Page 118 of The Criminal's Custody

“What are you thinking of having?” I ask, glancing down at the menu to avoid his intense stare any longer. I don’t want to betray any softening of my feelings toward him.

I’m not thinking of him in any way romantic or anything, but Iamunstiffening. In a cautious way. I’m finding it easier to remember our past and not the last few weeks.

“Let’s not think about food just yet,” Luke says, gently lowering my menu to get a good look at me. “Let’s just be together for a moment.”

“What kind of a moment?” I ask.

Luke chuckles. “A moment like we used to have together.”

I’ve promised myself I won’t fall for this. And I won’t…

“It’s been a long time, Luke. A lot has happened since we were together.”

“And I still miss you,” he replies.

I look at him then, in the eyes.

And I really do see the old Luke. The star quarterback I fell for all those years ago. It feels like an eternity since I’ve last spoken to that boy.

The rain cloud is truly gone.

“You make it hard for me to miss you, Luke,” I whisper.

He shakes his head.

“You’ve not changed one bit since high school, Ava, you know that?”

“No...”

“Still so stubborn,” Luke says.

“I’m not stubborn,” I reply.

“See?Exhibit A. You’re so determined to get your own way, Ava.”

“And you’re not?” I question him.

“No, you’re right,” Luke says. “I like to get what I’m owed.”

“Are you talking about me?” I ask.

“I just want things to go back to the way things were,” he says. “Before... allthis.”

“All of what, Luke?”

“You know what I’m saying, Ava.”

I take in a deep breath.

“You’re talking about Damon Penmayne, right?” I ask. “You might as well say his name out loud when you hate him so much. We might as well bring the topic of him out in the open if we’re just going to skirt around the edges, yeah?”

Luke goes silent for a moment. I see anger flash behind his eyes. His fist on the table clenches hard enough for it to turn red.

And then he says it. The sentence that breaks us.

“Tell me, Ava, in those weeks with him, did you let Damon fuck you?”

My mouth drops open.

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