Chapter 23
Lucas
Aloudbangjoltedme from my sleep, and I groaned, rolling away from the streak of sunlight that beamed through the crack in my blackout curtains. I draped an arm over Evie, pulling her back against my chest as I nuzzled my face into her soft brown hair.
Wait… What the fuck?
Rising onto my elbow, I tried my hardest to move with enough grace as not to shake the entire bed and wake…Tessa?
I was dreaming,hallucinating.
I was still asleep—I had to be…
She’s not here, this was my mind tormenting me like a sick fucking joke… A punishment for giving in…giving up.
My heart was racing, beating rapidly against my chest as my veins pumped with adrenaline, enough to make me feel lightheaded as I peered over her shoulder to find a pink wig dangling over the edge of the bed, wedged between her arm and the mattress.
No way… All this time…
“Luke!”Fucking hell.
With swift reflexes, I slid out of bed, hearing my brother shouting my name from down the hall. Of course, he was home early; that was the loud bang I’d heard—his goddamn timing.
Levi always hated touring; it should have come as no surprise that he would’ve taken the initiative and flown home the second he had the chance. If a red eye were available, he’d have taken it without hesitation—and thank fucking god there wasn’t this time around.
With my fingertips resting lightly on the door’s handle, I looked over my shoulder to admire the woman sound asleep in my bed, every part of me feeling lighter, whole.
The last time I turned my back for a fleeting second, she ran. And now there was a pit in my stomach, concerned that the same thing would happen all over again the moment I exited the room.
“Luke!”Oh, for fuck sake.
“Shh!” I hissed, stepping into the hall and quickly pulling the bedroom door closed behind me. I held my boxers over my dick as I padded my way down to the kitchen, where Levi had parked his egotistical ass against the counter, arms crossed, with an accusing grin.
“You brought her home, didn’t you?” The smile on his face was damning, even his dimples were on full fucking display.
“No, I—”
Levi cheekily gestured his head to the side with an arched brow, and I followed the direction, spotting the trail of her fucking clothes on the floor.
“And do I even need to mention that you’re still naked… You’re not very discreet there, brother.”
“And you’re an asshole.”
“For what?!” He huffed a laugh. “You’re the one who fucked around with Evie while I was gone. If anything, I should be the one upset here; you’re lucky I’m not.”
Hang on a second… He doesn’t know?
Oh holy shit, he doesn’t fucking know!
A smug smirk pulled at my lips, and I no longer cared that I was the one standing in front of him, caught with my pants down. I knew something he fucking didn’t.
“What did you do?” Levi’s eyes narrowed on me, and I burst out laughing. This wastoofucking good. The situation alone was hilarious—and the odds? This explainedsomuch… “Luke, what the fuck did you do to her?”
“Oh, I didn’t do anything; it’s whatshedid to us.She’snot who you think she is.”
“She’s not—You’re full of shit.” Levi pushed off the counter and stormed down the hall, heading straight for my room. “I swear to god, Luke, if you did something to my—”
“Levi, don’t. She’s—” I made a move to stop him, but he’d already pushed the door open by the time I reached his side.
