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“You know we were just?—“
“Oh, shut up about your stupid plan!” my dad roars, startling Bernie so he yelps and dives under my chair. “The only thing stupider than pretending to be in love is pretendingnotto be. You don’t play with love, you don’t treat it like a game—because it’s the most important thing on this whole fucking planet. It’s what we live for, what we work for, what lights up everything else…It’s the realest power there is, and if you tasted it with Theo, you shouldneverlet it go.”
That might be the most words I’ve heard my dad say in a row.
I stare at him, chest full to bursting.
“Thanks, Dad. That’s good advice.”
He sinks back in his chair, flushed and breathing deeply. “I don’t give advice. That’s just the truth.”
I lean over to hug him and kiss the top of his head. “See you tonight.”
As I hurry out to the car to meet Angus, I text Theo one last time:
I’m sorry. Please call me.
My heart leaps when I see the three dots that mean she’s finally answering.
But when the message comes, I sink back down again, heavy as lead.
It doesn’t matter, Sully. I don’t want to pretend anymore. Finish this thing with Angus and let’s be done with it.
36
SULLY
Angus and I spent the last two hours walking my property. It’s fucking beautiful, eighty acres of lush, unspoiled land with access to utilities and even a distant, glittering view of the ocean.
It truly would be the perfect location for Angus’ campus. But deals aren’t made off their merits. Contracts are signed by the emotions of whoever wields the pen.
That’s why my original plan was to pretend I was going to keep this land for myself. I was going to dangle the lure for Angus—show him the land as if I were building my own house here. And the wickedest hook of all, I’d tell Angus that it was all going to be for Theo, that I was about to propose to her…I bought a ring and everything.
The point of making Angus jealous was to capture his attention, inflame his interest, and create a burning desire to take what I have.
It worked better than I ever could have hoped—he’s certainly jealous, and I see the lust in his eyes as he surveys all these green, rolling acres.
I found Angus’ weak spot. It’s not Theo, not exactly—it’s what she represents: actual, real love from another person.
It’s the one thing Angus doesn’t have. The thing he’s never had.
He’s been sued by his own parents. Divorced three times. And he’s built this whole, shining empire for himself, surrounded by people who see him as nothing but a checkbook.
I saw his face at dinner. I saw how he looked at Theo and the way she was looking atme.
He wants what I have—badly. And that makes him easy to manipulate.
But I can’t seem to bring myself to pull out the ring in my pocket. I can’t make myself tell any more lies—not about Theo.
My heart feels swollen and bruised in my chest. Theo won’t even talk to me. The idea of telling Angus we’re about to be engaged, using her as bait once more, makes me sick to my stomach.
So I don’t tell him any of that. In fact, I barely speak at all as he surveys this beautiful plot that once seemed so promising but has almost become the death of me.
I understood all too well when Theo told me she only lied to Angus about her diploma out of desperation.
When my ex-partner stabbed me in the back, I was weeks away from bankruptcy. I’ve only held onto this property by the skin of my teeth, working nights and weekends for months to pay the back-breaking interest payments.
If I sell it to Angus, all my problems will be solved.
