“I do, but I didn’t want to leave without talking to you. You’ve been ignoring me,” I accuse. “You’re not supposed to ignore the bride at a wedding, you know?”
Tucking the pack back into his pocket, he pulls out a lighter and lights up the cigarette. “It’s not like I wanted to be here. Nic basically forced me to show up.”
“I figured as much. I’m still glad you came, though.”
“Whatever.” He shrugs, blowing out a big cloud of smoke between us.
“I didn’t know you smoke.” I shouldn’t be surprised. After seeing his body all beaten and bruised, it’s clear he doesn’t care much about his health.
“There is a lot about me you don’t know.”
“Maybe I want to know more.”
“We talked about this. We’re not friends, and we’re not family. We might share some genetics, but I couldn’t care less about you.”
I wish his words wouldn’t hurt. I wish I could just brush them off and move on, but something inside me is holding onto the idea that we could actually build a relationship.
“Look. I know what you said before, and believe me, at first, I didn’t want to consider you family either, but things have changed. You might not see me as family, but you do Nic, and I did just marry him.”
“Why did you?” He takes another drag of his cigarette, letting the question linger in the air for a moment.
“Because… I wanted to.” It’s the most honest answer I can come up with at the moment. There are many reasons I shouldn’t have, he’s done more bad to me than good, but I said yes anyway. Why? Because even through all the bad, I feel like we belong together.
“That’s a dumb answer.”
“I guess I don’t have anything smart to tell you. I just feel like we were meant to be. I can’t explain why exactly. Maybe I’m just naive or stupid.” I shrug. “Nic makes me feel alive and free, which is ironic, since he’s basically locked me up since he kidnapped me. Hell, maybe I have Stockholm syndrome.”
“Or maybe you got hit in the head one too many times,” Lucas huffs.
“I’m not the one fighting on the weekend for fun.”
“Is there a reason you came out here, or do you just get a thrill out of getting on my nerves?”
“I just wanted to thank you for coming, even if you didn’t want to be here. It meant a lot to me you were here, and I hope that maybe in the future we can be… friends?”
“I don’t have friends.”
“Then maybe you need me more than you know.”
“I don’t need anyone, and I still don’t like you,” he snaps, flicking his cigarette several feet away.
“Do you still want to kill me?” At my words, Lucas tips his head back and looks into the sky like it holds all the answers. He doesn’t say anything for so long, I think he is done talking to me.
Right before I’m about to walk away, he says, “I don’t hate you anymore.”
A smile tucks on my lips. It’s a baby step, but it’s a step, regardless. Lucas is still looking up into the sky, his arms hanging by his body. Taking the opportunity of him not seeing what I’m about to do, I drop my heels to the ground, throw my arms around him, and pull him in for a hug.
With my cheek pressed against his chest, I can hear his heart beating, which is the only sign that he is alive at all. His whole body is stiff, completely unmoving. I might as well be hugging a tree.
Surprisingly, he doesn’t push me away. For a long moment, we remain in the most awkward hug of the century.
“You’re so fucking annoying,” Lucas finally breaks the silence, making me giggle.
I release him and step away, just in time to see the terrace door fly open.
Shit, I’m in trouble.
19
Nic
“For the tenth time, Nic, everything will be taken care of,” Soo assures me. “Go to your little honeymoon and enjoy a moment of peace.”
“Fine.” I nod. “Where the hell is Celia. How long does it take her to take a damn dress off?”
One of the guards clears his throat to get my attention. “Sir, I think your wife went out onto the terrace.”
“Motherfucker,” I curse, pushing past Soo, who is already shaking his head.
I stomp through the house like I’m on a warpath—because I am. How could she lie to me? Today of all days.
I shove the terrace door open, and my eyes fall onto my brother and Celia, standing closer together than I appreciate. With my blood boiling, I cross the terrace and head for them. Celia takes a few more steps away from Lucas, her eyes pleading with me apologetically.
Too late for that princess.
“What the fuck?”
“I’m sorry. I just wanted to talk to him, that’s all.”