Page 97 of Love Unspoken

"And Lucas is a Covington first, isn't he?"

"Yes, Professor, he is."

"Thank you, Jerome. Can you not…," I knew it was foolish to ask him not to tell Lucas I was here and what I'd overheard because I knew where the butler's loyalties lay, "Can you give me a head start? A couple of hours?"

"Yes, Professor, I can do that."

My hands shook as I drove to our townhouse, the one we'd lovingly bought and moved into just four months ago, right at the start of the New Year.

I had insisted that I pay my half of the townhouse. Lucas had not understood, saying we could get a much nicer place if I'd only let go of my pride. I hadn't. Now, I'd have to ask him to buy me out. I'd sunk all my savings into the down payment and all my heart and love into living with Lucas.

We'd both contributed to the art on the walls; his pieces were more expensive than mine. Most of the furniture was his, too. He had refused to consider any of my so-called IKEA pieces, even though they weren't actually from IKEA. He had agreed to live in the city instead of Battery, where the Covington Estate was—so in return, I'd accepted his designer furniture. It had been an easy compromise.

I called Basil Dearden, a close friend and a colleague. I'd need a place to stay until I sorted my life out.

"I thought you were going to be with Mister Fancy at the Covington hoopla this weekend," he chuckled when he answered the phone.

"Can I stay with you for a few days?" I asked, finally noticing my tears because I needed to wipe them off to see the road. How long had I been crying?

"Amara?

"I…my plane landed early, and Lucas said he doesn't love me and…." I felt hysteria climb through me.

"What? Your plane landed early and Lucas said what?

"I need a⁠—"

"Where are you?

"Driving home…the townhouse. It's not home anymore, is it?" I had no idea why I was asking Basil; how would he possibly know the answer to that?

"I'll be there."

Basil lived a few blocks away. We'd been so excited when I told him where Lucas and I were buying a home. Now, I'd have to find a new place to live…alone.

"I need to pack. You know…pack things for…living."

"Yeah, I know, Sunshine. Drive carefully. Okay?"

I hung up and felt everything inside me protest what I was intending to do. I loved Lucas. I loved him so much. Since I met him two years ago while I was doing a case study on LPC, Lowcountry Provisions Company, his family's company that was started by a Covington in the early 1800s—I'd known he was the one for me.

Six months ago, when he suggested we move in together, I'd unabashedly said yes. When I told him I loved him, he didn't respond in kind but instead showered me with what I thought was love. Now I knew it was a red flag I'd ignored.

When his family mistreated me, Lucas didn't defend me. He told me to shrug it off. "They're set in their ways. Don't worry about it."

That should've been my second red flag.

Hindsight was a bitch!

But I thought I could win the Covingtons over. It was only Patsy and his sister Shelby who openly disliked me—Rena, the matriarch, the grand dame, simply ignored me. She was stiff as a board with everyone except Lucas, whom she adored. The truth was, I had no idea how Rena really felt about me. What I did know but chose to ignore was that all of them, including Rena, loved Lucas's ex—the one who dumped him for his now former friend. It was a story worthy of a soap opera!

Kath and Mercer had been engaged, but now it seemed she was single again, and she wanted Lucas, who had apparently been waiting for her. And since there were no consolation prizes given out in this game, I was to be discarded, just as I feared since I met Lucas.

How would he do it? Would he just tell me to get out and stay away? Would he be kind and say he was sorry he always loved Kath? Would he be an asshole and hurt me? Would he pity me? I hoped not because that would destroy me.

I knew I was being a coward, leaving before giving Lucas a chance to speak with me. Would he be relieved that I made this easier for him by walking away before he could dump me?

Oh God! I stopped breathing, my heart hammering. How would I stand it if he was happy that we were over?