Page 71 of Should've Been Us
“Ridley, stop.” Dean had stood as well, putting himself between the twomen.
“Why?”
“Because you don’t know what you’re talking about.” Deanhissed.
“How about because I’m going to knock your drunk ass into next week if you say another word about Lulu or that stupid bet?” Connorwarned.
His hands were already fisted at his sides. He hadn’t been in a fight since he was ten. He didn’t miss that even that fight all those years ago had been because of Lulu and had involved another Harpermale.
He’d fought with Derek that day because he’d hurt Lulu by pushing her off her bike so she wouldn’t beat him in a race. He’d called Derek a cheater and Derek had tackled him. He’d been bigger even then and he’d gotten the upper hand and given Derek a bloody nose before Lulu pulled them apart. Then she’d yelled at him,at him, for making Derek bleed when she herself was bleeding from skinned knees and clutching her hand to herchest.
Maybe that was why it took him a moment too long to react. Maybe he was stuck in the past, remembering her voice yelling at him that day and that’s why his brain didn’t click when he heard her. Whatever the reason, it was Dean’s eyes going wide and the color draining from his face that had Connor jerking back toreality.
“The bet?” Her voice was low, practically shaking, and he spun around, already knowing what he was going tofind.
Lulu was standing about three feet away from him but from the look of horror on her pretty face it suddenly felt like a hundred yards. She was right there within reach but every fiber of his being told him that if he tried it that she would push him away and bolt. The smile she’d been wearing only minutes ago was gone and in its place was a look of betrayal that threatened to guthim.
“Lu…” He said softly but she shook her head before he could say anotherword.
“You bet on me?” She gaped at him pain written clearly all over her face. “I’m just part of that stupidbet?”
“No, of coursenot.”
Her face twisted with pain, “Is that all thiswas?”
“Lulu, please… it’s not what youthink.”
“Tell me it isn’t true.” She raised her chin, as if she was steeling her spine, but her bottom lip trembled, “Tell me it isn’t true,Connor.”
He opened his mouth to tell her exactly that but something inside him kept the words from coming out. This was a big moment in their relationship. The first misunderstanding of what he hoped would be a really long relationship. And he couldn’t start it off on a lie, no matter how easy it would be. He couldn’t lie to the woman he loved, not even to prove this was more than some stupidbet.
“It isn’t what you think.” He repeated softly, “Please, let’s just go somewhere and talk aboutthis.”
Her eyes watered, “You didn’t say it isn’ttrue.”
“Lulu…”
“Dean.” She looked past him, as if he wasn’t standing there, and he turned to look at the other man as well, “Is it true? Did he bet that he could sleep withme?”
Dean winced as if she’d just asked him to confirm Santa Claus wasn’t real to a group of children. His dark eyes went from Connor to Lulu and back again. He gave a small nod and Dean blew out a roughbreath.
“It’s true but it’s also true that it isn’t as bad as itsounds.”
Lulu made a sound that had pain tearing through him. He jerked back towards her in time to see her cover her mouth. A sob, he realized a moment before she turned away from him. She was crying. That awful, gasping sound had been her attempt to cover it but he saw what she hadn’t wanted him tosee.
Tears.
“Lulu.” He tried to go after her but he only made it two steps before a big, dark figure stepped into his path, stopping him in his tracks and he growled, “Move,Dare.”
“Not a chance.” His best friend stepped to the side when he tried to go around him. “What the hell is going on? What’s wrong withLulu?”
“It doesn’t concern you.” He grit histeeth.
“The hell it doesn’t. This is my wedding reception and you made Lulu cry? What did youdo?”
“Derek…” Dean tried to come to his defense but his brother glared him intosilence.
“I’ll deal with you in a minute.” Derek snapped and then turned back to Connor, “What did youdo?”
