Beautifully Broken Read Free Page A

straight to
the elevator press the button repeatedly, as if it will get here faster the more
I press the already lit button. I’m not even sure why am I letting him pressure
me to stay? I should leave before this situation gets any more complicated.
    After
a totally silent ride down the elevator, Liam takes my hand and leads me
through MADD Pulse, the club we met in last night then through a door leading
to a restaurant kitchen. The staff greets him as we pass. He briefly greets
them then leads me through another door into MADD Steakhouse, a very popular
restaurant that Lucas and I usually avoid.
    He
nods at the hostess and leads us to a booth in the back and slides in next to
me. I glance at him and ask, “Can you sit on the other side?”
    “Why
would I want to do that?” From his shocked expression I can tell women don’t
usually push him away.
    “We
need to talk and I can’t concentrate with you so close.” The corner of his lip
lifts slightly, enjoying the affect he has on me; he shakes his head as he gets
up and slides in across from me.
    The
waiter silently approaches us and places an array of dishes on our table. There
are eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, waffles, orange juice and fresh fruit. He
walks away with an “Enjoy your meal”.
    “What?”
he ask when he sees my shocked expression. He begins piling food on his plate.
    “We
didn’t even order”
    “They
know what I like, and I like my privacy. I don’t need a waiter constantly
attending to me.”
    “You
own this restaurant?” I ask.
    He
nods his head nonchalantly.
    “I’m
guessing that’s the reason Lucas refuses to come here.”
    He
shrugs “Eat” he demands. He’s obviously as uncomfortable with the Lucas issue
as I am.
    I
grab the bowl of fruit and nibble at a couple pieces.
    “So
I think you should know I’m on the pill. That last time in the shower we didn’t
use anything.” I try to throw in casually.
    He
shrugs again, “I take a test every three months, had one last week and I’m
clean if that’s why you’re so nervous.”
    “I’m
not nervous; I haven’t been with anyone beside Lucas in a while and we're
always safe.” I say watching his face contort in disgust.
    “Why
are you fucking with that prick anyway?” he snaps.
    “Lucas
is my best friend, I’m not going to sit here and listen to some guy I just met
put him down.” I answer getting up from the table. He doesn’t make a move to
stop me. I know its better this way but I can’t stop myself from looking back
as I walk out the door. He continues eating, disinterested in my dramatic
departure.
    ********
    As
I step into my condo I can smell fried bacon in the air. I’m not at all
surprised to see Lucas in my kitchen. Two places have already been set at my
island bar and Lucas is sitting with his back facing me, his forehead resting
on his steepled hands. Our crazy friend/lover relationship is wearing him down
as much as it does me. In college we were inseparable but I never allowed our
relationship get past that friendship line. Deep down I always knew Lucas was
not for me.
    We
spent so much time together most of the guys on campus thought I was taken. I
even went so far as to let him sleep in my bed knowing his feelings for me were
much more than anything I felt for him. The rock hard erection rubbing against
my ass when he slept over left me no doubt about his attraction. He would wake
up in the mornings rubbing on my breast and grinding against me and I would pull
away. I never meant to lead him on but I enjoyed his friendship and clung to it.
Even if I were capable of loving him the way he wants me to I knew I would hurt
him.
    Through
the years he became my only family, taking me home for thanksgiving and Christmas,
never questioning me about my unmentioned family.  By our third year his dad
started talking about the wedding we could have after graduation. Wedding
dresses and champagne toast as tempting to me as a casket with roses on it. Dread
raced through