His eyes widened as Deacon stood and a petite blonde woman ran to him and embraced him. Luke could feel Rayna trembling where his hands rested on her shoulders. He wanted to offer her some form of reassurance, but he was lost for words. There was no explanation that came to mind to explain away the scene unfolding before them. They couldn't make out what Deacon and the mystery woman were talking about, but their body language spoke volumes. There was an ease of comfort between them, which was even more evident when Deacon draped his arm over her shoulder as they headed towards the elevator. Deacon reached out and took the carryall out of her hand and pulled her in towards him for a one-armed hug.
Luke felt more than saw, Rayna reach up and cover her mouth in an attempt to stifle the horrified gasp that escaped her. She shook the weight of Luke's hands off her as she turned to leave the lobby. Her blue eyes held a depth of pain that hit Luke deep in his heart. Luke stood there for a moment longer watching the elevator doors closing as he uttered every conceivable word he could think of, to describe what he thought of Deacon at this very moment. He turned and started after a distraught Rayna.
Rayna bit down hard on her lip, welcoming the pain and using it to push back the dark stormy waves of anguish that were demanding to be released. Her hand shook as she pushed open the motel room. She slid downwards, feeling the reverberations from where she had slammed it shut. Wrapping her arms around her knees she let her tears escape. Sitting in the twilight lit room, her heartbreak silently echoed through the space she had recently shared with Deacon. Every surface her pain-filled eyes landed on held some memory of him. Squeezing them shut, she sniffed as she attempted to will her mind to rid itself of the image of Deacon cradling that woman in his arms.
A faint crunching of the ground outside of the room, alerted her to someone approaching. Her heart thudded thinking it might be Deacon. Her breath caught in her throat. She was unsure if she had the strength to face him at the moment. Reaching up, she flicked the lock. Holding her breath, she waited for the death keel sound of the door handle being jingled. The knock on the door sounded like an explosion in the stillness of the room. Laying her head back on her drawn up knees, she knew it wasn't Deacon. She had forgotten about Luke.
"Rayna, are you okay?"
Not getting a response, he tried the door handle. It was locked. Muttering under his breath, he tried knocking again. He knew she was in there he had seen and heard her slam the door to the room from across the way.
"Rayna, open the door. I know you saw what I did, I just want to make sure you are okay…. Rayna"
Rayna's tears streamed down her face as she pushed all thoughts of Luke's words from her mind. She just wanted to be alone, to drown in the pain that was her heart tearing to pieces. She knew Luke meant well, but the thought of him comforting her made her shudder when all she wanted was Deacon's loving arms around her. She knew that Luke had a crush on her. He had pretty much confessed it to her the last time they were on tour together. He had helped her drag a passed-out Deacon back to their hotel room. Voicing his disgust at the way Deacon treated her, he had stated she deserved someone who would treat her right, someone who was worthy of her love not some pathetic drunkard. Looking over the top of the unconscious body of Deacon which separated them, the look of lust tempered by love shone out of his eyes as he silently begged her to consider him. Shaking her head, she stated that Deacon was the only man she was ever going to love, even with all his problems. She knew Luke didn't understand, no one did. No one knew of the hurt that Deacon carried around inside him. She knew that didn't excuse his behaviour, his drinking, but it helped her understand a fraction of why he did what he did.
His knocking grew louder the longer she remained silent.
"Go away Luke, I'm fine"
"Rayna, you're not. I know you're not. How could you be, that arsehole basically flaunted his cheating in your face. You deserve so much more than him. Come on, let me in"
Biting down on leg, Rayna smothered the anguished sob that burst out of her upon hearing Luke's words. She didn't want to think that Deacon would cheat on her, it made no sense at all to her. She had never had to worry about him straying in all the years they have been together, but today she had seen with her own eyes just how gullible she had been.
"I'm fine Luke. I just want to be left alone."
"But Rayn…."
"LUKE LEAVE ME ALONE"
The sound of her sorrow caused Luke's heart to clench. He wanted to hold her in his arms and tell her everything would be okay. His hands formed fists as he thought of Deacon, he wanted nothing more than to pound some sense into his face, but he knew that would force Rayna to run to Deacon's side. Having no other option, he knew he had to give her the space she demanded, but he was damned if he was going to let this opportunity slide.
"Okay Rayna. You take your time. I'll come and get you for rehearsal, but if you need anything in the meantime just give me a call, okay?
"Thanks Luke"
Her whispered response was barely audible through the door. Luke gave himself a mental high five. She hadn't told him not to come back. He knew it was wrong to be taking a sliver of joy out of this situation, but he had been trying in what felt like forever, to turn Rayna's head but her gaze was always firmly locked onto Deacon. He knew it was wrong to try and take advantage of the situation, but he would take what he could. Rayna needed him, and he would be there for her unlike Deacon.
