No Ordinary Love (A Modern Vintage Romance #5)

20. Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Lucas

T he applause still echoed in my ears, but it was hollow, like the ringing in your head after a bomb exploded.

I'd barely stepped off the stage before the realization hit me—like a ton of bricks—that I'd just made the biggest mistake of my life. I should've made it clear to everyone that Kath and I were not together.

My eyes swept the room, searching for Amara, and when I found her, the look on her face was like a knife to my gut. Her eyes were wide, filled with disbelief and something far worse: deep, deep hurt .

Goddammit ! This wasn't what I wanted. This wasn't what I'd intended at all.

Kath was still at my side, clutching my arm as if she could tether me to the ground, keep me from following the impulse screaming at me to go to Amara. Her grip tightened, nails digging into my sleeve, but I couldn't focus on her. I couldn't concentrate on anything but the image of Amara turning away, Jax leading her out of the ballroom, away from me.

I disapproved of what Kath had said on that stage. It was apparent that she'd done it on purpose. I didn't want to make a scene; Covington's didn't wash their dirty linen in public, but to Amara, it must've seemed like I accepted Kath's declaration of us being together, forging a bond as if I'd chosen her. And that was the farthest thing from the truth.

I needed to fix this. I needed to get out of here, find Amara, and tell her that this was all a misunderstanding. That I hadn't meant to hurt her— again . But Kath, damn her, was holding me in place, her smile too bright, too self-satisfied.

"What the fuck did you do?" I growled close to her ear.

"Wasn't that perfect, Lucas?" Her voice was sugary sweet like she hadn't just blown my life to pieces. "Everyone knows we're back together now. No more awkward questions or rumors. It's all out in the open."

I dragged her to one of the side rooms so we could have privacy. I tore my arm from her grasp, the movement so abrupt it startled her.

"What the hell were you thinking, Kath?" I snapped. "I didn't agree to this. I didn't want this."

Her smile faltered, and for a split second, I saw a flash of fear in her eyes. But then it was gone, replaced by that stubborn, manipulative determination she always had when she was set on getting her way. "Lucas, you know this is what's best," she insisted, reaching for me, "We belong together. We always have."

"No, Kath, we don't." The words came out colder than I intended, but I didn't care. "I made a mistake by allowing you to be so familiar with me, and I made an even bigger one tonight by standing up there with you. But don't get it twisted—this wasn't my choice. You ambushed me."

Her eyes widened, panic flashing across her face as she realized I was serious. "Lucas, you don't mean that. We have history; we have a future. I thought we agreed—"

"We agreed that I was done with you," I cut her off, stepping back, putting distance between us. "You manipulated this entire situation to make it look like we're a couple, which we're not. And you know what? I'm done. I'm done letting you control the narrative. I'm done pretending that what we had still matters."

Her expression crumpled, and for a moment, I almost felt sorry for her. Almost. But then I remembered the look on Amara's face, the way she'd looked at me like I was the worst kind of bastard. And I knew there was no room for pity here. Not anymore.

"I'm going back on that stage and telling the fuckin' world that you and I are done . I'm with Amara…or at least I was working on it until you decided to be a spoiled brat," I barked at her.

"Lucas, please," Kath pleaded, her voice trembling now, all the bravado gone. "We can fix this."

"Fix what, Kath?" I hissed, barely keeping my anger in check. "You forced my hand in front of a room full of people. You manipulated me into looking like I'm choosing you over Amara. Do you have any idea what you've done?"

"God! I'm so sick of Amara," she bellowed. "She's not going to be accepted as your wife by anyone . Can't you see that? You end up with her, and Charleston society will decimate her."

"Then Charleston society can go fuck itself," I bit back. "I want to marry someone I love, not someone who society thinks is appropriate."

"You're hurting me, Lucas," she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes. "Just be reasonable, and things will go back to the way they were with us."

"Things will never go back to the way they were," I said, my tone firm, my words final. "Not with us. You need to stop living in the past and dragging me along with you."

She reached out, desperate, but I stepped back again, shaking my head. "No, Kath. I don't love you. I don't think I ever did. I'm in love with Amara. It may have taken me a while to understand myself, but I do now. You're on notice. If you play a game like this again, I'll fire you as CFO."

"On what grounds?" Kath went from teary-eyed to fire-breathing in seconds.

"Sexual harassment. What you're doing is harassment. You need to stop it. I'm not interested in having a relationship with you and you pressing on makes me uncomfortable both in and out of work."

"You can't do that. What will people say?"

"That you need to have some pride. When a man says he doesn't want you—stop pushing the issue. Have some fucking dignity."

I turned away from her, my heart pounding, my mind racing with thoughts of Amara. I had to find her. I had to tell her that none of this meant anything. The only thing that mattered to me was making things right with her. I pushed through the crowd, ignoring the curious glances and whispered conversations that trailed in my wake.

By the time I reached the doors, Jax's car was already pulling away, with Amara in the passenger seat. My chest tightened, panic gripping me like a vice. If she left now, if I let her walk out of my life tonight, there might not be another chance to make this right.

And this time, I couldn't afford to lose her. I wouldn't.

I stood, watching Jax's car's taillights disappear into the Charleston night, my fists clenched at my sides.

"That was dumb," I heard Grandma's voice from behind me.

I turned to face her. "I didn't handle that well."

"You blew it, son."

"Damn Kath."

Grandma shook her head. "Come on inside. The damage is done and you need to let Amara have some time to analyze what happened. Let's hope she can see this was all Kath, and your biggest sin was letting her get away with it in public."

"What choice did I have?"

"Plenty. You just chose poorly." Grandma, as always, gave it to me straight.