Page 109 of Would You Rather
He shakes his head, his brows knitting together. “I don’t get it. If you’re not with him, then what’s stopping you?” I open my mouth to tell him the opposite, but he continues. “I know you liked me, or did I misread things?”
“No, you didn’t,” I admit with a sigh. “I did have a crush on you, but that was before Lucas entered my life. I’m with him now.”
“Come on. You don’t have to lie to me.”
My frown deepens. “I’m not lying.”
“Madi,” he says, narrowing his eyes at me. “I know you guys were never together. Everyone knows it was all a PR stunt to help save his dying career; you don’t need to defend him.”
My pulse starts to race at his words, and my body grows hot. “I’m not defending him,” I snap. “What you read was a lie. I’m dating Lucas.”
“That’s bullshit.” He shakes his head. “I heard him.”
“You…” I shake my head. Heard him? Heard him when? My eyes widen, staring back at him. He curses under his breath, wiping a hand down his face.
“I didn’t want you to find out like this,” he says, sighing.
“It was you?” I ask him, even though I already know the answer. He blows out a breath in response, and I let out a bitter laugh. “How?” I ask him. “How did you find out?”
“I had my suspicions,” he admits. “When he showed up at your apartment, he called you Madeline like he didn’t even know you.” He shakes his head. “And those pet names? It was clear he was only doing that to piss you off.”
I remember that day, his arm wrapped around my chair, his body an inch away from mine, all to make sure Connor knew I was taken.
“And then, at the party, I saw you with him again,” he says, his jaw clenching. “He seemed pissed to see me around you, so I thought I got it wrong, that maybe you guys were actually dating.” His eyes lift to mine, and he sighs. “But then I saw you guys arguing.”
My mind floods back to when Lucas and I were in the closet, arguing, and he told me to leave. I was so worked up I didn’t even think about the person I bumped into. But it was him. He had heard everything.
“You ran off, so I followed you, and I heard you two talk about the contract and how your relationship was fake,” he confirms. “I didn’t have enough proof though, so I uh…” His hand rubs the back of his neck. “I followed you around for a bit until I heard you talking to your friends.” A heavy sigh leaves him. “And I recorded you.”
I shake my head, taking a step back from him. “Why would you do that?” I ask him.
“I was trying to help you,” he says, stepping closer to me. “It was obvious you didn’t want to be with him, and I thought you were being forced to do it.”
“I signed an NDA,” I cut him off, stepping back from him even more. “If anyone ever found out, I’d have to pay. A lot. The only thing you did was invade my privacy and make me broke.”
“Fuck.” He blanches, shaking his head. “I didn’t know. I thought—”
He reaches for me, but before he can touch me, I flinch, stepping away from him. “Don’t touch me,” I tell him. “I can’t believe this.” How did I not see him? How long was he following me around?
“Madi.” He steps closer again, reaching for me.
“She told you not to touch her.”
I freeze at the sound of Lucas’ voice, and Connor does, too, glancing behind me. He slowly steps away from me, and I turn to face Lucas.
My heart races at the sight of him, but his eyes are locked on Connor, his jaw clenched, as he steps forward. “I knew you wanted her,” he tells her. “Even way back then, I could always see your eyes on her, and I knew she liked you too.” He shakes his head, stalking closer toward Connor. “But I didn’t give a shit. I took her for myself because I wanted her too.”
He towers over Connor, pushing him backward with two fingers. “I should have known you wouldn’t have stopped. I thought I made it perfectly clear that she was mine, but you didn’t care.”
Connor blanches, stepping backwards. “I thought—”
“I know what you thought,” Lucas interrupts. “You thought that the only thing between us was that contract. She was always mine, even with the contract, but now?” He shakes his head. “You might have gotten a huge chunk of change for exposing us, but you’ll never get her.” He points at me, his eyes still on Connor. “Because you’re dead wrong if you think what I feel for that girl has anything to do with a stupid piece of paper.”
“Listen, man. I didn’t—”
“Get the fuck out of here,” Lucas snaps. “You’ve done enough damage, and you better stay the fuck away from my girl. If I hear you’ve been following her or talking to her, I will snap your fucking legs.” His eyes narrow, and he dips his head closer to Connor. “I don’t give a fuck what happens to me or my career because of it because it would be so fucking worth it.”
Connor’s jaw clenches, and his eyes slide to mine before he turns around and leaves. Lucas lets out a breath and turns to face me, his eyes scanning my face.
