Page 122 of Mine

It was quiet—few people knew of it. You had to be a local.

We got a gorgeous window seat overlooking the bay, and I sighed happily. It was nice to be here, even with Luke.

“I’m going to ask you a question, and I want you to be honest with me,” he said seriously, and I raised an eyebrow at him suspiciously.

“If it’s anything about you and me—”

He cut me off with his hand in the air, blinking slowly.

“It’s not.”

I sat back in my chair as I clasped my hands together.

“Okay, go on then?”

He sat forward, his hands meeting in a steeple motion as he gazed at me. Our eyes met as he spoke, and he held my gaze as he watched my reaction.

“What happened in New York? Tell me.”

I dropped my eyes from his as I gave a short laugh. “I don’t know what you are talking about, Luke.”

The waitress brought our coffees and I watched her with interest.

Luke however kept his eyes on mine, murmuring a thanks as she left.

“Why are you lying to me?” his voice was low as I sighed, irritated.

“What does it matter to you, Luke?” I snapped. “I thought we were here to remedy our shit, not create more.”

He sat back as he studied me, his fingers pressed to his lips.

“Did he hurt you?” his voice was hollow as I screwed my face up in response.

“What? No, don’t be absurd.”

“That’s what abused girls say.”

I stared at him, my mouth agape. “Luke, you have this wrong. It wasn’t Cal,” I sipped my latte, wincing at the heat. “Cal would never hurt me.”

“If it wasn’t him, who was it?!” he demanded, refusing to let the matter drop.

I folded my arms as I gazed at him. “If I tell you, you need to swear not to tell a soul.”

He made a cross over his chest as he stared at me, his expression hardening as though he was preparing himself for the worst news he’d ever received.

I took a deep breath and met his eyes.

“I’m fuckingserious, Luke; I willneverforgive you if you tell anyone. If you care for me at all, you won’t.”

“Gretch, you’re scaring me now.What the fuck happened? I won’t tell anyone.”

“I was kidnapped.”

His eyes widened as his mouth fell open, his hands reaching for mine over the table.

“Are you being fucking serious right now?” he hissed quietly as I nodded. “Who the fuck by? What did they do to you?”

He sat listening to me as I poured it all out, and I had to admit, it felt so good to speak to someone about it who wasn’t Cal.