Matchplay A New Adult Romance - By Dakota Madison Page 0,66
at all. He had never bothered to tell me. I could almost handle him not wanting to introduce me to them but the fact that he had kept the information from me was bordering awfully close to lie territory.
“You’re a freshman and he’s a senior. He’s going to be grad uating in eight weeks and starting his life with Donovan Brothers Industries. Keira’s graduating, too. They’ll both be in the city and running in the same circles. You’ll still be in school. I just don’t want you to be surprised by what the future holds.”
I heard Evan loud and clear. Once Aaron graduated, I would be cast aside so he could start a life with Keira.
“Does Keira even love Aaron?” I asked. I wasn’t sure it was even a question.
Evan laughed. “Keira doesn’t love anyone but herself. She wants Aaron. And Keira always gets what she wants.”
“What about you, Evan?” I said staring at him. “What do you want?” I wasn’t sure where that came from. It just kind of came out.
Evan seemed to give the question some consideration. “Besides you?” He smiled. “I want to win The Tournament. And it looks like I will. You already know Aaron dropped out and none of the other guys are even close to my score.”
“And you think that’s an accomplishment you can be proud of? Something to put on your resume? Tell your kids about one day?” I knew I was being hard on him but I also knew he could take it.
He grinned at me. “I sure wish I had asked you out before Aaron did.”
I didn’t want to tell him that I would have never gone out with him. “I think I’m going to go back to bed.”
“Yeah,” Evan agreed. “It’s getting late.”
We both got up and walked back into the house. I headed toward the guest bathroom, just off the living room, and I heard Evan give me a half-hearted, “Good night.”
As soon as I got into the bathroom, I was glad I had grabbed my phone. I quickly texted Lucas.
Me: I know it’s late. Is there any way you can pick me up? It’s important.
I didn’t wait more than a few seconds to receive a response from Lucas.
Lucas: Of course. Anything for you. I’ll be there as quickly as possible.
It was two in the morning. I felt really bad for bothering Lucas but I had no one else to call. There was nothing Olivia and Marney could do for me from a cruise ship in the middle of the Caribbean.
I had already given Lucas the directions when I alerted him earlier that I might need a ride back. I just didn’t realize it would be this soon.
I sat on the couch and read Mary Cassatt’s biography until I thought it was close to the time Lucas would arrive. I snuck back into the room I was sharing with Aaron and grabbed my bag as quietly as I
could. The last thing I wanted was for him to wake up and try to stop me from leaving. There was no way I could stay at the cabin for an entire week with Evan and Keira and all of his other friends, who thought I
was some toy for Aaron to play with until he graduated and started his real life with Keira.
I tiptoed out of the room as quietly as I could. I wanted to try and make my way down the driveway in order to minimize the chance that anyone would be awakened by Lucas’s headlights.
I guess I wasn’t quiet enough, though, because right before I reached the door, I heard Aaron’s voice.
“Where are you going?” He sounded like he was still half asleep.
When I looked back at him, he had bed head and was rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “It’s the middle of the night, Sunshine. What’s going on?” he still sounded confused by his sudden awakening.
“I’m leaving,” I said trying not to cry.
“Leaving?” He hurried toward me. “No, wait. You can’t leave.”
He tried to grab my bag but I snatched it away from him.
“Why are you leaving? I don’t understand.”
There was a soft knock on the door. Neither one of us had heard a car pull up. Aaron opened the door and, of course, Lucas was standing there. I think Lucas was as surprised to see Aaron as Aaron was to see him. “Lucas?” Aaron muttered. “What are you…” Realization seemed to cross Aaron’s face before he finished his question.
I handed Lucas my bag. “Come on. Let’s