Chasing Forever (The Forever Series #1)(54)
Regan looked down at her shoes. She was speechless.
When she didn’t say anything for a few moments, he tipped up her chin. “Did I disappoint you? Maybe the idea sounded better in my head than in reality.”
She pulled his head down to hers and brushed a soft kiss across his lips. He was systematically breaking down all her barriers leaving her more open and exposed than she’d been six years ago. “I love it.”
He flashed his King of the Panty Droppers smile, the one that had slain her heart from the day she met him at that fraternity party years ago. “Good. I’ll think of a way for you to show your gratitude later.”
Her eyes narrowed in feigned anger, but she couldn’t completely suppress the smile curling up the corners of her mouth. “Only if brunch is as delicious as it smells.”
“You can count on it.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Lucas nervously checked his watch. Shit. He was running late. Olivia would be irate, and he really needed her to be rational tonight because once she got into a mood, there was no pulling her out of it.
Despite the fact he intended to push Olivia out of his life once and for all tonight, Lucas felt guilty not disclosing this with Regan. She wouldn’t like it one bit, but he promised her a new beginning and to do that, he needed Olivia out of his life for good.
Briefly, he considered breaking the news to Olivia over the phone, but he knew she would never believe he was serious if he didn’t do it in person. They’d been friends since they were kids and the friendship between their families made ignoring each other difficult, which had stopped him from pushing her out of his life in the past. When he thought about his childhood, he couldn’t remember a major event without her. They went to the same schools, the same summer camps, and the same vacations. She even followed him to college.
He rubbed his temples. He’d majorly f*cked up everything in college. He crossed the line with Olivia beyond friendship and now the waters were so muddied their friendship was always on edge and wrought with tension. The first time he’d hooked up with her, he promised he’d never do it again. He didn’t want a serious relationship with her and given their history, indulging in a friends-with-benefits relationship was beyond stupid. Too bad he ignored his promise repeatedly and then he met Regan, and he knew he’d never touch Olivia again, and he hadn’t, even after he allowed Regan to walk out of his life.
He wanted Regan more than anything. After tonight, he could concentrate on his future, and he hoped it included her. He may have to see Olivia at a few family events in the future, but that didn’t mean he had to acknowledge her.
Grabbing his keys off the console table, he left to pick up Olivia.
“Hey, Liv,” he said, walking into her apartment. Looking around, he realized everything about the place suited her personality, cold but beautiful. She’d decorated her living room with a white leather sofa, low and sleek, with two royal blue velvet club chairs, and a chrome and glass coffee table. The walls were white, and the hardwood floors were nearly black.
“Lucas.” She smiled, leaning in to kiss him on the cheek, her spicy peach scent engulfing him. A kiss on the cheek had been their standard ritual for the past five years, but now it seemed too intimate and personal. “I can’t believe you missed my birthday last week.”
Not wanting to spend time in her apartment, he stepped back into the hall. “We need to go if we want to make our reservations.”
“I called and moved them back an hour,” she said, smiling. “We haven’t spent any time together lately.” She pointed to a bottle of champagne and two glasses on the coffee table. “I thought we’d have a drink before dinner and talk a little.”
There was something he didn’t trust about her smile. He knew her well enough to know she had an agenda tonight, and that made him very uneasy because he had an agenda too and he didn’t think they were similar.
He stuffed his hand into his pockets, refusing to step over her threshold again because something told him to keep his distance. He forced out a laugh. “Liv, you know I hate champagne.”
“You do?” Her eyes narrowed. “Since when?”
Suddenly exhausted with the whole night, Lucas ran his hands through his hair. “Look, Liv, I have to get up early. I’m slammed at work so tonight’s not the night for this. I planned to go to dinner. That’s it. I’m sorry if you had something else in mind.”
“But this is my birthday dinner,” she protested.
He should’ve told her to forget the whole thing, but he knew he needed to address their relationship tonight. He owed it to Regan. “Let’s go to the restaurant and see if they have a table. If not, we’ll have a drink at the bar and some appetizers.”
“Are you mad about something?” she asked, grabbing her purse off the kitchen counter. “You’ve been distant lately.
“No, that’s not it.”
“Then what is it?”
“We’ll talk about it at dinner.”
***
Lucas opened the door to the restaurant down the street from his apartment. He’d never eaten here before. He picked it because it was close to his house, and he would be home quickly after dinner. He had originally planned to meet Olivia here, but she called that afternoon asking him to pick her up. He should have known she was up to something, but he didn’t argue with her because he was afraid Regan would walk into his office, and then she’d know about their dinner plans and think the worst.