2.

Lori’s POV

Without waiting to see what he is about to do next, I took my car keys and ran out of the room. I rushed past Jessica and Ann in the hallway. Their worried voices shouted my name.

However, I ignored them and plunged out of the apartment and into the cold night air.

I knew how reckless it is to drunk drive. But I needed to escape, so I took the risk.

Not stopping until I got to a bar which was miles off the school premises. I went inside in staggered steps and slid onto a cracked leather barstool in the farthest, darkest corner of the pub.

While waiting to place my order, I wrapped my arms tightly around my middle. Trying to stop the shaking.

"Beer or whiskey?" The bartenders with white beards asked. He gave me a look that told me knew about my heartbreak.

"I need something strong that would make me forget about everything that happened tonight," I muttered, hating how fresh the image of Travis and Elena is on my head. My God, I despise them so much.

My phone was absolutely exploding inside my purse. I knew it Travis was calling. I brought it out just as a text lit up the screen: Allow me to explain what happened, baby.

Sighing out loud, I slammed it face down on the sticky wooden counter.

A few minutes later, the bartender slid a glass of dark liquor toward me. I took a massive gulp, not caring what concoction he mixed up for me. The harshness burned through my throat.

It brought me back to reality. I was twenty years old today. And was completely humiliated on the one night I was supposed to be celebrated. I didn’t even get to blow out my cake candles. I didn't get to make a wish.

"Why are you looking at your phone as if something in it is after your life?"

Turning my head slowly toward the deep and smooth voice. I blinked back at him. Two stools down from me was sitting a guy holding a glass of amber liquid with a single large ice cube.

It was Lucas Miller.

The Lucas Miller.

Lucas Miller’s eyes didn’t just look at me. He used his eyes to eat me up. While sitting under the dim, amber lights of the bar, I tried not to think about Travis. I winced as the chaos of my apartment and the image of Travis on my bed began to blur into a dull, throbbing ache.

"Get the birthday girl another glass of whiskey, Greg," Lucas called out to the bartender without breaking eye contact with me.

As he leaned over, my senses was taken over by the faint scent of expensive cologne and crisp winter air. “Your phone had been vibrating. Are you avoiding someone?"

I looked down at the screen. Travis has called up to fourteen times.

My voice tighter than I intended, I said, “Nobody.” I picked up the fresh glass and took a sip, letting the heat steel my nerves. "Just a nobody I’m trying to forget.”

Lucas chuckled, but it came out as a low rumble. "A nobody huh? How come whoever it was is riling you up like this?" He tilted his head and his dark hair fell effortlessly across his brow. "Emm, you’re Lori, right? I think I remember you from the flyer for the winter pep rally. You’re on the cheer squad, right?"

"Yup. That’s me," I muttered, a bitter taste rising in my mouth. "And you of course are Lucas. The guy who I heard owns the ice rink and half the campus's hearts."

"Won’t lie, I’m guilty as charged," he said. A slow smirk spreading across his lips. "But tonight, I’m just a guy wondering why a girl as beautiful as you is hiding in this hideous bar on her birthday and almost crying her eyes out."

I found myself blushing at his compliment. It doesn’t sound like the sweet, safe praise I used to force out of Travis sometimes. Lucas said it with a casual, predatory confidence. So much that it made my stomach flip in a way that had absolutely nothing to do with being sick. He was attractive, and frustratingly so. He looked so handsome, I felt like watching him all night.

"I should also ask you the same thing," I stammered, leaning my elbow on the bar, in an attempt to mimic his posture. "Shouldn't you be at the frat party? How come you are also alone in this hideous bar?"

"I will say it’s because I don't like crowds," he said softly, his voice dropped a seductive octave. His eyes traveled down to my lips before snapping back up to meet mine. "And I like being alone too. Or, at least, I did until a few minutes ago. My dorm is only two blocks away. It's quiet and there is no stale beer. What do you say, Lori? Want to get out of here?"

My breath hitched. His dorm.

I heard a warning at the back of my mind. Lucas Miller was a notorious player. He went through girls the way the hockey team went through sports drinks.

But more importantly, he was Elena’s ex-boyfriend. They had broken up last semester in a spectacular, explosive blowout that Elena still whined about during cheer practice.

Elena had just taken my boyfriend on my own bed.

If I walked out that door with Lucas, I wouldn't just be erasing Travis. I would be destroying Elena’s absolute pride. This was the ultimate revenge. Which was reckless and spiteful.

And it was exactly what I wanted.

"Let's go," I said, sliding off the barstool before I could talk myself out of it.