Chapter 23

Azalea’s POV.

I walked back to the living room. I was anxious and kept thinking about what Lucas said in the car. He wanted a chance—why couldn’t he ever say anything? It would have saved me so much heartbreak. If Lucas had asked for a chance in the past, I would’ve given it to him in an instant. He’d deserve it more than anyone, but then he changed so much that I started questioning who he truly was.

Since Lucas came back into my life, he seemed to be more understanding. I had my old friend back and not some judgmental freak. He truly listened and seemed to genuinely care about me. Then I saw him with Lynn tonight, and he was so good with her, handling her and the entire bundle of energy she came with.

I love Lynn more than anything, but I’m also aware that she can be a bit of a handful, especially with all the energy she has. Yet Lucas managed to do just fine and didn’t get frustrated. It took skill and patience—so far, Clara, Ada, and I were truly the only ones who were able to handle her.

I cleared my throat, and Lucas turned around immediately. He had been checking out the wall of pictures I had. They were all from the past five years, not a single one dated before that. I had photos with co-workers, Ada, and Clara, and tons of photos of Lynn with her friends, including Nerissa, of course.

“Hey,” Lucas smiled, with that damn smile that made me all warm. “I was checking out the photos,” he told me as if I hadn’t seen him do so already.

“I can tell,” I smiled and came closer. The photos were all great memories I cherished.

“You looked radiant when you were pregnant with her,” Lucas said, pointing to one of the photos where I was about seven months pregnant. It amazed me how positive he was about this. After I had Lynn, I went out on three dates, and two of them looked at me weirdly when they found out I was a mother.

“Don’t let the photos fool you, I was a goblin,” I laughed, looking at the photo too. Nearing the last few weeks of the pregnancy, I was a mess, but it was okay—Clara was a mess with me too, and we understood each other and thankfully had Ada who would check up on us and make sure we were all doing well.

“Of course,” Lucas laughed and shook his head. I pressed my lips together as I watched him, studying how much more handsome he had gotten over time.

“Lynn seems very artistic,” Lucas commented when he turned to look at the photos again. Many photos of Lynn showed off her artwork.

“Oh yeah, she always participates in everything, including pens, paint, stickers, and just about anything,” I smiled. My fridge was just proof of all of that, along with the counter and just about any surface she could find to stick her art on.

“She’s a great little girl,” Lucas said with happiness. That filled my heart with pride, knowing someone thought of my daughter the same way I did.

Lucas had always meant a lot to me. I might’ve suppressed my past, but he was the one person who always came to mind whenever I’d look at old photos of me and my dad. Lucas had always been there for my father too, along with Mr. Cade.

“She is,” I simply confirmed. There was nothing I wouldn’t do for my fierce little girl.

“Before I leave, I want to try,” Lucas said between stutters. There was clearly something on his mind, and I could see the hesitation in his eyes.

“Try what?” I asked, feeling my heart race against my chest.

Lucas' gaze had changed, and I could feel my hands getting clammy.

“I told you in the car that I wanted a chance,” Lucas stated again, and I just nodded. Could it be? Will he finally say it? “You never gave me a chance, Azzie,” he added, his tone carrying a hint of hurt.

“That’s because you changed overnight. Suddenly, you started dating all the girls in town and sleeping left and right,” I pointed out to him. I always thought we’d go to prom together—he made it seem as if we were going to be a couple—but then he changed, and ever since, I had a crush on a guy who was interested in everyone but me.

“You were still my best friend, and I had a major crush on you, but I feared I’d be just another girl to you,” I admitted. I carried that feeling throughout the following years until I met Damon. Damon, who begged for a chance. Damon, who promised me there would be no others.

“You would’ve never been just another girl, Azalea,” Lucas caressed my face, and I pressed my lips together as I looked up at him. “What I did in the past… I did it for poor reasons. I knew you liked me, I heard it from Penelope, and she told me to act on it and ask you out to prom. But instead, fear consumed me,” he confessed, bringing news to light I wasn’t aware of.

“Pen told you?” I frowned. No wonder she could never tell me why she hated him. I missed Penelope a lot—she was a great friend, and often when I’m with Clara, I feel guilty that I couldn’t have Penelope by my side too.

“Yeah, apparently she could tell you liked me and I liked you, and she cornered me. She told me to take you to that high school dance, but instead, I got scared,” Lucas confessed, and I just stood there, processing all the information. “You were so amazing, Azzie. I worried I’d never be enough for you,” Lucas continued, his voice carrying his raw emotions.

“So I did the stupidest thing ever. I started looking at other girls. I distracted myself with others when it had always been you and only you,” Lucas confessed.

“Lucas,” I sighed. Why did he have to tell me this? Now I’ll mourn something I never had.

“I’m not here to dwell on the past. I have changed,” Lucas spoke with more confidence now, his hands moving to mine. “I, more than anything, want you in my life, Azalea,” he squeezed my hand. “I’m no longer afraid because I can be the man you need me to be. I can take care of you and look after Lynn. I can give you it all, please,” he pleaded, those whiskey eyes staring deep into mine.

“Lucas,” I muttered, feeling my heart flutter.

At that moment, there was such raw tension between us, pulling us towards each other. One moment I was staring into his whiskey-brown eyes, and the next, we came closer, our breaths on each other’s lips. I closed my eyes, and our lips collided.

I felt his hands going around my waist as he pulled me deeper into the kiss, and my hands went into his hair, finally able to kiss Lucas after all these years. He tasted so divine and kissed so passionately.

His strong, firm hold on me made me sigh into the kiss. I then came back to my senses and took a step back.

“Move to the city,” I asked him. We can give it a chance, only if he moves.

“Azzie, I have a good job on the Belt. I earn a lot, and I’ll be able to take better care of everything for us there,” Lucas frowned. That’s when I realized this might not work how we wanted.

“Lucas, you may be able to ward Laura off, but it would never be for long, and I can’t bring Lynn to that place,” I reminded him. I hadn’t told him in detail about Laura, and I didn’t want her around my daughter at all. “I fear what they’ll do upon meeting her,” I muttered.

“Is there no way you’ll move back there?” Lucas asked, pain flashing in his eyes.

“Zero,” I stood my ground. Nothing will ever make me risk the safety of my daughter.

“Azzie, that’s the only job I know and can do,” Lucas whispered in a broken tone, “It’s the only job I’d be able to provide with.”

That wasn’t true, but I understood what was going on. This job meant far too much to him, and he settled there as his home. I couldn’t remove him from home, and I didn’t ever wish to. I did, however, wish he would fight for us. Just to give us a chance. We could’ve had potential, and with the labor work he did and the skillset he had, he’d find a job.

“I understand Lucas,” I forced a smile on my lips and hugged him.

“What does this mean for us then?”

“Wrong time, wrong place, right person,” I replied and took a step back.

“Right person,” he repeated with a slight smile. “Perhaps the future holds something different for us,” he decided, and I prayed it would be true one day.

“Perhaps,” I muttered.

“I’m sorry, Azalea,” Lucas squeezed my shoulder.

“This isn’t your fault. It’s just fate,” I walked him to the front door.

“I hope it changes one day,” Lucas smiled.

“I hope so too,” I said truthfully. “Thank you, Lucas, for everything today.”

“You’re welcome, Azzie. I’ll stay in contact,” he promised, and with that, Lucas was once again gone. I began to wonder if we ever even stood a chance or if fate would constantly disrupt it.