7
370words
Lucas spun around to face me.“Why’re you hiding?”
Mumbled, I said, “Your confession... it’s sudden,” as I was forced to meet his eyes.
He groaned.“We were classmates for seven years—everyone knew I liked you!If I’d known you were clueless,I’d have confessed sooner,not let that jerk Ethan steal you.He won you over and treated you like garbage—I wanted to strangle him!”
I didn’t know how to handle his feelings.“Lucas,I’m not ready to date.”
He shrugged.“No pressure.If I make you uncomfortable,walk away.If you’re okay with me,we’ll be friends first.Your happiness comes first.”
I shook my head.“It doesn't seem fair to enjoy your kindness without knowing if I'll ever accept you.”
He tapped my head.“Fair?I like you—I’m happy to do it.Someone who truly cares doesn’t expect returns.People who give a little and demand repayment aren’t sincere.”
It made sense.
Uncle’s family gave me scraps and expected subservience.
Ethan“helped”to gain praise and control me.
Orphaned young,I didn’t know real love.
Lucas changed the topic,discussing reclaiming my parents’property.
It was old,and he wasn’t confident,but he was too modest.
In court,he thoroughly defeated Uncle’s lawyer,leaving them speechless.
The judge ordered Uncle and Auntie to return my parents’house and$150,000,with$50,000 as their“care”fee.
After the trial,I ran into Ethan on the way home.
He’d been frazzled. He was dealing with the fallout from the message I sent to his brother, and he looked gaunt.
Lucas gloated,“Ethan,what’s got you down?Share,so I can laugh!”
“You—”Ethan’s face darkened,but he knew he couldn’t out talk Lucas and didn’t try.
He looked at me.“Can we talk alone?”
He reached for me,but I stepped back.“Not convenient.”
“Zoe,after all our years,all I did for you,you won’t even talk to me alone?”
Ethan was a master at guilting and playing the victim.
Before,when I tried breaking up,he’d pull this,and I’d stay,not wanting to seem ungrateful.
But now,Lucas was right:if someone keeps hurting you,walk away.
I ignored him,leaving.
He chased me,pained.“Don’t you care what I’ve been through?Dad’s cutting my shares to a tenth after learning I set up that mistress.He’s furious!”
“Oh,that’s great.”
I laughed,genuinely pleased.
He broke down.“How dare you laugh?You knew Dad planned to give me most of the estate.I only told you about the mistress.I was so good to you—why betray me?”
