“You’ll get used to it. It’ll take time, but eventually, you won’t be able to remember a time when all of it wasn’t yours.” Nic sounds pretty sure of himself.
I have my doubts. It’s not like I could ever forget the trailer. My mom. Those awful visits to what is now my house. How awful my family treated me.
Now everything that used to be theirs is mine. I can sell all their furniture and everything else if I feel like it. It’s a satisfying thought, but what’s the point if they aren’t here to know I’m erasing them from the world?
“I don’t know if I want any of this.” I look up from the money to find Lucas watching me. “I mean, it’s amazing, and I’m grateful, but I didn’t ask for it, and I don’t want it. I don’t want to live in that house.”
“Sell it,” Nic suggests. “More money for you. More security.”
“For now, there’s a car waiting for you.” Lucas holds my gaze, unflinching. Is he really saying this? I stare at him, waiting for the punchline, but there isn’t one.
“Lucas. Is this what you want?”
He avoids the question, pushing his chair back from the table. “You never unpacked, so you can take your bag at the door. The car will take you home.” With that, he walks away. He just straight-up walks away without another word. He threw me out of his life with a bunch of money and a big house, and that’s supposed to make me happy. I’m supposed to be grateful for that.
Nic stands but hovers, waiting for me. “Like Lucas said, the car is outside whenever you’re ready.” What he means is, move your ass. Go explore your new home I made sure you’d inherit.
“Thank you for everything.” I barely hear the words over my pounding heart. This can’t be happening. I’m alone again. Me, by myself, in that huge house. Where do I even start putting a life together?
How do I do it without Lucas? What’s any of it worth without him?
As promised, my bag is waiting. I pick it up and walk through the front door—sure enough, there’s a sleek, black car parked there, the driver standing beside it. Waiting for me.
This is it. The beginning of the rest of my lonely life.
And he never even kissed me goodbye.