I say it like it’s the simplest thing in the world, so casual, like I just happened to pass his apartment during a morning stroll at the very moment she was leaving. Bullshit.
“You saw me?” she repeats, still in shock. “What…How could you…What were you doing there?” She sits forward and faces me, forcing me to look at her. “Lucas,” she demands, her voice urgent. “Tell me what you were doing there. Were you following me? Or were you following Aaron?”
I slump forward and sigh, my body language answering her question. She lets out a harsh laugh, and there’s no mistaking how angry she is.
“Let me explain,” I begin, not even sure how I’m going to.
“Explain what?” she gasps, my calmness seeming to spur her anger on. Not that I blame her, because there is no explaining this. There is no excuse for me following her. “Why do you hate him so much? Is it jealousy? Because that’s the only thing I can think of, only it makes no sense because you didn’t want me.” She’s almost crying now and I can’t even look at her. Her pain rips my heart out because she has no idea how fucking wrong she is.
I lift my gaze, my eyes finally meeting hers.
“Remember, Lucas?”
“I’ve always wanted you,” I say quietly.
“You’ve got to be kidding.”
She laughs and jumps to her feet, moving over to the other side of the room, as far away from me as she can. I want to console her but I don’t. I can’t, because my feet are glued to the floor. I don’t trust myself not to do something stupid. I run my hands through my hair, my eyes stinging with emotion.
“You don’t get to do this,” she hisses, her body shaking. “I’ve gotten over you, Lucas. It took me a long time, but I did it. I had to because you didn’t want me. You don’t get to act all psycho, like a crazy ex-boyfriend about Aaron. If I want to start something with him then that’s my—”
“He’s my father,” I roar, interrupting her.
Her jaw drops as she glares at me. She leans against the wall behind her for support as my words sink in. I feel dizzy and sick and a hundred other emotions as I wait for her to say something. Anything. But she doesn’t.
“Aaron is my father, Lace,” I repeat. I never intended for her to find out like this, but she’s the whole reason I kept this secret. If I’ve already lost her, then what’s the point? “I haven’t seen him in years, and then suddenly he’s your boss? You can’t blame me for being suspicious.”
“What are you talking about?” she whispers. But I see it in her eyes that she’s just beginning to understand what I’m saying: That he sought her out. He hired her because of her friendship with me. Everything was a lie. This whole fucking internship was a goddamned lie to get to me. My rage boils over. Was seducing her part of his game, too, or was that just a bonus?
Sobbing, she runs for the door, snatching her keys off the hall table as she passes. I put my hand out to stop her, but she shrugs me off.
“Don’t, Lucas. I have to get out of here.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Lacey
I’ve had all night to figure out what I’m going to say, but the second I pound on that door, all my thoughts disappear. He opens the door, the colour draining from his face when he sees me standing there. He knows. I don’t bother trying to mask my anger. Instead I push past him and storm into his apartment, wiping away tears. I’m so humiliated, but more than that, I’m ashamed I let myself fall for his charms when it was exactly what he wanted.
“Did you know who I was before you interviewed me?” I demand.
“Lacey—”
“Answer my question,” I say, my voice rising.
He hesitates for a moment, and then nods.
I laugh, hurt and embarrassed. This is unbelievable. “Was there even an internship at all, or was that just a lie to draw me in?”
“I didn’t lie to you, Lacey. I just withheld some things from you.” He sighs and tries to touch my hand, but I jerk it away. I laugh, incredulous. Is he serious?
“Why? I don’t understand why you would do this. Is Lucas right? Is this some twisted game, your way of fucking up his life even more?” I ask. I’m shouting now, but I don’t care. I don’t care if the whole damn building hears me, I’m going to say what I came here to say.
“Calm down and listen, for God’s sake,” he growls. “If you’d just let me explain—”
“That’s the thing,” I say, shrugging him off. I hold my hands up and back away from him. “I don’t have to listen to your bullshit anymore. Stay the hell away from me, okay?”
**