Page 70 of Sunny Skies Ahead
“What was that?”
“She wanted to introduce herself,” I said. “I didn’t hit on her, if that’s what you’re asking.”
Things with Lucas had been tense lately. Between the stress of his long and seemingly unending divorce from his wife and my stress over the Warrior’s Grant, we bickered more than we got along. I also knew good and damn well that Lucas suspected things had escalated between Imogen and I. He was fiercely protective over her, and most days I was grateful for that, but today, my patience was already thin as ice.
“Just feels weird to see you talking with another chick when Imogen’s mom is back in town.”
I glared at him.
“Don’t insinuate that I’m not doing anything to support her.”
“Yeah,” Lucas said, stroking his chin in mock contemplation. “I heard from Kevin that you were at her house the night Carmen showed up.”
Damn Kevin. Out of all the people to catch Imogen and I on a compromising position, he was not the person I’d have picked. He didn’t have the discernment for what should and should not be shared with other people, which meant I needed to tread carefully and figure out what Lucas knew before I spoke.
“I was,” I replied curtly. “Imogen asked me to leave, so I did.”
“Why were you at her house?”
I scoffed and set my fork down. So much for enjoying the rest of my meal in peace.
“We were working on the grant presentation, Lucas, just like we have been for the last three weeks. We’re getting down to the wire. We need every minute we can get to prepare. And why the hell are you standing there lecturing me about what I’m doing, when you’re running off to Seattle every week without so much as a word?”
Lucas pressed his lips into a tight line, and I barreled on.
“Look, dude, I don’t know what the hell is up with your ex-wife. Frankly, I don’t think I need to know the full story. But don’t start treating the people around you like shit. If she was really that awful, the way most of us think she was, the best payback you could ever give her is to rise above it. Take the high road and all that. But at the bare minimum, don’t take your crap out on other people. Got it?”
Lucas blew out a long breath.
“Yeah, alright.”
I nodded in acknowledgement. “We’re here for you. But don’t come in here guns blazing like we’re your enemy. You know I’m here if you want to talk things out.”
“I know,” Lucas sighed. “It’s just ugly. I never wanted to be in this position. Having this entire process drug out while she drains me of everything I have is a reminder of how bad I got my heart broken. It’s pretty ridiculous, and I don’t enjoy talking about it.”
“Getting your heart broken isn’t ridiculous.”
Lucas gave me a wry smile. “No. But making a series of bad choices while trying to prevent the inevitable is.”
A pang of sympathy struck me as I looked at Lucas. He hid things behind a suave, humorous personality most of the time. He was a man most people looked at and made an immediate judgment on, without looking behind the curtain to see the kind of man he truly was. But really, he just wanted love like the rest of us.
Whatever his ex-wife had done, it had messed him up badly. I had my suspicions, but I also knew better than to push him on this. Lucas would come to me when he was ready to talk.
That’s how it had always been between us.
“Anyway,” Lucas said, shaking his head as if to clear his thoughts. “I thought we could go to the Roadhouse for a few hours. It’s been a long time since I played a game of pool against a formidable opponent.”
I laughed. “You would consider me a formidable pool opponent? I’m honored, Morales.”
Lucas waved a hand dismissively. “Yeah, well, I can’t ask Connor, because he won’t set foot in the place unless he’s contractually obligated. So you’re the only one left.”
I considered this for a moment and then shrugged.
I could use the distraction.
I should have known that Lucas was harboring a secret skill set: the ability to wipe the floor with me when it came to pool.
I groaned in frustration as he landed yet another perfect hit, the blue ‘2’ ball landing in the corner pocket with ease.
