I Dumped Him 500 Times Online Then I Met Him at My Brother’s Birthday Chapter 02

I Dumped Him 500 Times Online Then I Met Him at My Brother’s Birthday Chapter 02

I bit into the shrimp my brother had peeled for me, but my eyes kept drifting back to the man across the table.

My online boyfriend and I had only been together for a little over a month.

It had all started in the comment section of a music app.

I liked the way he wrote, and soon we were messaging back and forth, sharing playlists and venting about our lives.

The online relationship had happened naturally.

Even though we had never met, he checked every single box.

He had a gorgeous voice, a surprisingly sweet personality, and hands and abs that deserved to be displayed in a museum.

The only thing we had never exchanged was a face photo, though I had seen plenty of his other assets.

Just thinking about some of the things he had whispered to me online made my cheeks heat.

I couldn’t reconcile that shameless version of him with the untouchable Lucas sitting across from me.

While I was lost in thought, one of the guys at the table cracked a joke.

“Lucas, with a face like yours, the women on campus don’t stand a chance. Even Ethan’s sister can’t stop staring.”

I blinked, caught off guard.

Before I could react, he continued.

“Honestly, as long as you’re around, the rest of us might as well give up on dating.”

The whole table burst out laughing.

Lucas glanced my way, his brow furrowing slightly.

“Don’t say that,” he said evenly. “She was probably just spacing out.”

Then he added, “Besides, I have a girlfriend. She wouldn’t like hearing that.”

“Yeah, leave my sister alone,” Ethan cut in, setting down his fork like the overprotective idiot he was.

“She goes to Briarwood University. That place is packed with good-looking guys. She’s seen it all.”

“And she’s not shallow enough to fall for someone just because he has a pretty face.”

Everyone started piling on, and I could feel heat creeping up my neck.

Well, I wasn’t that shallow.

But considering what I had already seen online, Lucas had at least one unfair advantage over every other guy.

After dinner, we all headed to the underground garage to get the cars.

I fell into step behind Lucas, close enough for the first time to really take him in.

Sharp cheekbones, fair skin, and a crisp woodsy scent that clung to him like winter air.

He barely spoke, radiating a cold, unapproachable energy that made him seem like a completely different person from the man who texted me late at night.

In the elevator, I tucked myself into the corner.

My phone buzzed.

“Done with dinner, babe. What are you up to?”

I looked up at Lucas, standing just ahead of me, and typed back, “I’m out.”

No sooner had I sent it than my phone started blowing up.

“Out where?”

“With who?”

“It’s late. You shouldn’t be out alone.”

“Send me your location. I’ll come find you.”

“Are you shopping? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I forgot to send you spending money today. I’m an idiot.”

[Lucas sent you $500.]

[Lucas sent you $2,000.]