Page 86 of The Edge of Summer
“Sure. I’ll bring the wine!”
Another reason I love my best friend. I look forward to nothing more than getting rid of Mitchell—and now, dealing with Luke—so I can curl up on my couch with Clara and a full glass of pinot. I even think a sleepover is in order. The kind where we stay up late and fall asleep in the living room, a movie forgotten on the TV because we spent the whole time talking.
No one says anything. Even the kitchen has gone quiet as my coworkers unashamedly watch everything unfold. With a roll of my eyes, I close the office door. I already know I’m going to be the topic of conversation during smoke breaks for the foreseeable future—I don’t need to add fuel to their fire.
Mitchell boldly breaks the silence. “Who the hell ishe?” The look he shoots Luke can only be described as pure disdain. While my ex is everything prim and proper, Luke is the opposite. He looks as if he just got off work.
Luke crosses his arms. “You don’t know me, but I knowexactlywho you are. And I know that you shouldn’t be on my island, let alone anywhere near Delilah after what you did.”
Mitchell scoffs. “What I did? I haven’t doneanythingexcept try to keep our relationship intact.”
I roll my eyes. “It’s been a year, Mitch. You can drop the fucking charade.”
His eyes harden at my tone. I haven’t used that one on him before. “Little Miss Perfect has learned to talk back, huh?” he sneers.
Luke starts forward, but I place a hand on his chest. “Don’t,” I say firmly. “I can handle this on my own.”
He looks as if he plans to protest. I press my hand harder into his chest, begging him to meet my gaze. When he does, I plead with him to drop it. His shoulders drop as he takes a step back, but he still recrosses his arms and glares at Mitchell.
I whirl on my ex. “You need to go,” I tell him. “I’m not entirely sure what kind of fantasy you’ve cooked up in your head, but I don’t respond kindly to insults. Never mind the revenge porn. We areover. We have been for a year. Go back to Victoria and never contact me again.”
I’m done with this conversation. It’s only going to end up in circles. I spin on my heel, more than ready to get out of this office, but Mitchell has another idea.
He grabs hold of my wrist. I try to twist free, but his grip is strong. This time, I don’t have any hope of stopping Luke. I’m not sure I even want to. He takes hold of my ex boyfriend’s shirt collar and shoves him backward. The shock has Mitchell dropping my wrist. Then he hits a filing cabinet with a bang.
“Del—”
“You’re done,” Luke cuts in. His voice is darker than I have ever heard it. “The second you put your hand on her, you lost the privilege to speak to her. Far as I’m concerned, you should’ve lost it a long time ago, but she’s a better person than I am.” Mitchell struggles against him and Luke pushes him harder against the cabinet. “Here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to go outside, get in whatever fancy ass car you rented at the airport, and then you’re going to get thefuck off my island. You aren’t going to see or hear or speak to Delilah ever again. Do you understand?”
Mitchell scoffs. “You can’t?—”
“Do. You.Understand?”
“He does,” I say. My voice is strong, though it threatens to waver. “He understands.”
Mitchell looks over Luke’s shoulder at me. “I don’t even recognize you anymore,” he spits.
I smile, sickeningly sweet. “And thank fuck for that.”
A lot of dominoes had to fall for me to wind up where I am. It sure as hell wasn’t the smoothest course, but it’s mine.
Luke reluctantly lets him go. Mitchell smooths out the front of his shirt indignantly while glaring at Luke. We both watch as my ex throws the door open with enough force for it to slam against the wall. He throws me one last look over his shoulder, but Luke steps in his path, effectively blocking his view. And then he’s gone. If that is the last time I see him, it will be too soon.
When Luke is confident that my ex isn’t coming back, he turns. His expression, once hard as he stared Mitchell down, is now soft when it settles on me. He takes careful hold of my arm and inspects it, and my lips tip down in confusion. Then I realize that I have subconsciously been rubbing the spot where Mitchell grabbed me.
“Delilah,” he murmurs, “talk to me.”
“I’m okay,” I say, taking my arm back. “It was just a shock more than anything.”
That isn’t a lie. Mitchell has been known to throw fits, but he has never been physical like that with me before. Frankly, I didn’t think he would have the audacity to try,especially with Luke standing there. Just goes to show what desperation can do to a person.
“What is he even doing here?” he asks. “Why were you talking to him?Alone?”
“Parker told him where we live.” I shake my head. “God, does my brother really hate me that much?”
I’m not sure what kind of expression crosses my face, but I do know it’s enough for Luke to draw me into his arms. I go willingly, letting him pull me flush against his body. My ear rests over his heart, and I can hear the steady beats. I feel his chin settle on top of my head. And in this moment, I feel safe. Like nothing can hurt me. I know that when I look up, things won’t be that simple, so I relish the feeling while I can.
“He doesn’t hate you,” Luke murmurs. “That, I can promise you.”
