The Merger

Chapter 42

Talia Nassar

"Lucas, you're scaring me. What did Gary say?"

Lucas is leading me through the house, away from the party. My heart pounds louder as the chatter grows quieter. He leads me up the stairs. Some lights are on, but the hallways are dim and deserted.

When I first saw Lucas and Gary talking, I wanted to observe from a distance. So many questions went off in my mind and I needed to assess what the hell was happening. Except when Debra caught me and started talking to me again, I missed a lot of it. When I was finally able to glance back, it looked like a bomb had gone off between the men standing around in a circle. Carefree Lucas looked like he was turning into Begging For Another Lawsuit Lucas.

With each step through the house, my heart picks up speed. Lucas guides me to a room that could only be his bedroom. The shelves carry various golf paraphernalia and the desk on the side of the room has a couple of finance books stacked on top of it. But I don't have time to look around or be giddy about being in his space. Lucas is scowling like someone chopped off his leg.

"What's wrong, babe? What did Gary say to you?" I place my hands on the sides of his face and he closes his eyes. My stomach sinks. "Talk to me, Lucas. Please?"

Seeing Gary again didn't bother me as much as I thought it would have. For years I wondered what it would be like to come face to face with him again. But all my heart had longed for in that moment was to take care of Lucas and shield him from whatever was happening.

Lucas takes a deep breath before opening his eyes, causing something to twist in my gut. "He was just being a prick, talking shit about you."

I release a breath. That's it? "Well, that's nothing new. I'm surprised you didn't kick his ass." I smirk to try to cheer him up and wrap my arms around him. He's still tense and my smile falters.

"Tal, I have-"

"Lucas, I need to-" I start to say at the same time Lucas. I pause and lean back smiling. "You go first."

His head shakes. "Please. You go."

I step back and try to steady my breath. Sweat is swimming across my palms and my heart is drumming loudly. The weight of my next words grows heavy on my chest and if I don't get them out they'll likely break my ribs.

"I love you, Lucas."

His eyes flare and eyebrows shoot up. I grab onto the sides of his arms and gulp. It's as if I'm skydiving out of an airplane. I have two options - scream and freak the hell out as I fall closer to a potential death or squeal from the adrenaline rush of being free and weightless. The latter option is much more appealing.

"Lucas, I love you so much. Everything you said the other day, I feel the exact same. I'm sorry it took me so long to figure my shit out. I'm sorry I didn't see how amazing you've been all this time." A small smile grows over Lucas' lips, feeding my resolve to continue. "I've missed all the signs but they've been there all along. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, and I can't imagine my life without you."

A hot tear slips down my cheek and Lucas moves his thumb over it.

"I want to be with you. I want you to meet my dad and my brothers. You've supported me even when we didn't get along. I've been so blind. I want you to be mine officially if you'll still have me?"

Lucas' silence fills my stomach with dread. I've never said these words to anyone in my life and there's a slim chance Lucas moved on.

"Tal," he whispers as glassiness covers his eyes. I can't tell if he's happy or sad while I hold my breath for his response. A tear drops as he closes his eyes and it's as if a dagger is piercing my heart.