Aria
“Are you done?” Lucas calls from the other side of the door.
“Uh, yeah… I-I don’t have… my clothes are wet,” I mumble, stepping out hesitantly.
His gaze flicks over me before he tosses a large T-shirt my way. “Here.”
“Thanks.” I clutch it like it’s a damn lifeline and slip it on over the towel before pulling the towel off underneath. Not taking any risks here. When I come back from spreading it in the bathroom, Lucas is gone.
I find him in the kitchen, making coffee like he didn’t just make me relive every bad decision of my life in the past hour. He looks… softer. His usual mask of indifference isn’t as tight. It reminds me of the Lucas I used to know-the one who smiled easily and laughed loud.
But then my eyes betray me and dip lower. Holy shit. He changed into a fitted shirt, and now his muscles are on full display. Rock-hard chest, strong arms, veins peeking out. Fuck my life.
“Come sit,” he says, motioning to the counter.
I hesitate. “You were literally pissed at me an hour ago. Now you’re… nice?”
He shrugs like it’s not a big deal. But it is.
Still, I take the mug, mutter a “Thanks,” and sit down. The coffee is warm, but my stomach is a mess of knots. I drink in silence, wash the mug when I’m done, and join him on the couch.
Lucas is just… staring at the TV. Which is off.
Then, without looking at me, he says, “Did you come because you thought Mira was going to be here?” His arms cross.
I open my mouth to argue but what’s the point? I don’t want to lie anymore.
“Actually, yeah,” I admit, exhaling. “It’s one of the reasons.”
His head snaps toward me, like he wasn’t expecting that.
“And,” I add, voice quieter, “I needed to talk to you. Privately.”
His expression darkens. “About what?”
I swallow hard. “I heard everything from Mia and Lily. Lucas, I’m so fucking sorry.”
His laugh is hollow, bitter. “And you think that’s gonna cut it?”
“I know it’s not,” I say quickly. “But I-I actually thought I was doing the right thing. I really thought… if I left, it would all be better. I was scared you’d resent me for making you choose me.”
Lucas’s whole body goes stiff. His knuckles whiten where they rest on his knee.
“Why would you think that? You know how much effort it took me to get there, and you just left me hanging. You betrayed my trust, Aria.”
My heart clenches. “I know,” I whisper. “I’m sorry.”
His hand moves to his chest like he’s trying to hold something in. “I couldn’t do anything. Couldn’t fucking function. It hurt…like I was dying.” He shakes his head, his whole body tense. “I hated everything. Myself. My father. And you.”
He looks right at me then. “I hated you, Aria.”
It feels like he just ripped my heart out and stomped on it.
“I looked everywhere for you,” he continues.”Miserable and all. It was only a month ago that I found out you were in the suburbs. Then I found out you moved to the city for school.”
My breath catches. My whole body locks up. “You… you found me?”
His fingers tighten into fists on his lap. “Yeah. I came here because of you.”
“You-” My words fail me.
“I couldn’t forget you,” he says, running a hand through his hair. “No matter how fucking hard I tried. I was scared…scared you had moved on.”
“I couldn’t move on… I couldn’t,” I choke out, my voice breaking between sobs. “It was painful for me too, Lucas.”
He sits there, rigid, but I keep going. He needs to hear this.
“I used to feel the bond, and it fucking hurt,” I whisper, my hands trembling. “So I started taking Wolfbane… to numb it. To numb everything.”
“I couldn’t do it,” Lucas says. “I couldn’t take it because… because I was hoping I’d still sense you…your scent, your presence.” He swallows hard. “And I did. I found you. After searching for months, I found you.”
Lucas drags a hand through his hair, his breathing ragged.
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper. “I didn’t mean to do this. I…”
He stands abruptly, his hands fisting at his sides. “I… I don’t know, Aria,” he mutters. “I just need time.”
He turns to leave, and panic grips me.
“Please don’t go,” I plead, grabbing his arm. “Just listen to me.”
His body is tense beneath my touch, his breaths heavy and uneven. He still won’t look at me. So I step in front of him, forcing him to face me.
And the moment our eyes meet, I fucking break.
His gray eyes are filled with unshed tears. He looks wrecked. And it’s all my fault.
“I didn’t leave because I didn’t want to be with you,” I murmur, my fingers tracing the sharp edges of his face. His stubble is rough under my touch, grounding me in the moment. “I left because I thought it was the right thing to do… but I was wrong. So fucking wrong. And I am so sorry.”
Before I can stop myself, I wrap my arms around him, pressing my face against his chest.
“I’m so sorry, Lucas,” I whisper, gripping him like he’s the only thing keeping me from falling apart.
For a second, he doesn’t move. His whole body is rigid, locked in place. But then… I feel it.
The slow release of tension in his shoulders. The way his body eases into mine, like he’s been fighting this moment but can’t anymore.
“I missed you,” I sob. “I missed you so fucking much.”
His hands come up…hesitant at first-then firm as they wrap around me, pulling me closer.
“I missed you too, Aria,” he breathes against my hair. “Every damn day. Every fucking night.” His voice drops, raspy and desperate. “I’m obsessed with you.”
A shaky laugh escapes me as I pull back just enough to look at him. His expression is softer now, more familiar…the Lucas I knew.
I wipe at my tear-streaked face and sniff. “So you already knew I was on campus,” I tease, a smirk tugging at my lips. “That wasn’t the first time you saw me, was it?”
His lips twitch, and he nods.
My heart swells, more tears spilling over, but this time they’re different. Lighter.
“I… I love you, Lucas,” I whisper, the words tumbling out before I can stop them. “I really do.”
His eyes widen for a fraction of a second…then darken. Before I can say another word, his lips crash against mine.
It’s desperate. Wild. Possessive.
His hands grip my waist, lifting me off the ground effortlessly. I gasp against his mouth, wrapping my legs around him, my fingers tangling in his damp hair.
He doesn’t stop. Doesn’t hesitate.
He carries me straight into his room, the door slamming shut behind us.