Swallowing hard, L
auren whispered, “I hate him.”
Taylor and I both looked at her, as Taylor said, “No, Lauren, honey. I think you’re fighting your feelings for him.”
Lauren turned and looked at Taylor and then to me. She shook her head and whispered, “How can you love someone you hate so much?”
I stopped and took Lauren into my arms as she began to cry. Luke looked over his shoulder back at us as I motioned for him to keep going.
Maegan wrapped up Lauren and me in her arms. “We should have all signed in our blood not to fall for each other.”
I looked into Maegan’s eyes as she winked at me and then mouthed, Talk to him, Libby. Nodding my head I mouthed back, I will.
I STOOD UNDER the pier and looked out over the dark blue waters. The sun had already begun to sink beneath the horizon.
I slowly inhaled the sea air through my nose and then blew it out. I loved it down here. Something about the wind and the sound of the waves hitting the shore calmed my nerves and helped me forget.
Dinner had been interesting. Colt and Lauren retreated to their corners. Then we all pretended everything was okay and back to normal. We were getting good at pretending.
I knew the moment he walked up behind me. I could feel his energy. I closed my eyes.
I can’t do this anymore.
I’d never love anyone like I loved Luke, but my heart couldn’t take the pain any longer.
He stepped closer, and my breathing increased. I longed for his touch, for his lips to softly brush against mine, and for him to whisper he loved me.
“Hey, Lib.”
His voice made my heart drop and my stomach flip.
Taking a deep breath, I turned to face him. “Hey, Luke.”
His smile was forced. Something was on his mind, like something was on mine.
I started walking along the beach, and Luke followed. My phone beeped in my pocket, and I pulled it out. It was Zach.
Luke let out a laugh, and I looked over at him. He was walking next to me but looking straight ahead.
“Do you remember the time we put salt in your mom’s sugar container and Alex put three huge scoops in her oatmeal?”
Luke somehow always talked me into doing his crazy pranks with him.
Smiling, I nodded my head as I said, “Yeah, I remember.”
Luke started talking about how he’d gotten grounded for that prank as I opened up Zach’s text.
Zach: Libby, I’m so glad you texted me back. Baby, I understand you were confused, but I’m here. I’m waiting for you if you want to make this work.
I quickly hit the Home button on my phone and pushed it back into my back pocket. My heart was pounding.
Shit. I shouldn’t have responded back to Zach.
No, I did the right thing. Didn’t I?
My head was spinning, and Luke was talking about damn pranks.
I stopped walking and turned to him. I shook my head. “I really need to be alone right now, Luke. I have to think, and I can’t think with you living in the past.”