“You’re going to spoil me,” she replied.
I grabbed our plates from the kitchen and placed them down on the table. “That’s the plan for the night, moya printsessa.”
I watched as Aubrey tasted her food and she smiled at me. We ate in silence for a few moments before I laid down my fork.
“I wanted tonight to be special for you, Aubrey,” I began. “Not just because it’s Valentine’s Day though. I just wanted to make sure you know how much you mean to me.”
“Oh, Luka,” she sighed. “Thank you.”
I reached over and held her hand in mine, rubbing my thumb over her palm. “No, Aubrey. I need you to listen to me. When I met you, I wasn’t exactly at my best. My life had changed a lot, and I let it make me a little bitter. I hadn’t planned on meeting someone like you though.”
“I wasn’t that much better, Luka,” she said.
“But you didn’t fight it like I did, and you need to know that was more about me than you. Any guy would be lucky to have you in their life, and I’m just glad I didn’t let my own stupidity stop me. If I had, then I would have missed out on so much,” I tried to explain.
Aubrey shook her head at that. “There’s no way I would have let that happen, Luka. I knew I wanted you when we met and I was finally ready to go after you myself.”
“It’s still a good thing that I pulled my head out of my ass and came to my senses so you didn’t have to do that,” I said, chuckling softly.
We finished our meal and enjoyed the dessert Aubrey had brought with her before my phone rang. I glanced down, saw that it was my mom, and showed it to Aubrey before answering.
“Hello, Mama,” I greeted my mom. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”
I listened as she apologized for calling and explained that Kat’s mom had phoned her to see if I was home for the weekend. Apparently, Kat’s and my parents had finally found out why we had broken up and all of them were extremely angry with her. Since the school year was almost over, her parents were letting her finish it out while keeping her on a tight leash.
“Mama, this is no longer any of my concern. I know you haven’t met Aubrey in person yet, but you’ve talked to her on the phone. She means a lot to me,” I explained to my mom as I locked eyes with Aubrey across the table. “Kat is my past, Mama. Even though you’re still friends with her family, there is no place in my life for her anymore. I belong with Aubrey now.”
I watched tears roll down her beautiful face as she heard my words. Aubrey stood up and came around the table to climb into my lap. I held her close while I listened to the rest of what my mom had to say. She babbled excitedly because she was so pleased that I was happy again. She had worried about me after the breakup and spent months hoping that Kat and I would get back together even after she knew that I was dating Aubrey. It was hard for her to understand why I was so certain that nothing would ever happen with Kat again, and she just didn’t know Aubrey well enough to see why we were so good together even though our backgrounds were so different.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the whole story sooner,” I apologized. “I didn’t want to put you and Papa in the middle of everything or have it impact your friendship with her parents. But please don’t mistake that for my protecting Kat. That part of my life is over and I have Aubrey to protect now. So I’d really appreciate it if you’d make sure her parents know I’m done. I don’t want there to be any confusion on anyone else’s part either.”
I squeezed Aubrey tightly to me as I disconnected the call with my mom. “Sorry about that,” I offered.
“Luka, you don’t have anything to be sorry about,” she replied.
“Not even that it happened on our special day?” I asked, wanting to make sure the call hadn’t ruined our night together.
“Are you kidding me? Listening to you tell your mom how important I am to you made the night even better,” she assured me.
I captured her mouth with mine for a kiss before standing with her in my arms. My phone rang again and I figured it was my dad wanting to chime in as well after my mom had filled him in on our conversation, so I hit the green button to pick up the call without even looking at the phone.
“Papa,” I began, only to be interrupted by someone entirely different.
Aubrey must have seen the shock on my face. “Who is it?” she whispered as I pulled the phone away from my face to hit the speaker button.
I didn’t want to have this conversation at all. In fact, I’d avoided it for the last nine months. But there was no way in hell I was going to do it with Aubrey standing in front of me and not being able to hear what was being said.
“Nyet,” I hissed out loud, stopping Kat from saying anything more. “I already heard that your parents know and you’re in trouble because of it. And before you can even ask, no, I didn’t say a word about it to anyone who would’ve talked. I can only guess that someone from high school has been gossiping about what you’ve been up to while you’ve been away at school.”
“But, Luka, I need your help,” she replied, completely ignoring what I’d just said.
“And I don’t care what you need,” I answered. “You’re not my problem anymore.”
Kat changed her tone of voice before speaking again. “I’m sorry I hurt you, Luka. I made a mistake. A big mistake. Isn’t there any way you can forgive me and take me back?” she asked softly, sounding more like the girl I used to know in high school than the bitch she’d turned into at college.
At that point, I could tell that Aubrey was losing her shit. Her face turned bright red and her fists were clenched tight.
"Wow. From what Luka told me about you, I knew you were pathetic. But damn, girl. You just hit an all-time new low trying to manipulate Luka into taking you back so you can get your parents off your back. Don’t think for a second that I’m going to let him fall for it though," she roared.
I could hear Kat sputter on the other end of the line. "And who the hell are you?" she shrieked.
"Luka’s girlfriend," Aubrey replied smugly, walking over to hug me close to her body as she fought this battle for me.
"What? You moved on?!" Kat screamed, stunned by the news my parents had apparently chosen not to share with hers yet.
Aubrey rolled her eyes at me before responding. “Of course he moved on! Why would he be stuck with feelings for somebody who doesn't deserve to share the air he breathes? You must be delusional. Or maybe just really, really stupid. I don’t really care which one it is, but you fucked around behind his back for years and now you think you can just wrap him around your little finger? After you did that to him?”
“But—” Kat stammered.
“But nothing,” Aubrey interrupted her. “Luka can be a lot of things, but an idiot is not one of them. Now please leave him alone. For good. Or else.” Then she pulled the phone from my hand and disconnected the call.
“Remind me never to piss you off,” I joked in an effort to lighten the mood.
“Sorry,” she whispered as she seemed to deflate right in front of me.
“Aubrey, no. I’m not mad at you. Not even a little bit,” I reassured her. “Just the opposite, in fact. ‘Cause I just discovered how fucking hot it can be when you defend me.”
“Really?” she asked. “Tell me more about how hot you think I am.”
When I looked down at her, it struck me that this girl really was it for me. “Ya tebya lyublyu,” I whispered in Russian, the words slipping out even though I wasn’t ready to admit my love to her in a language she would understand. Not yet anyway.
She looked up at me with a question in her eyes. One I wasn’t ready to answer right now. So I picked her up and carried her to my room, kissing her as I walked and ending the conversation. But later that night, as I lay in bed after making love to her, I couldn’t help the fearful thoughts that crept into my mind.
With everything going so well between us, why am I keeping a secret from the woman I now realize I love?
Chapter 13
Aubrey
Last night was so amazing with Luka that it left me walking around with a shit-eating grin on my face all day. I totally understood why he’d felt the need to put walls up around his heart after what his slutty ex had done to him, but it looked like he was finally ready to let me past his guard and into his heart and not just his bed. And I wanted in there so badly. It was why I put up with all his crazy rules and possessiveness. It had always been my hope that they were signs of how much he really cared for me, and if I was patient enough, he would eventually realize that this thing between us was so much more than physical. He was my one. It only made sense that I’d be his too.
Thank God I didn’t have any tests or anything huge going on in any of my classes today. It would really suck if I ruined all the progress I’d made this year by blowing it now because I was distracted. I’d had some major concerns about having Luka tutor me, but sticking with him was the best thing that had ever happened to me. Now, I was pulling a 4.0 and in a relationship that had gone well past my usual expiration date.
I wanted to do something special for him tonight, so I ran to the grocery store after my last class and grabbed stuff to make penne with vodka sauce and grilled chicken for dinner. It wasn’t a super fancy dinner, but he needed the carbs for tomorrow’s game and would appreciate the home-cooked meal no matter what I made.
I wasn’t sure if he had everything I needed to cook tonight since we didn’t often eat in at his place, so I decided to call Lexi on my way over to Luka’s and make sure she’d be home in case I needed to borrow something. I figured my chances were pretty good since she’d seriously cut back on the Mile High Club flights she offered to help pay for school because she knew they didn’t make Drake very happy. He was more than happy to pick up any slack for her, and she’d finally set aside her pride to allow him to help her out. He was her fiancé, after all.
“Hey, what’s up?” she answered.
“You gonna be home tonight?” I asked.
“Sure am. You want to come over? Does Luka have hockey stuff to keep him busy? You know you’re always welcome,” she offered.
I did know that. Both she and Drake made sure that their relationship didn’t interfere too much with our friendship. I finally realized how tough it was to maintain that balance now that I had Luka in my life and appreciated it that much more.
“Actually, I was planning to cook for Luka tonight,” I explained. “And I may need to borrow some stuff since I’m not entirely sure what all they have in their kitchen.”
“Cooking for your man, huh?” she teased. “Things must be getting really serious for you to pull out the big guns like that. What are you gonna make?”
“Penne alla vodka,” I answered. “And yes, before you even ask, I did buy enough for your dinner too because I know how much you love it.”
“Yes! Score!” she celebrated on the other line. I could practically see her doing a fist pump at her excited tone.
“Do you mind if I bring it over to you if Jason’s not home?” I asked.
“Of course not. I’m sure you could use some alone time with Luka, especially if there’s a reason you’re making him dinner tonight,” she said, prodding for more information.
I paused for a moment, unsure of how to explain it exactly. It wasn’t often that I was at a loss for words. “I think things changed for us last night. In a good way.”
“And?” she asked.
“And I want Luka to know he can trust me with anything. That I’m here for the long haul. That I want to see where our relationship goes after we graduate,” I explained.
“Deep stuff,” she murmured.
“Well, get ready for deeper because I think I’m going to tell him that I love him,” I admitted as I parked the car. It was perfect timing because I really shouldn’t be driving while I had this serious of a conversation with Lexi, even using Bluetooth.
I heard her gasp on the other end of the line. “You haven’t told him yet?”
“Not outside of bed. I want to look him in the eyes, outside the heat of the moment, and make sure he understands how much I mean it. That it isn’t just the sex talking. I love him from the bottom of my heart, Lexi. He’s it for me,” I answered.
“Holy shit, Aubrey!” she squealed in my ear. “I’m so happy for you. You finally found your one.”
“So did you,” I gently reminded her.
“I know, but ever since we were little girls, you’ve always dreamt of meeting the man you were going to marry. And then, when you started dating in high school, you jumped from guy to guy like you were searching for him anywhere and everywhere,” she said. “I have to admit that I worried a bit that, if you didn’t meet him soon enough, you’d give up hope and settle for something else. And you aren’t the type of woman who should settle for anything else. You deserve the best.”
“Damn. Why didn’t you ever say anything?” I asked.
Lexi’s answer stunned me. “Because you never gave up hope until last year. And then I could tell you needed some time to heal. I wasn’t going to give you much more, and then you met Luka and I had a feeling I didn’t need to worry too much anymore. You lit up every time he was near.”
“It was that obvious?”
“Only to anyone who knows you as well as I do,” she reassured me.
“I love you,” I replied with tears in my eyes.
“And I love you too. I really lucked out picking you as my best friend way back when in kindergarten, huh?” she said to lighten the mood.
“Yeah, we both did,” I agreed.
“So, I will be home soon. If you need anything, just let me know. Send me a text if Jason is going to be there tonight and then Drake and I will just plan to come over. If not, I look forward to room service a la Aubrey,” she joked.
“You got it,” I answered before disconnecting the call so I could grab the bags and head upstairs.
Luka’s car was in the parking lot, so I wasn’t going to be able to surprise him with dinner, but that was okay. I was just really looking forward to tonight.
“Here. Let me get that for you,” the security guy offered as he pushed the up button for the elevator.
“Thanks,” I said, flashing him a smile.
“You’re welcome,” he replied as the doors opened and he reached inside to hit the floor number for me too. One of the benefits of having both my boyfriend and best friend living in the same great apartment building on the same floor, I guess.
I juggled the bags as I headed down the hall to his door. There was no way I was going to be able to get it on my own, so I banged on it with my elbow to get Luka’s attention.
“Open up, sweetie. I’ve got groceries and don’t have any free hands,” I yelled, hoping to make him hurry a little.
It seemed to work, too, since the door opened less than a minute later. Only it wasn’t Luka who opened it. It was a girl I’d seen a few times in the building, usually coming as I was going or vice versa. She was very pretty, with dark-blond hair, bright-blue eyes, and a tiny, compact body. Today, her hair was pulled up in a ponytail that was a little messy and she was wearing athletic shorts and a tank top that showed that she had a lot of cleavage for someone her size. I’d never actually met her, so I had no idea who she was. Maybe she and Jason have something going on?
“Hey,” I said cautiously.
“Hi,” she replied with a smile on her face.
“I’m Aubrey.”
At my words, she glanced worriedly at Luka’s door and warning bells started going off inside my head.
“And you are?” I asked.
“Josie,” she whispered, biting her lip.
“Okay,” I drawled out, starting to wonder what the hell was up. “Luka?” I called out, but he didn’t answer.
I started walking towards his closed door when her words hit me.
“He can’t hear you. He’s in the shower.”
And just like that, my entire world crumbled beneath me. I stomped into his room to conf
irm that she wasn’t just playing some game with me. The sound of the running water was another nail in the coffin. Luka had left the bathroom door open a crack, just like he always did because he hated to get too much condensation on the mirrors and didn’t think the fan worked well enough by itself. So I knew he was in there. Hell, I’d seen his truck downstairs with my own eyes not five minutes ago.
I dumped the bags on the floor of his room and walked swiftly out, not making a sound except for the whimper that escaped because I couldn’t help it. I glared at the girl who had answered the door with an accusation in my eyes as tears welled in them.
“Aubrey. Wait!” I heard her say as I stalked out the front door.
I ignored her completely as I marched to the elevator and stabbed the down button. I had nothing to say to her. There just weren’t any words for what I was feeling right now.
Then I felt her grab my arm from behind, and I swung around as I heard the ping of the elevator.
“It isn’t what you think,” she tried to explain.
“Isn’t that supposed to be Luka’s line?” I asked bitterly.
“No, really. Come back inside,” she asked while pulling on my arm.
“Not a chance in fucking hell. Here’s what I think. I don’t know you because nobody has ever introduced us. Like my boyfriend. Who you clearly know well enough to be in his apartment when I’m not there and he’s taking a shower,” I answered.
“But—” she started, and I held my hand up to signal that I needed her to shut the fuck up.
“No. I’m not done yet. I’ve also seen you in the building before. Many, many times. Always in passing, so it’s pretty damn clear that you’re only here when I’m not. And there isn’t a single explanation that I can think of right now that I want to hear. So let go of my fucking arm before I make you let go,” I growled.
She stared at me with a sad look in her eyes for a moment before dropping her hand. I turned around and kept my back to her until the elevator doors closed me inside. And then I fucking lost my shit, sobbing hysterically. I rushed out the elevator as soon as the doors opened on the ground floor and ran smack-dab into Lexi.
The Blythe College Complete Series Box Set Page 55
