Austin: Hey, beautiful. What’re you up to today?
Habitually rolling my eyes, I recall our last date. I learned so much about Austin—like, soooo much. He couldn’t stop talking about himself. Fact after fact, they just kept coming.
Eventually, I tuned him out. If I didn’t need his help, then I would’ve told him where he could shove all those incessant factoids.
Soon, Callum, will be off and swept away into college life. Granted he’ll still be in town. But he’ll be busy constantly and will barely have any free time. And then I can drop Austin like the dead weight he is.
Quickly, I type out my response, wanting to seem desperate.
Me: Working all morning and afternoon. Wondering what you’re doing. :)
His message appears almost immediately,
Austin: Wanting to know when you’re free tonight so that I can take you out. ;)
Eww.
Look, I know Austin is good-looking, okay? Anyone within fifty feet of him knows that. But he’s all looks and no depth. Any conversation he has held with me has either been about himself, his family’s money, or what he wants to do after law school, which is to become a partner at the Carver Firm.
His text does remind me that Brooke is back in town today. Yesterday, when I ran into Stella in the lobby, I was so shocked to see her. I’d had no idea she or Cade were in town.
She told me about Brooke and that she was planning a night out at The Temple Club tonight to get everyone back together, and she invited me. I asked her if I could bring a plus-one because at least with Austin on my arm, Callum might not try to dance with me—or at least, he’d try less.
She also told me about his grandma and what his stupid fucking parents were doing. I’ve always hated them. Somehow, Callum got dealt the worst mom and dad in the world and became the greatest guy.
When she told me where his parents planned on putting her, that burning anger sparked to life inside me.
Stella said she was looking into Banford but was worried Callum wouldn’t accept that kind of gift from her. Sometimes, it’s harder to take money and generosity from those you love than a complete stranger. So, that was what I became—a stranger.
I told Stella I would take care of it. And I told her to tell Callum the simple details and that it was all being done by an anonymous person.
Because if he wouldn’t take the money from Stella, he sure as hell wouldn’t take it from me. But I could not sleep at night if his grandmother was anywhere other than the best I could give her.
She might never know, and Callum might never know, but that’s okay. I don’t need them to.
Pushing my focus back to the present, I type out my response.
Me: One of my high school friends is back in town, and we are all celebrating at Temple. It’s a club in town. Care to join us? :)
I was so shocked when Stella invited me. I mean, we’ve talked a handful of times since graduation, but she said it’s only her, Cade, Brooke, Callum, Sophie, and Rose going.
Sophie sort of joined their group after Brady’s trial. She normally always stuck to herself. I’m sure Stella extended a hand, and you can’t help but be drawn to her. You can just feel the good in her, and you want to soak it up like a sponge.
She probably just invited me out of obligation since, basically, my only friend is going, although Rose is starting to creep into that title too.
Giving Austin five minutes to reply, I grow bored of waiting. I throw my phone on silent and start on the gigantic mountain of to-dos that Jamie passed off to Sophie for me. Budget approvals, hiring approvals, events, reports on each of the hotels and how they are performing, accounting sign-offs, and more, and more, and more.
The next four hours go by uninterrupted, and by the time my glass clock strikes noon, my stomach is growling something fierce.
I’m about to call Sophie to grab us some lunch when a knock rattles the door.
“Come in,” I command as I sign my last budget approval.
As I set my pen down, a familiar voice calls to me, “My, my, my. This is an image I will store in my mind forever.”
I look up, seeing Austin in my doorway with a giant bouquet of flowers, which I can’t help but smile at—the bouquet of hydrangeas, calla lilies, and peonies are beautiful.
Leaning back in my chair, I ask with that good-girl sweetness I have perfected, “What are you doing here?”
