Page 6 of Assigned

But Lucas had remembered. Not just that I’d redone my room, but exactly what it had looked like. That’s... unexpectedly sweet. Even if utterly misguided. “This is really kind of you.” I scan the white wooden furniture with carved floral scrolls everywhere and sigh. He still thinks I’m that girl, like time hasn’t passed, that I haven’t grown and changed. “I don’t need to feel like I’m back in Texas to feel like I’m at home. And this had to cost a fortune, Lucas. It’s too much.”

His jaw clenches and he turns away. I’ve hurt his feelings. Not my intention at all.

He walks over and plucks the box from my hand before placing it next to the one on the desk. I nibble my lip. Something is off about all of this. Because while his motives might seem thoughtful and kind, the emotion exuding from him is anything but. Stiff shoulders, thin lips. Eyes that glitter with an angry fire. “I can afford it.”

Ah. Now I get it. My hands settle onto my hips. If Lucas thinks for one second he’s getting away with bottling shit up before we can even sign the papers, he has another thing coming. “Why’d you really spend all this money?”

He pushes the boxes around as if trying to avoid answering. But I bet I already know his reasons. Stupid, stubborn man. I sigh as I study his rigid posture. I have to admit, I’m also to blame. “Lucas, things were said when we broke up that shouldn’t have been.”

He spins around so fast I take a step back. “You think I purchased this crap because your father had to rub in my face how poor my family was? And how I’d never be able to take care of his daughter?”

Yup, that’s exactly what I think. Especially now, when he’s glaring at me like I just punched a baby. But saying as much might make matters worse and being the officiant was on his way, fighting at this exact moment wouldn’t be the greatest idea. “I don’t want to sound ungrateful. I just mean, I know you said you wanted me to feel at home, but you didn’t have to splurge on me. A bed and dresser from IKEA would’ve been fine.”

At first glance, his face holds no expression, no emotion. But when I look closer, I notice his eyes are dark, smoldering even. His chest rises and falls with each breath, and after a minute, he finally speaks. “How ’bout we get the rest of the boxes?”

“Sure.” Anything to escape the tension in this space. Even huffing and puffing while lugging around boxes sounds better.

We head out of the room. So much for thinking Lucas could leave the past behind us. I thought maybe we could be happy as roommates. Maybe even become friends once again. That we could make this time tolerable at least. But no, his bitterness over our breakup is going to trash any chances of that happening.

I sigh and make my way back down the stairs. If only things had been different, and I’d never gotten sick. Maybe Lucas and I would have stayed together all this time, maybe not. Either way, I doubted he’d have grown to despise me the way he clearly does now.

But life had other ideas. And now I have to figure out how to play with the cards I’ve been dealt. At least I don’t plan on condemning us to this marriage for long. Eventually, we can both go our separate ways and truly put our past to rest for good.

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