Love Arranged (Lakefront Billionaires, #3)(106)

“What’s up?” I put down my eyeshadow palette.

“Why isn’t Lorenzo coming to Sunday lunch tomorrow?”

“He’s busy.”

“Doing what?”

I shrug. “Campaign stuff.”

Her head tilts curiously. “He wasn’t able to make it last week either…or the week before that.”

“He’s had to focus on the campaign after everything with the debate. I’m sure his schedule will free up after the election in five weeks.”

She tilts her head. “Is everything okay?”

I don’t break eye contact, although it’s difficult to maintain my sister’s stare with how closely she is looking at me. “Sure. Why wouldn’t it be?”

“Oh, I don’t know, maybe because Rose & Thorn could be torn down and you’d have to restart somewhere else?”

“Right. Obviously I’m not okay about that,” I answer, suddenly feeling an onslaught of guilt for not thinking about my shop. With everything going on between Lorenzo and me, it didn’t feel like much of a priority.

“See! That’s the look right there.”

My brows rise. “What look?”

“Like someone kicked Daisy.”

The reminder of my dog sends another spike of heat through my chest.

“And that!”

I can no longer hold her gaze. “You’re the one who brought up Rose & Thorn.”

“Only because you forgot.”

My gaze snaps back to her face. “I didn’t forget.” I’ve been…distracted.

“Maybe not entirely, but I know you.” A line of worry forms between her brows. “I didn’t pay close enough attention to the signs before, but I’m wide awake now, and I won’t accept you telling me you’re fine when clearly you’re not.”

I’m overwhelmed by emotion, and I don’t do a good job hiding it.

She walks over to me and leans against my vanity. “What’s going on?”

My eyes water because how do I explain to my sister the mess I’ve made of my life?

“I can’t tell you.” My voice cracks. I want to—I really do, ever since the very first night when Lorenzo and I committed to the plan.

“Why not?”

“Because you’re going to get mad at me.” I fidget with a loose thread on my dress—a cute pink one that makes me feel confident even on the lowest of days.

“I won’t.”

“You say that now…”

“And I’ll say it again after you share whatever has been bothering you for the past few weeks.” She reaches for my hands and wills me to look at her. “I want to help you however I can because I don’t want to watch you fade away.” Her eyes flicker across my face. “Not again.”

My eyes water, not only for Lorenzo and what our relationship has become but for myself. Dahlia is right. I did fade away.

But not anymore.

“I appreciate the thought, but I don’t know if there is anything you can do to help me.” I grab a tissue and dab at the corners of my eyes because no, I refuse to ruin my eyeliner after spending ten minutes on it.

“Don’t count me or Julian out yet.”

“Are you volunteering Julian without asking him?”

“I think it’s better than Lorenzo extorting him, no?”

Her unwavering loyalty and support gives me the courage to share the truth about my situation, regardless of the outcome. If Lorenzo gets mad at me about it, so be it.

If he hadn’t hurt me first, then I wouldn’t even be in this position, so he’s to blame.

Dahlia is quiet as I explain why Lavender Lane was singled out by the Ludlows and my situationship with Richard. I then open up about my fake relationship with Lorenzo, who I used to know as Laurence.

The more I share about my situation, the messier it sounds, but Dahlia doesn’t judge me or vocalize her thoughts. She does hit me with an arched brow when I talk about how I naively thought I could get out of the engagement unscathed, though, and I guess I deserve that one.

I’m winded by the time I finish explaining everything up until now, minus Lorenzo’s confession as to why he needs to move away if he loses.

When another minute passes without my sister saying anything, I start to panic.

“So you are mad.”

She shakes her head. “This is…wow. I need a few minutes to process how you faked an entire relationship.” Her gaze drops to my hand. “And are engaged!”

I shut my eyes with a groan. “Don’t remind me.”

“What were you thinking when you agreed to all that?”

“I was desperate.”

“Clearly. But now you’re saying that you genuinely have feelings for Lorenzo, so it’s not really a fake relationship, then?”

“Technically yes—or it was real, but now it isn’t again.” My nose wrinkles. “Ugh. It’s complicated, okay?”

“Was there ever a time it wasn’t?” she deadpans.

I force a laugh.

She starts to rub her temple. “I’m starting to get a migraine.”

“Same.” I sift through my purse and pull out a bottle of Advil. We both knock a couple back before resuming our conversation.