Always You - A Second Chance Romance

Chapter 25

**A/N: This chapter contains depictions of sex and masturbation. If you are uncomfortable with these topics I've added asterisks before they begin**

I drove us to a bar Luke and I used to go to all the time when we were together. It was a small dive bar a couple blocks from the beach. We parked a few blocks away in a beach parking lot and walked to the bar. He smiled at me as we walked up.

"Damn, glad to see this place is still open. I wanted to come here if it was," he said.

"Well, I'm glad I could make it happen," I smiled back. I shivered in the ocean breeze, it was a much cooler night than I expected so I was grateful I had brought my jacket.

We headed inside and grabbed two barstools at the end if the high tops situated in front of the open windows that overlooked the beach. The inside of the bar looked like it had been renovated since I had been here last, but it was well over 5 years since then. New lights backlit the bottles behind the bar. The bar and barstools appeared to be pretty new as well.

"The lights are new," Luke said, pointing out the changes I had noticed.

"Yeah, I haven't been here in like five years. A lot is new," I said. The bartender came by and we each ordered a drink. Luke got an old fashioned and I got a margarita. We sat in silence until our drinks arrived and even then it was quiet between us as we drank.

"So," Luke said, attempting to break the silence. He glanced over at me as we both looked out at the ocean. "Do you want to talk about what's going on with you?" I shrugged, sipping at my margarita.

"I don't think you really want to hear about it," I said softly.

"Try me," Luke said, sipping his cocktail. I played with my glass in front of me, avoiding his eyes as mine burnt with tears. "You can talk to me about anything."

I looked up at Luke and our eyes met. His eyes softened as he noticed the tears in mine and he set his drink down.

"What's wrong?" He asked me, concern heavy in his voice. I shook my head, talking a long sip of my drink. My stomach gurgled and I cursed myself for not eating more before I left the apartment.

"Emily, I'm worried now," Luke said. "Please tell me what's wrong."

"Nick cheated on me," I muttered, not able to muster the ability to speak at a normal volume. A tear slipped from my eye and fell to the table top.

"Wh- What did you say?" He asked, leaning towards me to hear me over the music of the bar. I looked up at him and his face was emotionless, but his eyes were filled with immense concern.

"He cheated," I repeated. "Nick cheated... on me." Luke's face turned white and he ran his hands through his hair, rubbing his neck.

"Emily, I'm so sorry," he said. "I.... I don't know what to say...."

"It's okay," I said awkwardly. "I don't know what to say either."

"How did you find out?" He asked.

"It's a long story," I said dismissively. I really didn't want to rehash all the events from the past few days. "But it was a coworker."

"One of yours?" He asked, shocked. I shook my head.

"No. His," I corrected. Luke shook his head in disappointment.

"How long?"

"I don't know yet," I said with a sigh. "Part of me hopes it's only been a little bit, but the other part feels like it's been going on since we got married.... Or before."

Luke pressed his lips together tightly and nodded. He looked back out the window and towards the ocean. I looked at his profile for a minute, admiring him, before I turned my attention towards the view as well. We watched people walking by as the sun set on the ocean - families and couples, single people jogging or rollerblading or walking dogs.