✨ introducing your newest favourite comfort read ✨
Underneath the pulsing lights of a frat party, a wager is made that will change everything.
Enter Lucas Scott, the university's hotshot hockey player, whose arrogance is as legendary as his skills...
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Lucas
The ride has been incredibly quiet up to this point; you could hear a pin drop from a mile away. After the doctor left, Aria began to cry—and not just a few, good tears—her entire body was shaking from the force of her sobs. She muttered something about being terrified to go home because she thought her dad would be furious. I attempted to reassure her that perhaps he was just extremely anxious and that's why he came off as angry. Her fearful expression made it clear to me that what I thought was her father's worry was furthest from the truth.
She's picking at the skin around her nails and clearly perspiring when I turn to see her. Her body is going through withdrawal, and she is obviously having trouble. "I'll drive you back to my house." Her eyes haven't stopped watering since she got up, so I attempt to speak softly.
"I can't ask that of you Lucas."
"Luke." I correct her, I think we've gotten to nickname basis by now after all this. "Call me Luke. You weren't asking, I was offering."
She grudgingly nods. We were lying in her hospital bed together, and she kept repeating how humiliated she was. She was trembling uncontrollably, so I climbed in and embraced her trying to ease her nervous system despite her protests. It was more agonizing to watch her like way than with the tube in her mouth.
She's so vulnerable, and the guys still don't want to call off the bet, so I'm feeling the pile of guilt. Miles's words, "Karma's a bitch," keep repeating themselves in my thoughts. All I want is for this agony to already be finished. I suppress the my thoughts, telling myself that if I stand by her through this, I'll easily get the money and finally put an end to the gossip that she rejected me in front of everyone.
Around 10:00 a.m., we arrived at the house. It took some persuasion to get her into my truck; up until the doctor said he wouldn't let her leave on her own, she thought she was going to walk home. She needed a change of clothes, some track pants and a large comfy sweater, so I went down to the gift store and got them for her. Unfortunately, they don't carry shoes, so despite her objections, I decided to just carry her down to my truck.
I walk around the side of the truck and open the door, her seatbelt is off and she looks at me. "My body is so sore."
"I know." I take her in my arms and use my hip to close the door. I can smell the subtle strawberry vanilla scent of her shampoo when she lays her head on my chest, and it's lovely. Her eyes are still glassy, but thankfully no one is home, or if they are, they are still sound asleep, so I get us inside the house before I put her back down.
I lead her into my bedroom after guiding her up the stairs while keeping my hand on her hip and checking her balance as she walks in front of me. She won't need to travel far if she needs it as I have an adjoining restroom, thank God.
As she sits on my bed and holds her head in her hands while dragging her hands through her hair, she murmurs, "I'm so sorry. I am almost certain that you resent me. I know that this was likely all just a game to you." I panic slightly when she says 'I know' I hold my breathe and continue to listen to her, with every word she says her voice breaks, "I know you just wanted to get laid, and I have no idea why you're being so nice to me, why didn't you just leave me there when you had an easy out?"
