The Ex Files (Ocean View #1)(72)

My anger settles before it can blossom, though, because now I know it’s not true. It’s some kind of deep-seated anger, a poison that’s been seeping through my body for years, making it so relationships and joy and fulfillment never stick because I‘m scared. It’s lies I’ve been told my whole life, the wall I’ve built to protect myself. Because if there’s one thing I now know, it’s that Lucas Andrew Dawson is not that. He is not red flags hidden in sweet cotton candy, not deceit and untruths. He’s just Luke, and from the first moment we met, he showed that to me. I was just too scared to see it.

Reinforced in this knowledge, I make my way through to the cozy corner, stomach a mess of butterflies and anxiety as I bump into chairs and apologize to servers just trying to do their job. I get about two-thirds of the way there when I hear the laugh, hear Maya say, “God, I’m so glad we did this. I so needed to get out.”

“Yeah, me too. It’s been so long since I’ve done this.”

What the fuck?

I stop in my tracks, floored because what the fuck is he talking about? We just went out last week. We’ve been dating for three weeks. How the fuck has it been so long? Was I wrong? Was my initial fear and instinct correct? Rage flows through me, and I stop at the table, hands on my hips, fire in my eyes as I shoot Luke with the blaze. His head travels up my body, shock taking over his face laced with something I can’t quite pinpoint. Fear? Relief? Joy? The thoughts flit past his face so quickly I can’t stop and decode any.

“Cassie, what are you—”

“I cannot believe this,” I say, my voice stern, hands on my hips, and Jesus, I feel like a jilted girlfriend. How many rom-com stereotypes can I become in one day?

“What are you—”

“Three days ago, you’re in my office, begging me to give you a chance, telling me we’re meant to fucking be, bending me over.” My words stop as I realize we have an audience. Luke’s lips tip up, a dimple showing, and I have to fight not to lose my train of thought. “Whatever. And now you’re here, on a date, telling her you haven’t done this in so long? Are you kidding me?!” I turn my face to Maya. “I’m sorry I set this up. I clearly messed up. He’s obviously a liar and a player.” Luke laughs now, as if I’m telling some grand story, and even Maya’s lips tip up a bit. Rage takes over.

“I came here to apologize. I came here to stop this because I thought I had made a mistake. I was ready to give you a chance, to open up and let you hurt me. I know I set this up—I’m not stupid. But sitting here, cozy like you’ve known this stranger forever, saying you haven’t dated in so long? Is this your shtick? How you get girls? Make them feel safe, make them feel like they’re special, and when they don’t cave, on to the next one?” Tears are burning my eyes, sadness and frustration battling with my anger now.

“Sweetheart, this isn’t—”

“Stop it. I’ve heard it all. And you knew! But here I am, giving it a chance only for…. Well, thank God I found out now, right? Before I could really get destroyed? Because trust me, you could have, you know. Destroyed me.” A small hand hits my arm, and I whip my head to Maya, ready to lose it. But her face is kind and clearly attempting to hold back a laugh. Not in an ‘Oh, this girl is crazy’ way, but in a ‘This will be a great story one day’ way.

What the…

“Hey, Cassie, right? I think you’ve got the wrong idea.”

Her voice is different.

Maya has a thick Long Island accent.

And looking harder, they might have similar hair, but this woman is older than the application photo and subsequent validation photos. And her eyes are blue, not brown.

“Cass, sweetheart,” Luke’s warm, rough hand circles my wrist, pulling me closer to his chair as he moves his own out and stands. I look at him again and… it’s there. Behind the laughter he’s holding back, it’s there. The same eyes. He’s standing now, putting an arm around my waist. “Cassie, this is my sister. Tara.”

“Oh, my…” I’m speechless as I see it now, the photos I glimpsed at in his apartment. The resemblance to Quinn and Kerry. His oldest sister. The one who set him up to be in The Ex Files.

His sister.

“Ohmigod, ohmigod, oh my God.” I’m hyperventilating, my face burning with embarrassment. I can never recover from this. I’ll never come back from this. Bury me now. Please.

“It’s so nice to meet you, Cassie,” she says with a smile, and I instantly reach to the table, find Luke’s drink, and down it.





Thirty-Four





-Cassie-





“Seriously, there’s no reason to be embarrassed. Quinn is going to love this story,” Tara says as we stand outside the restaurant, Luke holding tight to me, my face still burning with embarrassment. They finished their appetizers before wrapping up as I sat there quietly, joining in the conversation in between the little mental breakdowns I was having. Apart from knowing Luke wasn’t here with a date, partly because I completely made a fool of myself in front of his sister and partly because I let it all hang out, and Luke hasn’t had his chance to respond yet. And while the fact he didn’t tell me to leave, didn’t give an immediate, ‘Thanks but no thanks’ to my tirade, and his warm hand has been on me in some way for the past hour should comfort me, I’m anxious. “You’re exactly what he needs. Don’t let that smile get to you and let him get away with everything. He needs someone to keep him on his feet, keep him in line.” Luke rolls his eyes at his big sister, and she winks at him.