••• 𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝒮𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓃 •••

Luke

{{What If I Never Got Over You - Lady A}}

    A soft voice calling my name pulled me from the depths of sleep. The blurred image of Aria's peaceful face lingered in my mind as I blinked awake, confusion giving way to reality. His hand, rough and warm, covered mine. The sterile scent of the hospital lingered, but my father's voice was full of life, washing away the stale fear that had been choking me for days. "I knew you'd come back," He sighed as he placed his hand on top of mine. I felt a grin spread across my face and looked around frantically for my Mother, but she wasn't in the room. "Your Mama just stepped out to get us some food. Your old man woke up starving." He teased and I chuckled as I blinked back the tears in my eyes.

  "You're awake." I breathed out happily and he smiled at me.

  "'Course I am! I just had a little trouble with this old heart here, but I feel good as new." He assured me and I rolled my eyes as I shook my head at him, ready to argue but he cut me off. "Lucas, I know you didn't come all this way to argue with me about my heart." He gave me a pointed stare and I sighed.

  "No, I didn't. But you really scared us, Dad. You need to take better care of yourself." I huffed as I ran my hand through my hair frustratedly.

  "Look at you, son. You've got no room to talk about taking care of yourself." He teased with a smirk and I chuckled as I shook my head at him. "But, you're right, Lucas. I promise from here on out I will put my health first, but what I wanna talk about is that you're finally home!" He exclaimed as he smiled at me and I had never seen him so happy before. "I know these aren't the best circumstances for you to come back home to, but I cannot tell you how unbelievably happy I am to have you back."

    I looked down at our hands and squeezed his lightly as I smiled. Growing up, my Dad was my best friend. He taught me how to sing and play the guitar. He's the reason I love country music and why I wanted to be a big star. If I would have lost him, I would've quit my career altogether.

  "Dad..." I trailed off, my voice so thick with emotion that I could barely speak and tears welled in my eyes. "I... I'm so unbelievably sorry for all the pain I've caused you and Mom and I know my apologies mean absolutely nothing, but I promise I will do everything in my power to make it right." A tear escaped from my eye, and my Dad squeezed my hand as he sighed.

  "Lucas, you are my son. I forgive you. But, I want you to be prepared that not everyone will be so quick to forgive. You hurt a lot of people when you left and actions speak louder than words if you want to earn their forgiveness." My Dad said sternly and I nodded. He forgave me. Just like that. His words—simple, unconditional—hit harder than the sharpest accusations. My chest ached with the weight of relief and regret, but I didn't deserve it. Not yet.

  "I know it's not going to be easy and I know not everyone will forgive me, but I have to try, Dad. Losing you made me realize how lonely and meaningless my life has been. I need you all in my life." I admitted.

    I may be one of the most famous country singers in the world, but I had never felt so alone. I had wanted this life so bad that I gave up everything I loved for it and I would do anything to get them all back.

  "Have you spoken to Aria?" My Dad asked, breaking me from my thoughts and I shook my head.

  "I haven't seen her since you got out of surgery. I did try to talk to her, but I don't think she's ready for that." I sighed with defeat and my Dad nodded slowly.

  "Son, Aria has been through a lot since you left and truthfully, I don't think she'll ever be ready to talk to you. I know you said you're prepared for some people not to forgive you, but I don't think you're prepared to speak with her because she might be the only one who won't." He said gently and I felt an ache in my chest. Deep down I had a feeling that she wouldn't forgive me, but that doesn't mean I wasn't going to try my hardest to show her how sorry I am.

  "What happened to her, Dad?" I asked, my voice low. His silence stretched too long, filling the space between us with a truth I wasn't ready for. "I thought... after I left, she'd move on. Be happy." He looked down at our hands, his grip tightening just enough to send a shiver of dread through me. I became worried at his silence and he was about to say something when my phone rang. The ringtone jarred me out of the moment. I pulled my phone from my pocket and groaned  when I saw that it was Colton calling me.

  "Go ahead and take that, Luke. I'm not going anywhere." My Dad assured me as he patted my hand and I gave him a grateful smile as I stood up and headed towards the door. "Oh, Luke!" My Dad called out just as I opened the door to leave, but I stopped to look at him. "Could you stop at home and grab the white photo album that's in the dresser of your room? I have something to show you."

  "Of course, Dad. I'll be right back with it." I said as I waved goodbye and then answered the phone.

  "Luke, are you there?" Colton asked eagerly on the other end of the phone.

  "Yeah, Colton. You just interrupted my first conversation with my Dad since he got outta surgery, but yeah I'm here." I said sarcastically as I made my way toward the elevator and Colton chuckled on the other end.

  "There's the Lucas Carter we all know and love! How's your Dad doing?" He asked as I walked into the elevator, thankful that it was empty and there was no one there to recognize me.

  "He's doing good! He looks a lot better than he did three days ago, that's for sure." I chuckled as I put him on speaker and then texted my driver to be out front and take me home.

  "That's great, Luke! Look, we need to talk about your tour, man. We've already canceled six shows and everyone is starting to wonder if you're quitting the tour altogether. You're scheduled to perform in Nashville next weekend and they've been blowing up my phone asking if you're still gonna play." I ran my hand down my face tiredly and shook my head as the elevator reached the lobby of the hospital.

  "Colton, I'm gonna be honest with you, man. I... I think we need to push the tour back a few months." I said apologetically and Colton sighed.

  "I completely understand, Luke. I get it. The label won't be thrilled, but hey, Bieber canceled his whole tour and never rescheduled so I think they'll survive." I chuckled as the elevator doors opened and I stepped into the lobby, my feet halting as if rooted to the floor.

    There she was. Aria. The bouquet of flowers in her arms seemed to tremble, or maybe it was just my hands shaking just at the sight of. She looked up and stopped dead in her tracks the moment she realized I was there. Her eyes—those eyes I'd dreamed of a thousand nights—met mine, wide with surprise. Suddenly, time stopped, and I was eighteen again, staring at the girl I had loved more than anything in this world.

  "Luke, you still there?" Colton's voice cut through the haze, distant but persistent, pulling me back into a present where the weight of my mistakes hung between us like a storm.

  "Um, yeah. Sorry."

  "Hey, take care of yourself, Luke. I'll handle the label, I just want you to get healthy and sober and come back ready to tour with the same passion you had five years ago."

  "Thanks, Colton. I-I gotta go." I murmured quickly, not hearing a word he said as I hung up and slowly approached Aria. To my surprise, she didn't run away from me but my anxiety grew the closer I got to her and I prayed I didn't do or say anything to make her hate me anymore than she already does.