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9
SCARLETT
“Like, what even was the point of bringing me all the way out here, huh?” I ranted on. “Was it to intimidate me? To make me feel like I had no other options? It’s just fucking arrogant to expect me to roll over just because he has more money than me. Money clearly doesn’t equate to manners!”
I threw myself down onto the couch with a low groan. Another day of ignored calls and texts to Toby had really rubbed me the wrong way. My solution? Call Lily and rant until I was breathless.
“It’s a man thing,” Lily snorted. “Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re trying to wear you down and get you to break that way. Ignore you until the silence gets too much, and then you end up giving up the house.”
“But why? What could they possibly want or gain from a house they didn’t even know existed until a week ago, huh? It’s not valuable, at least not to them, and it’s so far from the city that we’d hardly be running into each other.”
“Power,” Lily sighed. “It has to be some sort of power play. To take what was hidden so long, maybe evidence of Francis’ infidelity, and then destroy it. Reputation maybe? With these rich types, it’s always about how something will look.”
I almost wanted to argue back; after all, Lucas seemed incredibly sweet and genuine, but Lily’s words were true, even for him. He needed me to be his date for a reason – and that reason, as ever, was reputation. He wanted to look better so that his parents would back off. It wasn’t a cottage or an affair, but it was the same.
“You’re probably right.” I sighed deeply and rubbed at my eyes. “This was supposed to be so easy. Fuck, they probably saw poor little town girl and thought I would jump at the chance for all that money. But I’m not… I can’t give up my house. It’s mine. Now theirs.”
“I’m not going to let you give in,” Lily stated. “You’ve held on so far, and don’t you have that party tonight? It’s the perfect time. Then, no matter what happens tonight, we’ll know what to do next.”
Ahh the Gala. With Lucas.
“Yes, that’s tonight.”
“What’s that?”
“What’s what?” I sat up slightly.
“Your voice. You sounded all dreamy. Are you sure this guy was just a one-night stand?”
“Well,” I laughed quietly. “I’m seeing him again, so I don’t know if he counts as that but there’s nothing there.”
“Hey, I told you to go to the city and have fun, so I’m not judging,” Lily laughed. “After everything with Shane, you deserve something good.”
“I mean…” Toying with the hem of my t-shirt, I couldn’t keep the smile from my face. “He’s so cute. Like, he’s hot but there’s also something so puppy-adorable about him that when he smiles this amazing, bright smile, my heart melts a little bit, y’know?”
“Awwh,” Lily chuckled. “How sweet.”
“And the sex was… I’d forgotten what an orgasm was like at the hands of someone else. Shane was awful at that but faking it with Lucas didn’t even cross my mind. I had three, and I had to keep replaying to make sure I didn’t just dream it. Now he’s buying me a dress and I’m his date to keep his parents off his back.”
“I guess some things are the same no matter how rich you are,” Lily chuckled. “Well, if all else fails with your asshole brother, maybe Lucas will take the edge off.”
“Ooo maybe,” I agreed. “Speaking of parents, how did your Nan take the news about you winning the Valentine's display?”
“Oh my god.” Lily groaned. “She didn’t believe me at first, and ever since, she’d been in the shop nit-picking away at my designs. I’m all for family support, but I need Bingo back up and running again at the Hall to distract her!”
“Are you nervous?”
“A little. I really want to wow everyone. You know how this place gets; the festival is bigger than freaking Christmas and I just want to make everyone proud.”
“I’m proud of you,” I assured her. “You’ve got talent, your flowers always last the longest and trust me, everyone will be happy to see bright flowers this year. I hope I’m back in time!”
“Oh, speaking of…” Lily trailed off, and another voice buzzed softly in the background. “I’ve got to go. I’m so sorry. Text me when you get the dress?”
“Absolutely, love you!”
“Love you too.”
As I ended the call, several text messages flooded the screen from Shane. Refusing to open them, the window gave me a glimpse of his demands of where I was and why I wasn’t calling him. None of which I had any desire to answer.
