Page 56 of No Ordinary Love

How could he do this? How could he stand there, after everything he'd said to me, and act as if Kath was the one he wanted by his side? I wanted to run, to escape the suffocating pressure of the room, but my feet were rooted to the spot, my heart breaking all over again.

As the applause died down, Lucas stepped off the stage, and our eyes met across the room. I saw regret in his expression—but it didn't matter anymore. The damage was done. Whatever connection we'd once had, whatever chance I thought we might have had to rebuild it, was gone.

Jax leaned over. "This is all Kath andnotLucas."

I shook my head, unable to find the words to explain the devastation that was ripping through me. The humiliation, the betrayal—it was all too much. "I need to get out of here," I whispered, my voice trembling.

Rena grabbed my hand. "Listen to Jax. This is Kath's doing. She's trying to mess with you and Lucas; don't let her."

I clenched my jaw. "Kath can do whatever she wants to. All Lucas needed to do was stop her or make clear that their relationship was strictly professional, which he didn't do."

Rena didn't say anything for a long moment and then let out a breath. "You're right. Lucas has some more growing up to do and hopefully then he'll stop worrying about what people think or say, and focus on the people he loves."

I was surprised to have Rena take my side. "I can't stay here."

"Yes, you can. Show that bitch that this doesn't bother you," Jax stated.

Gemma leaned forward. "Amara?"

"Son of a bitch," Basil groaned. "This guy has the worst luck. Just as he's fixing it, his ex is…Amara, don't give that woman the pleasure of hurting youandLucas."

"I'm not." I smiled to pretending that I was okay even though I wasn't.Damn, Lucas!Rena was right, her grandson needed to grow the hell up. "I don't have an issue with Kath—it's Lucas I'm upset with. Actually, I don't have a problem with either of them anymore, because I'm done."

I was, too. This was way too much drama for anyone. No matter how much I loved Lucas, this bullshit was not worth it.

"Jax, take her home, son," Rena ordered. "I think it's time Lucas got his ass kicked andhard."

"Let's go," Jax said, his voice firm and protective. He guided me through the crowd, his arm around my shoulders.

As we stepped out into the cool night air, I felt a tear slip down my cheek. It wasn't just the end of whatever Lucas and I had left—it was the end of any hope I'd had for my life in Charleston. This city, with all its charm and history, had become a place of unbearable pain, and I knew, deep in my heart, that I couldn't stay here any longer. If I stayed, this nonsense would keep happening. I'd let Lucas into my bed. He'd let Kath humiliate me or his mother or Shelby. He'd never have the balls to be the man I needed him to be.

I turned to Jax as he drove us home, my voice not quavering any longer because I had made a decision—one that was to save myself. "I'm leaving Charleston. I'm going back to New York."

"Darlin', you just bought your place. You love—"

"It's too much, Jax, all of it. I'll sell the cottage. I'll stay with Dad for a while. Look for a job. If I stay in Charleston,thisis going to keep happening. Enough is enough."

He looked at me with understanding, put his hand on mine, and squeezed. "If that's what you need to do, do it. But do not make any hasty decisions."

"I can't afford a mortgage if I'm not working, Jax."

"I'll rent your place."

"What?"

"I like it."

"But it's so…ordinary," I said, confused.

Jax laughed. "I thought I wanted fancy to show off to my family how well I was doing, but every time I'm with you, I realize that I want comfort. I want ease. I don't want to show off, don't need to."

I looked at Jax and wished Lucas felt as he did. I wished Lucas could step away from his family and just be himself. I couldn't say he wasweakbecause he wasn't. Caring for your family and wanting to not hurt them wasn't a matter of strength; it was a matter of priorities, and he'd once again shown me that I was low on his list.

This was, as the cliché went,the last straw. I'd leave after Christmas. I'd finish the semester and then maybe take a few months off to recuperate from the hell I'd just been through at Dad's place. And then, slowly, I'd rebuild my lifeawayfrom the temptation that was Lucas Covington.

Chapter 20

Lucas

---