There’s a female voice too, high and a little giggly.

I should be braced for the sight. After what happened with Abby all those years ago, I really should be prepared.

But somehow, I’m not.

And the sight of Reece in a kitchen laughing with another girl, who’s standing far too close, nearly breaks me. He’s in the middle of eating whatever’s in the bowl he’s holding. I watch in agony as she reaches up and wipes a thumb across his lips, as though it’s her right to touch him.

And he doesn’t seem to mind.

What’s weird is that this moment is far more innocent than the one I’d walked in on when I was eighteen, and yet this one hurts so much more.

I can’t make a single noise, I can’t even breathe, and I put a protective hand to my stomach as though trying to physically push away the shock.

My gesture captures Reece’s attention, and his blue gaze swings around until it lands on me, his eyes widening in shock, then regret, and then, almost deliberately, defiance. As though daring me to care that he’s alone in another house with another woman.

Dare accepted, Reece. I care. I care.

The girl senses the tension and quickly turns around, and I register that she’s ridiculously pretty. She lets out a little squeak of surprise when she sees me. “Who are you? What are you doing in our house?”

Our house. Jesus.

I want to run. I need to run. But I did that last time, and it did not work out well. Instead I stand my ground and force myself to take a deep breath. “Yeah, Reece? Who am I?”

He lifts a shoulder. “Lucy, this is my new roommate. Pam, Lucy. My best friend’s little sister.”

I let out a crazed laugh, not sure which one hurts more. The fact that he’s living with this girl when he can’t even be bothered to send me a text message, or the fact that I’ve just been deliberately, summarily dismissed as Craig’s sister.

He couldn’t be more clear. We’re nothing to each other, connected only by an annoying tie to his best friend and my brother.

I don’t cry. Thank God, I don’t cry.

Instead I lift my chin and sadly meet his eyes. “You win, Reece. I give up, and you win.”

Chapter 39

LUCY, EIGHTEEN, REECE, NINETEEN

“Reece?” Lucy called, knocking once before opening the front door to the tiny house where Reece and his dad lived. “I got your text. Sorry I’m late.”

No response. Lucy stuck her head into the kitchen, making sure that Reece’s dad wasn’t there with his usual beer in hand. Nope. Must still be at work.

Lucy pushed away the thought that wondered how long Jeff Sullivan would keep this job.

“Reece?” Lucy asked again, heading down the dark hallway with its ugly yellowed carpet that led to Reece’s bedroom.

His door was open a crack, and Lucy gave it a push, an expectant smile already on her face. She’d thought they could grab something to eat, but if they had the house to themselves…

Maybe they could have a repeat of last night.

Lucy was confident she’d be better at it the second time. Not that the first time had been anything less than perfect.

Her thoughts scattered as she tried to process the scene in her head.

Reece.

Not alone.

A blond girl was plastered against him, her hands cupping his face as Lucy had the night before, and the girl was making breathy moaning noises as they kissed.

Lucy let out a choked noise, and Reece and the girl broke apart.

The blonde spun around, revealing the all too familiar face of Abby Mancuso.

“Oh hi, Lucy!” Abby said with a sheepish smile. “It’s nice to see you again.”

That hurt the worst. That Abby didn’t even have a clue that Lucy and Reece were together. Nobody did.

Because they weren’t anything.

Lucy forced herself to meet Reece’s eyes, wondering if there was anything he could possibly say to make this okay.

But it didn’t occur to her that he wouldn’t say anything. He just stared at her.

“Reece?” she whispered.

His gaze flickered then, but instead of coming toward her, he drove the knife deeper.

He reached for Abby, his hand touching his ex-girlfriend’s waist protectively.

Lucy’s eyes filled, and without a word, she turned on her heels and ran.

It wasn’t until she’d climbed into her car and was driving away at full speed that it hit her that he hadn’t even tried to come after her.

Chapter 40

Reece

I catch up with Lucy just as she’s wrenching open Horny’s driver’s-side door.

“Hold up,” I say, grabbing her arm and pulling her around before she can climb into the car. “What do you mean I ‘win’?”

Her eyes are wild and shining with tears as she glares at me. “I mean your grand plan of pushing me out of your life, it’s finally worked. You nearly did it with Abby all those years ago. You made good progress by shutting me out completely without even telling me why. But this? Hooking up with your roommate? Nail in coffin, congrats.”

Her voice is so full of pain I nearly pull her close. And annoyingly, I feel a strange sense of panic, even as I tell myself this is what I want. To be done with her.

It’s on the tip of my tongue to explain that I’m not hooking up with Pam. Hell, I don’t even like my new roommate. She’s like a predatory cat, either ignoring or simply oblivious to the fact that I’m not interested.

I don’t tell Lucy this.