Love Arranged (Lakefront Billionaires, #3)(46)

Out of the corner of my eye, I catch the way her lips press firmly together. Seeing how she was quick to believe the worst only a few seconds ago, she knows I’m right.

The Moirai being torn down was the final straw for me, but at least something good came out of it—if you can even call him divulging the truth about my parents’ deaths that.

After that, I dug into the hit-and-run accident, and once I discovered what really happened, I sold my shares and got the hell out of Vegas. I had no plan outside of wanting to visit my parents’ graves.

When I learned about Trevor’s plan to run for mayor, I joined the race too. My uncle was spiteful about it, and he knew hurting my reputation would do wonders for my competition.

“I’m sorry,” Lily says quietly after a couple of minutes.

“What are you apologizing for?”

“For assuming the worst without thinking twice about it.”

I shrug. “It happens more often than you think.”

“That’s so sad.”

“I better not be hearing pity in your voice.” I don’t deserve it after all I’ve done and said to her.

She fakes a gasp. “Me? Pitying you? I could never.”

My lips curl at the corners.

“But if I were to feel that way—”

I’d shoot her a sharp look if I wasn’t driving.

She continues, “It’s because at some point in your life, you learned to protect yourself by letting people think the worst of you. It was probably too easy to play the part of a villain, and I bet you became so comfortable with the role, you never expected anyone to question it.”

I pause at what she says and wonder how she got to that conclusion. People are quick to write me off as an uncaring asshole, and I’ve embraced the incorrect assumption. It was safer, because then no one—especially not my uncle—could exploit me.

“If you’re expecting me to agree with your psychological analysis, you’ll be waiting a long time.”

She shakes her head. “I don’t expect someone as defensive as you to come out and admit anything.”

“I’m not defensive.”

“Sure you’re not.” She laughs in a condescending way that grates on my nerves. “Do you ever get tired?”

I lean away despite not having anywhere to go. “Of what?”

“Pushing everyone away to keep up this false pretense. It must get pretty lonely.”

Her assessment of my life couldn’t be more wrong, but I don’t correct her. I don’t feel lonely because I prefer my company over others. It’s safer that way. More controlled.

Which is exactly her point.

I’m not lonely. I may have felt that way for a short while before I joined the Eros app and met Lily, but after that situation blew up in my face, I learned to prefer isolation again.

Learned? Or tricked yourself into believing you were better off without Lily?

I tap my fingers against the wheel. “I’ll answer that question when you tell me why you really agreed to this fake relationship.”

Her mouth opens, and she looks like she’s about to speak, only to press her lips together.

I shake my head. “You expect me to trust you, but you can’t do the same?”

“I didn’t have a problem trusting you before.”

I realize that if I want an answer to my question, I’m going to have to give one in return. It’s not like Lily hasn’t figured me out already, so I might as well get something out of this conversation.

“I don’t get lonely.”

She rolls her eyes. “You liar.”

“Just because you don’t agree doesn’t mean it’s not true.”

“Because there’s no way that’s possible. Everyone gets lonely.”

Not when you have endless worries to keep you company.

“I’ve learned to appreciate the quiet.” If you can even call it that.

“Then why would you join a dating app because you were bored?” She smirks.

“Boredom doesn’t equate to loneliness.”

“I beg to differ.”

“Why did you join the app?”

“The same reason that most people do.” She glances out the window, making it impossible to get a read on her expression without taking my eyes off the road.

“To fall in love?”

“That was the goal.” Her voice is tinged with sadness, making my chest uncomfortably burn.

“Then why waste your time on a fake relationship?”

She takes so long to answer me, I assume she won’t, but then she starts talking about the condemnation notice she received from the mayor’s office, Richard’s involvement in swaying the mayor toward Lavender Lane, and the NDA her mother signed.

By the end of her explanation, she is winded and looking over at me with eyes shiny from unshed tears. “They can’t take Rose & Thorn away. I don’t care what people say about reopening it somewhere else—nothing can replace the emotional attachment I have to the shop and the memories I shared with my dad there.”

I relate to that more than she will ever know. And while I may not have been able to save the Moirai, I can do this.

I have to.

I ignore the burning sensation. “We won’t let them.”