Prologue
Samantha
TEN YEARS AGO
Drops of sweatpoured down my face as I waited by the bar for a drink. I was growing more irritated with each passing moment. The extra effort I’d put into my hair and makeup had now gone to shit by the heat and humidity of this dive bar. My damp hair clung to my forehead and the back of my neck. I had even broken out my push-up bra, which made my double Ds look 3D in my black tank top. That backfired, too, as I was sporting some serious boob sweat—notsexy at all.
A crowded bar wasn’t for me. I liked a more subdued type of place, but a few friends of mine had been on my case to come out tonight. But that wasn’t the real reason I was here with extra makeup running down my face and my boobs hanging out.
Lucas Hunter, the beautiful object of my unrequited affection for the past three years, had mentioned he would be there for a few farewell drinks and he’d “love it if I stopped by.” He had found a job with one of the big four accounting firms in San Diego and was leaving his job as a college advisor. I couldn’t bring myself to think of Lucas not being around anymore. I had very little time left to shamelessly follow him around.
My only saving grace for tonight was the music. Eighties and early-nineties rock songs played on a continuous loop. One of my favorites, Heart’s “Alone,”blasted from the jukebox. Listening to it now seemed poignant as Ann Wilson belted out the words that described my life for the past three years.
The wait for my Malibu and pineapple seemed to take forever. The female bartender was too busy feeling the biceps of the underage college boys ordering their drinks. I huffed as I tapped my foot.
“C’mon, O’Rourke. Can’t you lighten up?” My friend Jason put his arm around me, and I smiled in spite of myself. It was true. I was having a tantrum like a child, but my emotions were all over the place.
“It’s just frustrating. All I want is a frigging drink.” I nodded at the full bottle of beer in Jason’s hand. “Of course you bat your eyelashes and get one instantly. She’s looking back at you, too.” I shook my head and laughed. Jason was a great looking guy, built, with sexy hazel eyes—but she wasn’t his type. He preferred someone with less makeup and more penis.
Jason shrugged with a smirk. “I guess the joke is on her, then. We’re seniors in a month; we’ve been dying for you to come out with us. Morgan isn’t even that weepy tonight. You look hot, so get your drink and have fun with us. You deserve to let loose a little bit. And the other thing that’s got you all worked up—I just saw him walk in.” Jason smirked as he swaggered away to where our friends were sitting. I took a deep breath and tried to adjust my pissy attitude.
“Let me guess. Malibu and pineapple, right?” I was gutted by the deep voice that now broke my heart as much as it thrilled me. I spun around and found Lucas Hunter standing next to me in the smoky haze. Why did he always have to look so damn good? Even in the dimly lit bar, I could make out his piercing blue eyes. His sandy brown hair was tousled like he just got out of bed, and his black V-neck shirt stuck to every ridge and hard muscle of his torso. Lucas made sweaty look hot—reallyhot.
“How did you know that?”
“Daina told me that was your favorite drink when I made fun of her for ordering it at our cousin’s wedding. Wait here, Baby Girl. I’ll get it for you.” Lucas always had a way of swooping in and fixing things. I had the damsel in distress act down pat, always needing help with something. Lucas always came to my rescue and looked out for me. Now he would be saving the day for some chick in California. Maybe I should’ve changed my order to a shot.
Of course, Lucas had our drinks in under five minutes.
“I’m glad you came out tonight. The company found me an apartment, so I have to leave earlier than I’d planned to get settled.” Lucas took a long swig of his beer.
“How much earlier?” I tried to keep the panic out of my voice as I slurped my drink. Lucas wasnotmy boyfriend. He had become a good friend over the years, but he was never attainable to me in any way, shape, or form. But knowing I wouldn’t see or talk to him anymore made a lump form in my throat so large it was choking me. This reaction couldn’t be rational—or normal.
“Sunday.” Lucas gave me a sad smile.Two days? That’s all I had?What if I finally told him how I felt and attacked his perfect lips the way I’ve wanted to for the past three years?
I took a deep breath and grabbed Lucas’s arm.
“Lucas, would you want to—”
“There he is! Lucas! We’ve been looking all over the place for you!”
Lucas’s friend Jared came over to pull him back with the group. He was good-looking, too, with his wavy black hair and over six feet in height. But it never mattered. Whenever Lucas was in the room, I didn’t see anyone but him.
“Excuse me for a bit, Sam. Time to collect some free drinks from these slackers.”
“Sure.” My voice was a low whisper, my body feeling the aftereffects of the adrenaline pumping in my veins. Trying to be brave made me weak in the knees and a little nauseated.
No, no, no! I was doing this. For once I was going after what I wanted. No regrets!
I headed to the back of the crowded room, just in time to see someone throw her arms around Lucas and kiss him—right on the lips. It was hard to tell who she was since I didn’t see her face, but she had a phenomenal body—at least from the back. So much for this being a night of no regrets. The blood in my veins ran cold as I backed away, shaking my head at myself for even trying.
I moped back over to the bar and took a seat, putting my face in my hands. I needed to stop this—now. I was always a kid in his eyes—someone he called “Baby Girl” as a joke or “Sam” like I was one of the guys. I needed to face the hard fact that I’d denied for the past three years—that the way Lucas saw me wasnevergoing to change.
Any time I spent with another guy never went past kissing. I didn’t give anyone a chance because I’d had Lucas blinders on for the past three years—and where did it get me?Absolutely fucking nowhere.
“Hey, is this seat taken?” Marc, one of the guys I recognized from the few frat parties I attended, took a seat on the stool next to me. He was about my height, five and a half feet-ish, with black hair and brown eyes. He wore a blue checkered shirt and khaki shorts, looking like he just came back from the beach. The last party I went to that was hosted by Marc’s frat, I remembered feeling like I was in the modern-day version of the movieAnimal House—and Marc was the reincarnated John Belushi.
“No. Marc, right?”
