Healed (Scarred #2)(22)
Author: J.S. Cooper

“I’ll see you later.” I rushed out of the door and Luke followed me down the stairs.

“Lexi, wait a sec.”

I turned around and he kissed me. I melted against him and kissed him back, trying to fight back tears.

“You know I love you right, Lexi?” He took my hands into his and rubbed them. The friction created a warm glow in me and I nodded my head. “There is nothing I wouldn’t do to make you happy.”

“You’re lucky you know, Luke.” I looked around us. “Even though your parents aren’t rich with money, you’ve always had such a great upbringing, such a great happy family.”

“I know. I’ve been very lucky to have gotten the parents that I did. Others aren’t always so lucky.”

“Yeah, some people just shouldn’t be parents.”

“Lexi, I want you to know I’m not going to go to Boston.”

“But what about MIT?” I frowned as he changed the subject.

“I’m not going to go. I don’t need the degree. I’m doing fine.”

“But you’ve been so excited, Luke.”

“I don’t want to leave you here.”

“I can come with you.” I bit my lip and he shook his head.

“That’s not your dream, Lexi. I can’t make you go to Boston.”

“You can’t not go, Luke.”

“We can talk about it later, okay?”

“Fine.” I sighed. “We’ll work it out, but one thing I ask, Luke, is please never lie to me.” I leaned over and kissed him before I turned to leave. “Please never lie to me.”

I walked out of the front door and I saw him standing there, watching me. He watched me with caged eyes and, as I waved at him, I realized that he had been right about one thing. The hole in my heart was still there. Our love hadn’t fixed the emptiness inside. It had only covered it up and now I wasn’t sure if I had made the right decision. I knew that I loved Luke, but at least Bryce had told me the truth about him and Anna.

Chapter 8

Bryce

“I really wanted to adopt Bongo myself, but my dad said no more dogs.” Anna laughed as she told me stories about her pets and I smiled back at her eager look. It was refreshing to be with someone who had no agenda and was open and honest.

“Bongo sounds like a handful.” I cleared my throat and coughed after I spoke.

“I’m sorry.” She cleared her throat, nervously. “I didn’t mean to bore you.”

“You’re not boring me.” I took her hand and squeezed it. “In fact, I appreciate you spending the evening with me.”

“You’re easy to talk to. Like Eddie was.” She looked up at me with wide, innocent eyes. “He was a cool guy. You know, he always used to call me the prettiest tutor in the world.”

“You really miss Eddie, don’t you?”

“No one ever called me pretty before.” She stared at her fingers, blushing. “Not that I expect it or anything. I know I’m a bit of a plain Jane.”

“But you’re gorgeous.” I protested quickly.

Anna laughed and flicked her hair back. “You don’t have to lie. I know I’m a bit of a wallflower. But he really made me feel pretty.”

My heart broke for her as she spoke. I’d never seen anyone with that little self-confidence before. Maybe she needed to trade a little with Suzannah, who had an over abundance of confidence.

“You’re a good guy, Bryce. I never really saw what Lexi saw in you in high school, but I think I get it now.”

“You think so?” I grinned and she laughed.

“Well you know.” She shrugged. “You were always such a jerk. It was like you thought you were King of the school.”

“Well break it to me easy, why don’t cha?”

“Sorry. I’m not one to mince my words.” She laughed. “I supported Lexi and her crush, though. I wasn’t really worried because I never thought you’d be interested in her.”

“She’s really liked me a long time, huh?”

“Yeah.” She nodded her head, despondently. “I can’t believe I did that to her.”

“Hey,” I grabbed her hands. “It took two to tango.”

“I guess.” She looked away and I felt awful for making her feel bad.

“Do you want another milkshake?” I slurped up the rest of my strawberry shake and she laughed.

“With some chili cheese fries?”

“You like chili cheese fries?” My mouth fell open.

“With lots of onions on them!” She laughed. “I’m not the sort of girl who worries about her breath.”

“That wasn’t what I meant.”

“Farts?” She looked puzzled and I laughed even harder.

“No. I meant most girls are watching their figures.”

“Oh.” She joined in with my laughter. “I’m not worried about it.”

“I can see why.” I looked her up and down and admired her figure. I wanted to kick myself as she blushed at my look over.

“Have you spoken to Lexi recently?” I wanted to punch myself for asking after I saw the disappointment in her face at my question.

“No.” She looked around the restaurant. “Did you want to ask me something about her?”

“No.” I wracked my brain for something to say. “Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something else. Something Lexi can’t know about.”

“Oh?” She frowned and looked at me with a disconcerted look. “You didn’t cheat with someone else as well, did you?”

“No.” I frowned. Did she really think that lowly of me? For some reason it really hurt me to hear her ask that question. It was ridiculous that I should feel bad about it but I couldn’t stop the jab of pain that ran through me.

“Okay.” She wiped her brow. “I was about to say.”

“Do you want to know something? I feel like my mom is here with me.” I looked down, embarrassed at my honesty. I was scared that she would think I was crazy.

“You do?” She leaned towards me.

“Yeah. Does that sound strange? I feel like my mom is guiding me into doing something to change my life.”

“That doesn’t sound strange. I talk to my mom every night.” She looked away quickly. “I hope you don’t think I’m crazy.”

“I don’t.” I smiled at her gently. “I wish I could talk to my mom as well.”