Loving Lucas by Lily Ryan

Author:Lily Ryan [Ryan, Lily]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-12-20T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 42

Lucas

Although she does her best to play it off like everything’s fine, I know better. I didn’t expect the news of our engagement to go over without a hitch, but I certainly didn’t expect her parents to forbid her from marrying me.

Forbid her.

Olivia isn’t sixteen. She isn’t rash or reckless. She’s her own woman. Strong and level headed. And she makes her own decisions. At this moment I realize I’ve been treating her no better than her father.

The fury she expressed when we first got into the car dissipates. Now Olivia sits silently. Staring out the window. I feel her pain in the silence.

“I’m sorry.” I give her hand a little squeeze.

“For what?” she snaps pulling away. “It’s not your fault my father’s a pig headed jerk.”

“No. But I put you in a bad situation.”

“By asking me to marry you?”

“By riding you about work. I’m sorry. I should’ve trusted you.” I pause a moment, knowing it’s not coming out the way I mean it to. “I mean I do trust you.”

Olivia doesn’t answer.

“What can I do to make this easier? The last thing I want is for you to be hurting. And I can hear your heart screaming with what you’re not saying.”

“I’m fine. I just I don’t have much to say.”

She’s lying. I know it. What was worse is she knows I know she’s lying. “Let’s put the radio on. Maybe we could find ‘I’ll be home for Christmas.’”

Olivia sighs, “No thanks.” She turns back to the window and remains silent until I pull into my driveway.

“If you don’t mind I’d like to go home.”

I hesitate. I could feel the emotional distance she’s creating. This time it isn't my fault. She wouldn't budge when I tried to push her away, now I feel like she’s on another continent. I have to reel her back in. “Sure. We could spend the night at your place.”

“I want to be alone.”

I take her face in my hands and smile. “Let’s elope.”

She looks defeated, “Not this again.”

“I can’t help if I’m crazy about you.”

She gives me a sad, halfhearted smile.

I pull her to my chest, bury my face in her hair, and take a deep breath. I get lost in the sweet scent of her perfume.

“Why don’t we go inside and pick up where we left off this morning?”

She shakes her head, “I have to be at work early tomorrow.”

“And?”

Olivia inhales deeply and sighs, “Sandy's been on my ass for weeks.” She shakes her head looking tired and worn, “I’m not up for a confrontation.”

I run my hands up the back of her shirt. Since my words aren't working, I think I might entice her with my touch. “It’s okay. I have an in with the boss.”

Olivia pulls back, her eyes glowing. “You’d do that?”

“What?”

“Speak to your father.”

Not this again. I sit back and shake my head. “I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry.”

“Oh.” Her normally dazzling, dancing eyes look sad and dull.

After a long pause I ask, “Why does this matter so much?”

“It doesn’t.

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