Page 68 of Force Play
She tries to fight it for a moment, but her attempt is futile as she chokes out, “No.”
“Come here,” I say, opening my arms for her, and surprisingly, she leans in without hesitation, crying into my shoulder. “What happened?”
“Matt was dating Anna basically our entire relationship,” she sobs. “He was always cheating on me. I’m so fucking stupid.”
“You’re not stupid,” I assert. “I don’t want to hear you say that. You had no control over his actions, Lucia, and they’re not a reflection on you.”
“I should’ve listened to you.”
I sigh. “You didn’t evenknowme, Luc. I shouldn’t have come to you the way I did.”
“But I wouldn’t feel like this if I did.”
I lean my head back and look down at her. “He really hurt you, didn’t he?”
Lucia is quiet for a moment before she finally replies. “Yes.”
“Then why do you always act so unbothered?”
She lifts her head up, swiping at the moisture under her eyes. “Because I’m Lucia Torres, and nothing is supposed to get to me. I’m supposed to be strong and independent, not crying over a man who cheated on me.”
I rub my thumb over her cheek. “That isn’t how emotions work.”
She lets out a breathy laugh. “I’m just not the emotional one. I’ve always been the level-headed friend, there to support everyone when they need it. I handle my shit without help. I don’t get hurt by anybody, especially men.”
“But you got hurt anyway because even the strongest people have moments of sorrow.”
Lucia disentangles herself from my embrace, leaning back against the wall again. “I loved him. I was absolutely devastatedwhen I found him cheating on me. It hurt me in ways I’d never felt before.”
“It’s okay to admit that,” I say. “You have emotions. You’rehuman,Lucia.”
“When did you become so wise on anything related to relationships?” she chuckles, lips turning up in a slight smile.
Because I read romance novels, but I’m not telling you that.
“Wisdom, sweetheart,” I smirk, and she laughs harder.
“Sorry to unload on you. I’m not still hung up on him or anything, but I still feel the hurt whenever I see him. Anna admitting how long they’ve been together just made it worse.”
I smile at her. “You don’t need to apologize. I needed to make sure you were okay, and I’ve been told I’m a good listener.”
Lucia gazes at me with a sly look on her face. “You watch me a lot, Morgan. You seem to always know when I’ve snuck off somewhere.”
I let out a breath as heat floods my cheeks. “Even when you didn’t like me, I always kept an eye on you, Lucia. I knew Matt’s true colors would show one day, and regardless of how we met, I still didn’t want to see you hurt.”
“Who says I like you now?” she teases.
“Well, you certainly don’t act like youdon’tlike me.”
She laughs, and the sound is light and happy. I can feel the stress of the night washing off her. “I never told you, but I’m sorry for how I acted the night we met. I was frustrated with Matt because I couldn’t find him, and I took that out on you because I thought you were trying to act like you knew better than me.” She smiles at me now, and warmth courses through me. “I was wrong about you, Ari.”
The admission makes me grin. “I was wrong about you, too, Lucia. You aren’t who I thought you were.”
“I’m sorry we wasted two years bickering,” she chuckles, and I can’t help but do the same in return.
I lean against the wall beside her. “Let’s let bygones be bygones, then. We’ll start fresh.” I stick out my hand for her to shake. “So, hi, my name is Ari Morgan.”
Lucia practically cackles at me. “Lucia Torres.”
