Always

52 : it's Lucas

"Hello, oh, thank God you finally picked up my call. I've been worried sick about you, Luca. I'm sorry. I realized my mistake, and I swear this was the last mistake ever. I promise." I groan, hearing her pathetic, shrill voice.

"What's wrong?" Luca mouths.

"don't make me talk to her," I mouth back.

"Say something."  Her voice booms through the speaker again.

Accepting my fate, I groan internally. "It's not Lucas; it's Ivy."

"Why do you have his phone? Give it back to my Luca." Who in the world gave her permission to call him Luca ?

"It's Lucas for you," I correct her, each word filled with venom. I glance at Lucas, who's looking at me with one brow raised, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips.

He leans in, close enough that I can feel his breath, and murmurs, "You tell her, baby." Shivers dance on my spine hearing that .now is the time he wants to tease me. I glare at him but we both know it's not real . "He's my boyfriend" she snots ."i can call him whatever i want"

"Ex. He's your ex-boyfriend," I repeat, my tone icier than before, each word cutting like glass.

"Get that through your head, Mabel. Ex."

"You don't get to decide that! Give the phone back to my boyfriend," she snaps, her voice climbing to a pitch that could shatter glass.

"You're just some random-"

"Girlfriend-she's my girlfriend," Luca's sharp voice pierces through the phone.

He said it so easily. Whereas me, on the other side? My heart is seconds away from exploding. He looks kind of angry, but there is something about his eyes that bothers me. It's almost like... he meant it. Wait, no, that can't be true. Who would even like someone like me?

"And it is Lucas Miller for you only a certain someone get to call me that . you can call me 'hey stranger,' or I don't know, just don't call me."

Ooh, he's angry-angry. He looks so hot when he's angry, though-the veins in his neck popping out and-

"Don't do that to me. I'm sorry, baby." Shit, I forgot about this part.

"You got the answers you needed. Don't call him again, or else there will be consequences." I end the call and throw it away. War is over.
I finally lean back and take a deep breath until I feel a vibration.

"Girlfriend, huh?"

That's when I realize I'm no longer on a chair but on Lucas's lap.

"Don't push your luck." I quickly stand up and sit in the chair in front of him.

"Oh, I wish I could," he's still teasing but his eyes still hold sincerity. He confuses the life out of me .

"Shut up. I saved your ass; you don't get to tease me."

"Yeah, that you did. I'm finally free," he smiles, leaning back and stretching.

"Hm, but not for long, though. She will definitely contact Katie, and she will tell her the truth about us."

"No, she wouldn't. She doesn't know Katie."
So he doesn't know that yet?

"Yes, she does. She's Kaiden's sister, remember? She, um... with Kaiden and Katie and Mabel used to hang out together?"

"Oh yeah, I forgot about that. That's okay. We'll figure it out. Just eat for now."

We quietly eat our dinner and then clean together.