Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 60342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
I don’t want secrets, and I especially don’t want secrets that make me feel like the odd man out.
“We’re gonna go, I think,” Luke says.
I stand and collect my dishes. “Let me stay and help you clean up.”
“No, absolutely not,” Maggie says. “I’ll make Lonnie help me load the dishwasher.”
He gives us an unenthusiastic thumbs-up. Despite my mood, I can’t help but laugh.
“Are you sure?” I ask. “It’s so rude to leave a house with dirty dishes.”
“Go.” She pulls me in for a quick hug. “And don’t be a stranger. You’re always welcome, of course, but if you can give me a heads-up next time, I’ll make you something good.”
“Dinner was great,” I say. “Thank you for having me.”
“Good night, Mom. Night, Dad,” Luke says.
“Good night, son. Love you,” Lonnie says. “It was good to see you, Laina.”
“It was good to see you, too. Good night.”
My insides twist so tightly that I think I might hurl as we step into the night.
Chapter Twenty-One
Laina
Luke doesn’t say a word on the walk to the truck. He opens my door, waits for me to get situated, and then shuts me inside.
I don’t know how to bring this up to him. I don’t want to sound accusatory, like he lied to his parents. But he was lying to them, or he’s been lying to me.
For the life of me, I can’t figure out why this is a thing. How can I possibly be caught up in another situation that affects me and I’m totally in the dark?
Why does this keep happening?
Luke climbs in and starts the truck. He doesn’t look at me as he puts it in reverse and backs down the driveway. We hit the road under the cover of darkness, God forbid anyone see me and give me something else to worry about tonight, and head toward his house.
The longer we travel silently, the more time I have to think. It’s uncanny how similar it is to situations with my father when he refuses to explain why everyone around me knows something about me that I don’t.
And I also can’t avoid comparing when I sat with Tom, waiting for an explanation about the Paris photos. Nothing was satisfactory that time either.
My cheeks flush. My chest tightens. I can’t help but be self-conscious, and I hate it.
We’re halfway there before I can’t take it anymore. If I let him, he’ll clearly avoid the discussion. Too bad for him—I won’t.
“What was that back there?” I ask, trying to sound normal and not on the verge of coming out of my skin.
“What do you mean?”
I laugh, the sound tight and twisted. “Please don’t act like I’m a fool.”
“I’m not. Or I don’t mean to.”
“Then answer me.”
“Why are you so upset?” he asks.
My eyes widen. “Short answer? I have trust issues.”
“And you don’t trust me?”
I don’t want to be mad at him. I really, really don’t. But the more he dances around the question, the harder it is to stay not mad.
“It’s weird,” I say, watching his profile. “I do trust you. You’re one of the few people in this world I trust, and you know this. You know the shit I’ve gone through with people being shady.”
He regrips the steering wheel.
“So imagine my surprise when your dad says you came to see me in Cleveland like it’s a fact. Only, the thing is that I was there, and you, Luke, were not.”
I pause, allowing him to jump in, but he doesn’t take the opportunity.
“What am I supposed to think?” I ask. “That you lied to your dad? Or did you lie to me? Or is this all a huge misunderstanding, and you’re just acting odd for fun? Because that, your failure to come to Cleveland—or anywhere, really—is what broke us apart.”
He whips his head to mine. “You want to pin that all on me?”
“I called you. You didn’t answer or call me back. I couldn’t jump on a plane and come home to you, and you knew that. Anyone in their right mind who wanted to save a relationship would’ve tried, and you, Luke Marshall, didn’t.” I heave a breath. “I’m not even mad about that. I don’t want to get sidetracked. I just want to know what you’re hiding from me.”
My chest is so tight that it’s hard to breathe. Each breath is shaky. I don’t know whether to yell or cry, but I’m scared, and my emotions are building.
And I’ve put my trust in him. Please don’t break it.
“Okay,” he says, turning onto his road. “I did fly to Cleveland to see you.”
My jaw drops.
“You were amazing, Laina,” he says, shaking his head like he’s reliving the experience. “I’d never seen anything like it. You owned the stage and every person in attendance. It was incredible.” He looks at me. “You were incredible.”
Tears flood my eyes.