Page 43 of Lakesides and Longing

“You want her to be unhappy?” Tess asked, her voice cracking. “That’s cruel.”

He jerked his head around, his face a mess of emotion. “That’s not what I meant. I just…I just…don’t want to see her hurt again. What happened with Emery broke her.”

“He died in a car accident.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about.”

Tess swallowed. They knew. Blake had assumed Paige hadn’t told anyone about that.

“I’m not going to cheat on her and you know it,” Blake said.

Lukas met his eyes. “She told you.”

Blake nodded.

Tess wrapped an arm around Lukas’s waist and leaned into him. “Blake’s a good guy, right? You know he wouldn’t hurt her. Wouldn’t you rather she date him than some other schmuck that might break her heart?”

Lukas eyed Blake, but Blake didn’t say a word. He wanted to know what Lukas was about to say.

“You have a point.”

“So, will you stay out of the way and let them figure things out themselves?”

Lukas stared at him. “You and Paige are adults. I trust you far more than anyone else. I won’t stand in your way or get angry, but I reserve the right to punch you in the nose again if you hurt her.” His jaw was set. Lukas didn’t like this, but Blake would take it.

“Fair enough. Thank you.”

Blake wasn’t sure what would happen now, but he was ready to fall.

CHAPTER31

Paige gathered her things and texted Blake that she’d meet him at the ferry. They were all planning on leaving after the sunrise, but now she’d have to get their things together for the both of them. She had no idea what her parents had heard and had no interest in finding out their thoughts. So she packed both her and Blake’s things. By the time she left, they weren’t even out of their room. She left a note telling them that she loved them and was out the door before seven.

She tipped the carriage driver generously and got out to join Jessica and Conner, who were waiting for the ferry.

“Missed you guys at the sunrise.” Jessica leaned into Connor. They were all supposed to see the sunrise before they left, but obviously her morning had gone awry.

“Yeah, my alarm didn’t go off.” If only she’d set her alarm, none of this would’ve happened.

“Blake wasn’t there either.”

“He’s talking to Lukas.” She hoped that it was going well. She’d never seen Lukas so angry.

Jessica raised her eyebrows. “About?”

Paige gave a noncommittal shrug. She was saved by Jamie and his family’s arrival and Tristan and Mia. No one else asked why she wasn’t there though Tristan asked where Blake was. Jessica answered for Paige.

Just as the ferry was pulling up, Blake showed up, his eyes now both black.

Tristan whistled. “Dude, what happened to your face?”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” he growled.

Jessica snickered. “I bet I know.” But Blake glared at her.

He took his own bag and sat with Jamie and his family. Paige found her own seat, but Jessica followed.

Paige’s phone buzzed. It was a message from Tess.

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