Page 94 of The Vengeance You Crave

The thought of being wrong all this time terrifies me but Letty is right. It's time to find out for sure as to whether what she told me that day was all lies or not.

If only there was an easy way to figure it out.

Thankfully, once the girls have had their dessert, Letty pays the cheque and they get up to leave.

I've missed every single conversation that's happened around me, my entire focus on Peyton and what she might or might not be saying to Letty and Ella.

The three of them have no choice but to walk past me to exit the restaurant. I suck in a breath as Letty and Ella surround Peyton as if they can actually protect her from me.

I don't intend to do anything but the second her scent fills my nose I can’t help myself and my hand flies out, my fingers wrapping around her wrist.

"Let go," she fumes.

"Luc," Lee sighs, frustration evident in his tone.

Looking up, I find her huge silver eyes. The exact ones that have featured in my fucking dreams for the past five years.

My chin drops to say something, but I don't have any words that aren't me pleading for her to talk to me.

Now that she's in front of me, I realize that all I want is her.

My heart pounds as we stare at each other. Her eyes hard and closed off, mine begging, but I already know who's going to win because it's going to take a hell of a lot more than this after all the shit I've pulled.

"Luca," Letty snaps. "Let her go."

My fingers loosen, but before I totally let her go two words fall from my lips. "I'm sorry."

She sucks in a harsh breath but she doesn't say anything as she pulls her arm away and marches off.

"Stay away from her, Luc. I mean it," Letty warns before giving Lee a hug and following the girls out.

I'm pretty sure I've never felt smaller in my entire life.

"I'm sorry," I say, pushing my chair out. "You guys enjoy your night."

"Luca, what the hell are you doing?" Lee barks, following me out.

"Don't worry, I'm not going after her. I just… I need to be alone right now."

I don't wait for his response; I just take off running through the mall.

24

Peyton

The Mexican restaurant was the last time I saw Luca this week. He never showed up at work Thursday night, Leon did again, and I didn't see him around campus the last two days either.

I should be glad that he's kept to his word and stayed away from me. What I really shouldn't be is concerned.

But after learning from Leon that he spent Monday night exactly where I suspected and drank himself unconscious, and then the look in his eyes as he stared up at me on Wednesday night, I can't help it.

Deep down, no matter what Luca does, what he thinks of me, I'll still always remember him as my best friend. As the sweet boy who would do anything to protect me. It's ingrained in me.

I stare at my new little black dress hanging on the door of my closet but even the sight of that can't bring a smile to my face right now.

Today is too hard. Everything hurts too much.

Aunt Fee, Elijah, and Kayden have done everything they can so far to make it special, but Mom's absence in my life has never been stronger.