Chapter 175

I felt numb as James drove us away from the party. My anger and confusion had morphed into disbelief. I didn't even feel like I was living my own reality.

James and I had been quiet for the last five minutes. We've been digesting our feelings in the silence.

Knowing that the people closest to you could hurt you so brutally and recklessly felt dangerous. I gave Lucas parts of me that nobody had ever seen before.

I'd shared things with him that meant something to me, and he just went behind my back.

I think what hurt the most was that Lucas was doing it willingly, knowing that there was a possibility I would find out.

My brain just couldn't process the fact that Lucas would do this to me.

Glancing at James, it felt weird to see him without his normal cheerful smile. I hated that they had done that to him.

He looked like he was depleted of any joy, and I missed hearing his constant annoying and obnoxious jokes.

How could Lucas and Victoria betray us like this? Did they even care?

"I can't believe they went to such lengths to lie to us," I muttered, clenching my fists. "What did we ever do to them?"

James nodded. "You know, it really doesn't make any sense, Shana. I've been sitting here, trying to think of an answer, but I keep drawing a blank."

"How long do you think they were..." I stilled, not wanting to say the words aloud. It was like confirming all of this was true. "Engaged?"

His grip on the steering wheel mirrored his frustration. "Honestly, I don't know. Maybe, they never really ended it. Maybe, it's been going on since the beach house trip. Or maybe, it was only recently when Lucas moved back into Kendrick's house."

"Has Victoria been acting strange since Lucas's moved into Kendrick's?" I asked.

Lucas had definitely been acting differently since he moved back into his father's house, but that was a given. Kendrick had a control over him like no one else.

But could it have been because of his engagement to Victoria? Is that the real reason why he had to move back to his father's house?

"No," James said. "I didn't notice anything different. Except for today, but I guess the party explained it."

"If Lucas's cousin would've never showed up earlier," I said, "then we would've never known any of this."

"Do you think they would've continued to lie?" James asked, glancing my way.

"Do you seriously think they would've told us?" I asked, making my feelings obvious.

I wondered how long Lucas and Victoria would've kept up with their lies. Were they planning on actually getting married? The thought twisted my stomach into knots.

"Do you want to know what's the funniest thing about all of this?" James asked, but I knew that he didn't actually find any of this funny. "I thought Victoria was different, you know? I really liked her."

I sighed and looked out the car window. "I'm sorry, James. You don't deserve any of this."

"Me?" I turned back toward him. "Shana, you deserve this the least out of everyone. You've been through so much these past few months already. I can't believe Lucas would dare to even risk hurting your feelings like this."

"Why do you say that?" I asked.

"Lucas always talks about how much he cares for you," James confessed. "I don't know what he's thinking right now. I don't know what his motives are."

The deep sense of betrayal hit me again, throwing me back into my sadness. "You know, I thought the same thing about Lucas. I thought he would be one of the only people who would always bet there for me and not hurt me."

"I heard about your father..." James said, and I could tell he was trying to use his words carefully to discuss the touchy subject. "I'm really sorry. Lucas didn't tell me, I overheard it at the championship game when you went to Lucas's private locker room."

I sighed, feeling a small smile grace my face. "It's okay, but you don't need to feel sorry for me. My dad has been this way for a long time now."

"That doesn't make it okay," James said. "Just like how this situation isn't okay—not by any means."

My heart ached, and I couldn't help but think about the moments I had recently shared with Lucas, believing that they were genuine. The deceit cut deeper than I had imagined.

In an attempt to ease the heaviness that seemed to be taking over us, James suddenly pulled into a local fast food drive-thru.

He glanced at me expressionless until he attempted to give me a mischievous smile. "I need a pick me up. Want some ice cream?"

I couldn't help but smile back, grateful for his effort to lift our spirits. "Yes, that sounds perfect right now."

"I'm the kind of person who eats their feelings away," James commented.

I gave him a deadpan stare. "James, you eat even when you're feeling perfectly normal. Actually, you're almost always eating."

"Shana, don't argue with me right now. I'm in a vulnerable state."

The both of us ordered our ice creams and parked in a nearby empty lot beside the shop. As we scooped the ice cream into our mouths, I couldn't help but feel a little better.

"Feeling better?" I asked James as I licked my ice cream.

He shrugged. "Once this ice cream is gone, I'll be upset again."

"Do you think they feel bad for us?" I questioned. "Do you think they even feel sorry?"

James shrugged. "Honestly, I have no idea. But if they could do this without ever letting us know... If they could do this behind our backs, then I doubt they care how we feel."

I sighed, not wanting to believe what James was saying was true.

"Maybe there was some kind of plan we didn't know about," I said. "There has to be a reason why they did this."

"Well, if there was a plan, then they just used us," James clarified, pain dancing in his eyes. "I really thought there was something special with Victoria. Now I just feel defeated."

I listened intently, realizing just how hurt James had been by all of this. "I understand how you feel. It's tough when you realize someone you care about has deceived you."

"We thought we knew them well, didn't we?" He nodded, taking a bite of his ice cream and staring off into the distance.

It was a feeling we shared, a sense of having been blind to the lies sitting right before our eyes.

But a part of me still couldn't believe it to be true. Lucas and Victoria weren't the kind of people to be so cruel.

None of it made any sense.

Once we finished our ice creams, James drove me back to Grandma Jo's house. Our moods were a bit lighter, but the sadness still lingered.

As we approached the driveway, I noticed an unfamiliar black SUV parked there. Dread washed over me as I recognized it as one of Kendrick's vehicles.

I turned to James, my heart racing. "I think Lucas is here."

We exchanged a worried glance, knowing that this meeting could lead to further confrontation.

"I'm coming inside with you," James said and I agreed.

Hopefully, this meant we could get some much-needed answers.