Maybe
1294 Words
Lucian parked his car across the street from the Brooks’ mansion. He sat there for a moment, gripping the steering wheel and staring at the bouquet beside him, fresh white lilies and roses. It wasn’t something he’d normally do, but this time, he wanted Georgia to see he was serious.
He sighed and rubbed his temples. “You really messed up this time, Lucian,” he muttered under his breath.
After taking a deep breath, he stepped out of the car. The air was cool, brushing against his face as he walked toward the gate. He called her phone and waited.
She picked up after the second ring.
“Lucian?” Her voice was calm, but he could tell she didn’t expect his call.
“I’m outside,” he said quietly.
There was a short silence. “Outside?”
“Yes. Your father’s house.”
“Why?” she asked, her tone flat.
“I need to talk to you, Georgia. Please.”
Another pause. Then, with a soft sigh, she said, “Fine. Wait there.”
Lucian exhaled as the call ended. He shifted on his feet, looking down at the flowers, brushing his thumb along one of the petals. The gate soon creaked open, and Georgia stepped out.
She was dressed in a soft beige blouse and jeans, her hair loosely tied back. She looked calm, but her eyes carried that same tired sadness that had been haunting him since their last conversation.
“Lucian.” Her tone was polite but distant.
He gave a small nod, holding out the flowers. “These are for you.”
She looked at them for a long moment, then met his eyes. “What are you doing in my father’s house?”
“I needed to talk to you,” he said quietly.
“About what?” she asked, folding her arms.
He hesitated, then said, “I just found out you came to my house yesterday.”
Her expression changed, surprise flickering before she quickly masked it. “You found out?”
He nodded. “Yeah. Leah told me.”
“Leah?” she repeated slowly.
“My younger sister,” he said, watching her face carefully.
Georgia blinked. “Your… sister?”
Lucian nodded again. “Yeah. The girl you saw wearing my shirt, that was her. She came home unexpectedly, and she used my shirt. I didn’t realize until she told me this morning.”
Georgia’s mouth parted slightly. “Oh.”
He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “I’m sorry, Georgia. I should have figured it out sooner. I didn’t even think about what you must’ve felt seeing that. I just… didn’t put the pieces together.”
Georgia looked away, biting her lower lip. “So all this time, I thought…”
He shook his head. “No. There’s no one else. There’s only you.”
She exhaled shakily, pressing her arms tighter around herself. “I feel so stupid now.”
“Don’t,” he said softly. “You had every reason to be upset. I gave you no explanation, and that’s on me.”
For a moment, silence filled the air. Only the soft sound of the wind and the rustle of leaves broke it.
Lucian let out a slow breath. “I’m really sorry, Georgia. For making you feel hurt. For letting you believe something that wasn’t true.”
Her voice softened. “It’s okay.”
“No,” he said. “It’s not. You deserve better from me.”
She looked up at him, unsure what to say.
“I’ll make it up to you,” he said suddenly.
Her brows furrowed. “How?”
He smiled a little, stepping back. “You open to ideas, right?”
Georgia nodded slowly. “Yes…”
“How much do you have now for an investment?” he asked.
She tilted her head, curious. “Right now? Maybe a million dollars. Why?”
Lucian nodded thoughtfully, crossing his arms. “That’s enough.”
“For what?”
He smiled faintly. “For something I shouldn’t be telling you.”
Her lips curved slightly despite herself. “What are you now, an insider?”
He chuckled. “You know I know things, Georgia.”
She rolled her eyes. “That’s not an answer.”
He grinned, then said, “There’s a stock. The company’s called Orviate Systems. Invest in it. Today.”
“Orviate Systems?” she repeated, frowning. “Never heard of it.”
“You will,” he said simply. “Trust me on this one. It’ll rise fast, within weeks.”
Georgia studied him. “And this is how you plan to make it up to me? Giving me secret stock tips?”
He laughed softly. “It’s one of my ways.”
She shook her head, trying not to smile. “You’re impossible.”
“But you still like me,” he teased gently.
Her cheeks warmed. “Maybe. Sometimes.”
He chuckled, taking a step closer. “Then I’ll take that as a yes.”
They both laughed quietly. The tension that had been sitting heavy between them began to lift.
Lucian handed her the flowers again. “Keep them this time. No running away, no hanging up, and no assumptions.”
Georgia smiled faintly and took the bouquet, her fingers brushing against his. “I can’t promise anything.”
He smiled. “You don’t have to. Just… talk to me next time, okay?”
She nodded slowly. “Okay.”
He looked at her for a moment longer, then said softly, “I missed you.”
Georgia’s heart fluttered at the words, and she had to look away. “You’re lucky I’m even talking to you right now.”
He grinned. “I’ll take lucky.”
They both stood there for a few moments in comfortable silence. Georgia glanced down at the flowers, then back up at him. “Lucian… thank you.”
“For what?”
“For coming here,” she said. “And for clearing things up.”
He nodded. “You didn’t deserve to be left hanging like that.”
“I know,” she said softly. “But still, I’m glad you came.”
He took a deep breath. “So, you’ll invest?”
She raised a brow. “We’ll see.”
He smirked. “You always have to argue.”
She smiled back. “Maybe.”
Lucian glanced at his watch, then looked at her again. “Your dad’s not home?”
“No. He and Mark went out to handle some estate thing.”
He nodded. “Good. Otherwise, he’d have probably kicked me out by now.” He Joked.
Georgia laughed quietly. “You’re not wrong.”
He smiled, happy to see her laugh again. Then his tone softened. “I should go. But Georgia…”
She looked at him expectantly.
“I really am sorry,” he said again. “And I don’t want another misunderstanding between us.”
Her gaze softened. “Then don’t give me reasons to doubt you.”
“I won’t,” he promised.
She gave a small smile. “Drive safe, okay?”
He nodded, stepping back. “You too.”
He turned toward his car, then stopped and looked over his shoulder one last time. Georgia was still standing there, watching him, holding the flowers close to her chest.
A faint smile crossed his lips before he finally got into the car and drove off, the sunlight catching on the windshield as he left her driveway.
As the car disappeared down the street, Georgia looked down at the flowers again, her fingers brushing lightly against the petals.
She whispered to herself, “Maybe this time, it’ll be different.”
- Writer
