Page 69 of One Shot

I put my almost full beer down and walk out of Haee’s.

I take the long way home, which only adds two minutes to my ten-minute walk. I didn’t expect him to ask me why I didn’t want to go to the game. He was calm, understanding, kind; all the things he promised he would try to be. But I lost it, I was scared and thrown off guard. Now I was being an ass and reacting badly. I should have just said something like ‘not right now’ and changed the subject.

Will I always lose it when East comes up? Will I always put Lucas in the line of fire that hides my fear, pain, and shame?

I keep walking past the house for about twenty more minutes trying to clear my head. I don’t want to always feel like this. I open my phone and see about twenty text messages from different people, including Bren, Lucas, and Tyler. I even have a missed call and voicemail. It’s from Lucas. As soon as I step through my front door, I click my text thread with Lucas.

Lucas: Hey, Laur

Lucas: I just want to know you’re safe at home. I promise that’s all.

Lucas: I won’t push you to tell me anything you don’t want to or anything you’re not ready to.

Lucas: I’m sorry if it seemed like I did tonight.

Lucas: Please just text Bren.

Lucas: It’s late. I just want to know you’re home safe.

I’m not sure when my agony-filled tears stopped, but now tears of awe and happiness are threatening to make their way down my cheeks. This man continues to communicate better after the one fight we had, even after I rejected him. I don’t deserve someone to be so sweet and amazing to me. He deserves to know.

I call Bren.

“Hi, yes I am home safe. I . . . I can’t do it myself,” I confess to her. I want him to know. I want Connor and Liam to know. I want them to understand that they are some of the best guys I have had in my life. I want them to know that me skipping games has nothing to do with them and everything to do with one guy they are playing. I need Lucas to know I really want to be there more than he can even imagine.

Chapter thirty-three

Lucas

Ieye Bren as she whispers into her phone in the corner of Haee’s. I know it’s Laur on the other end, and I am getting antsy. I wasn’t trying to make her sad or mad. I just want to make sure she’s okay.

Bren walks towards us, but I can’t read the expression on her face.

“Is she—” I start.

“She’s at home, yes. She’s not mad at you Lucas. She just . . .” Bren’s expression changes to disgust and despair. Something’s not right.

“What is it?” I plead for an answer. I love this girl. I need to know she’s okay.

Bren looks at Tyler, having a brief conversation with just their eyes causing anxiety to sneak up on me.

“Can someone please just tell us what’s going on?” Liam asks before I can open my mouth again.

“Let’s go to that table over there and sit,” Tyler says and motions for Bren and me to follow. “Just Lucas for now. He needs to hear this first.”

The seriousness of Tyler and Bren has me concerned. The air is thick with a heaviness that causes my anxiety to make itself at home in my gut.

“She wants to tell you,” Bren looks directly into my eyes. “But I honestly think it will break her if she does.”

“Okay,” I reply patiently, waiting for Bren to continue.

“Lucas, she was abused.”

Bren’s voice is barely audible, yet each word echoes loudly through my skull.

“By a guy who plays for East,” Tyler adds.

I feel a stinging sensation in my hand as Bren shrieks, “Lucas!”