Say Yes To The Fake Date (How To Win At Love #3)

7. Luciana

7

LUCIANA

“Damn, girl. That was harsh.”

I should have known Violet would call me out for my crappy behavior. I felt bad as soon as I said it. I know that Dominic is trying to be civil, but I’m still filled with anger and resentment from our past. I can’t just forget what he did to me and how he did it. But even knowing that, I still feel guilty. I deflate and lean back in my chair. “I know. I don’t know what it is, but as soon as I get around him, I turn into a mega bitch.”

Gabe has pulled up a chair and is sitting quietly watching me.

Under his intense stare, I ask him, “What? He deserves it.” But even saying it and feeling it, I still want to get up and run after Dom to apologize .

Gabe holds his hands up in defeat. “I didn’t say anything. He probably does deserve it.”

Violet just shakes her head. I know I’ve disappointed her, and it’s on the tip of my tongue to argue with Gabe and defend Dom. Damn, what the hell is wrong with me?

“How have you been, Lucy? You okay?”

Violet just shrugs and eats the chips, and there’s no way to avoid answering Gabe. “Well, up to last week, I would have said I was good. It sort of all imploded since then.” I gesture to him. “What about you? How have you been?”

He sits up a little taller. “Good. I’m a firefighter.”

I blurt out a laugh. “Firefighter? Aren’t you the one in high school that started that bonfire out at Old Mill road that caught half the mountain on fire?”

He just laughs. “Hell, I’m never going to live that shit down, am I?”

I shake my head. “What about your foster sister, Chrissy? How is she?”

His smile drops, and he clears his throat. “She’s good. She’s a nurse at Jasper Hospital.”

I think about Chrissy and can totally see her being a nurse. She’s always been a caring, helpful person. To be honest, I always thought there was something between Gabe and Chrissy. He never let her out of his sight.

Violet picks up her phone and sighs in relief. “Josh is almost here, which is good because the babysitter needs to leave soon.”

“We’re about to leave, Gabe. You good?”

I’m about to stand up when he puts his hand over mine. “Can we talk for a minute?”

Violet’s eyebrows lift, and she holds up her phone. “Take your time. I’m going to wait for Josh by the door.”

I nod, and she walks away. I’m not sure what Gabe wants to talk to me about, but I can only imagine. “Shoot. What’s up?”

He releases his hold on me. “I wanted to ask you to take it easy on Dom.”

Of all the things I would have imagined him saying, that wasn’t it. I lean back in my seat with my mouth hanging open. “Excuse me? Dom is a big boy. I don’t think he needs you fighting his battles.”

He waves me off. “I’m not fighting his battles. I’m just saying, he’s not the same guy he was back then.”

I couldn't hold back the laugh if I tried. It’s a maniacal sound that draws the attention of the people sitting at the table next to us. “Really, that’s funny because I think he looks exactly like the man that ripped my heart out of my chest and trampled on it.”

Gabe is not smiling. There’s a story in his eyes, and I already know he’s not going to tell me what it is. Gabe’s always been a man of few words, and I doubt he’s changed much since I knew him. But he dips his head toward me. “It may have been a long time ago, but I remember the two of you together.”

I shake my head and hold my hand up. “Stop. Let’s not go there.”

But Gabe is insistent. “He didn’t want to end things with you.”

“Whatever, Gabe, it’s ancient history, and I’m over it.”

I go to stand up, and he does the same. He raises his hand to sit on my shoulder but changes his mind and pulls away. “Look, all I’m saying is he knows he fucked up, and he’s regretted it ever since. Yeah, prison changed him, but losing you almost destroyed him. I never thought he’d pull himself out of the black hole he was in.”

My forehead creases. Surely Gabe is wrong. I doubt Dom even thought twice about ending things with me, but I’m not going to argue that with his brother. All I can do is nod my head. “Okay, I’ll be nicer to him.”

It’s his turn to laugh. “Oh, I’m not saying be nicer. You should give him hell for what he did. I’m just saying don’t get mixed up with him again… and then leave. That’s all. He won’t make it through losing you twice.”

Before I can respond, he leans down and hugs me. “It’s good to see you again, Lucy. Let me know if I can do anything while you’re in town.”

I’m speechless as he pats me on the shoulder and walks away.

I get to the front door, and Violet and I walk outside to where Josh is waiting for us.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m good,” I tell her.

I listen to her and Josh talk as we go across town. Every now and then, I pop in to answer a question, but for the most part, I’m thinking about what Gabe said. Could he be right? Did Dom regret the way he ended things? If that’s true, why wouldn’t he have come for me?

As we pull into my mom’s driveway, the first thing I see is my car. I thank Josh and Violet for the ride home and practically jog to it. As soon as I see the note on the windshield, I look at it anxiously .

I should be happy that I have my car because it sucks having to hitch rides with people, so why am I upset? Because now you don’t have a reason to see Dominic again .

The thought comes in swiftly, and as soon as it crosses my mind, I know it’s the truth.

I reach for the paper and unfold it slowly. Is he going to say he doesn’t want to see me again and to stay as far away as possible from him? I wouldn’t be surprised after how I’ve treated him since I got back.

I read the letter and then have to read it again.

Lucky,

At the bar tonight, you were smiling until you saw me. More than anything else, I want you to be happy. Please keep your car and don’t worry about the money. You don’t owe me anything. I know I’m the last person you think you can depend on, but if you need anything - anything at all - please call me.

Dom

He signs off with his phone number, and I read the letter for the third time, looking for any kind of hidden meaning.

I carry the note to the porch. I’m not ready to go in and face my mother, so I sit down on the steps and pull out my phone.

I type in Dom’s phone number and then type out a text. I change it three times before I finally have something I feel like I should send.

Thank you for my car.

Bubbles appear, and I know he’s typing me back. There’s a tug in my belly as I wait for his message. When it pops up, I can’t read it fast enough.

You’re welcome.

I wait for more, and when nothing else comes, I type another text.

How did you get home?

I walked.

My mouth drops.

Dom, it’s like five miles .

He’s quick to correct me.

Three. I’m just now getting back to the apartment. It’s fine, don’t worry about it. I enjoy walking.

As soon as I read the text, it makes me think about the past and how much time we spent walking the track around the park. Dom never liked being stuck inside, and every chance he got, he was always finding something for us to do outside. Before I can talk myself out of it, I type,

I remember.

The bubbles appear again, and I wait for the message, but just as quickly, they disappear. The phone is gripped tightly in my hand, and when he doesn’t send another message, I feel a deep sadness hit me.

I pull my legs up and wrap my arms around my knees. I should go to bed. I should worry about getting my shit together, handling my business, and dealing with Ray. But all I can think about is Dom. I know I need to talk to him. For years, it’s been weighing on me, and I don’t think I’ll ever be free unless I finally get some closure .

With a decision made, I get up to go inside. Thinking I’ll be able to sneak off to my bedroom, my mom stops me as soon as I get inside the door. “Honey, is that you? Ray called.”

My mom is hollering from the other room, and for just a second, I debate that maybe I’ll just keep walking to my room, acting like I didn’t hear her, but then she appears from around the corner. “He said he’s sorry and he wants to talk to you.”

I bend over to remove my shoes. “He can talk to my attorney, Mother.”

“But—” she starts, and usually I humor her, but not tonight. Tonight, I can’t listen to all the reasons why I should give Ray a second chance.

“Mom, I’m not getting back with Ray. Truth be told, I never loved him and should never have agreed to marry him.”

I raise up after putting my shoes away and look my mother in the eye. “But besides all that, he hit me, Mom.” She opens her mouth, but I hold my hand up. “And yes it was only one time and yes he apologized, but I would never stay with someone like that, so you should give up on the thought that Ray and I are getting back together. The only thing I want is my part of the business.”

She just stares back at me. I would give anything for her to be on my side. Hell, if she hugged me and told me everything was going to be okay, it would be amazing. But when she doesn’t do any of that, I walk past her. “I’m going to bed. Good night, Mom.”

She doesn’t try to stop me, and as soon as I get into my bedroom, I shut the door behind me. Exhaustion takes over, and I strip off my clothes, curl into bed, and try to clear my head of a certain brown-haired man that I shouldn’t be thinking about.