Chapter 24
Lucas had hoped he’d only be in California one day, but things kept popping up, and it was now a week later when he stepped off the plane and met Frank outside. Frank’s gray hair was slicked back as usual, and his blue eyes were a welcome sight.
“Frank, it’s good to see you,” Lucas said as Frank reached for Lucas’ duffel bag.
“Good to see you too, young man. Happy to have you back so soon. Was afraid we wouldn’t see you again.”
“You’re going to be seeing a lot more of me,” Lucas said, the corner of his lip inching up into a smile.
Frank turned to him, an even bigger smile than his own. “The town sunk its claws into you, huh?”
“Something like that,” Lucas said.
“Well, let’s get you back there.”
Frank popped the trunk, and Lucas shoved the rest of his luggage in. Leo would be shipping the rest next week, and then he’d be in charge of subletting Lucas’ apartment for the summer. There were lots of changes on the horizon, but for the first time in years, Lucas didn’t feel like a big ball of stress. He knew he was finally making the right choices.
Lucas rounded the car and slid into the cab.
“How was the flight?” Frank asked as he put the car in drive and headed toward the highway.
“Good. I got to catch up on some much needed sleep.”
He’d been going nonstop since the day he left, trying to get his affairs in order. The constant on-the-go kept his mind off Ella, but now as he landed back in Maine, with Willow Cove only a short ride away, the desire to see her, hold her in his arms, and smell her sweet scent was almost overpowering.
He only hoped she would forgive him.
Joe knew of Lucas’ plans to relocate to Willow Cove, working remotely while giving his team more responsibility, flying back when needed, and helping to run the restaurant. Joe just had no idea how Lucas was going to manage to save the restaurant.
Who would’ve thought his sworn enemy for decades would one day be his saving grace? Lucas was gearing up for the fireworks when almost half a century of secrets would come to the surface and suspicions were confirmed.
He couldn’t wait.
It was going to be a hell of a ride, but it was time to let go of the restraints holding them in the past, time to move forward and begin to heal, and time for the truce that Ella had been trying to make happen for so long finally come to fruition.
Frank merged onto the highway, and Lucas rested his head against the seat, remembering the last time he came to Willow Cove. It was only a short while ago, but it felt like a century since he spoke to Ella.
What would have happened if his flight hadn’t been diverted? If he didn’t go through hell to get on that bus? Would he have ever met Ella? Or would they had been two strangers who passed each other on the boardwalk only to find out their last names kept them from ever really knowing each other?
Part of him wanted to believe it was fate that brought them together, but the rational part of him told him it was a happy accident. Either way, he would forever be grateful for that day of travel hell.
“I heard you didn’t listen to my advice,” Frank said as he settled back into his seat, the car staying a steady fifty-five in the right lane.
Lucas opened his eyes and turned them toward Frank. “You gave me a lot of advice that day. I streamed Willow Cove, which was pretty good actually. I didn’t speak badly about lobster…”
“But you spoke to a Moretti… and you didn’t just speak with her from what I heard.”
“And what exactly did you hear?” Lucas asked, trying to keep the amusement from his tone. He was going to have to get used to the meddling; unlike L.A, the people of Willow Cove did not know how to keep to themselves. He thought it would bother him, but it just showed people cared enough to know his business, and that felt pretty damn good.
“Heard little Miss Ella gave you a good slappin’, and then her brother topped it off with a knuckle sandwich.”
“I guess you heard right then.” The bruise around his eye was finally healing. That was a fun conversation to have with Leo, Brian, and their employees. He simply told them that love hurt and he deserved it.
Maybe Marco didn’t have a good reason to punch him, but Lucas wouldn’t hold it against him. He didn’t believe Ella when she denied his allegations, and worst of all, he’d made her cry. He would never forget the confusion, disappointment, anger, and pain that crossed through her dark brown eyes. He would gladly take Marco’s fist to the face again if it meant he could go back in time and never have to see that look in Ella’s eyes again.
“What you going to do about it?” Frank asked.
“I’m going to fix it.”
“How you plan on doing that?
Unfortunately, he couldn’t change the past. He made a mistake and now he would fix it. He couldn’t imagine a life without Ella Moretti by his side.
“By taking care of something that should’ve been done a long time ago, and then apologize to Ella. I’ll beg for her forgiveness if I have to.”
“Beg?” Frank said. “Sounds serious.”
“It is,” Lucas said. “I didn’t just ignore your advice. I went ahead and fell in love with a Moretti.”
“Then we best get you on your way,” Frank said, hitting the accelerator and cutting across traffic to the left lane where he drove sixty-five the entire way.