T-Bone - L. Wilder Page 0,72
so it wouldn’t be easy to win him over. With that in mind, I spent the entire day trying to think of the perfect dish to make for them. In fact, I was still thinking about it when my shift was over and I was headed out to the parking lot. I was so lost in my thoughts that I hadn’t even noticed someone standing by my car. That realization hit me as soon as I heard a man’s voice say, “Well, as I live and breathe. It’s Alyssa Hanson. I thought it was you. Man, you’re all grown up and looking all kinds of good.”
My heart stopped the second I heard his voice. I knew right away it was Lucas Brant, and the thought of being out in a dark parking lot alone with him completely terrified me. In his khaki pants and button-down dress shirt, the brown-haired, blue-eyed ex-football star looked like an everyday, typical guy, but I knew better. Lucas Brant was a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and I wanted nothing to do with him. In fact, I wanted to be as far away from him as possible. My breath quickened as I stopped dead in my tracks and said, “I have nothing to say to you, Lucas. You can just go.”
“Oh, come on now. We both know that isn’t true.” My entire body started to tremble when he took a step towards me. “Hell, you followed me all the way down to Memphis just so you could be close to me.”
“Are you insane?” I spat. “I don’t want to be anywhere near you. I certainly wouldn’t have moved here because of you.”
“Always did play hard to get.” A smirk crossed his face as he took another step closer. “It’s one of the things I like most about you.”
“You need to go, Lucas. Now!”
“Why would I rush off when I’ve finally got the chance to reunite with one of my old flames?” He continued moving towards me, only stopping when he was right in front of me. I wanted to run, scream for help, but I couldn’t move. The fear was holding me prisoner as I listened to him say, “You know I still remember Homecoming night? We had quite the connection.”
“We didn’t have a connection, Lucas. You raped me.”
“Now we both know you wanted it just as much as I did.” He started to reach for me, but I quickly stepped back before he had a chance to touch me. His smile widened as he said, “Still playing games, I see.”
“Fuck off, Lucas. I didn’t want you then, and I certainly don’t want you now!”
“Hey, Alyssa?” Jack called from behind me. “Is everything okay?”
“No.”
“Should I call the police?”
“If he doesn’t leave, then yes. You definitely should.” I looked Lucas in the eye and snarled, “Time for you to go.”
“What are you gonna tell the cops? You really think they’re gonna care that an old friend of yours from high school stopped by?”
“Does it really matter? Either way, they’ll file a report.”
He gave me a wink before turning to walk away. “I’ll be seeing you around, Alyssa Hanson. You can count on that.”
Lucas walked over to a bright red Mustang and gave me a quick wave before he got inside. Seconds later, he started the engine and whipped out of the parking lot. I was standing there watching his taillights disappear into traffic when Jack came over to me and asked, “Who was that?”
“That would be my worst nightmare.”
When I started to cry, Jack reached out and wrapped his arms around me, hugging me as he whispered, “It’s okay. He’s gone now.”
“I hate him so much.”
“He an old boyfriend or something?”
“Or something.” As I stepped back, I wiped the tears from my cheeks and said, “I guess you could say that we have history—but not good history.”
“Then what is he doing here?”
“Reminding me what a jerk he was.” Even though I tried to fight it, the tears kept coming. “I guess he came here tonight because he saw me going into work or something.”
“You gonna be okay?”
“Yeah, I don’t even know why I’m crying like this.” Trying to assure him I was okay, I told him, “I’m just tired and hormonal and stressed.”
“I don’t know how the girlie bits work and all that, but maybe you should go to the doctor for a checkup or something.”
“My girlie bits are fine, Jack. I’m just under a lot of stress.”
“I’m sure you are. You’ve been through a lot, girl.