Close Enough To Feel You [L.R.H]

Chapter 16

Renee Silver

It's been two months since Luke and I have started dating. Honestly, it's been so amazing. It's been filled with many dates, sleepovers, and days that I wish never ended. Today was going to be filled with Luke coming to my apartment after he got off.

I've been so proud of him lately, he got a new job at a music store as a manager. I've been in the apartment after I got off of my early shift just cleaning the apartment as Vivian was gone with her boyfriend.

I texted Luke saying as he was about to be on the way from work that the door would be unlocked. I was in the kitchen cleaning the dishes and countertops as I heard the door open. "Oh you're back" I said as I looked over at the door not seeing Luke in my sight, instead it was Michael.

"Michael- what are you doing here" I asked as I put the rag down on the counter. "I.. I needed to talk to you Ren"

"Don't call me that." I said as he started to walk towards me. "What do you need to talk to me about?"

"I've been thinking Renee that I need you to know this" he said as I smelled the alcohol on his breath as he got closer to me. I backed away getting out of the kitchen. "What."

"I know you're dating Luke but whenever me and Bailey were together I didn't even know that they were together" he started to ramble as his hands were shaking. "I didn't even know and I feel like he hates me because of it"

"He does but he hates Bailey more than you Michael." I said backing up more as he kept coming towards me as my back hit the wall. "But another thing I had to tell you is that I wish I was him."

"Michael, please you need to leave. You're drunk." I said as I went to go away from him as his arm stopped me, corning me in the wall. "But I need you Renee."

"Michael. Leave." I said grinding my teeth down as my heart was accelerating. "I need you Renee."

He went to lean in as I heard something fall as I pushed Michael off with all my might as I saw Luke in the front door as I saw his eyes were glassy. Fuck.

"Luke, I promise you with all my life this is not what it looks like." I said as I went to him as he didn't say a word as he picked up his keys off the floor as he raced back outside. I looked at Michael with a death glare as he went back to his apartment as I raced after Luke.

"Luke listen to me" I begged as I followed him quickly as he got into his brother's truck he was still using. "Luke!" I yelled.

Luke Hemmings

I finally got off of work as I drove to Renee's apartment. She's been at the apartment after she got off of work. I've been working at the music store for a good month now as I felt like my life was slowly getting back together.

I parked next to her car as I got out the truck walking up the stairs as I walked up to her apartment seeing her door open already. I got closer to the door as my heart completely shattered.

I saw Renee against the wall, her arms pressed against it seeing the same guy that took Bailey away from me. Classic.

My fingers dropped my keys as I looked at them with my heart shattering into a million pieces feeling the same feelings I felt years ago. Why?

I saw Renee push Michael off of her as I couldn't hear anything anymore. She kept talking to me as I pushed her words out of my mind as I picked up my keys rushing to the truck again.

I heard her yelling after me as I didn't recall any of the words she said as I unlocked the truck, getting in. I went to shut the door as she pulled it right open out of my hands.

I didn't look at her as my eyes were fixated on the bushes in front of me. I felt her next to me as she was standing on the step bars getting to my height. I heard her emotion in her voice as I kept my head straight forward.

"Luke please listen to me" she said as I felt her hand on my face trying to get me to look at her. I pulled my face away as I felt tears brim my eyes. I hated to overthink, I hated thinking about what happened 3 years ago now happening again.

I felt her climb onto me quickly shutting the door as she was on my lap. My eyes immediately went down not looking at her. "Luke, he came into the apartment and cornered me."

I didn't care. That's what they all say. You should've heard Bailey's excuses.

"Baby it's not what it looks like"

"He came onto me"

"We didn't even do anything."

"All we did was kiss."

"I don't love him like I love you"

"Luke please look at me." she was trembling, hands were shaking as I felt them on my arms. "I cant" I said softly as I felt tears burning my eyes. I hated to cry, I hated showing this sensitive side to her but I couldn't help it.

"Luke, baby please" I felt her push my head up to face her as I looked into her eyes. They were soft, but glassy. "I need you to hear me baby"

Tears kept swelling my eyes as they burned, her fingers wiped them away as they fell down. "Nothing happened okay.." she started to say. "He came into the apartment drunk, he was telling me things like he needed me and that he didn't know that you and Bailey were together as it was happening"

"Bullshit" I mumbled. "Luke.. I need you to believe me. He cornered me against the wall and tried to kiss me. Nothing happened before you came in."

I felt another tear fall down my face as I saw her heart was breaking, I didn't know if I could believe her or not. "Luke, please believe me.. I'm not her." she said as my heart continued to break as I kept thinking of what Bailey did to me.

I walked in carrying the velvet box in my pocket, planning to take her out on a date so I could propose to her, but instead I saw her and Michael making out on the couch. Her in his lap, her arms wrapped around him, them kissing.

I was focusing my attention on the ring on my finger, twisting it with my other fingers. I knew I didn't need to wear it because she can see me now and that I'm alive. But I wanted to take it off.

"Luke." she said softly as she brought my eyes back to hers. "I need to go home." I said seeing her heart break more as I said that.

"Do you believe me?" she said as her voice trembled as I saw tears forming in her eyes. I was silent, I didn't know if I could believe her. All of my trust issues came back barreling in as I watched it happen.

"Luke, please call me when you get home. A text or something." she said as she opened the door and got down still looking at me. I nodded slowly as my eyes were fixated on the steering wheel as she shut the door and watched me reverse out of the spot and drove off out of the parking lot.

Tears were falling down my face, I didn't know what to think. I took the ring off and placed it on the center console as I parked in the driveway. I got out of the truck, slamming the door shut as I was fiddling with the keys to go to the front door as I went to open the door with the keys but my hand fell through the knob.