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“You think that’s true?” I level her with a glare. “You said I couldn’t love anyone else because of my emotional turmoil over Jay. Now you’re saying I can’tacceptlove either?”
Sophie tilts her head one way, then the other, as if she’s weighing her words. “I think that your family has done a number on you.” She licks her lips and shifts on the couch beside me. “And losing Jay in the way you did, believing that the man you thought loved you so desperately had conned you? I think it affected you deeply. But Cat, take a deep breath and think it all through. Because what he’s telling you is that none of that happened. He didn’t just walk away. He didn’t ghost you. He waskeptfrom you. And he’s trying now.Lethim try.”
“I-I can’t,” I admit, and the waterworks start all over again.
Sophie’s face says it all. Ican’t. Because I can’t accept love.
“Sweetie, I say this with all the love in the world, but if you have a shot at happiness, any chance at all, it’s with that man. Give him a chance.”
My chest shudders with another sob. That’s all I wanted for so long. But now that I know the truth, I have no freaking idea how I’ll ever trust him again.
“I know we hate him—”
I hold my shot glass up to stop her from adding abutto that statement. I’m tired of crying. “Please do not qualify that statement.” I down the shot while keeping my eyes trained on her. “What do I tell Chlo?” I ask as the tequila burns my throat.
How am I going to tell her I’m marrying her father? God knows I can’t tell her he forced me into it. Or that the only reason she exists is because of some sick revenge he concocted years ago.
“What will Chloe think of me?” I whisper my fear into the room.
Sophie sits up and loops her arms around me. “Aw, babe. She’ll think you’re a badass woman who did what she had to do to protect the ones she loved. Like you’ve always done.”
I shudder. Because the truth is that I’m out of time. I have to tell Chloe about Jay soon. And all I can do is hope that she knows I’ll do everything I can to make this right.
* * *
I groanat the text from Frank that wakes me. Two screen shots. Both of Cash’s tweets from the night before. What a fucking asshat.
Did you not think to take the phone away???
Frank: I couldn’t get close enough. The guy is unhinged. What time will you be here?
Give me an hour.
* * *
Standing outside the James building,I suck in a breath and summon the courage to call Chloe.
“Oh my gosh, Cat, you’ll never believe the outfit that Sienna let me try on!” she screeches without even saying hello.
At the sound of her voice, I find myself smiling for the first time in days. “Oh yeah? I can’t wait to see it.”
“Mom and I went to dinner and had the crème brûlée. It was even better than L’Etoile’s!”
I laugh at her excitement, and slowly, a sliver of my sanity seeps back into me as I listen to her rave. “Oh, we should plan a weekend there soon.”
“Really?” she chirps.
“Yeah, let me get through this merger, and then we’ll go.”
“Oh my gosh, that would be amazing!”
“Listen, Chlo, you and I need to talk later. Things are going to change a bit, but I want you to know that no matter what, you always have me.”
“You’re scaring me,” she whispers. The fear in her voice sends my heart plummeting.
I drop my head and pinch the bridge of my nose. I’m screwing this up. “Don’t be scared. It’s all going to be fine, okay? I love you.”
“Love you too,” she murmurs, but the excitement she was so filled with has been sucked right out of her.
