With one last scathing glance at Lucas, Rae tugged open the door and left the room.
I clung to the sheet, feeling like I had just slipped into an alternate reality. “You have the same dad?” I whispered.
Lucas sighed. “Yeah, it’s not common knowledge.”
“So when your mom died?” I tried to understand. “It was technically Rae’s stepmom?”
His lips thinned into a pained expression for just a second. “It’s complicated.”
“Is it so complicated you bought me a plane ticket home?” I asked, voice shaking. We’d woken up together. We’d shared everything together. Had sex. What the hell was happening?
“It’s gonna hit the news soon,” Lucas said without looking at me as he dressed. “The fact that Rae and I are half-brothers. And you’ll be caught in the middle because he likes you too. Not just that, there’s a picture of us out there… and…” He hesitated. “A picture of you and Rae from your dinner.”
I gasped.
“So now…” His hands were shaking. “It looks like you were dating half-brothers, both members of SWT, while employed as an intern.” He shook his head. “So, if sending you away means saving you, then yeah, I’m gonna do it. I didn’t know the picture was public until I called the label last night to ask a favor. Both are going to get released. The farther away you are from us, the safer you are.”
“But— but this is my job. I love you. We can fight this together. Don’t send me—”
“Hey.” Jay knocked on the open door. “I can get her suitcases when she’s ready, shouldn’t take long to pack, right?”
“Good,” Lucas said. “Call a taxi?”
“I’ll drive.” Kai offered, poking his head in.
It wouldn’t take a genius to see that Lucas and I had just slept together since both of us were half-naked.
“Why?” I whispered. “Why would you come in here? Why?”
Lucas looked down at his shaking hands. “Because I couldn’t let you go without having you. Because I’m that horrible of a person. That selfish. It’s better if you hate me while I keep loving you. It’s better for everyone. Your career. Ours. The group. Everyone. Just… keep your promise.”
My heart dropped from my chest to my feet as I took in the small room I was sitting in. With Lucas looking like the guy I wanted forever with, his eyes begging me to understand. With Jay at the door trying not to look too sad, trying to give us our privacy. Kai behind him.
Rae staring at me from behind Kai like I had betrayed him.
How had it come to this?
My phone started ringing in the silence. I looked down at it and forgot to breathe.
It was my uncle.
I answered after a few seconds. “Yes?”
“I’m so sorry, Grace, but I’m going to have to send you home early. Some things have come up, and well, it’s not good PR. Your travel has already been booked. Thank you for all your help. Please leave the iPad and training materials in the apartment for Assistant Solia to pick up.”
“Okay.” I swallowed. “Was it something I did?” I looked around the room at the guys just as Sookie showed up. With sadness imprinted on his face, he leaned against the doorframe.
They all saw me.
They saw Lucas and me.
They all knew.
Was that why?
My uncle sighed. “There were some pictures. It just looks best if you go back to the States. We don’t want anyone assuming things that aren’t true, right?”
But it was true.
At least partially.
Nonetheless, I found myself saying, “Right.”
“Good.” He exhaled. “Have a great flight. I’ll try to visit when the boys start their US tour next month.”
“Yeah.” The phone fell from my grasp.
Lucas grabbed it and pressed it back against my hand. His own were shaking. What was happening right now?
Was I truly being punished for loving someone?
Was I getting punished for loving the wrong someone?
“Leave,” I whispered. “I should get dressed.”
The guys all looked to Lucas, then to Rae, who had come to stand outside my door.
They both nodded as if I was theirs to keep stuck between them both when I’d only ever been Lucas’s.
Rae was my friend.
My confidant.
I wasn’t sure what was more hurtful. Rae’s betrayal or Lucas’s.
Either way, I was done.
So done.
The guys left my room.
I dressed in comfortable clothes, packed my two bags, put on a sweatshirt, and tried not to feel Lucas between my legs as I walked toward the door and opened it.
Then I struggled not to cry when Sookie, Jay, and Kai offered to drive me, with Lucas and Rae nowhere in sight.
Chapter Thirty-Six
The end before the beginning…
Grace
The guys were quiet during the drive.
The only thing I had was Sookie sitting next to me, holding my hand in his lap like he needed to comfort me.
His thumb ran across my skin over and over again in a soothing motion, and when I started to cry, he used his other hand to wipe my tears.