Page 76 of The Road to Finding Us

Her eyes had darted to the giant white house. “It’s really not all it’s cracked up to be, I promise.” And then she didn’t even wait for Maverick to open her door, she just stepped out of the car and made her way to the front.

The girl lived off Ramen and yogurt when we all lived together. I hadn’t expected her to come from that much money.

Maverick grabbed my neck. “Her parents are actually cool, man. Don’t let all of this deter you.” Then, he stepped out and followed his fiancée.

The moment Lily had realized she was alone with me in the car, she hightailed it out of there like her ass was on fire. She didn’t bother to hide the huff of annoyance as she stepped out.

Who knew that hours later, I would be the one avoiding her.

Because that’s exactly what I’m doing, while hiding in a study.

I, however, am doing everything possible to avoid Lily.

My white flag is flying and it’s flying fucking high.

“Well, Lily’s definitely pissed at me,” Veronica says, interrupting my pity party.

I look over as she takes the chair across from mine by the fireplace. It’s a large wingback, one that screams high-class, and the top of it towers over her head once she’s seated.

I let out a sarcastic huff. “She’ll get over it. I’m equally as pissed at her.” Bringing my crystal glass to my lips, I take a long sip of whiskey.

Veronica crosses her legs, the pointed toe of her high heel bumping against my shin. “Oh, don’t worry, I just gave her a reality check.

Raising my eyebrows, I look at Veronica. She sits comfortably in the chair, smiling.

“You did what?” I say.

Her blonde hair spills over her shoulder as she shrugs. “Not too long ago, she gave me a very similar talk when I was too stubborn to admit my feelings for Mav. She loves you. You know that, right?”

I process her words, running the rim of the glass against my lips as I think. “Yeah, I know,” I finally say with a defeated sigh.

I take another long gulp of my whiskey, my eyes on the doorway just as Selma walks through it timidly. I said a quick hi to her earlier, but I’m happy at the chance to have more of a conversation with her now.

Selma sits down at the edge of the fireplace that sits between my chair and Veronica’s.

“Selma!” Veronica exclaims, holding her drink up in excitement. “Come sit and tell us what you’ve been up to! I’ve been keeping up with your life through your social media posts, but I need all the juicy details you don’t post on there.” Veronica silently offers her drink to Selma.

Much to my surprise, Selma gladly takes it, almost sucking down the whole thing in a few swallows. Wiping a small droplet of wine from her lip, Selma bashfully smiles. “My life doesn’t usually have juicy details.”

“Oh, c’mon,” Veronica whines. “There’s got to be something.”

Selma and Veronica begin their own conversation next to me that I catch bits and pieces of. Honestly, I’m just counting down the minutes until we can go home, even though it’ll be awkward with Lily in a room two doors down from mine.

I’m trying not to think about the car ride home. I’ll have to figure out a plan there.

The girls continue to chat, and it occurs to me how cool it is that the two of them are so close. They weren’t close when Mav and Selm first broke up, with him moving on with Veronica shortly after. But over the years, they’ve struck up an interesting friendship. The two couldn’t be more opposite if they tried, but somehow, they work.

I admire that they can be adults about the situation and be friends. If they can do it, I wonder why Lily thinks we can’t.

Just as Veronica begins to drone on about wedding planning, a guy I don’t recognize walks in the room.

As soon as Selma notices him standing in the doorway, her spine straightens, completely ignoring Veronica’s words now. She gets a look I’ve never even seen her have with Maverick.

I look over at the stranger standing in the doorway just as he says, “I was wondering where you were, Selma.” As soon as he talks, his accent makes it clear he is not from the states. Australian, maybe?

“Okay, hello,” Veronica purrs, sizing up the stranger in the doorway.

I take the moment to study the guy who’s paying absolutely no attention to me or Veronica, his predatory gaze solely on Selm. He has on a pair of dark jeans even though every other person at this party is wearing at least business casual attire, if not black-tie. A white button-up covers the top half of his tall frame. His body has the definition of a swimmer’s—broad in the shoulders. When my eyes look at his feet, I find a pair of tattered leather sandals.

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