Against The Odds: Guarded

28

MAYA POV

When I woke up I was still tired, I was surprised that I even got up for the alarm. I grabbed my phone to stop the noise and get ready for work when I saw all of the missed calls and texts from Lucas. I went into such a deep sleep when I got into bed that I didn’t hear my phone ring at all. There was one text from Peyton and as much as I wanted to delete and ignore it, it could be work related. It better only be work related. I opened the ones from Lucas first and called him back as soon as I read them. He answered on the second ring.

“Maya?”

“Lucas what did you need last night are you okay? I’m sorry I didn’t answer last night I was so tired.” There was a pause on the line before he answered.

“Where are you?” His voice was groggy like he had just woken up, but there was an urgency to it at the same time.

“I’m at the hotel getting ready to shower and leave for work. Are you alright Lucas?” I could hear rustling on the other end of the line as if he were getting out of bed before he spoke again.

“I’m coming over.”

“Lucas I have to work in two hours.”

“It doesn’t take me two to get to the hotel! I need to see you, I’m on my way.”

Lucas hung up before I could protest and I rose from the bed and rushed to the shower. I was so tired last night that I didn’t even bother to change out of my clothes. I ripped them off of me as if they were diseased and got in allowing the water to cascade down my body. I felt like it had been years since I was able to shower even though it had only been a day. I will never do that again...ever, I felt so nasty and unladylike. I washed my hair and shaved taking in the amazing feeling of the water hitting my skin and the soap suds running off of my body until I heard a knock at my door.

“Maya!” Lucas. I turned the water off and wrapped myself in a towel drying off as much as I could before I answered the door. There were dark puffy circles around Lucas eyes but they widened and he took his lower lip into his mouth as he looked me up and down.

“It’s usually polite to let a guest in glasses.”

“Oh, right..sorry.”

I stepped aside and closed the door forgetting that I was blocking his way. He sounded so urgent on the phone like he needed something or had something to tell me, but now he seems calm. His eyes however are telling me something different.

“Whats up Lucas? Are you okay?” He looked at me and what I saw in his eyes not even two minutes ago was gone. Sometimes his disorder can be a gift and a curse if he wants to hide how he’s feeling. This time it’s a gift, but there are still circles there.

“I’m fine.” Liar.

“Did you have nightmare?”

“No.” He shifted on his feet getting annoyed by my questioning.

“Well you clearly didn’t sleep well because your eyes-”

“Shut up Maya.” Lucas gave me a grin that didn’t reach his eyes and cleared his throat before he spoke again.

“I...You didn’t....I just wanted apologize for snapping at you yesterday. I’m sorry for everything that happened yesterday...” Lucas trailed off and began to look around the suite. He really hasn’t been here that many times. I’m usually always at his house.

I was shocked by his apology. Usually when we fight, especially about matters pertaining to Peyton, they’re explosive and end up leaving me with a panic attack and him being nasty towards me or not talking to me for days, or a month and a half.