“After one.Order and then we talk,” Cassie said, waving over the server.
I wasn’t going to argue with her.After we ordered, Cassie turned to me.“Talk to us.”
“About what?”
“You and Lucas,” Emma said.
I glanced away from the two women sitting across from me.“There isn’t much to say.He hasn’t been in the office all week.Miles told me he had a family emergency.”
“It’s more than that.You two were barely talking to each other last week, and he didn’t come to the pub.”
Cassie was too observant.
“Plus, you look like you’ve lost your best friend,” Emma added.
I’d never been good at hiding my emotions.I’d fallen head over heels in love with Lucas and him withdrawing like this hurt.He was more than my best friend; he was the love of my life.“It’s complicated.”What else could I say.
“Can you tell us about it?I don’t want you to violate any confidentiality between you and Lucas, but we can’t help if we don’t know what’s going on,” Emma commented.
I sat back in the booth and thought for a moment.How did I feel about talking?I needed to talk about this.Besides, I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to say anything they didn’t already know about Lucas and his sister.As for me loving Lucas… They probably already knew that too.
“Okay, here’s what happened.”I laid out the whole family event and then my talk with Lucas about his sister.I didn’t leave out how I could have handled both situations better and that I let my own insecurities and fears get between us.Of course, he didn’t take it well, and then this week he left without even telling me.
By the time I was finished, we’d all finished our food.Exhaustion flowed through me.And pain.Pain at allowing Lucas to steal my heart once again.Pain that I’d probably never get the chance to tell him that.But I really had no one to blame but myself.
“To top it off, I only have a few days left on the job.”Once I had the meeting with John Boyd, I only had to wrap things up and bring Lucas up to speed.My job was done.My gut tightened.I didn’t want to leave, but I couldn’t stay either.I had a job to return to, and hanging around with Lucas would only make me more miserable.
“You found the issue?”Cassie asked.
“And then some.I can’t discuss it.I’m meeting with Mr.Boyd tomorrow morning.”
“Got it.”Emma placed her hand on the table.“As for Lucas, I’ve noticed his need to be responsible for his sister.”
“I get it,” I said.“He raised her, but there comes a time he needs to become her brother and not her parent.”I didn’t mean to sound so harsh.I’d been on my own for so long, with parents who didn’t really care about me as a person, was it possible that had warped my understanding of what Lucas did for Mindy?
Cassie tapped her lips.“Lucas is uber responsible.Did you know that, in the staff meeting when the problems with Rustic first surfaced, he apologized and took responsibility for it, saying he should have seen the issues before they surfaced?”
“But there was no way he could have known until he looked at their books.”
“That’s Lucas,” Cassie commented.“He wears responsibility on his shoulders like a sweater.”
I stopped breathing.Cassie was right.Lucas was a fixer.Someone who felt they had to right all the wrongs.
“I will say I hope you confronting him about his relationship with his sister makes him think long and hard about what’s important,” Cassie continued.
“What do you mean?”I was beginning to see things clearer now that my emotions were out of the way.
“Why did he suddenly take off to see his sister?Did she need his help?Or did he realize he needed to speak with her?”Cassie asked.
“I’m guessing both,” Emma commented.
I stared at these two women.“I didn’t think about that.”Miles had said that Lucas had a family emergency, and naturally, I assumed Mindy needed him.Had she?Could it have been one of his absent parents?
“And what you said about your sister flirting with Lucas.He wanted nothing to do with her and rebuffed her at every turn.He doesn’t want anyone but you.”Cassie reached across the table and rested her hand on mine.“Valerie, stop looking at the past.Yes, your sister is a piece of work, and so are your parents, but Lucas cares for you.We can all see it.”
“Really?”Why was I still doubting him?Or myself?
“It’s true.”Emma’s voice was firm.“I’ve watched Lucas with you.Valerie, that man is smitten.Heck, give him a chance, and I bet he’ll propose.”
