Page 54 of Saved By A Dark Billionaire
"Who is it?" Lucas asked.
"Um…what if I told you I was an android person who did not know how to work an iPhone?" I asked shyly, unsure how to see who had texted him. He laughed again.
"Just open my texts." He shook his head with a smile.
I was surprised he was giving me permission to open his texts. I figured out how to get back to the home screen, seeing the text app on the bottom. It opened and saw he had an unread message from his mom.
"It's your mom."
"Read it to me?" He asked as he turned right on the street.
"Okay, uh, it says: Lucas, you better not start any drama with your uncle this time. It's my birthday and I want to have an enjoyable time with my family." I read the text out loud to him, feeling embarrassed. I wasn't sure if it was something he wanted me to know or not. I turned to look at him, seeing he wasn't phased by it.
"Tell her I'll do my best as long as he does." He said. I typed the message out to his mom and hit send. I wondered what was going on between him and his uncle that would warrant such a text from his mother.
"Music please, Rose," he reminded me.
"Right." I saw the list of names on his texts as I went to go back to his music app. I saw his mom's name, mine, Leo's, Lisa's and even Hailey's, but under all of them wasJanessa. My stomach twisted, and I felt a pang of jealousy. I thought he said he broke it off. Why is her name still there? I felt my face contort in disappointment before I could stop it.
"What's wrong?" Lucas asked.
"Nothing, sorry. Just trying to navigate your phone," I lied, smiling sheepishly at him.
"If I remember correctly, Leo got you a new iPhone when he broke your last one, no?" Lucas arched a brow.
"He did, but I am honestly not an iPhone person, so I traded it out." I held up my Samsung to show him. Lucas laughed, making me smile. His laugh was beautiful, bouncing all around me in the car.
"You're something else, Rose."
I finally got to his music and decided to play Deftones. We sang along for the last few minutes of the ride. Lucas was actually an excellent singer. I had pushed my insecurities and feelings of betrayal deep down, deciding not to let it ruin my mood. I didn't know what was said on the text thread, so I won’t obsess over it. It could have very well been the message that broke it off between them. I tried to trust what Lucas was telling me was true. I was having a hard time doing so. Lucas opened my door for me when we arrived, holding his hand out. I placed his phone in his hand before stepping out.
"I wanted your hand, not my phone." He shook his head. He put his phone in his pocket before holding his hand back out towards me. I took his hand this time, allowing him to pull me flush against his chest. He pulled his phone back out and fiddled with it for a moment. I tried to pull away, but he held me close.
"I know you saw her name on my phone, Rose. I have only texted my family and Leo these past few weeks. Her name is still there because she was the last girl I texted to break things off with." I blushed, knowing I had been caught looking. He turned the phone for me to see his message to her.
Lucas:What you did today was unacceptable. I know we've had our fun, Janessa, but it's over now. I am serious about the girl I had brought home tonight, and your antics pushed her away. Please lose my number.
The words I read surprised me. He was serious about me even then? I had a hard time processing what his message said against what I had believed. I was so insecure and wrapped up in my preconceived notions of him, I never gave him a chance. He hadn't hurt me and yet I treated him like he did. It was Julius who hurt me, who's now left me with this insecurity and distrust of men.
"I'm sorry. I promise I wasn't trying to snoop. I just noticed her name. Thank you for showing me." I bit my lip, feeling both embarrassed and anxious. Lucas leaned down and kissed my forehead.
"Let's go upstairs and get some food ordered."
We made our way upstairs, ordering some Mexican food. Lucas stepped into his office after he situated me in the living room with blankets, snacks, and the TV remote. I found it cute the way he fussed over me. He wanted to make sure I was entertained and didn't plan on leaving. The doorbell rang 15 minutes later.
"Rose, could you get the door for me, please? It's probably our food," he called out to me from his office. I smiled as I got off the couch, picturing him hunched over his desk. I felt bad he had to work.
"Yeah, I got it," I called back.
I opened the door with my smile quickly fading. I didn't bother looking at the camera monitor beside his door to see who it was before I had opened it. Honestly, I assumed it was the delivery person with our food. I was surprised to find a tall, beautiful woman standing on the other side of the open door. She had short wavy green hair and a kind expression despite her tough demeanor. She wore biker boots, torn jeans, and a leather jacket. Her mouth turned with a polite smile before opening it to speak. Her dark lipstick made her teeth look so much whiter, and her skin paler.
"Hey, um, is Lucas home?" She asked, causing my heart to clench.Another girl.
"Uh, yeah. He's in his office working. I'll go grab him," I told her.
"Oh, it's fine. I'll get him myself." She smirked with a mischievous grin on her face. She sidestepped me, entering the place like she owned it.
She knew exactly where she was going without me having to show her. She'd been here before, seeming so comfortable, too. I felt my chest hurt again with my insecurities bubbling up again. I hated this pendulum of emotions I'd been feeling.
