Chapter 20
Emily
Shit.
He knows.
Preparing myself for what I know is going to happen, I focus on the floor—not yet ready to meet his eyes. I’ve been waiting for this moment for the last several weeks, hell, I’ve rehearsed just how this might play out. I just never expected it to happen right after he kissed me. I never expected any of this.
With a gentle touch I know I don’t deserve, he lifts my chin up until our eyes finally meet. The look in his eyes tells me everything I need to know. Not only does he know exactly who I am, but he hates me for deceiving him. I don’t blame him…not at all.
“You knew?” He doesn’t need to tell me what he thinks I knew. He’s asking if I knew who he was this entire time, because confirming I knew who he was means I lied to him about who I was.
“Luke—”
“What the fuck?!?! This whole fucking time, you knew?”
“I’m sorry—”
“You knew…” he steps away, putting even more distance between us. Even though he’s only a few feet away, it feels like we’re worlds apart…again. “You fucking knew all along, didn’t you?”
“I—”
“Yes or no? Did you fucking know from the beginning?”
“Yes, but—”
“Guys.” Cole comes rushing over to us. “What’s going on? Luke, is your com not working either? Alec has—”
He takes the com from his ear and toss it at Cole; who catches it and tucks it into his pocket without question.
“Get her back to Virginia.” He gestures towards me without even looking at me.
“What should I tell Alec?”
“I don’t give a fuck what you tell him.”
He storms out, leaving me standing there with a man I’ve only known for a few minutes. In that moment I watch as the only person I have left, walks out of my life for good. I knew I should have told him the truth the day he offered me the job. Hell, it’s not like I didn’t have multiple chances to tell him who I was over the last couple of weeks that we’ve been working together. The truth is I had countless opportunities…I was just too chicken shit to do anything about it.
Walking out of the busy rest stop, I pause realizing in that moment that I have nowhere to go. I watch as Luke tosses my overnight bag at Max before pealing out of the parking lot in the rental car we used. I feel my knees threaten to give out as reality hits me in the face with what just happened. Not only did Luke finally learn who I really am, but he also just walked out of my life again. If I thought losing him ten years ago was hard, the truth is it doesn’t even compare to what I’m feeling right now.
I shouldn’t have lied to him. I should have told him who I was. I should have—
“Come on…I think we have a plane to catch.” Cole’s hand on my arm immediately has me jumping back.
How did I not know he moved closer to me? How did I not realize he stopped talking to Alec? I quickly look around, taking in the numerous people who are walking past us as they curiously glance in our direction. I never let myself get so locked in my own thoughts that I lose track of what’s going on around me. I can’t remember the last time someone was able to sneak up on me like that…
“I…where’s he going?”
“I don’t know.”
I allow Cole to lead me to his car, all the while though I’m typing away on the my phone desperately trying to get a signal on Luke’s before he’s too far away. Though even if I knew exactly where he was going, I don’t know what good it would do me. If I followed him, then what? How could I ask him to forgive me for lying and deceiving him? By the time we reach the other rental car I’ve managed to ping his phone.
“You okay?” Max asks.
“No,” I admit.
“Can I…do you need anything?”
“No…thank you.”
I’ve only known her for a few minutes, but she’s incredibly sweet despite the bad girl exterior. She’s dressed just like Cole is, jeans, a fitted shirt and a light jacket. Her long brown hair is pulled back in a tight ponytail. I try to give her a small smile of appreciation as I walk past her.
I slide into the back seat of the car and sit there silently staring at my phone while Cole speaks with the police officers. The only positive thing that came out of the last half hour or so of heartache is watching Jack get led away in handcuffs.
I move through the motions, allowing Cole and Max to lead me to where I need to go once we arrive at the airport. For once I don’t focus on everything going on around me, constantly watching for him to appear from the shadows somewhere even though logically I know he’s locked behind bars. To their defense they both try to talk to me about everything other than Luke, but I spend most of the flight back to Virginia ignoring them and staring out the window.
What am I going to do now?