Page 84 of Devious Temptation
He loves me, too.
I breathe a heavy sigh. “Yeah, well, you know what they say, there’s no place like home.”
“I knowyou hate to fish, but I plan on going out on the lake early tomorrow. Wanna come with me? I’m sure Dad can spare you for a few hours,” Rhys asks as we walk through the front door.
There’s no sign of Lawson. The kitchen is spotless, and all the lights are off except for the recessed lighting underneath the cabinets. “Maybe you should ask your dad to go. I’m sure he’d like that.”
He hums in agreement. “Looks like he went to bed. I’ll ask him in the morning. Are you in the guest room on that side of the house?” He points to the left hallway, opposite the one that leads to his room.
“Yeah,” I lie.
After we say goodnight, I wait for Rhys to close his door before walking down the dark hallway. As I pass the guest bedroom, I realize that I didn’t lie to Rhys at all.
My bag is on the bed, and my clothes are hung up in the closet as if I’d been staying there all weekend. An icy cold feeling grips my heart as I peer into the guest bathroom and see all my hair and body products strewn across the vanity.
He kicked me out.
Tears line my eyes, and my throat feels thick as I try not to let them fall. There’s a soft click, and I whirl around tosee Lawson standing there with remorse painted across his features.
“Lucy… I… I’m sorry. I thought it was for the best.”
He scratches his neck the same damn way Rhys does, and I blink away my tears at the unfairness of it all. When I don’t respond, he asks, “How was dinner?”
“Fine,” I sniff.
“Baby.” He strides forward, reaching out like he’s going to embrace me, but I step back.
“Why is Rhys under the impression that you and Charlotte are getting back together?” I wipe away my tears before wrapping my arms around my middle, leaning against the doorframe.
“What?” He genuinely looks surprised. “Lucy, no. I told her I wanted to see her. To discuss things. It was after the Fourth of July. She obviously took it the wrong way if that’s what she thinks.” He sounds disgusted, but I have to wonder why I didn’t hear about this before.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Lawson leans against the wall opposite me, expelling a deep sigh before scrubbing a hand over his face. “I don’t know, rainbow. Because I didn’t want you worrying about the hell she’s going to put me through. I wanted to…” He looks down the hall at his room. “I wanted it to be a surprise. I was hoping to get it over and done with quickly, and then I wanted to surprise you with the news.”
My body screams for me to go to him. I want to wrap my arms around him, to comfort and kiss him, but I remain rooted where I stand. “We could have told Rhys?—”
“I know. I’m sorry, I wasn’t prepared. I panicked.” His voice is barely audible, laced with intense guilt.
It breaks my fucking heart, but I still push, hating how desperate I sound as I plead, “This is the perfect time to tell him.”
Lawson shakes his head, refusing to meet my eyes. “I don’t… I’m not… ready.”
Not ready to commit.
Not ready to ruin things with my son.
The words he doesn’t say are so much louder than the ones he does.
Hot, salty tears prick my eyes again, swelling my sinuses. I want to argue. Want to cry and demand, “Why?” But I know why. Lawson has a lot to lose by going public with our relationship. I’m only gaining.
I see where he’s coming from. I really do. But I’m ready to jump all in, and Lawson has the chance to prove that he meant what he said when he told me he loves me. Yet, at the first opportunity he has, he doesn’t.
How long will it be like this? It’s so different when it’s just us or when we’re around peoplehetrusts. But everywhere else, we have to pretend.
I’m so sick of pretending.
I know it’s selfish of me to want him to come clean. It’s so fucking unfair and thoughtless, and I know… Iknowit shows my age.
