Page 161 of Waiting on You

“Okay, stop being mean! It was wrong, I know that, believe me. But I was just trying to find someone afteryougot married.”

“You broke up withme,Colleen. Remember? It was get married or get lost, your way or the highway.”

“Don’t you quoteRoad Houseto me. I’ve seen every Patrick Swayze movie ever made.”

He gave her a look that glittered with fury. “That’s your problem, Colleen. You can’t take anything seriously. Not us, not Bryce, nothing.”

“I’m sorry! I’m nervous! I’m taking this very seriously!”

“You slept with mycousin. You’re the only one who knew what Bryce did to me.”

“You mean, how he saved your life?”

“Everything I had, he wanted, and God forbid Bryce had to go without anything. Even you.”

“I’m not an ice cream cone, Lucas. It’s not the same.”

“He took away my last chance to see my father, Colleen! And my God, hesleptwith you!”

“Okay, okay, let’s just...let’s just settle down. What about what you said the other night? About us? That matters, too, doesn’t it?” She bit her thumbnail, the small sharp pain the only thing feeling real right now.

Lucas almost smiled. Not in a good way. “You mean, how I said you were the only thing that was really mine?”

“I meant—”

“Because I guess I was wrong about that, wasn’t I?”

“Right. I’m a slut.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to.”

He didn’t answer, but his eyes weren’t exactly brimming with forgiveness, either, and Colleen felt the last of her hope leak out of her. Paulie was right. Hope sucked.

“Well, you have a great time being holy and perfect, Lucas. Good luck with that.”

His eyes were flat.

“That was sarcasm. You’re not perfect, you know. You never told me you loved me. Ever.”

“Good thing, too, isn’t it?”

Her heart, which had taken so damn long to heal over, split right in half again. Without another word, she turned and left before she started sobbing.

She knew he’d ruin her all over again. And she’d been right.

CHAPTER THIRTY

“DUDE,YOU’RENOTmad, are you?” Bryce asked for what had to be the thirtieth time.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Lucas said through gritted teeth, willing his hands not to curl into fists. Didi smirked.

They were in the limo en route to the church for Joe’s funeral.

“Because you know...it was just sex.”

“Shut up.”

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