“Holy shit, Aubrey!” she squealed in my ear. “I’m so happy for you. You finally found your one.”
“So did you,” I gently reminded her.
“I know, but ever since we were little girls, you’ve always dreamt of meeting the man you were going to marry. And then, when you started dating in high school, you jumped from guy to guy like you were searching for him anywhere and everywhere,” she said. “I have to admit that I worried a bit that, if you didn’t meet him soon enough, you’d give up hope and settle for something else. And you aren’t the type of woman who should settle for anything else. You deserve the best.”
“Damn. Why didn’t you ever say anything?” I asked.
Lexi’s answer stunned me. “Because you never gave up hope until last year. And then I could tell you needed some time to heal. I wasn’t going to give you much more, and then you met Luka and I had a feeling I didn’t need to worry too much anymore. You lit up every time he was near.”
“It was that obvious?”
“Only to anyone who knows you as well as I do,” she reassured me.
“I love you,” I replied with tears in my eyes.
“And I love you too. I really lucked out picking you as my best friend way back when in kindergarten, huh?” she said to lighten the mood.
“Yeah, we both did,” I agreed.
“So, I will be home soon. If you need anything, just let me know. Send me a text if Jason is going to be there tonight and then Drake and I will just plan to come over. If not, I look forward to room service a la Aubrey,” she joked.
“You got it,” I answered before disconnecting the call so I could grab the bags and head upstairs.
Luka’s car was in the parking lot, so I wasn’t going to be able to surprise him with dinner, but that was okay. I was just really looking forward to tonight.
“Here. Let me get that for you,” the security guy offered as he pushed the up button for the elevator.
“Thanks,” I said, flashing him a smile.
“You’re welcome,” he replied as the doors opened and he reached inside to hit the floor number for me too. One of the benefits of having both my boyfriend and best friend living in the same great apartment building on the same floor, I guess.
I juggled the bags as I headed down the hall to his door. There was no way I was going to be able to get it on my own, so I banged on it with my elbow to get Luka’s attention.
“Open up, sweetie. I’ve got groceries and don’t have any free hands,” I yelled, hoping to make him hurry a little.
It seemed to work, too, since the door opened less than a minute later. Only it wasn’t Luka who opened it. It was a girl I’d seen a few times in the building, usually coming as I was going or vice versa. She was very pretty, with dark-blond hair, bright-blue eyes, and a tiny, compact body. Today, her hair was pulled up in a ponytail that was a little messy and she was wearing athletic shorts and a tank top that showed that she had a lot of cleavage for someone her size. I’d never actually met her, so I had no idea who she was. Maybe she and Jason have something going on?
“Hey,” I said cautiously.
“Hi,” she replied with a smile on her face.
“I’m Aubrey.”
At my words, she glanced worriedly at Luka’s door and warning bells started going off inside my head.
“And you are?” I asked.
“Josie,” she whispered, biting her lip.
“Okay,” I drawled out, starting to wonder what the hell was up. “Luka?” I called out, but he didn’t answer.
I started walking towards his closed door when her words hit me.
“He can’t hear you. He’s in the shower.”
And just like that, my entire world crumbled beneath me. I stomped into his room to confirm that she wasn’t just playing some game with me. The sound of the running water was another nail in the coffin. Luka had left the bathroom door open a crack, just like he always did because he hated to get too much condensation on the mirrors and didn’t think the fan worked well enough by itself. So I knew he was in there. Hell, I’d seen his truck downstairs with my own eyes not five minutes ago.
I dumped the bags on the floor of his room and walked swiftly out, not making a sound except for the whimper that escaped because I couldn’t help it. I glared at the girl who had answered the door with an accusation in my eyes as tears welled in them.
“Aubrey. Wait!” I heard her say as I stalked out the front door.
I ignored her completely as I marched to the elevator and stabbed the down button. I had nothing to say to her. There just weren’t any words for what I was feeling right now.