Chapter 67: Sarcasm vs. Hormone Imbalance

Lucas scoffed, rolling his eyes at Roy. "Sure, they didn't buy anything, but the fact remains—they went into that store. Am I supposed to believe they went in there just for a glass of water, or maybe to cool off in the AC?" He shot Roy a look as if daring him to suggest otherwise.

Roy tried to laugh it off, hoping to defuse the tension. But then he turned back to Lucas, a sly smile creeping onto his face as he eyed him mischievously.

"What's with you?" Lucas snapped, uncomfortable under Roy's teasing gaze. "You look like a cat in heat in the middle of the day. Don't tell me you suddenly find me more attractive than your own wife and plan on going gay." He glared at Roy with mock severity. "If you even think about it, I'll rip your head off."

Roy chuckled, unbothered by Lucas's biting humor. "Hey, I haven't even said anything yet, and you're already getting defensive."

"Who's defensive?" Lucas bristled, his irritation clear. Maybe it was the heat—or maybe it was something else entirely.

"Your temper's all fired up, Lucas."

"It's just hot out," Lucas snapped.

"No, you're mad at Claire."

"That's because she's so clueless!" he shot back. "Someone takes her to a place like that, and she just goes along with it? Everyone thinks she's all pure and innocent, but she's just plain naive!"

"You care about her," Roy stated simply.

Lucas froze, his words catching in his throat. "I care because—" He stopped himself. He couldn't let Roy make him admit it. "You must be seeing things. Which eye of yours saw me caring?"

Roy smirked, unfazed. "Maybe I'm hearing things instead. Like, hearing you say just now that you care about her."

Lucas glared at him, but then his expression shifted into a sly smile, catching Roy off-guard.

Roy's nerves tingled as he saw that look. He knew all too well that when Lucas wore that smile, he was about to issue a threat.

"Relax, Lucas, I only have eyes for my wife. No need to give me that creepy smile," Roy said, cringing at Lucas's grin. Just moments ago, Lucas had joked about him being attracted to men, but now here he was with that unnerving smile.

"Well, Roy, it seems like you're awfully interested in what's going on between me and Claire. Maybe I should shorten your honeymoon to three weeks instead?" Lucas's tone was menacingly cheerful.

"No! No way!" Roy blurted, panicking. He practically begged Lucas to reconsider. After all, Lucas was the boss, and his vacation days were completely at his mercy. Lucas always resorted to that threat! Just his luck.

"If you want me to leave your vacation plans alone, keep your mouth shut," Lucas ordered, shooting him a look as sharp as a dagger. Roy grimaced; Lucas's constant threats made him feel like a fishmonger at the local market, noisily chattering all day.

"Hey, I'm only trying to help! Otherwise, you'll end up heartbroken and alone," Roy replied, his tone genuine but firm. "Neither your mom nor Claire knows about, you know, *that issue.* But I know about it—and I know you're doing all of this just to push her away." He shook his head, sighing. "I don't know what's going on in that brain of yours."

"Heartbroken and alone?" Lucas shot him a sidelong look but then noticed something that made him pause. Ahead, he saw the two familiar figures turn a corner sharply. Without thinking, he quickened his pace.

"What's going on now?" Roy muttered as he rushed to catch up, only to see Lucas come to an abrupt halt, eyes narrowed as he watched Claire and Lauren disappear into another shop. The tension in Lucas's gaze was palpable.

Roy squinted to see the store's sign and sighed in relief. "Don't worry, Lucas—it's just a pharmacy. No adult products in there, I promise," he said, reassuring Lucas with a half-smile.

"Who said I was worried?" Lucas shot back, trying to cover up. But then he remembered Claire's burnt hand. She must be going in there to buy some ointment for it.

Roy rolled his eyes. "Sure, sure, you're not worried, right? Pretend all you want, or you can call me blind." He shrugged as if it didn't matter.

"Oh, really?" Lucas stopped in his tracks and turned to face Roy, a cold, menacing smile spreading across his face. He raised two fingers, moving them dangerously close to Roy's eyes. "Tell me, which eye should I poke out first, huh?"

"Wait, are you serious?" Roy ducked and dodged, avoiding Lucas's fingers.

"If you keep talking, I'll poke out both your eyes and sew your mouth shut," Lucas growled, making a motion as if sealing Roy's lips.

Roy blinked in shock before finally muttering, "Seriously, man, your mood has been all over the place lately."

"Sarcastic, right?" Lucas replied, his gaze darkening.

"Hey, don't glare at me. I'm just saying what I see!" Roy shot back, sweat beading as he held Lucas's steely glare. "I mean, your attitude's got to be hormone-related, right? Repressed energy, perhaps?"

"Oh, you're just itching to experience life with your eyes poked out and mouth sewn shut, aren't you?" Lucas warned, his voice cold as ice.

Ignoring Lucas's furious expression, Roy continued musing as he looked out at the cars passing by. "I mean, it's obvious. A normal guy just doesn't randomly pretend to have, well, *ED,* of all things. And then you're stuck, night after night, staring longingly at the woman you care about, making do with nothing but... frustrated daydreams. Can't blame you for feeling a bit off-kilter."

"Who the hell said she's the woman I care about?" Lucas hissed, trying to hold back his temper. He wanted to curse but held back, determined to maintain a semblance of gentlemanly composure in public. His intense gaze bore into Roy, each look filled with barely-restrained fury.