Page 46 of Third Time Lucky

LUCY

As I sit down with a late-morning cup of coffee, I can’t help but feel a sense of unease settling in the pit of my stomach.

Asher is busy prepping for lunch, and bringing up Aaron and his antics is not how I wanted to start the day, especially after last night.

But for Madi’s sake, I have to push through.

‘Good morning, beautiful,’ he says as I make myself comfortable at the bar.

‘Hello, handsome.’

He’s at the stove, stirring something.

‘You know, I realized as I daydreamed about you last night that I never thanked you. Before Aaron ruined things, I was having a blast.’

There’s no way my face is going to betray this man; it smiles uncontrollably at practically his presence alone.

‘Me too. I never expected axe throwing to be so… sexy?’ I say, unsure that’s the word, but based on his sudden glance and guilty smile, I’d say I hit the bullseye.

Those arms, the way he coached me, wow-sers.

‘It was, wasn’t it?’

I nod, confirming that I, too, have been reliving every moment, glances, touches and kisses. I inhale sharply and exhale slowly.

‘What’s on your mind?’ he asks, suddenly realizing something is up. The man reads me like a book.

‘About Aaron…’ I begin tentatively, not wanting to sound accusatory right off the bat.

His body tenses slightly. ‘I apologize for him. Honestly, I don’t know what drives him to act like he does sometimes,’ he admits, his eyes avoiding mine. ‘But don’t worry, he won’t be interrupting us again anytime soon. GPS deactivated.’

I had actually forgotten about that part. He thinks this conversation is about Aaron interrupting us. Crap.

I take a deep breath, carefully considering my words.

‘Madi saw him at a club getting cozy with another woman… after discussing taking their relationship to the next level. Like he was trying to hurt her.’

‘Yeah, that sounds like him.’ An uncomfortable smile accompanies his response.

‘Is that something you condone? Intentionally hurting a woman? Ghosting her? Cheating within eyesight?’ I press, feeling conflicted about even asking the questions because the man stopped my wedding because of a cheater.

He sighs, stopping what he’s doing and running a hand through his hair before walking the few steps to me at the bar. He meets my gaze, resting his hands on the island countertop.

‘Of course not,’ he says. ‘I don’t condone cheating in any form,’ he says. ‘Every girlfriend I’ve ever had has cheated on me. But Aaron’s always been impulsive and reckless. I can’t control him.’

‘I know you can’t control him, I’m not suggesting that. But surely this is a situation where you have to correct your brother? I mean, does Madi mean anything to him or is she just another conquest?’ I ask, frustration in my tone.

‘I—’ He shifts uncomfortably. ‘I’d like to believe that deep down, there’s a part of him that cares for her,’ he replies cautiously. ‘But, truthfully, I’m not sure.’

‘Would you tell me if you knew he was doing something stupid behind her back?’

Asher’s eyes flicker with a mixture of emotions – frustration, concern and a hint of resignation. ‘Honestly, I try not to get involved in his drama.’

‘You got involved when Brandon cheated on me,’ I remind him.

‘That was different,’ he says with a pained expression. ‘We have a history together. My loyalty lies with you.’

‘You have a history with Aaron, you’re family.’

‘Exactly. So, who do I choose? You, a woman sweeping me off my feet by the minute? Or my little brother who’s never not had my back? I feel like this should stay between them.’

‘Except it’s not just their problem,’ I argue.

‘He’s your brother, and she’s like the sister I never had.

He hunted you down and interrupted our date – that seemed to upset you.

And after it was cut short by drama we didn’t create, I spent the whole night trying to lift Madi up. Now it affects me too.’

I can see his internal struggle. He wants to protect Aaron but also to spare me from the chaos that comes with him. I understand, but I can’t be in the dark about things that affect me, him and my friend.

‘It’s not that simple,’ he says. ‘I care about both of you, but this is their issue to resolve – not ours.’

‘I get that, Ash. But if you see him heading down a destructive path that would hurt my friend, someone important to me, wouldn’t you want to intervene?’ I push. ‘If she were doing this to Aaron, I’d be on her case.’

His jaw tightens, a fleeting shadow of guilt crossing his features.

‘Of course, I wouldn’t stand by and watch him self-destruct or intentionally hurt anyone.

But Aaron is stubborn. He doesn’t listen to reason.

None of this is abnormal for him and we warned her about him. I told you this would happen.’

I told you? Did he just ‘I told you so’ me? Everything is fine, Luce, you’re having a grown-up conversation and even grown-ups don’t always say the exact right thing.

‘You did warn us. And I thank you for that because it helps to know. But I refuse to sit back and watch Madison get hurt, knowing you could tell Aaron he’s in the wrong and at least make him aware of what he’s doing, so he can break it off without destroying her,’ I declare fiercely, a steely resolve settling within me.

‘She’s already been through that once and I don’t know how well she’ll fare a second time. ’

He crosses his arms over his chest, his sleeves taut around his tattooed biceps. Not gonna lie; I’d much rather have those arms around me than get all defensive as they are.

‘So, we’re fighting because they are?’

‘No,’ I say firmly, meeting his gaze with determination.

‘We’re not fighting . We’re discussing a situation affecting our friends and us.

We’re also stepping into something more than friends and I want to ensure we’re on the same page regarding things like this because I’ve been burned, Ash.

Bad. So have you. I don’t want to wake up one day two years into this and find out you’ve been keeping secrets from me like Brandon did. I don’t know if I’d ever recover.’

His eyes soften as he takes in my words, understanding dawning on his face. He reaches out and grasps my hand, a silent apology in his touch. ‘I would never keep secrets from you,’ he says.

I raise an eyebrow skeptically. ‘I didn’t think he would either – then he became a professional liar.’

In that instant, I see the gears turning in his mind, and I know he comprehends the weight of my words and the terror lurking beneath them. But before we can delve further into this conversation, a jolt of alarm shoots through my wrist via my Apple Watch: a Zoom call in five minutes.

‘Perhaps we can revisit this later because right now I have a crucial meeting with a top-tier client,’ I say.

As I turn to leave the kitchen, I feel his eyes burning holes into my back, but he remains silent, as if paralyzed by the whole situation.

God, ma’am, sir, whatever, please, help. It’s too late to stop from falling for Ash. I’m there. I want to love the hell out of that man. Please make it easier.