Chapter 530

Judy's POV

"Earth to Judy," Lukas said, waving his hand in front of my face. "You keep spacing off. Are you sure you're okay?"

I blinked a few times, allowing my eyes to readjust to his face. I nodded, running my fingers through my hair, which had pulled free from its binding and was now scattered across my face.

"Yeah," I said as I looked down at the books that were laid out in front of me. We were in our usual spot in the corner of the library, our noses buried deep in the pages. It was Friday, and our exams officially started on Monday, so this was the last time we'd get to have our study session together. “Sorry, just a lot on my mind."

I couldn't stop thinking about the other day at the Grand Casino Hotel. My heart still ached when I saw Rachel and Gavin together. Gavin might not have been in the right frame of mind, but it was Rachel that he was drawn to. It was her that he was thinking about when he kissed me. It was her that he wanted.

I let myself cry that night when I got home, feeling stupid forever thinking that maybe he did want me after all. But since that night, I hadn't allowed myself to cry over it again. I was stronger than that; I was training to be a fucking Gamma warrior, and I had offers left and right to join Elite forces. I am a warrior, and no man will ever define me.

Still, that doesn't stop me from being distracted and lost in my own mind.

"Clearly," Lukas said, his eyes narrowed. "Do you want to talk about it?"

I knew if I told him what had happened, it could ruin our friendship. If he had thought for a second that there was still something going on between Gavin and me, he wouldn't have wanted to be my friend anymore out of fear that Gavin would try something and ruin his scholarship. Though he has finals like the rest of the school next week, Lukas still has another year of college to attend. He needed to keep his nose clean and his scholarship intact.

"No, it's okay," I told him. I glanced at the time and then sighed. "But I do have to go."

Beta Taylor would be picking me up shortly. I have tutoring with Matt this evening, so it is likely that he was waiting in the car with Taylor. I didn't want to keep them waiting.

Lukas also glanced at the time and then nodded.

"Yeah, I'll walk you out," he said as he packed up his things.

Once we were packed up and ready to leave, we walked in silence across the campus and towards the parking lot. As soon as we were in sight, I saw Taylor's waiting car. I sighed, bracing myself for another awkward ride home.noveldrama

"I'll see you later," I told Lukas as I started to walk away, but he grabbed my arm and pulled me into him. I was surprised by the gesture because he had never hugged me like this before, but as soon as his arms came around mine, I suddenly felt my resolve breaking a little. I had to hold in the tears that threatened to spill down my cheeks. I closed my eyes and let him hug me, his tight embrace an anchor to my soul.

"Whatever is going on in your life, Judy, just know that I'm here if you need to talk about it," he told me, his voice low and for my ears alone. "I'm a good listener."

I nodded, my arms coming around

him to hug him back. For a moment,

I didn't want to let go. It wasn't

romantic, but it was the comfort that

ve

I desperately needed at that moment. I felt like I was drowning and at this very moment, he had become a life wraft.

"Thank you," I whispered in return.

He pulled back to look at me, noticing that my eyes were filling with tears. He wiped away the invisible tears on my cheeks with his thumb and gave me a small smile, his eyes crinkling in the corner.

"Any time," he replied. "Good luck on your finals next week."

"You too."

He nodded and dropped his arms from my shoulders. With a final wave, he turned and headed towards his car. I watched him for a moment longer before I turned towards Taylor's waiting car and got

into the backseat.

I was surprised when I didn't see Matt in the car as well.

"No Matt?" I asked him.

Taylor was watching me with a curious expression, but there was a hint of something else in his eyes. A worry that caused my stomach to twist. His eyes kept going back and forth between me and Lukas's car.

"I didn't realize you and Lukas Merriweather were so close," he told me, his tone having a hint of depth in it.

I frowned at him.

"He's my friend," I told him. "Not that it's any of your concern."

"Friends don't hug friends like that," Taylor murmured.

"Is there a point to this?" I asked him, raising my brows and feeling my defenses

rising. "I mean, why does it matter?"

"It matters because Gavin had already warned him off. If he found out—”

"If he found out, then what?" I

snapped, my resolve fading even more as my emotions started to leak through my voice. "He's busy with another woman, so why does it matter if I have captured the attention of another as well?"