Page 94 of An Unlikely Bride (Lucas & Ava)
“Lucas…all I can say is, I’m sorry.” She hugs herself. “So what’s the decision?” Her throat works. “Is this… Is this it?”
It? My head keeps churning. I can’t let her go like this, but I don’t know what the hell kind of conclusion I’m supposed to reach. People can call me genius all they want, but this is a fucking bombshell, and my mind’s reeling, trying to process what it all means.
I’m a father.
To a girl who belongs to somebody else now…
“I think it’s better I give you a little time,” Ava whispers.
It barely registers.
She starts to walk out, and I follow on autopilot. All my life I’ve been told I needed to see my date home. It’s just good manners. And I wonder deep inside what the fuck I’m doing—really—and why the hell it matters if I’m polite or not or if Ava even cares.
Darcy and Ray are preparing to leave. Ray is holding the child.
I reach for the girl, unsure how something this perfect and precious could be mine, but her expression is no longer bright with happiness. Her face has crumpled, as though she’s aware of everything that’s happened while she was in the bathroom, and is clutching Ray’s shirt. He tightens his hold, turning away with a motion so subtle that I doubt anybody else notices.
Dirty.
Don’t touch.
Don’t you know better?
I drop my hand, my jaw tight. It’s as though the old man can hear my mother’s damn words in my head.
Ava watches us, her expression torn. I’m not sure what’s gotten her so conflicted. Either she’s on my side or she’s not. It’s that simple.
The hostility pouring off Ray is palpable as he escorts his wife out. If he thought he could get away with it, he’d stab me with the carving knife.
Ava looks at me, opens her mouth, then shakes her head before following her foster parents out. As the door closes behind them, my entire body feels hollow.
Just like that. Gone.
Ryder places a hand on my shoulder. “I’m having a driver take them home. Darcy thought it’d be best if they left.”
“Of course,” I say automatically.
I turn and look at Faye. She’s watching me, her porcelain-like face set in innocent curiosity.
Except I know better.
If she were really worried about me…or cared about me at all…or meant what she said at the bistro, she wouldn’t have blurted that out about Mia in front of everyone.
“You hypocritical bitch,” I hiss.
She draws back. “Lucas…”
“You never wanted the best for me, did you? You lied to me.”
“If you’re upset that I told you—”
“You didn’t tell me,” I say. “You announced it in front of everyone.”
She hesitates. “She’s your daughter, Lucas. I wanted to make sure you had a chance to be in her life.”
“No. You wanted to drive a wedge between me and Ava, and you dug around until you found something. I’m not sure why, because now you’ve lost me forever.”
She gasps. “Lucas!”
