3.

Lori

Lucas’s dark eyes narrowed into dangerous slits the second the bartender returned, slamming the heavy, unopened bottle of raw whiskey onto the wood between us.

“Why do I suddenly get the feeling that you just got your heart broken?” Lucas asked softly, his deep voice carrying over the low hum of the bar as he watched me pour a shot and knock it back without flinching.

I swallowed hard, wincing as the alcohol burned a fiery path down my throat to settle next to the heavy lump in my chest. “What makes you think that someone broke my heart?”

“The drink, for starters,” Lucas replied smoothly, leaning one elbow against the counter and swirling the ice cubes in his own glass. “Your eyes are bloodshot and swollen. Plus, the fact that your phone has been vibrating non stop since you sat down. I’m guessing whoever is spamming your screen right now is the exact asshole behind those tears.”

I glanced down at my phone resting on the wood. Even without picking it up, I knew it was Travis. I grabbed the device, slammed the power button to shut it off completely, and tossed it back onto the counter, muttering a harsh curse under my breath.

“So go on, gorgeous girl,” Lucas murmured, taking a slow sip. “Tell me who the idiot is.”

I forced myself to look up, meeting his intense, piercing gaze. He was watching me intently, his sharp jawline set as he waited for my answer. I casually flicked my eyes around the room, instantly realizing that half the students lounging in the bar were watching the two of us with burning interest.

The guys at the booth near the back were staring in disbelief, while several of the cheerleader girls at the corner table were scowling at me, their eyes glowing with pure envy.

A sharp realization clicked in my brain. Travis had spent six humiliating months keeping me hidden in the shadows, refusing to claim me or grant me the status I deserved. But if Travis wouldn't step up and make me the center of everyone's envy, Lucas Miller certainly could. And I was going to milk this opportunity for everything it was worth.

“How about we do something a whole lot better than talking about him?” I suggested, a devious, audacious smile creeping onto my lips.

Lucas’s dark eyebrow arched upward in surprise, and a slow, wicked smirk spread across his face. Being the undisputed king of campus playboys, I knew he wouldn't be able to resist the game I was about to play.

“Tell me, gorgeous girl... what exactly do you have in mind?” Lucas asked, shifting his chair a fraction closer until his broad shoulder brushed against mine.

Every girl on campus knew his reputation. Even Elena had spent the entirety of last semester whining in the cheerleader locker rooms about how Lucas had used her, wrecked her heart, and discarded her. According to campus gossip, they had hooked up for a few weeks, and Elena had completely spiraled out of control when he refused to publicly declare her his official girlfriend. The exact same validation I had just begged Travis for.

I knew for a fact that Elena was still desperately orbiting his social circle, praying he would take her back. Getting involved with Lucas tonight wasn't just about escape, it was the ultimate revenge against both her and Travis, who had been hopelessly insecure about Lucas’s fame since freshman year.

“I don't want to talk about the guy that just broke my heart,” I said, taking another heavy gulp directly from the glass to fuel my sudden burst of bravery. “In fact, I want to do the exact opposite. I want to completely forget he exists.”

Lucas blinked back at me, unable to hide the genuine flash of surprise in his eyes.

“And I want you to make me forget,” I added, locking my eyes onto his lips.

Lucas slowly licked his lower lip, evaluating my flushed face as if weighing a heavy decision in his mind. After a long, agonizing pause, he suddenly stood up, pulled a thick stack of dollar bills from his leather wallet, and tossed them carelessly across the counter to the bartender.

My heart sank into my stomach for a brief, terrifying second, convinced he was about to reject me and walk away.

Instead, Lucas stepped up to my stool and offered me his arm, his dark eyes fixed on mine. “Let’s get out of here then. I will take you back to my dorm and try and fuck him out of your mind.”

I practically tumbled off the barstool on my shaky, alcohol leaded legs, instantly wrapping my arm tightly around his solid bicep before my anxious mind could talk me out of the wild move I was making.

Lucas guided me out of the warm bar into the freezing night air, leading me straight over to his black truck. He pulled the heavy passenger door open, helped me climb up onto the leather seat, and killed the distance between the bar and the varsity men's dorms in record time.

He parked near the shadowy corner of the lot, turned off the ignition, and jogged around to help me down. The walk up the stairs and down his quiet hallway was a blur of giggles, heavy breathing, and stumbling steps.

The second we stepped inside his dimly lit room, Lucas closed the heavy door, locked the bolt with a sharp click, and turned around to face me, blocking the exit with his tall frame.

He reached out, his warm, calloused fingers gently cupping my chin to lift my face toward his.

“Before we take another step, gorgeous girl...” Lucas rasped, his deep voice dropping into a low, serious tone that made my pulse leap. “Are you a hundred percent sure you want to do this with me tonight?”