Page 83 of Devious Temptation
“Thank you. You look great, too. Are you still playing football?”
I stopped looking at his Iconic profile before I finished my first year at Berkeley. I was holding on to the past hard enough by continuing to contact Lawson, and despite our breakup, Rhys seemed to settle into college just fine.
“Nah. Got a knee injury, unfortunately. It did push me toward sports medicine, though. I actually got a job at U of C. I’m thinking of getting an apartment in the city instead of commuting every day. Plus, I don’t know if I can handle living with my dad again.”
“Living in the city is great.” I take a sip of my pinot noir. “It’s worth it, in my opinion. Gas alone was awful. I didn’t last two months back home before I was apartment hunting.”
Rhys’ face lights up, misunderstanding my words as an agreement that he should live in the city instead of at home.
Shit.
I hate how awkward this feels. And I honestly can’t believe Rhys isn’t picking up on any of it. He marches on through the forced sentences and long stretches of silence, and I’m relieved when our dinner arrives, so there’s the added excuse of waiting to chew a bite before responding.
“I think my mom will be coming back soon, too. My parents have been talking a lot lately. I think they’re getting back together,” Rhys nonchalantly states.
A piece of steak gets lodged in my throat, and I cough,beating my chest to displace it before sipping my ice water to soothe the ache as the meat rudely scrapes my insides.
“Are you okay?” Rhys’ brilliant blue eyes fixate on me in alarm, yet he doesn’t move from his seat.
“I’m fine.” I wave a hand in the air with a choked laugh. Sipping my water again, I try to hide the curiosity in my voice as I ask, “Why do you think your parents are getting back together?”
Anxiety boils in my veins. Of course, Lawson and Charlotte talk. They have children. And eventually, if we’re going to be together, Lawson will have to divorce Charlotte—something we just discussed mere hours ago.
Still, hearing that Rhys thinks they might be getting back together… There has to be a reason he believes that.
“Ah, it’s nothing really. I just overheard Mom talking about second chances and how Dad seems like he’s ready to forgive her.” His words make me feel sick. The meaty lump that just settled in my stomach now threatens to reappear.
Maybe he’s just being nice because he doesn’t want her to fight him too hard over the divorce.
Yes, that has to be it.
“It got me thinking, you know.” Rhys reaches for my hand over the table, the candlelight flickering across his face, setting a mood I’m in nomoodfor. I want to withdraw my fingers, but Rhys’ grip tightens. “I know we left things on a bad note before college. And I know I don’t deserve you in the slightest. I treated you poorly, and I am so sorry for that.”
My palms start to sweat, chest heaving with anxious breaths as he heads to a place I don’t want to revisit. “Rhys?—”
“And I’m willing to go as slow as you want, but, Lucy, I miss you. I’ve missed you since the day I walked out of that playhouse. And I know it’s a long shot, but?—”
Abruptly, I pull my hand from his and exclaim, “I’m seeing someone!”
A few heads turn our way as Rhys’ face turns as red as a tomato. I can also feel my cheeks warming and hide my face in my wine glass.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to shout.”
“No. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have… Of course, you’re seeing someone.” He rubs the back of his neck. “It was stupid of me to think you’d be single. I’m sorry for making it awkward.”
“It’s okay.”
After a few moments, he asks, “Are you happy?”
I can’t help the smile that takes over my face or the heat rushing back to my cheeks—despite how upset I am with Lawson right now.
“Yeah.” I nod. “I’m really happy.”
His lips form a thin smile. “Good. I’m glad you’re happy, Luce. Really, I am.” He changes the subject, and the heavy, unpleasant cloud hovering over us dissipates as he cuts into his steak. “So, uh, how’s working for my dad?”
“Really good. We work well together.” I want to tell him just how well, but I have no desire to make a scene—which would undoubtedly happen—and it’s a conversation Lawson needs to have with him. Whether I’m present or not, he needs to hear the news from his father.
“How crazy, right? That in all of Chicago, it’s your company that his acquired. I never thought he’d come back. He loves New York.”
