Love Arranged (Lakefront Billionaires, #3)(110)

Her lips purse with distaste. “Don’t try to guilt-trip me.”

“I’m saying this because I’m trying to be open and honest about my feelings instead of keeping them to myself. That’s all.”

Yet you haven’t told her about your parents and Trevor yet.

I want to, but what if she thinks I’m only telling her now because I want her to forgive me?

Fuck. The thought of that happening makes my stomach turn.

“It doesn’t matter anymore. We’re done.” Her voice breaks at the end.

I should respect her boundaries, but I can’t. Not at the expense of losing her altogether.

I can see it happening slowly, right in front of my eyes, and if I don’t do something about it fast, it won’t matter whether I win or lose the election.

Because I would’ve already lost her, and the thought of that happening is unfathomable.

“If we’re done, then kiss me. Show me how unaffected you are by our connection—show me how much it doesn’t matter,” I taunt because screw it. Let her show me since she’s so big on actions.

She rears back. “What?”

“You heard me.” I pause. “Prove to me that we’re over, and I’ll never ask you about our relationship again.”

She shakes her head. “No.”

“No, you don’t want me to do that? Or no, you’re too scared to accept that we will never be over. We weren’t a year ago, and we sure as hell aren’t now.”

Her eyes spark with anger. “Why are you doing this?”

“Because I can’t let you go.”

“I never wanted you to.” Her confession sits heavy between us.

“Good, because I won’t.” I slide my hands through her hair, keeping her head in place. “I’m sorry for ever making you believe I could.”

Her eyes shut, and I lightly tug on her strands so she reopens them.

“I was a fool for thinking I could walk away. I’d rather spend the rest of my life in therapy, working through my personal issues if it means I get to come home to you every day.”

She shakes her head.

“You might not believe me now, but I won’t stop until you do,” I say with absolute certainty. “I’m not running away or giving up if I lose the election, which is why I’ve started therapy now rather than later. Because win or lose, I want to stay in this town and build a life together. It won’t be easy. I won’t deny that, but I do know you’re worth it.

“A few months ago, I stupidly said you were too much for me, but the truth is, I’m the one who wasn’t enough. I’m still not, and I’m not sure I ever will be, but that won’t stop me from giving you my all, and I’m sorry that my actions made you question that.”

Her eyes water. “What if you change your mind?”

“I won’t. So long as you want to stay here, then I do too.”

“You need to stop saying all the right things.”

I hold her chin. “Why does that upset you so much?”

She looks up, giving me a clear view of her eyes welling with tears. “Because I don’t want to believe what you’re saying.”

I lean forward and tilt her head, leaving enough room for her to be in control of whether she wants to kiss me.

“What are my actions showing you, then?” I ask instead.

Her eyes drop to my mouth. “I don’t know.”

“Yes, you do.” I brush her bottom lip with my thumb.

She shakes her head.

“Did you read all my messages on the app?”

She hesitates before nodding.

“Then you know, Lily.”

Her chin wobbles. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Why?”

“Because I was tricked by your actions before, and I thought…” Her face turns progressively more red.

“You thought what?”

She tries to avoid my gaze, but I cradle her face and force her to look at me. “Tell me.”

“I thought you were falling in love with me,” she whispers.

“Ask me,” I command, and she shakes her head. “Ask me how I feel,” I repeat.

Her eyes screw shut. “I wouldn’t believe you anyway.”

Pain laces through my heart, sharp and all-consuming. It makes me want to lash out, but I hold back and refocus my energy into more productive emotions.

I cup the back of her head. “The only liar here is you, and I’ll prove it.”

I seal my mouth over hers before she can say anything else, and I won’t let her go until she finally accepts the truth once and for all.





CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE


Lily


Aperson can only take so much before they break, and Lorenzo saying he misses me ruined my plan of staying away from him today.

I could see the truth in his sad eyes and in the dark shadows cast underneath them, as if he has been sleeping poorly like me since the debate. I see it in the text messages he sends me throughout the day, checking in on me despite having access to my location through the bracelet he gave me.

Every time I remind myself that I should be angry at him, the emotion is quickly replaced by another one any time we are in the same room.