EVELYN'S POV
The hum of the engine filled the car as I drove to Lucas's place, my mind tangled in a web of confusion and unanswered questions. The city lights blurred past, but I barely noticed them. Every thought was a clash of Lucas's intense gaze, Albert's unexpected charm, and the swirling chaos they both brought into my life.
Suddenly, my phone buzzed, jolting me back to the present. Vee's name lit up the screen. Without hesitation, I answered and put her on speaker.
"Hey, Vee," I greeted, trying to mask the tension in my voice.
"Evelyn! How did the meeting go? Any highlights?" she asked.
"It went well," I replied, steering smoothly onto the main road. "We had a great turnout, and the sponsors seem committed. But guess what?"
"What?" Vee asked, her curiosity instantly piqued.
"I met both Lucas and Albert today," I said, unable to keep the intrigue out of my voice.
"Wait, both of them?!" Vee exclaimed. "How did that even happen? Neither of them struck me as the sponsor type."
"That's the thing," I said, turning onto a busy intersection. "I got to the venue early, hoping for a quiet moment. While I was admiring the setup, I ran into a decorator from Suncrest."
"Go on," Vee prompted eagerly.
"So, we're chatting, catching up," I said, "And out of nowhere, Lucas shows up. Turns out, he's one of the sponsors."
"Lucas just showed up out of the blue?" Vee asked, her voice laced with intrigue.
"Yep, and he wasn't subtle about it," I replied. "He wanted to talk privately and asked why I left the other day. It got... intense."
"Define 'intense,' Evelyn," Vee pressed.
I hesitated, unsure of how much to share. "Let's just say we revisited our... unfinished business."
"Unfinished business?!" Vee practically screamed into the phone. "You better spill, like, now."
I laughed nervously. "Alright, alright. We made out. That's all."
"That's all?" Vee repeated, disbelief dripping from her tone. "You mean you just left it at that?"
"Well, I ran off the moment I had the chance," I admitted, gripping the steering wheel tighter. "Today, he wanted to know if there was someone else in the picture why I didn't finish the deed. He said he'd back off if there was, but he didn't seem convinced when I said no."
"Damn," Vee breathed. "Lucas is all in. So, what about Albert? What's his deal?"
"Albert was even more of a surprise," I said, exhaling slowly. "He was there representing some anonymous donor for the event. During the meeting, he didn't even look at me once."
"Are you serious?!" Vee sounded incredulous. "What a jerk. Then what?"
"After the meeting, he caught me off guard," I admitted, weaving through traffic. "He came up to me, all charm and wit, and reminded me of something I'd said when we first met; that I'd give him my number if we crossed paths again."
"Don't tell me you actually gave it to him," Vee said, her voice a mix of exasperation and amusement.
"Of course, I did," I said with a small laugh. "He made me laugh, Vee. Like, really laugh."
"Okay, I'll admit, that's a point for him," Vee conceded. "But what now? You've got Lucas practically marking his territory, and Albert showing up all smooth. What's your next move?"
"Honestly," I said quietly, "I don't know."
Vee let out a low whistle. "Wow. Sounds like fate is playing a little game with you," she said.
I scoffed, gripping the steering wheel tighter. "Don't even start with that," I sneered, "You know I don't believe in all that cosmic alignment stuff, especially after Thomas. But... I hate to admit it, maybe my mother's card reading is actually working. She kept hinting that I'd fall in love and stuffs and then I brushed it off, but now?"
"Wait," Vee interjected, her voice tinged with mock seriousness. "Are you telling me you're starting to believe in your mom's mystical card-reading sessions? This is new!"
"Not exactly," I clarified quickly. "It's just... weird how things are playing out. Like, she said I might fall in love again, and here I am—Lucas on one side, Albert on the other. And there was something she said that day that both of them had repeated to my hearing."
"Can you recall what it is?" Vee asked.
"She said something about not being too quick to dismiss unexpected encounters," I quipped, "But the funny thing is that both Lucas and Albert have said something in that line. Like... like it was all planned or scripted."
There was a pause on the other end. "I hate to say it, Eve," Vee said, "But it feels like your mom's predictions are lining up."
"Please..." I countered.
"Okay, okay," Vee interjected, clearly enjoying this revelation. "But let's not lose focus here. What's the vibe with Albert and Lucas? Spill the details."
I sighed, slowing down as I approached Lucas's neighborhood. "That's the problem," I admitted. "It feels like there's something deeper going on with both of them being involved in this event. It's too much of a coincidence."
"Coincidence or not, you've got to be careful," Vee warned. "Lucas might be intense and upfront, but Albert... he's subtle. And sometimes, subtle can be more dangerous. You never know what he's really thinking."
"Trust me, I've noticed that," I said, my frustration creeping into my voice. "Lucas lays it all out there, but Albert? He's... I don't know. There's always this layer of mystery with him. It's exhausting."
"Exactly my point," Vee agreed. "Lucas might come on strong, but at least you know what you're dealing with. Albert could be hiding a dozen secrets, and you'd have no idea until it's too late."
I nodded, even though she couldn't see me. "You're probably right," I admitted reluctantly.
"I'm always right," Vee quipped, then quickly added.
"Speaking of secrets," I said, gripping the steering wheel tighter, "I saw Lucas leave the center with the decorator after the meeting. They looked... close, Vee. Too close."
Vee let out a low whistle. "Whoa, wait a second. The decorator?" she asked, "What do you think is going on there?"
"I know so little right now," I admitted, my voice tinged with frustration. "But I'm at his place now to find out. Whatever it is, I'm done with the guessing games. If Lucas is playing me, I need to know."
"Evelyn," Vee said cautiously, "Be careful. Confronting him like this could backfire."
"I'll be fine," I assured her, though my heart was pounding.
"You don't know that," she countered, her voice firm. "If he's hiding something, he might not react the way you expect."
I sighed, leaning back in my seat for a moment. "You're right. But I can't just let this go. I need answers, Vee."
"Then promise me you'll keep your cool," Vee said, her tone softening. "He's not your boyfriend. So don't let him provoke you, and don't reveal too much of your own cards. This isn't just about him; it's about protecting yourself too."
Just then, I turned onto a quieter street and pulled into Lucas's driveway. His car was parked outside, a clear sign that he was home. My heart thudded in my chest, a mixture of determination and dread settling in as I parked a good distance away from the house so as not to get his attention.
"I promise," I said, gripping the door handle. "I'm here. Now wish me luck."
"Good luck, Eve," Vee said, her voice filled with both concern and encouragement. "And call me as soon as you're done. I need to know you're okay."
"Will do," I replied.
A cool breeze swept over me as I ended the call and looked at Lucas's condo from where I parked. Whatever Lucas's intentions were, it was time to confront him and get some answers.