas, just stop..."

I clamped my hands over my ears, not wanting to soak up any more of his crud.

When Lucas drew me into his arms, I was too broken down to resist.

Small-town girls like me, we don't see much of the world.

Too easy to fall for the wrong guy.

To think, a girl seen as the epitome of purity by everyone, could harbor such a sordid, secret life.

My parents are just ordinary, stick-to-the-rules people, and their circle is plain and decent.