Nice Until Proven Naughty
“I did it because I want to be more like my sister.”
Is she crazy? Danielle has always been sweet, but she doesn’t hold a candle to Sam. “Why?”
“Why not?” She shrugs. “Dani is kind and funny, and she’s always there for me, as well as everyone else in her life. I’ve recently come to realize just how much of my life I’ve been missing out on because of work.”
“I can understand that,” I say, taking a drink of the coffee I poured for myself.
“You can?”
“Definitely.”
That’s all I give her before I take another drink. And another and another, and when she keeps staring at me expectantly, I sigh. “You’re not going to let it go, are you?”
She grins. “Not at a chance.”
I should tell her it’s none of her damn business, grab a shovel, and get her the hell out of here. But I enjoy the sight of her in my house. More than that, I enjoy having someone to talk to—someone besides my parents, who want me to talk about my feelings, and my brother, who wants to set me up on a blind date.
Before I know it, I’m blowing out a deep breath and telling her everything. “I met Lorelei in college. For the first time in my life, I was with the popular girl. She was gorgeous and loved by just about everyone. I was completely taken by her. We finished college, got engaged, and I dove headfirst into my career.”
“What is it that you do?” she asks, sounding generally interested.
“I’m a software developer. My buddy and I partnered up and spent the next few years perfecting one of our programs. Our diligence paid off. We sold the program for a hefty price.”
“Wow,” she breathes. “That’s wonderful. Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” I finish off my coffee and set the mug on the end table. “Unfortunately, all of the time spent at work was time away from Lorelei. She eventually found someone to give her what I wasn’t: attention.”
Sam’s eyebrows jump up. “She cheated on you?”
I nod. “For a solid year. She finally came clean and broke things off after a mutual friend told me about her indiscretions.”
“When was that?”
“Last Christmas.”
“Lucas.” Samantha is looking at me—not with pity, but empathy. “I’m so sorry that happened. No wonder you haven’t decorated.”
“Thanks.” And because I don’t want to talk about Lorelei, let alone think about her, I push up from the couch and grab my mug. “Need a refill?”
“No thanks. I’m good.”
6
Lucas
I can’t believe I just spilled my guts to her. Samantha and I went to school together, but that’s where our connection ends. And that was forever ago, and I’m not exactly at a point in my life where I want to make new friends. I’ve got my family and a few close buddies from college, and that’s all I need.
The sooner I can get her out of here, the better. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and I have plans. Big, big plans.
Plans that have nothing to do with the wedding invitation sitting on my counter from the woman who shall not be named.
Christ, I’m a mess.
I pour another cup of coffee, rather than the alcohol I’d prefer to have, and when I walk back into the living room, Samantha is hunched over a box that’s sitting beside the front door.
“Do you want help?” she asks, looking over her shoulder.
“With what?”