Chapter 63

Once Kendrick declared that last statement, he finally left the restaurant. The tension between the three of us was palpable, and I could practically feel the anger radiating off of Lucas.

James probably sensed it too because he was staring at Lucas with concern and caution, as if Lucas might explode into a million pieces. "You okay, bro?"

When Lucas didn't answer and kept looking at the door Kendrick just walked out of, James's eyes fell on me. He widened them at me, silently urging me to say or do something -- like he was beckoning me to comfort Lucas.

"Lucas?" I asked, gently placing a hand on his arm.

My gentle touch seemed to snap him out of whatever trance he was in. His gaze split from the front entrance and returned to us.

The way his eyebrows bunched together on his forehead strangely made him look similar to his father.

I swallowed, suddenly worried by what Lucas was thinking.

"Dude?" James asked Lucas again, trying to capture his attention for a second time.

"What?" Lucas's voice sounded irritated and breathy like he was trying hard to control his breathing.

"Take a deep breath and try to relax," James continued reassuringly. "You're freaking me out a little bit."

"I just can't believe him." Lucas was shaking his head. "I mean, I shouldn't even be surprised by his actions at this point..."

"Yeah, no offense, but your dad seriously sucks."

I gave James a glare and he gave me a bewildered stare. "What? It's true!"

"That's not helping," I said to James like I was a mother scolding her child.

I nudged Lucas to sit back down at the table by tugging on his sleeve, and he complied, returning to his seat.

The three of us sat in silence for a minute before James broke it. "I mean, how bad can a beach house be? That actually sounds kind of nice..."

James had a point. Usually, it would be strange for anyone to complain about having to spend five days vacationing at a beach house. And considering the weather was getting colder, it sounded like the perfect escape.

It appeared as if a light bulb went off in Lucas's head as he said, "What if you guys came with me?"

James and I immediately burst into laughter. He couldn't be serious, could he?

"I don't know if you remember, but Victoria hates us." James pointed between the two of us. "She would never allow us to join you two."

"Yeah, Lucas," I sighed. "As great as that would sound, Victoria would rather stab sticks in her eyes than spend five days at a beach house with me and James."

"Wait,” Lucas said, taking his phone out and dialing a number.

“What are you doing?” I asked, growing panicked. Was he calling Victoria?

“Hello, Lucas?” Victoria said over the speaker.

“Hey, I’m here with James and Shana.” Lucas looked at us. “I invited them to the beach house.”

“You what?”

“I invited them to come with us. I thought it would be a good idea to go in a group of people,” Lucas reasoned.

There was another female voice on the other end of the call, whispering something to Victoria.

“Yes! Say that’s a good idea!”

“No!” Victoria whispered back.

“Come on!” The other girl said. “That way I can go too!”

“Fine,” Victoria finally said. “James and Shana can come.”

Lucas hung up the phone with Victoria, and immediately, James was grinning.

"Are you serious?!" By the look on James's face, I could tell that he was loving this idea. "I'm so down to go to a beach house!"

"I don't know..." I started, looking at the two of them with hesitation.

"Oh, c'mon, Shana!" James whined. "Don't be a party pooper."

"Five days is a long time," I said defensively, trying to think of any excuse as to why I shouldn't go besides the real reason.

As much as it sounded fun, I didn't know how I would feel seeing Victoria and Lucas together for five days. What if they acted like a couple right in front of me? I wasn't sure if I'd be able to handle seeing that in front of my eyes for that long.

Just seeing Victoria interact with Lucas the first time I met her made me jealous, I couldn't imagine how I would feel this time.

"Five days is going to fly by so quickly," James reassured me. "And even if time goes by slowly, who cares? We're going to be laying out by the beach the entire time."

"You don't have to go if you don't want to," Lucas spoke.

When I turned to him, his cool blue eyes were watching me expectantly. "But I would rather have you there." He looked at James. "I want both of you there."

"Well, dude. You don't have to ask me twice," James smiled, throwing his arms behind the back of his head as if he were relaxing. "This is going to be me on the beach. Kicking back and taking it easy."

"Shana?" Lucas asked, returning his stare. "What do you say?"

Honestly, I didn't know what was the right choice, and what was the wrong choice.

"Victoria won't like it if I'm there," I said.

"She just said she was fine with it, and besides, screw her!" James shouted, leaning forward in his seat. "She can suc—"

"Don't finish that sentence," Lucas put a hand up to James's face. "We're in a public place."

James huffed with a shrug, falling back into his seat. "I'm just saying, you can't let Victoria push you around, Shana. Besides, I won't let her say anything to hurt you again."

"Neither will I," Lucas agreed. "I'll make sure of it. Nobody is going to be rude to either of you. You both have every right to enjoy a vacation as much as Victoria or anyone else does. You'll feel welcome, I promise."

I thought about this for a moment.

I could see Victoria's annoyed stare in my mind now, threatened or disgusted by my presence.

I remember how she called me all "skin and bones," which was a total lie, by the way. After training with Lucas for a few weeks, I'd gotten significantly tanner and toned.

I felt like she just wanted to insult me for the hell of it-- to get a reaction out of me.

As much as I hated to admit it, she was successful in doing so.

Now, it was my turn to get back at her in some way. She obviously wouldn't want me there...

But maybe if I was at the beach house, Lucas and Victoria wouldn't spend so much time together.

Lucas has said countless times how much he didn't actually like Victoria. He's reiterated that their relationship was strictly platonic, business only.

Maybe I had nothing to worry about.

Maybe it wouldn't be that bad.

Maybe I should just accept and join them at the beach house.

What was the worst that could really happen if I had James and Lucas by my side?

"Okay, fine," I finally said. "I'll go."

"Yes!" James cheered and gave Lucas a high-five. The two of them were already grinning like little boys.

"I knew she'd eventually say yes," James told Lucas as he shook his head.

"I'm sitting right here," I pointed out. "I can literally hear you talking about me."

"Don't worry, Shana," Lucas tried to reassure me with a warm smile. "Victoria won't act like she did the first time you guys met her. It's going to be a good time for everyone."

"If I'm going to be there, it's always going to be a good time," James smirked, resting his arms over his head again.

Lucas and I both looked at each other before rolling our eyes, not even surprised by James's big ego.